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Proud to win BrightPig’s Business Of The Week!

Proud to win BrightPig’s Business Of The Week!

I’m really pleased to add to my honoured collection of accolades with this lovely Business of the Week award from BrightPig.  

Bright Pig winner logo

BrightPig are an award winning marketing company, helping Small Businesses become visible with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) & Social Media. As chosen by BBC’s Dragons’ Den Theo Paphitis!

They run a weekly Twitter competition for businesses called BrightPig’s Business Of The Week (run on a Friday between 9am – 4pm including #BrightPig in your tweet!)

This is another fantastic award for Hanami Dream and I look forward to the extra publicity as a result of being a #BrightPigWINNER.

#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 2nd November 2016 – wedding flowers

#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 2nd November 2016 – wedding flowers

#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 2nd November 2016

As well as general wedding planning chat, there’s some #toptips as well. This week’s theme is ‘wedding flowers’ #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 1: The tradition of wedding flowers is steeped in symbolism – lots to think about in terms of colour, meaning & seasonality #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 2: Include flowers in your bouquet, corsages, button holes, table decorations, flower walls, displays, confetti … #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 3: Remember that flowers are seasonal so your favourite might not be available or cheap if it’s not in season #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 4: Flower prices vary during the year – especially red and pink roses around Valentine’s Day #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 5: Using local flowers & buying direct from the grower will save you money & you’ll have very fresh flowers #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 6: The colour of flowers change with the seasons #UKWedLunch

This week’s top tips taken from Hanami Dream blog ‘Seasonal wedding flowers – a beginner’s guide‘ with thanks to Dee McMeeking #UKWedLunch

JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT

Next week’s theme is ‘wedding insurance’ #UKWedLunch

Photography by Farrow Photography

Catering for special dietary requirements

Catering for special dietary requirements

As someone with dietary requirements, I’m always impressed (& relieved) when different diets are considered at a wedding (which also means I’ve got something to eat to soak up all that free drink!)

I stir clear of most dairy products (apart from the occasional chocolate treat and an annual ice cream when I’m on holiday) and have done for about 30 years now (yikes – now that’s showing my age isn’t it!) I found that dairy was a trigger for migraines and now I find that cheese or cream doesn’t agree with my stomach either after years of abstinence. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t miss it. In fact, just thinking about the smell of melted cheese makes me feel queasy!

When I was younger it was hard to find alternatives to dairy but now the supermarket shelves are stacked with wonderful ‘free from’ and alternatives to suit varied and diverse diets. I certainly don’t feel so difficult to cater for anymore!

For me, there’s not always an instant reaction to eating the things I avoid but for some people they may have a severe allergy or strong beliefs that mean they must not come in to contact with some foods.

That’s why I’m a strong believer in the importance of asking wedding guests if they have any special dietary requirements in order to respect their health, religious, moral or political choices. Plus it’s nice to have happy guests who don’t feel awkward (or hungry), tucking in to delicious food and not the same old unimaginative alternatives.

cutlery

Here’s my quick ABC of how to make sure you’re covering all your bases when it comes to catering for special dietary requirements.

A – Ask your guests as early as you can. Include a section on your RSVP cards (to send with the invites) for them to be able to fill in any dietary requirements. Or even on your save the date cards if you’re really on the ball. You could even give them an example of what the menu might be and get people to choose their meals in advance.

B – Base the menu on your tastes – it is your day after all! It’s a good starting point to think about what you like and dislike to eat plus what you have enjoyed feasting on at weddings that you’ve attended as guests. You can ensure the food will fit your theme and style of wedding. However be mindful if your tastes are unconventional as you want to be inclusive to your guests too. Which leads us to the next point…

C – Customise your menu. Create your menu in such a way that anyone with an allergy or dietary requirement can still enjoy the main aspect of the meal. However, for example, a vegetarian option shouldn’t just remove the meat element of the dish but rather have a delicious alternative instead. Likewise, for a non dairy person like myself, having the option to be able to add your own sauce to a meal (that may have cream, yoghurt, butter or cheese in it) could mean that I could still enjoy the same dish but without the sauce (or with a substitute sauce) rather than it coming served in the sauce. The main dish could remain the same but with some ‘pick and mix’ elements to ensure dietary requirements are met. A clever caterer will be able to think of ways to alter dishes to suit.

D – Diets to consider could include the following (although this is by no means an exhaustive list):

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Non dairy
  • Gluten free
  • Kosher
  • Halal
  • Hindu
  • Diabetic
  • Low fat
  • Low salt
  • Nut free
  • Child friendly
  • Pregancy

E – Establish and eliminate elements of the menu. Once you have a list of your guests requirements you can start to construct a menu with your caterer or venue that can suit their needs. If you are unsure what they can/can’t eat then it is always best to confirm with them and show them specific ingredient lists from the chef. Decide how many main dishes will be offered to guests such as a meat, a fish and a vegetarian option that can then all be adjusted to take in to account the different diets.

F – Figure out the style of meal being offered. How you serve food can have an impact on offering alternatives. For example, a sit down meal can mean that meals can be tailored individually though could be increase costs to prepare separate dishes for different people. A (well labelled) buffet could mean that guests can choose the food that is most appropriate to their diets although means that food may have been premade and harder to adjust on the day. A hog roast is a cheap and tasty way to mass cater but provides limited choices and alternative options.

G – Go and meet with your caterer / venue. Any chef worth their weight in gold won’t be phased (or surprised) by the challenge of catering for guests with different dietary requirements. As long as they know enough in advance, they can plan and prepare for the different meals. It is also worth checking how they prepare the food if allergies or religion are the reason for some special diets as you may need to use specific caterers for some meals.

H – Have your cake and eat it. Don’t forget about all meals and beverages that are going to be consumed during the day including your wedding cake. Think about having different tiers of the cake made to suit different guests. Or even having an alternative to a cake altogether.

I – Inform your guests. Make sure that you check the final menu with the guests that are most affected so that they know what they will be able to eat on the day. Communication plus no surprises puts most people at ease.

J – Just checking. Confirm numbers, menu and dietary requirements with the caterers / venue just prior to the big day so that it’s fresh in their minds. Plus check that the waiting staff know where the special meals are to be served at each table. Perhaps put a subtle symbol on the name places that signifies a special meal.

You don’t have to provide an a la carte menu with several variations, you just need a flexible kitchen and an inventive chef or caterer who can conjure up a meal to suit all diners.

Enjoy picking the menu for your wedding breakfast. Remember that it is your special day and you should choose what you both love. You won’t be able to please all your guests however keeping them well fed will be a good start to keeping them happy. Bon appetite!

See another of my blog posts of other ways to keep your wedding guests happy.

Photography by Farrow Photography

“We love that Nicola included everything from cake design to typography inspiration”

“We love that Nicola included everything from cake design to typography inspiration”

pantone_greenery

“Nicola’s consistent use of images featuring mums throughout her board lends a wonderful cohesive feel—it feels like all of these images could have come from one wedding. (Sometimes, mood boards can feel disjointed because images are pulled from so many different sources. This one didn’t have that issue at all.)

The even balance of colors feels professional. Greens, whites, and blacks are all placed well throughout the board—there’s no “too much” of any one color in any one spot.

This board’s imagery helps to convey a number of different aspects of a wedding. We love that Nicola included everything from cake design to typography inspiration. Overall, her board communicates a wedding that is fun, modern, and organic.

Christina Farrow, Aisle Planner – October 2016

http://community.aisleplanner.com/pantone-mood-board-competition/

“We love that Nicola included everything from cake design to typography inspiration”

Thanks for the kind words from judges Aisle Planner

Very proud to have won the greenery mood board in the recent UKAWEP SS17 Pantone® competition.

Aisle Planner, picked the winners for each colour and shared their thoughts on their blog –
http://community.aisleplanner.com/pantone-mood-board-competition/

Many thanks to Aisle Planner for their kind words:

“Nicola’s consistent use of images featuring mums throughout her board lends a wonderful cohesive feel—it feels like all of these images could have come from one wedding. (Sometimes, mood boards can feel disjointed because images are pulled from so many different sources. This one didn’t have that issue at all.)

The even balance of colors feels professional. Greens, whites, and blacks are all placed well throughout the board—there’s no “too much” of any one color in any one spot.

This board’s imagery helps to convey a number of different aspects of a wedding. We love that Nicola included everything from cake design to typography inspiration. Overall, her board communicates a wedding that is fun, modern, and organic.”

 

UKAWEP student logo

“We love that Nicola included everything from cake design to typography inspiration”

Winner of UKAWEP Pantone® mood board competition again!

Really proud to have won the UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning’s greenery‬ SS17 Pantone® mood board competition judged by Aisle Planner this year.

http://www.weddingacademylive.com/2016/10/24/announcing-pantone-design-competition-winners/

pantone_greeneryImage Credits (clockwise):
Bouquet via Intimate Weddings
Tablescape and Cake via Blooms By The Box
Tie & Buttonhole: Photographer Jaime Y Photography via Wedding Loft
Drinks: via Classic Bride
Shoes via Marriage.com
Bouquet: Photographer Will Hartl via Brides Magazine
Stationery: Photographer Jenny GG Photography via Modernly Wed

UKAWEP student logo

“She has a wonderful eye for those details that make a wedding day truly unique”

“She has a wonderful eye for those details that make a wedding day truly unique”

cogges-wedding-open-day-2016

“Cogges began working with Hanami Dream earlier this year on its first wedding open day, promoting both Cogges as a venue and recommended local suppliers. 

Nicola offered helpful and friendly advice, with invaluable support to help plan the day. She has a wonderful eye for those details that make a wedding day truly unique, and an ability to bring a little bit of magic into any bride’s big day. 

It was a great pleasure to work with Nicola and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Hanami Dream to anyone who wants practical help and inspiration along their wedding journey.”

Kim, Cogges Manor Farm – October 2016

#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 26th October 2016 – booking a wedding band

#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 26th October 2016 – booking a wedding band

#UKWedLunch – Wednesday 26th October 2016

As well as general wedding planning chat, there’s some #toptips as well. This week’s theme is ‘tips for booking a wedding band’ #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 1: Check that your band is fits in your venue. Ask your band leader the dimensions of their performance space #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 2: To roughly work out how much to spend on a wedding band take the number of musicians and multiply it by £250 #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 3: Confirm with the band how long and how many sets are included for the price #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 4: Check the technical requirements of the band can be met by the venue inc number of power sockets required #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 5: Save money by choosing a band that offers a DJ package as well #UKWedLunch

TOP TIP 6: Use a booking agent which will have bands for every budget and genre #UKWedLunch

This week’s top tips taken from Hanami Dream blog ‘5 essential tips for booking your wedding band‘ with thanks to Matchbox Music #UKWedLunch

JOIN US EVERY WEDNESDAY! on Twitter between 1-2pm GMT

Next week’s theme is ‘wedding flowers’ #UKWedLunch

guitar

wind in the willows

wind in the willows