Julie and I have known each other for a few years now, from having horses together at the same yard at one point but it wasn’t until she was a guest at another wedding I’d helped plan, that she approached me about helping her with her own.
Both Julie and Adrian had made great headway with their planning but wanted support in the finishing touches so I created a bespoke package designed to help them with some styling aspects and coordinate their day.
They had already designed their invites and stationery suite for the wedding day but they wanted some signs that were significant to them as a couple so I enlisted one of my favourite designers Gray Starling to create five beautiful large canvases which I strategically placed around the venue at points to take guests on a journey both metaphorically and literally!
Julie and Adrian also asked me to come up with some favour ideas for guests because they couldn’t provide alcohol at the venue so after some discussions about things that were meaningful to them, I recruited the amazing Poppy Pickering to handcraft chocolate dogs in a split of white and milk chocolate which were beautifully packaged to fit the theme.
The lakeside-wedding venue is an offshoot of the Gilpin’s main hotel. It is a picturesque, boutique venue and as its name suggests, sits right on the side of a lake. The staff there are very experienced in running weddings so my support on the day was more about the personal touches and providing support to my couple.
People often wonder why you might want a planner when venues have coordinators included but we work in different ways. A venue coordinator will be there to make sure things are logistically in the right place at the right time such as the dining set up, the food (in these scenarios the food usually comes internally from the venue rather than an outside caterer) and a room change around whereas a personal planner like myself, is there for the couple. We are there to ensure they are where they need to be on time and ensure their needs are met throughout the day. The venue will work to our timetable and there is no reason we can’t support each other in providing a successful day for the couple.
That’s exactly what happened on Julie and Adrian’s day. Although it chose to rain (of course it did, it’s England), which meant we needed to execute a last minute indoor plan, nothing could ruin how beautiful it all looked. It had been Julie’s dream to get married in the arbor outside by the lake but the hotel had a stunning, panoramic room which, with the bi-folding doors opened out and breathtaking florals by Brackens of Bowness made a substitute no one could be upset about!
The day went without a hitch with highlights such as Julie and Adrian executing a well rehearsed Foxtrot first dance, and the most amazing cake, which had model versions of Julie and Adrian in a boat on the lake.
Many thanks to Julie and Adrian for sharing their images with me. Taken by Rachel Winter Photography.
Lots of Love…
“Ellen was invaluable in the six-months prior to our wedding. She was always available no matter what time of the day or night I contacted her. She managed to source exactly what I wanted for my gifts to our guests. Always with a smile and a calm word. A very level; caring lady who obviously wants her bride to have the best day possible. No job was too big or too small, managing all my suppliers in an excellent manner. They would all very happily work with her again. An absolute delight”.
— Julie and Adrian
