How did it all start?
I’ve always had an interest in the wedding tradition, and was thoroughly inspired by the Royal Weddings, which led to me starting by coordinating a friend’s wedding, and realizing this was my forte.
Do you have a favourite venue?
Pembroke Lodge is fantastic. Set inside the beautiful Royal Richmond Park, there is a cornucopia of flora and fauna on site, including herds of wild deer and elegant flower gardens, which really add something special to weddings at the location.
However, I have to say that it would be a dream to coordinate a wedding set within the magnificent Sistine Chapel, the most exquisite place of worship on earth.
How would clients describe you?
Gregarious, determined and conscientious.
Wedding planner you admire?
Sandy Moretta of Tern Events and the UKAWP fame. She’s an inspiration to planners of every level and a true asset to the industry.
How do you unwind?
Curling up with a magazine or doing a spot of internet shopping.
What themes are you working on for 2011/12?
Having recently created an inspiration board themed by Regency Paris, Marie Antoinette and the splendor and opulence of the Palace of Versailles, I would love to incorporate these iconic fashions into a wedding to garnish the ceremony with real renaissance femininity.
I’m also working on a plethora of other inspirations, but you’ll have to watch this space to find out more…
What trends are you seeing?
The infiltration of Eastern culture and tradition into Western weddings, such as the red bridal gowns; and entire wedding weekends are becoming increasingly popular.
What is your signature dish?
Slow roasted venison marinated in a beautiful Rjoca or Tempranillo, with rosemary potatoes and rustic vegetables. Sherry trifle and fruit for desert.
Whose celebrity wedding (dead or alive) would you love to design?
Grace Kelly, who’s feminity and grace was innate, and her story was one of the greatest ever told. She was a true star of Hollywood’s Silver Screen.
Is the job as glamorous as you thought?
I didn’t imagine the job to be glamorous per se, but rather one that is highly rewarding. And that it is, with a huge sense of achievement and satisfaction when one can see the fruits of their endeavours on the special day.
What is your vice?
I’m a slave to exercise and walking is one of my favourite pastimes. I also spend a lot of my free time keeping au fait with current fashions and trends. Not to mention, I’m a closet workaholic!
UKAWP Member Focus
