What a year 2011 has been - here are a few of our
highlights:
THE ROYAL WEDDING
The build up to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton
dominated the first quarter of the year: pretty much every week
from the day the engagement was announced last November, we
entertained TV crews and journalists from across the world eager to
know just how we do things here in UK brideland: eventually we had
a permanent 'wedding set' in the corner of my office complete with
a wedding gown and a crystal champagne bucket. But nothing prepared
me for the wedding week itself: 17 live appearances on TV and radio
networks from Australasia to the Americas, from India to Japan. I
spent the week crisscrossing between the studios at Buckingham
Palace and those opposite Westminster Abbey: from 6am for BBC
Breakfast News here in the UK through to 2am appearances for
Channel 9 Australia's breakfast show.
The day of the royal nuptials is one I will never forget (both
wonderful and surreal): at 6am I walked through the crowds gathered
along The Mall to get to the CNN studio in the media complex
erected adjacent to the Palace. As their Wedding Expert I found
myself next to Piers Morgan with Kat Deely and Anderson Cooper for
CNN's worldwide, live simulcast - and with a bird's eye view of the
Procession. At 3am I was still going strong (and following a
bizarre web chat with the Washington Post during which someone
actually asked me: "were the soldiers real?") and back with Channel
9 Australia's breakfast show. After just three hours sleep I caught
a flight to Florence and a return to the day job: arranging
weddings (and a very forgiving bride and groom who did not have me
at their side for the usual wedding week build up - thank you
N&M)!
LET THEM EAT CAKE!
We make it a rule never to blog, tweet or otherwise discuss our
clients or their weddings. But this is the story of a cake: a six
foot, ten tier creation complete with delicate and carefully
crafted sugar-flower decoration that we needed to transport
(together with 350 fragile 'bride and groom' cookies) aboard a
private jet to Italy. These small aircraft do not have a hold, so
luggage is stored in the cabin together with the passengers. We
carefully ascertained exact measurements for the doorway and aisle,
and the ever-meticulous Peggy Porschen and her husband Bryn
delivered the carefully packed cookies and cake direct to the
tarmac one sunny June morning (getting consent for that was
interesting: "Excuse me madam: you need air-side clearance for a
ten-tier cake?"). In went the bridal party and then we packed the
cake boxes carefully around them - the last two being placed in the
doorway before it was closed for take-off. The pilot then went
through the safety procedure: "Ladies and Gentlemen: in the event
of an emergency please eat your way out."!
In time for Valentine's Day we launched our luxury, bespoke
'Diamond Experience'. Formerly reserved for our private clients, we
now offer exclusive access to our diamond dealer in the heart of
the diamond capital: Antwerp's Diamant Beurs (generally only
accessible to trade). Clients select certificated, top-grade and
ethically sourced diamonds (including uncut and flawless gems). Our
diamantaire's skilled craftsman uniquely cuts our '201' Signature
Diamond: we are the only UK company to offer this 201 faceted
diamond (a brilliant cut diamond is traditionally polished with 57
facets). Our clients are also introduced to a top jewellery
designer and together they design a bespoke setting. We'll even fly
you there in a private jet and arrange luxury accommodation: this
is the ultimate engagement experience!
PARLEZ-VOUS FRANGLAIS?
March saw me in Paris for an interview with Paris Match. I am
not sure which was more thrilling: sitting in a café off the Champs
Elise with the magazine's charming and rather dashing reporter,
Clement, or actually seeing myself featured in this iconic
publication!
WEDDING PLANNING (We've an app for
that)?
Last year I was proud to be the first wedding planner globally
to launch smartphone apps (it was not a race: even so, I was a tad
surprised to get there before our US colleagues). This year we took
it a stage further with our 'Ultimate Wedding App' for Android™,
Blackberry®, iPhone® and Nokia. I am very proud of this application
- for the price of cappuccino you have your own personal wedding
planner in the palm of your hand 24/7 (see our YouTube
Video). 
It's going to be hard to top this past year: but with visits to
open shows and present talks and workshops in 2012 in the USA,
Qatar and South Africa (where in August I will be opening the
Wedding Expo in Johannesburg) I'll give it a go!
Happy New Year - and if you're getting married in 2012 ' Happy
Wedding Planning'!
____________________
Sarah Haywood © 2011