Phaedra & Lawson
Phaedra is from Australia & Lawson from New Zealand both living and working in London, so the majority of our communication was over the phone and through email with a few planned visits to meet with suppliers.
When the couple first spoke with me, they identified they needed someone to help bring all their planning together and manage their wedding on the day.
Phaedra & Lawson were a joy to work with from the onset it was obvious they were very organised people! Lawson sent through his wedding spreadsheet for my reference – he had listed everything they needed to do, the suppliers they were using and all their contact information, timescales to do things in and even a box for the jobs they had completed!! This is an excellent tool for all couples who wish to undertake the planning of their own wedding as it shows just how much has to be done and the time frame in which to do it!
When I met with Phaedra & Lawson they had the majority of their suppliers in place, they were having the ceremony in St Margaret’s chapel at Edinburgh Castle & the reception in the Royal College of Physicians in Queen Street, two classic venues!!
After reading through the spreadsheet together at our first meeting in person we quickly identified that they needed help sourcing local suppliers for the smaller details, here I could help them, with a wealth of knowledge on selecting companies who match couples requirements; this saves time and money and gives great results!
With the ceremony sorted & a minister in place to conduct the proceedings I set about sourcing a musician to play at the chapel. I narrowed the search down to a local harpist who was happy to play at the chapel and then at the reception for the guests arrival and reception drinks. After scheduling a meeting for Phaedra & Lawson to discuss the music required, I confirmed the booking.
With the ceremony complete we moved onto the reception. Phaedra & Lawson had the venue, caterers & entertainment all taken care of, so all I had to sort out was the alcohol & decorations. They had decided to buy their own alcohol for the reception giving their guests a complimentary bar, just paying corkage to the caterers for the supply of glasses & bar personnel.
After shopping around for the best deal, we arranged for delivery to the venue the day before the reception.
For table decorations Phaedra & Lawson wanted “simple & elegant”, so I hired tall 5 arm silver candelabras. The candelabras were a stunning centrepiece for the tables as there was no fuss & they did not take away from the elegant surroundings.
With all the big items in place it was time to turn our attention to the smaller but not to be forgotten details of the bridal flowers and hairdresser.
Coming from London we needed to find a hairdresser here who would help create Phaedra’s look on the day. Again we arranged a meeting in the months leading up to the wedding so ideas could be discussed and trialled!
The only instruction Phaedra had given me for her bouquet was simple! “Something small that I can hold so I don’t fidget!” A simple hand tied bouquet in cream & velvet burgundy roses fitted the bill, with the same roses used in the guy’s buttonholes to complete the theme!
Phaedra & Lawson’s wedding – simple classic perfection as the photos mirror, planned to perfection with a little help from a friend!
Distance is no object when planning a wedding as long as you are organised & in control of your budget. Lawson’s use of his spreadsheet meant he knew at a glance what was done & what was still to do in what time limit.
Phaedra & Lawson have busy schedules with lots of travelling involved, their professionalism & organisation was evident from our first meeting, but early on in their planning stages they recognised the importance of having a professional to help in the run up to the wedding to make suggestions & finalise all the work they had already put into place.
Plan your own wedding, but have the foresight to enjoy the fruits of your labour and get that professional finish!!
Phaedra & Lawsons Comments……
“As we began planning our wedding we quickly realised we had underestimated the amount of detail involved and we knew we’d need help. Roni was fantastic. She was able to source suppliers, coordinate logistics and handle all the details that we couldn’t. At every stage, she always made us feel that everything was under control (which it was). Having Roni around meant that we didn’t have to worry about anything on the day and could simply focus on making our wedding the most memorable day of our lives.”
Phaedra & Lawson
June 2008