The Little White Wedding Co is an official sponsor of The LANE’s $100,000 Dream Wedding taking place in 2012. The LANE team will be working alongside The Little White Wedding Co - a wedding planning service known for their meticulous attention to detail, to create an extraordinary wedding for our lucky winner's Johsi & Jamie. We sat down with LWWC's Director Victoria Cameron recently who shares a glimpse of her life as a wedding planner, and provides some helpful advice for brides-to-be when planning a wedding...
If you could plan any wedding where the sky was the limit, who would be your couple and what theme would you create? The perfect client…that's easy, a couple who are real and are ready to jump in head first and trust in the planning process and styling concepts. Choosing a destination is tough purely because I'm drawn to so many different styles all of which play better in different cities around the world. As a stylist I think it's important to work with the space you have which makes the location crucial. My destination-of-the-moment would have to be a quaint town somewhere in Spain, somewhere that isn't ruled by tourists…a hidden escape for locals. At the same time though, I wouldn't turn down a rooftop in New York and create an uber-chic setting with hundreds of candles and suspended blooms!
What does a day in the life of a wedding planner entail and how does the role differ from a wedding stylist? Generally speaking when I'm working as a wedding stylist I'm only involved in those aspects of the wedding that are directly affected by the styling. My day will be spent researching styling concepts, flicking through countless magazines (not just wedding related…lifestyle and floral magazines are also fantastic), browsing through too many blogs and websites to count all in an effort to cement the basis for my couple's styling proposal and inspiration board. From there it's all about bringing the individual elements together to create a cohesive setting and the desired atmosphere. When my planning hat is on, it's a slightly different story. My days are usually based around matchmaking the perfect suppliers with my couples, managing the bookings and ensuring the planning process is as smooth as possible. Closer to the wedding date I also start to liaise with the booked suppliers more regularly in order to coordinate delivery and setup times as well as a running order for the ceremony and reception. It is heavily based around logistics but I find it just as enjoyable as the styling side of things.
(interview continued under photo gallery...)
There are so many DIY options available to brides these days and many couples choose to plan their own weddings. What do you feel are the advantages of hiring a professional planning/styling service such as your own? The difference is often evident in the organisation and smaller details. That's not to say that brides are unable to plan their own wedding, it just means that instead of juggling planning and styling a wedding with what is in most cases are time poor schedules you have someone who is dedicated to ensuring everything stays on track, nothing is left to chance or forgotten and the styling is perfectly rounded regardless of the look that's trying to be achieved. It also means that you have better quality control in regards to the suppliers booked for your wedding. If they haven't already been tried and tested then a substantial amount of research is done before being confirmed to ensure that they are of a similar style and price range to that particular couple and of course that they are reliable. I do have to point out though that I am a HUGE believer in personalising my couples weddings to reflect their personalities and this often involves bringing in a few DIY elements to add that finishing touch and "je ne sais quoi".
You’re based in Brisbane, Australia however we know that you specialise in destination weddings also. Where is the most memorable/unique wedding location you’ve planned a wedding in? Earlier this year I planned a wedding in Ireland which was amazing. The couple were based in Australia but the groom was of Irish heritage so they chose to wed abroad. It's always interesting to learn about the different cultural traditions or approaches to weddings, not to mention being able to take in the scenery and experience the "personalities" of different cities.
In terms of styling, what season do you feel is the best time to wed and why? I absolutely love spring and summer! I love the flowers that are available at various times throughout these seasons…ranunculus, hydrangea, peonies…what could be more dreamy?! You also have beautiful weather (in the earlier months before our famous Australian heat sets in) and the surrounds are usually more appealing to the eye, a new season of green grass, flower trees…everything just comes alive in spring and I love that buzz in the air.
How far in advance should brides-to-be book their wedding planner? This depends entirely on the level of service they desire. For a Complete Plan I prefer anywhere between 12-15 months but a wedding can be planned in less time if necessary. It just means we don't have as much "wiggle room" on the planning timeline. For one of our smaller packages we can allow as little as two months but at this late stage availability can become an issue so the earlier you book the better as there will be more flexibility with dates and once confirmed, the date is yours!
What excites you most about wedding planning and styling going into 2012? More destination weddings! Over the past few weeks I've received a few requests for weddings overseas so as a huge lover of international experiences that prospect is definitely exciting for me. There are also the same things I look forward to every year, meeting new couples, eagerly anticipating the next line of bridal fashion, exploring new styling concepts, the list goes on!
To enquire about The Little White Wedding Co's planning & styling services & see their latest work, visit the official website or email info@thelittlewhiteweddingco.com
