Our Planning Blog

Join our Founder and CEO Val Mattinson for news, event and wedding planning advice, design and styling inspiration.


If you’re getting married in Barbados, you’ll want to make the most of the island while you’re there. If your guests are treating your wedding as the perfect excuse for a holiday, they’ll be looking for inspiration too. My family are from Barbados, so it’s a destination close to my heart.

6 Things To Do In Barbados

If you’re getting married in Barbados, you’ll want to make the most of the island while you’re there. If your guests are treating your wedding as the perfect excuse for a holiday, they’ll be looking for inspiration too. My family are from Barbados, so it’s a destination close to my heart.

Feb 18 2022


Even before I fell in love with organising luxurious weddings throughout the Caribbean and around the world, destination weddings and elopements had my heart. Watching a couple get married is always special but celebrating with them in an incredible location takes things to another level.

Is a Destination Wedding Right for You?

Even before I fell in love with organising luxurious weddings throughout the Caribbean and around the world, destination weddings and elopements had my heart. Watching a couple get married is always special but celebrating with them in an incredible location takes things to another level.

Jan 26 2022


There’s a quote by Maya Angelou that perfectly embodies my approach to planning weddings. ‘I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’

3 Ways to Ensure Your Wedding Guests Feel Extra Special

There’s a quote by Maya Angelou that perfectly embodies my approach to planning weddings. ‘I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’

Dec 15 2021


If you were due to get married in 2020, I probably don’t need to tell you how stressful a last-minute change of plans can be. You’ve weathered one of the biggest crises the wedding industry has ever experienced and likely dealt with numerous curveballs. However, a global pandemic isn’t the only thing that can throw things off course when you’re planning a wedding. Life happens, and even the most organised couples sometimes encounter bumps in the road.

Curveballs and Crises - What to Do When Wedding Plans Change

If you were due to get married in 2020, I probably don’t need to tell you how stressful a last-minute change of plans can be. You’ve weathered one of the biggest crises the wedding industry has ever experienced and likely dealt with numerous curveballs. However, a global pandemic isn’t the only thing that can throw things off course when you’re planning a wedding. Life happens, and even the most organised couples sometimes encounter bumps in the road.

Jan 14 2021


I’m writing this post in the midst of the UK’s second lockdown. COVID-19 has certainly kept us on our toes this year. As I type, wedding and civil partnership receptions and celebrations are not permitted to take place in the UK. Once lockdown is lifted and weddings can go ahead, the restrictions on numbers will remain in place. Whatever happens in the next few weeks and months, it seems small, intimate weddings will be the norm for the foreseeable future.

6 Reasons to Love Small, Intimate Weddings {Plus Advice, Inspiration and Ideas}

I’m writing this post in the midst of the UK’s second lockdown. COVID-19 has certainly kept us on our toes this year. As I type, wedding and civil partnership receptions and celebrations are not permitted to take place in the UK. Once lockdown is lifted and weddings can go ahead, the restrictions on numbers will remain in place. Whatever happens in the next few weeks and months, it seems small, intimate weddings will be the norm for the foreseeable future.

Nov 28 2020


Your wedding day is bound to be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. Declaring your commitment to one another in front of the people you love most is definitely worth celebrating. But that celebration doesn’t have to be traditional in order to feel meaningful and sincere. A Wedding Celebrant can help you create a ceremony that’s completely personal and tailored to you.

What is a Wedding Celebrant and What do They Do?

Your wedding day is bound to be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. Declaring your commitment to one another in front of the people you love most is definitely worth celebrating. But that celebration doesn’t have to be traditional in order to feel meaningful and sincere. A Wedding Celebrant can help you create a ceremony that’s completely personal and tailored to you.

Sep 09 2020


Now, more than ever before, couples have a very good reason to make their marriage official before holding a big celebration at a later date. The coronavirus pandemic has forced many to postpone their weddings until later this year or next. I’ve seen the heartache this has caused first-hand, and I know the situation is far from ideal. Now lockdown restrictions are being eased, couples at least have the option to hold a small civil ceremony, perhaps followed by a small reception. It might seem like a compromise, but it doesn’t have to be.

How to Do the ‘Legal Bit’ First and Plan a Heartfelt, Fun-Filled Party Later

Now, more than ever before, couples have a very good reason to make their marriage official before holding a big celebration at a later date. The coronavirus pandemic has forced many to postpone their weddings until later this year or next. I’ve seen the heartache this has caused first-hand, and I know the situation is far from ideal. Now lockdown restrictions are being eased, couples at least have the option to hold a small civil ceremony, perhaps followed by a small reception. It might seem like a compromise, but it doesn’t have to be.

Jul 20 2020


Why do we spend money on music concerts and festivals when we can download the same music straight onto our phones? It’s because music is inextricably linked to emotion.  You don’t just hear music – you feel it and those feelings evoke emotions like no other.

Wedding Musicians: The Magic of Live Music

Why do we spend money on music concerts and festivals when we can download the same music straight onto our phones? It’s because music is inextricably linked to emotion. You don’t just hear music – you feel it and those feelings evoke emotions like no other.

Jul 18 2020


Even before you’ve mentioned marriage, there’s something incredibly magical about whisking your partner away for a luxurious weekend city break. With this in mind, here are 5 romantic places to propose in Europe…

Where to Get Engaged - 5 Romantic Places to Propose in Europe

Even before you’ve mentioned marriage, there’s something incredibly magical about whisking your partner away for a luxurious weekend city break. With this in mind, here are 5 romantic places to propose in Europe…

Oct 26 2018


An usher or groomsman is one of the male attendants to the groom. Usually, the groom selects a handful of close friends and relations. The role of an usher may not be as central to the wedding as that of the best man, but they still have important duties to carry out.

Everything You Need to Know About Being an Usher

An usher or groomsman is one of the male attendants to the groom. Usually, the groom selects a handful of close friends and relations. The role of an usher may not be as central to the wedding as that of the best man, but they still have important duties to carry out.

Jul 24 2018