"We were recommended Val at Benessamy by one of our friends to assist us with our wedding planning as we were looking for someone who was really experienced as we live overseas in Dubai and might need that little bit of extra help with a few things.
We were so glad we took that recommendation, as Val and her lovely daughter Jess who was helping out on her break from Uni were both absolutely fabulous!
Right from our initial meeting Val was great and in constant contact over our year of planning. Val was extremely thorough and in the schedule for our wedding we felt really happy and secure that she had everything covered. She contacted all of our suppliers and worked with our venue ensuring that everything was in place for our special day.
On the morning of the wedding we could really relax and look forward to the day as everything was being dealt with which took away all of our nerves. Val and Jess were constantly updating us both on the deliveries and vendors etc. Our friends and family commented how lovely Val was and she blended in almost as a guest chatting with them and making sure everything was just great. She also worked so well almost as part of a team with our photographer, videographer, harpist and band making sure they had all they needed too.
When we saw the setup for our wedding breakfast it really blew us away how Val had worked in such a short space of time with the venue to make all our visions a reality with no detail spared. When we did have a little glitch....it was Val who calmed us down and sorted things out. We would recommend Val and her team at Benessamy without hesitation. We had a truly magical wedding day and we just couldn’t imagine the day being so amazing without her."
"On the day, having the peace of mind that Val was there meant we could truly relax, and didn't have to worry about anything. We had an action packed day and Val ensured everything ran to time and without a glitch. Val had everything covered, plus lots of thoughtful touches that helped immeasurably - i.e. handheld fans in the heat, keeping track of cards and gifts and packaging everything up so perfectly at the end of the night so nothing got lost or forgotten.
You can’t put a price on the reassurance of knowing there’s someone there for you on the day doing everything in their power to make sure you have the best possible time and you’re shielded from questions or any hiccups, only exposed to the fun and joy surrounding you.
Val’s incredibly thorough approach and calm demeanour worked perfectly and I was so grateful to have complete trust in her that she understood our vision for the day and executed it to perfection”.
Photography: Loved up Films
"Val helped my husband plan a surprise 50th birthday weekend for me - and it was truly amazing in every way and I know he couldn't have done it without her! The sheer scale of the events and the wonderful surprises that just kept on coming were a master class in planning and attention to detail. And the icing on the cake, Val is a warm and lovely person who genuinely did everything she could to make my birthday one I will never forget. Thanks so much Val!"
Sally Binley
Photography by Daniel Hughes Photography
"Val at 'Benessamy has been invaluable over the last year, organising and running our NCS graduations. With almost 500 young people graduating from NCS over a series of 8 events last summer, Val proved that she can be calm under pressure and managed to pull off some spectacular events focusing on the achievements of the young people involved and their inspiring stories of volunteering in their local communities.
Things went so well in the summer, we absolutely had to have her back for our autumn graduations and another set of 200 inspiring young people. I really valued having Val's expertise and advice on board for all our events and am looking forward to working with her again this year. I just don't think we could have pulled it off without her!"
Sarah Hartley - Marketing Manager, National Citizen Service Notts & Derby
"Val - Where do I start?! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Honestly, you were an absolute star from beginning to end. All of your support in the lead up to our wedding was fabulous. I can't thank you enough for calming me down during my "Bridezilla" moments! (sorry) and for arranging the amazing light up letters when our original option didn't go to plan.
You are wonderful at what you do and I will be sure to recommend your fantastic service to anyone planning a wedding. If we ever renew our vows (!!) I know who I will be calling to arrange it!
"I have to confess that when Joanna suggested we have a wedding planner I thought 'do we really need one?' Then we met Val and the answer was a resounding 'yes!'
Undertaking a wedding at home is no mean feat and to have Val’s calm presence in the run up to the wedding was invaluable. She is a very quiet powerhouse! With her directing everything, it allowed us to really enjoy the preparations and see all the ideas come together seamlessly. Even when there was a hiccup (the large illuminated sign failed to materialise) Val managed to find a replacement, at 3 o'clock on a Friday afternoon in wedding season!
On the day, it was lovely to have her with us making sure that every detail in the marquee and the church was correct, and later on directing the timings and all the minutiae that go to making a truly memorable day run smoothly. I truly could not have managed without her and cannot recommend her highly enough. Thank you Val."
Sue (Mother of the Bride)
"Where do we start....Having Val on board for our wedding was easily one of the best and easiest decisions we made! A truly unique lady who we couldn't have done without. Our wedding was quite simply our best day ever and having Val as our wedding planner ensured that the whole day ran smoothly.
Professional, supportive and offering guidance when needed, Val is a must have at your wedding. She gave us things to think about that we hadn't even considered and gave answers to our many questions. Val gave us peace of mind at the time we needed it most and we would not hesitate in recommending Val and Benessamy....if you're thinking about hiring her, take our word for it...she's truly AMAZING!"
Matt Brown Photography
"We can't thank Val enough for the fantastic summer ball she organised for our staff this July. Val and her team took care of everything from the venue and catering to the excellent entertainment, and was there to ensure everything ran seamlessly on the night. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend her services and we all agree it was the best company event we've ever had! Thank you on behalf of Matt, Alistair, Amanda, the rest of JHAI Ltd's Board and all the lucky attendees."
"My first encounter with Val was when I was lucky enough to WIN a wedding planning party through her website. I think it must have been fate! This was such an awesome idea - getting together with our bridal party, eating cake, drinking tea and talking with Val about where to begin with wedding planning. She was like a breath of fresh air! I had previously met wedding planners and I really felt like the focus of their service was wrong. As someone who loves organisation, I could see that I was going to get on with Val immediately! She was so open about the whole process, identifying the challenges and how to overcome them.
All of my friends and family came away from that party feeling like they had made a new friend (who just so happens to be very knowledgeable about how to host the perfect wedding!) I knew from then that we had to book Val to help us on the day.
Hosting an entire wedding weekend, and going very much for the DIY approach, we knew we needed someone who, on the day, could make sure that all of our hard work and planning was realised. Val was the perfect lady for the job. She not only helped us with any queries we had, at any point in the process, but she met with us 2 weeks before and put together a super-detailed schedule for the whole weekend. On the day, she was like a swan gliding around with grace and calm, but below the surface working SO hard, achieving more than we expected, or asked. Val went far beyond what we expected and we will never be able to thank her enough for all of her advice, calm words during moments of stress and her love of lists! So many of our friends and family have commented on how much they LOVED Val, and we know that without a doubt it was the best wedding decision we made (of ALL the decisions we made!!).
Val went above and beyond all of our expectations and we know, 100% that our wedding simply would not have been the PERFECT day that it was without her and the lovely Jess. Even the day before, during the set up (which Val was there for, from start to finish!), Val made sure that I took time to take care of myself and get some lunch. An absolute superstar!"
"From the moment we met Val we were really impressed! She is extremely professional, organised and friendly. Her advice and input in the pre-wedding meetings were really useful in identifying any potential issues so they could be addressed before the wedding. On the wedding day everything was co-ordinated brilliantly.
We hired Val to help us out on the day of our wedding as we had a wedding across two different venues. This obviously created many extra complications and we were very grateful that we had Val to sort them out.
Val helped us to organise our wedding across the two different venues. She was extremely professional and co-ordinated everything brilliantly. When we weren't sure who was turning up exactly when, Val knew; when flowers needed to be taken from one place to the next and set out, we could be confident that it would be - and was - done and done well; and when Hal managed to forget various things moving from venue to venue, Val was on hand to sort it out.
We had a fantastic day and a big part of that was not having to worry about anything because we had such a great wedding planner. She gave us the confidence that any problems or issues that needed to be addressed would be."
Michelle Waspe Photography
"Val organised a wonderful Jazz and Cocktail Evening in support of Nottingham Hospitals Charity Renal Unit. It was an amazing event, with fantastic food, drink and music. Val’s attention to detail was incredible. From the beautiful decorations to the table plan, everything was exceptionally well presented. The event raised a brilliant £3,400 and was thoroughly enjoyed by all attended. We look forward to working with Val again in the future."
Ruth Brady - Community Fundraiser, Nottingham University Hospitals Charity Trust
Photography by Dan Hughes Photography
“Thank you for everything you did to help us on our wedding day. You and your team were absolutely amazing! You took all the stress and pressure off so we were able to just relax and enjoy our day!" - Ami & Gavin
"Hiring Benessamy was by far and away the best decision we made regarding our wedding. Val and her team were absolutely phenomenal! Whether in the pre-planning stages, on the day itself, or during the dreaded clean-up/aftermath, we couldn't have done it without their help. Val's organisation and attention to detail are second to none. She has a directory of amazing suppliers and no challenge is too great. However full on things get, she's always as cool as a cucumber and manages to get everything done with a smile! I didn't once feel stressed in the run up to the wedding, and that was 100% down to Val and her team and knowing I could trust them implicitly to help us make our dream wedding come true. We can't thank you enough Benessamy!"
“Val was like a sponge, armed with a notepad absorbing everything we said, listening to every name we mentioned, every little detail we hinted at. Calm, collected and logical in her planning pre wedding and then BOOM! Val arrived on the day, told us she was on it and literally made our dream day run like clockwork.
Her service is fantastic, helping out on setting up the tipi and running through rehearsals to grabbing champagne bottles and sorting table names. Val was like a wedding wizard!”
"My personal thanks for all you did around the Gala Ball. It definitely would not have been the event it was without you.
The Ballroom looked splendid and I have had very postive feedback about the occasion. One person said it was the best ball they had been to! My sincere thanks." - Denis Tully - CEO Emmanuel House
"Thank you so much for your time and talents you gave to Emmanuel House and the Gala Ball. It would not have been the wonderful spectacle it was without you.
With deep appreciation." - The Board of Trustees - Emmanuel House
Photography by Pete Henderson Photography
"We wanted our 10 year wedding anniversary to be extra special, to make this happen we needed an expert within the industry. That is why we chose Val Mattinson at Benessamy.
Val is a very special lady, with her charm, charisma and excellent eye for detail, our day was exactly how we had planned it. One of our requirements was to have Peter Cox from Go West sing at the renewal. With lots of conversations and tracking on Twitter, Val made this happen! The whole weekend from start to finish was FANTASTIC."
"On the morning of the wedding, Chris and his friends went out clay pigeon shooting. I on the other hand went for a leisurely run around Norwood Park. Several of our friends along with the hair stylist and make-up artist commented that they’d never seen anyone so completely calm before getting married.
As much as we’d love to claim we have nerves of steel, we in fact have Val and Anna to thank for everything! Val provided us with her full wedding planning service which meant she helped us every step of the way from choosing a location, finding fantastic suppliers to liaising with the local Register offices and then pulling all the details together on the big day. We were so calm because we knew the team had everything under control and that things would just run smoothly."
"Planning a wedding can be hard enough at times but when you’re doing it from hundreds of miles away I’d imagine it adds a whole other level of stress. Thankfully we have no clue what that other level of stress feels like because we had Val. She kept us on track, offered support when needed and gave us ideas we never would have come up with on our own. The day itself could not have gone any better. Our guests still talk about the wedding and how much fun they had.
It was an absolute pleasure working with Val so if you’re thinking about hiring Benessamy...do it!"
"Val and her team were absolutely amazing and were pivotal to the success of the day. Val is super calm, yet focused on the job in hand. She has a lovely manner that motivates everyone and nothing is too much trouble, any issues are overcome without a drama. Val runs the event in the background like clockwork, anticipating every guest’s needs and ensures the perfect day is delivered. She is a true professional and I have no hesitation in recommending Val and her team”.
Ann-Marie Hunter, Mother of the Bride
Photography: The Glass Passport - Richard Tilney-Bassett
"I so wish I’d known about Benessamy before I got married! Val was the wedding planner for my sister-in-law's amazing wedding this summer. It was a mind blowing brief for 250 people and she handled it all with such finesse, accuracy and calm. The whole day was just incredible, there was nothing left undone, it was perfect and effortless in every way. Even the sudden turn in the weather didn’t throw her, everything was taken care of with a smile and a solution. It was the most amazing day, and it was all down to Val and her team. For anyone considering using Benessamy, don’t even think twice, you’ll never regret it, she throws one hell of a party! Are you free to organise my 40th?"
Lucie - Bride's sister-in-law
"On the day, having the peace of mind that Val was there meant we could truly relax, and didn't have to worry about anything. We had an action packed day and Val ensured everything ran to time and without a glitch. Val had everything covered, plus lots of thoughtful touches that helped immeasurably - i.e. handheld fans in the heat, keeping track of cards and gifts and packaging everything up so perfectly at the end of the night so nothing got lost or forgotten.
You can’t put a price on the reassurance of knowing there’s someone there for you on the day doing everything in their power to make sure you have the best possible time and you’re shielded from questions or any hiccups, only exposed to the fun and joy surrounding you.
Val’s incredibly thorough approach and calm demeanour worked perfectly and I was so grateful to have complete trust in her that she understood our vision for the day and executed it to perfection”.
Photography: Loved up Films
“Thank you for everything you did to help us on our wedding day. You and your team were absolutely amazing! You took all the stress and pressure off so we were able to just relax and enjoy our day!" - Ami & Gavin
“Val was like a sponge, armed with a notepad absorbing everything we said, listening to every name we mentioned, every little detail we hinted at. Calm, collected and logical in her planning pre wedding and then BOOM! Val arrived on the day, told us she was on it and literally made our dream day run like clockwork.
Her service is fantastic, helping out on setting up the tipi and running through rehearsals to grabbing champagne bottles and sorting table names. Val was like a wedding wizard!”
"Val - Where do I start?! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Honestly, you were an absolute star from beginning to end. All of your support in the lead up to our wedding was fabulous. I can't thank you enough for calming me down during my "Bridezilla" moments! (sorry) and for arranging the amazing light up letters when our original option didn't go to plan.
You are wonderful at what you do and I will be sure to recommend your fantastic service to anyone planning a wedding. If we ever renew our vows (!!) I know who I will be calling to arrange it!
"On the morning of the wedding, Chris and his friends went out clay pigeon shooting. I on the other hand went for a leisurely run around Norwood Park. Several of our friends along with the hair stylist and make-up artist commented that they’d never seen anyone so completely calm before getting married.
As much as we’d love to claim we have nerves of steel, we in fact have Val and Anna to thank for everything! Val provided us with her full wedding planning service which meant she helped us every step of the way from choosing a location, finding fantastic suppliers to liaising with the local Register offices and then pulling all the details together on the big day. We were so calm because we knew the team had everything under control and that things would just run smoothly."
"Planning a wedding can be hard enough at times but when you’re doing it from hundreds of miles away I’d imagine it adds a whole other level of stress. Thankfully we have no clue what that other level of stress feels like because we had Val. She kept us on track, offered support when needed and gave us ideas we never would have come up with on our own. The day itself could not have gone any better. Our guests still talk about the wedding and how much fun they had.
It was an absolute pleasure working with Val so if you’re thinking about hiring Benessamy...do it!"
"I so wish I’d known about Benessamy before I got married! Val was the wedding planner for my sister-in-law's amazing wedding this summer. It was a mind blowing brief for 250 people and she handled it all with such finesse, accuracy and calm. The whole day was just incredible, there was nothing left undone, it was perfect and effortless in every way. Even the sudden turn in the weather didn’t throw her, everything was taken care of with a smile and a solution. It was the most amazing day, and it was all down to Val and her team. For anyone considering using Benessamy, don’t even think twice, you’ll never regret it, she throws one hell of a party! Are you free to organise my 40th?"
Lucie - Bride's sister-in-law
"From the moment we met Val we were really impressed! She is extremely professional, organised and friendly. Her advice and input in the pre-wedding meetings were really useful in identifying any potential issues so they could be addressed before the wedding. On the wedding day everything was co-ordinated brilliantly.
We hired Val to help us out on the day of our wedding as we had a wedding across two different venues. This obviously created many extra complications and we were very grateful that we had Val to sort them out.
Val helped us to organise our wedding across the two different venues. She was extremely professional and co-ordinated everything brilliantly. When we weren't sure who was turning up exactly when, Val knew; when flowers needed to be taken from one place to the next and set out, we could be confident that it would be - and was - done and done well; and when Hal managed to forget various things moving from venue to venue, Val was on hand to sort it out.
We had a fantastic day and a big part of that was not having to worry about anything because we had such a great wedding planner. She gave us the confidence that any problems or issues that needed to be addressed would be."
Michelle Waspe Photography
"My first encounter with Val was when I was lucky enough to WIN a wedding planning party through her website. I think it must have been fate! This was such an awesome idea - getting together with our bridal party, eating cake, drinking tea and talking with Val about where to begin with wedding planning. She was like a breath of fresh air! I had previously met wedding planners and I really felt like the focus of their service was wrong. As someone who loves organisation, I could see that I was going to get on with Val immediately! She was so open about the whole process, identifying the challenges and how to overcome them.
All of my friends and family came away from that party feeling like they had made a new friend (who just so happens to be very knowledgeable about how to host the perfect wedding!) I knew from then that we had to book Val to help us on the day.
Hosting an entire wedding weekend, and going very much for the DIY approach, we knew we needed someone who, on the day, could make sure that all of our hard work and planning was realised. Val was the perfect lady for the job. She not only helped us with any queries we had, at any point in the process, but she met with us 2 weeks before and put together a super-detailed schedule for the whole weekend. On the day, she was like a swan gliding around with grace and calm, but below the surface working SO hard, achieving more than we expected, or asked. Val went far beyond what we expected and we will never be able to thank her enough for all of her advice, calm words during moments of stress and her love of lists! So many of our friends and family have commented on how much they LOVED Val, and we know that without a doubt it was the best wedding decision we made (of ALL the decisions we made!!).
Val went above and beyond all of our expectations and we know, 100% that our wedding simply would not have been the PERFECT day that it was without her and the lovely Jess. Even the day before, during the set up (which Val was there for, from start to finish!), Val made sure that I took time to take care of myself and get some lunch. An absolute superstar!"
"We wanted our 10 year wedding anniversary to be extra special, to make this happen we needed an expert within the industry. That is why we chose Val Mattinson at Benessamy.
Val is a very special lady, with her charm, charisma and excellent eye for detail, our day was exactly how we had planned it. One of our requirements was to have Peter Cox from Go West sing at the renewal. With lots of conversations and tracking on Twitter, Val made this happen! The whole weekend from start to finish was FANTASTIC."
"Val and her team were absolutely amazing and were pivotal to the success of the day. Val is super calm, yet focused on the job in hand. She has a lovely manner that motivates everyone and nothing is too much trouble, any issues are overcome without a drama. Val runs the event in the background like clockwork, anticipating every guest’s needs and ensures the perfect day is delivered. She is a true professional and I have no hesitation in recommending Val and her team”.
Ann-Marie Hunter, Mother of the Bride
Photography: The Glass Passport - Richard Tilney-Bassett
"We were recommended Val at Benessamy by one of our friends to assist us with our wedding planning as we were looking for someone who was really experienced as we live overseas in Dubai and might need that little bit of extra help with a few things.
We were so glad we took that recommendation, as Val and her lovely daughter Jess who was helping out on her break from Uni were both absolutely fabulous!
Right from our initial meeting Val was great and in constant contact over our year of planning. Val was extremely thorough and in the schedule for our wedding we felt really happy and secure that she had everything covered. She contacted all of our suppliers and worked with our venue ensuring that everything was in place for our special day.
On the morning of the wedding we could really relax and look forward to the day as everything was being dealt with which took away all of our nerves. Val and Jess were constantly updating us both on the deliveries and vendors etc. Our friends and family commented how lovely Val was and she blended in almost as a guest chatting with them and making sure everything was just great. She also worked so well almost as part of a team with our photographer, videographer, harpist and band making sure they had all they needed too.
When we saw the setup for our wedding breakfast it really blew us away how Val had worked in such a short space of time with the venue to make all our visions a reality with no detail spared. When we did have a little glitch....it was Val who calmed us down and sorted things out. We would recommend Val and her team at Benessamy without hesitation. We had a truly magical wedding day and we just couldn’t imagine the day being so amazing without her."
"Where do we start....Having Val on board for our wedding was easily one of the best and easiest decisions we made! A truly unique lady who we couldn't have done without. Our wedding was quite simply our best day ever and having Val as our wedding planner ensured that the whole day ran smoothly.
Professional, supportive and offering guidance when needed, Val is a must have at your wedding. She gave us things to think about that we hadn't even considered and gave answers to our many questions. Val gave us peace of mind at the time we needed it most and we would not hesitate in recommending Val and Benessamy....if you're thinking about hiring her, take our word for it...she's truly AMAZING!"
Matt Brown Photography
"I have to confess that when Joanna suggested we have a wedding planner I thought 'do we really need one?' Then we met Val and the answer was a resounding 'yes!'
Undertaking a wedding at home is no mean feat and to have Val’s calm presence in the run up to the wedding was invaluable. She is a very quiet powerhouse! With her directing everything, it allowed us to really enjoy the preparations and see all the ideas come together seamlessly. Even when there was a hiccup (the large illuminated sign failed to materialise) Val managed to find a replacement, at 3 o'clock on a Friday afternoon in wedding season!
On the day, it was lovely to have her with us making sure that every detail in the marquee and the church was correct, and later on directing the timings and all the minutiae that go to making a truly memorable day run smoothly. I truly could not have managed without her and cannot recommend her highly enough. Thank you Val."
Sue (Mother of the Bride)
"Hiring Benessamy was by far and away the best decision we made regarding our wedding. Val and her team were absolutely phenomenal! Whether in the pre-planning stages, on the day itself, or during the dreaded clean-up/aftermath, we couldn't have done it without their help. Val's organisation and attention to detail are second to none. She has a directory of amazing suppliers and no challenge is too great. However full on things get, she's always as cool as a cucumber and manages to get everything done with a smile! I didn't once feel stressed in the run up to the wedding, and that was 100% down to Val and her team and knowing I could trust them implicitly to help us make our dream wedding come true. We can't thank you enough Benessamy!"
"Val helped my husband plan a surprise 50th birthday weekend for me - and it was truly amazing in every way and I know he couldn't have done it without her! The sheer scale of the events and the wonderful surprises that just kept on coming were a master class in planning and attention to detail. And the icing on the cake, Val is a warm and lovely person who genuinely did everything she could to make my birthday one I will never forget. Thanks so much Val!"
Sally Binley
Photography by Daniel Hughes Photography
"Val organised a wonderful Jazz and Cocktail Evening in support of Nottingham Hospitals Charity Renal Unit. It was an amazing event, with fantastic food, drink and music. Val’s attention to detail was incredible. From the beautiful decorations to the table plan, everything was exceptionally well presented. The event raised a brilliant £3,400 and was thoroughly enjoyed by all attended. We look forward to working with Val again in the future."
Ruth Brady - Community Fundraiser, Nottingham University Hospitals Charity Trust
Photography by Dan Hughes Photography
"We can't thank Val enough for the fantastic summer ball she organised for our staff this July. Val and her team took care of everything from the venue and catering to the excellent entertainment, and was there to ensure everything ran seamlessly on the night. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend her services and we all agree it was the best company event we've ever had! Thank you on behalf of Matt, Alistair, Amanda, the rest of JHAI Ltd's Board and all the lucky attendees."
"My personal thanks for all you did around the Gala Ball. It definitely would not have been the event it was without you.
The Ballroom looked splendid and I have had very postive feedback about the occasion. One person said it was the best ball they had been to! My sincere thanks." - Denis Tully - CEO Emmanuel House
"Thank you so much for your time and talents you gave to Emmanuel House and the Gala Ball. It would not have been the wonderful spectacle it was without you.
With deep appreciation." - The Board of Trustees - Emmanuel House
Photography by Pete Henderson Photography
"Val at 'Benessamy has been invaluable over the last year, organising and running our NCS graduations. With almost 500 young people graduating from NCS over a series of 8 events last summer, Val proved that she can be calm under pressure and managed to pull off some spectacular events focusing on the achievements of the young people involved and their inspiring stories of volunteering in their local communities.
Things went so well in the summer, we absolutely had to have her back for our autumn graduations and another set of 200 inspiring young people. I really valued having Val's expertise and advice on board for all our events and am looking forward to working with her again this year. I just don't think we could have pulled it off without her!"
Sarah Hartley - Marketing Manager, National Citizen Service Notts & Derby
