Our Planning Blog

Join our Director and Head Planner Val Mattinson for news, event and wedding planning advice, design and styling inspiration.


Speeches are a cherished wedding tradition and usually a key element of any wedding reception. They allow the couple and members of the wedding party to express their love, appreciation and gratitude for each other and everyone else in attendance. They also play an important role in setting the tone of a wedding reception, often adding a touch of emotion and a hint of fun.

Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Speeches

Speeches are a cherished wedding tradition and usually a key element of any wedding reception. They allow the couple and members of the wedding party to express their love, appreciation and gratitude for each other and everyone else in attendance. They also play an important role in setting the tone of a wedding reception, often adding a touch of emotion and a hint of fun.

Jun 11 2025


A wedding MC, or Master of Ceremonies, is responsible for hosting and guiding guests through your reception. Above all, their job is to keep things running smoothly. As they’re often the first person guests hear from after being seated, a wedding MC also plays an important role in creating the overall mood of your reception.

Everything You Need to Know About Wedding MCs

A wedding MC, or Master of Ceremonies, is responsible for hosting and guiding guests through your reception. Above all, their job is to keep things running smoothly. As they’re often the first person guests hear from after being seated, a wedding MC also plays an important role in creating the overall mood of your reception.

May 28 2025


A party vibe which was ‘relaxed but not low key in a beige way!'

A Tropical Garden Birthday Party - The Ivy City Garden London

A party vibe which was ‘relaxed but not low key in a beige way!'

May 01 2025


When you’re planning your wedding breakfast, deciding who sits where can be a daunting task. As well as tackling your entire guest list, you’ve got to seat yourselves and your wedding party.

3 Alternatives to the Traditional Top Table

When you’re planning your wedding breakfast, deciding who sits where can be a daunting task. As well as tackling your entire guest list, you’ve got to seat yourselves and your wedding party.

Apr 27 2025


Are you planning a wedding with a black tie dress code? Wondering where to start with your own sartorial decisions? Who better to guide you through getting dressed than experienced tailor, Adrian Barrows. Here’s his guide to wearing black tie for your wedding…

A Tailor’s Guide to Wearing Black Tie for Your Wedding

Are you planning a wedding with a black tie dress code? Wondering where to start with your own sartorial decisions? Who better to guide you through getting dressed than experienced tailor, Adrian Barrows. Here’s his guide to wearing black tie for your wedding…

Mar 28 2025


Corporate retreats are a great way to boost morale and show appreciation for your team. They give employees time and space to bond with each other which can improve the atmosphere in the workplace. With so many people working remotely these days, strengthening relationships through in-person events is more important than ever before.

Corporate Retreats – How to Unite and Inspire Your Team

Corporate retreats are a great way to boost morale and show appreciation for your team. They give employees time and space to bond with each other which can improve the atmosphere in the workplace. With so many people working remotely these days, strengthening relationships through in-person events is more important than ever before.

Mar 19 2025


If you’ve started searching for your dream wedding venue, you’ve probably come across the term ‘exclusive use’. Confused? Read on and I’ll explain…

Everything You Need to Know About Exclusive Use Wedding Venues

If you’ve started searching for your dream wedding venue, you’ve probably come across the term ‘exclusive use’. Confused? Read on and I’ll explain…

Feb 11 2025


Weddings are steeped in ritual, customs and tradition. Everything from where you spend the night before to what you wear and how you enter the ceremony is influenced by these things. Most wedding traditions in the UK have a long history, and although they’ve evolved a lot over time, many of them still seem more suited to the past than the present day.

Wedding Traditions – Ditch or Keep?

Weddings are steeped in ritual, customs and tradition. Everything from where you spend the night before to what you wear and how you enter the ceremony is influenced by these things. Most wedding traditions in the UK have a long history, and although they’ve evolved a lot over time, many of them still seem more suited to the past than the present day.

Dec 31 2024


Food, glorious food! Feasting and dining together is a central part of any wedding celebration. If you’ve never planned a large event, it can feel like a lot to get your head around, especially if your wedding is taking place over a few days. On top of the logistics of serving food at your wedding, there’s just so much choice these days. Where do you start?!

A Wedding Planner’s Guide to Serving Food at Your Wedding

Food, glorious food! Feasting and dining together is a central part of any wedding celebration. If you’ve never planned a large event, it can feel like a lot to get your head around, especially if your wedding is taking place over a few days. On top of the logistics of serving food at your wedding, there’s just so much choice these days. Where do you start?!

Dec 15 2024


A marquee wedding offers masses of flexibility. As well as the freedom to host your celebration in a dream location without the constraints of a permanent building, there’s scope to personalise the space and make it your own. However, many couples underestimate the work involved in planning a marquee wedding. There are lots of practical things to consider, so let’s dive into a few of them.

Benessamy’s Guide to Planning the Perfect Marquee Wedding

A marquee wedding offers masses of flexibility. As well as the freedom to host your celebration in a dream location without the constraints of a permanent building, there’s scope to personalise the space and make it your own. However, many couples underestimate the work involved in planning a marquee wedding. There are lots of practical things to consider, so let’s dive into a few of them.

Nov 15 2024