2012 Highlights
Last year was going to be hard to beat, but 2012 has managed to exceed my expectations and has been the year we took our workshops and talks across the globe. The year kicked-off however, with the first independent Wedding Industry Awards event at London’s Café de Paris. I am thrilled to be a founding judge and look forward to seeing this year’s finalists (congratulations!) at The Bloomsbury Ballroom on January 9th...
In April I traveled to the Middle East where I was delighted to be asked to open the iWed Expo in Qatar and host a workshop at the uber-luxurious St Regis resort in Doha. A highlight of the five-day trip was attending a traditional (ladies only) Qatari wedding reception. As a western woman I know what a tremendous honour the invitation was and it was an evening I will never forget (I dressed in an abaya, but never believe you know anything about fashion until you see what these gorgeous ladies have on underneath all that black - I’ve never seen so many designer gowns or so many Jimmy Choos and Louboutins in one room before!). There are no photos as they are not allowed - but it was beyond opulent and SO MUCH fun...
From Doha to Dallas in week is something of shock to the system! In Texas they really do do things bigger: I presented a talk at the Houston chapter of NACE for their annual big bash event. It was a most marvelous evening and the only time (and I do not expect there will be another) I have been welcomed on stage with a live trumpet fanfare! Our colleagues in Houston know how to throw a party and I learned that even a mac n’ cheese station can be glamorous (it is of course all in the presentation)!
The summer saw me in South Africa where I hosted a workshop for a fabulous group of ladies (plus one gentleman!) at the Wedding Expo in Johannesburg. The entire visit was wonderful, I made many new friends and I look forward to hopefully returning to Cape Town later in 2013 (as well a new South African venture we will be announcing in the spring)...
Other highlights included attending the Engage Luxury Wedding Summit in Las Vegas: an inspiring few days where I connected with great and the good of the US wedding industry (it was “awesome”). And I was twice honoured this year by my friend Peggy Porschen to present to the students at her Academy. Peggy is due to give birth to her first child this New Year’s Eve - so we wish her and husband Bryn all the very best....
The latter end of the year I have been working on the new editions of my Wedding Bible bridal books: I am beyond excited to be bringing you all new and redesigned versions of these books - which are now over five years old and in much need of a revamp. The Wedding Bible Planner will be published on Valentine’s Day and followed by the original Wedding Bible later in the year....
Happily I am now back to doing what I hope I do best: planning beautiful weddings. But as anyone who knows me will confirm, sharing our knowledge and know-how is something I am always anxious to embrace; so 2013 will also see our Luxury Bridal Workshops return home to the UK (and with the odd one overseas just to keep me on my toes and up to par!). We will be announcing dates at home and abroad with plenty of notice. But this New Year I am in Canada - a highlight of the trip promises to be the WedLuxe Show in Toronto next week. I and my colleagues thank everyone we have worked with in 2012 and who have contributed to such a successful and enjoyable year. To all our friends, colleagues and followers we wish a Happy New Year. And if you are planning a wedding for 2013 “Happy Wedding Planning”!
© Sarah Haywood