Wedding Planning Editorial
A freelance journalist wrote this editorial and I wanted to share it with you as I thought it was a well written piece, putting aside the fact that it’s about Cherry Topped! 
As a couple our wedding is one of the most important days of our lives. It is the one day where all attention will be on us and the day that we have created to celebrate our love for one another. We want it to be perfect and we want to make sure that everything runs smoothly… However, with so much to envision, plan, organise, maintain and should a problem arise; resolve – it is often a good idea to call in an expert.
The role of a Wedding Planner is often seen as a celebrity only acquisition, it is a perception that our featured Wedding Specialist Stacey-Marie of Cherry Topped is looking to change. Stacey-Marie explains to us; “When I planned our wedding I realised just how much there was to do. I was planning, designing, sourcing suppliers, meeting with them, comparing them, negotiating with them – it was a lot to do alongside a busy work and social life!” It is this overwhelming amount of organisation and planning that can often lead to a couple feeling anxious and stressed in the lead up to the wedding and of course that is the very last thing you want! Stacey-Marie explains; “You want to concentrate on treasuring every moment in the lead up to your wedding day and focus on what is most important; the life-long commitment you are making to each other.”
It was for this very reason that Stacey-Marie formed ‘Cherry Topped’. She quickly realised how her natural creative flair and her experience in purchasing could allow a couple to really focus on enjoying the build up whilst she worked on the more difficult and time consuming aspects. She explains; “After our wedding I returned to the corporate world of purchasing and realised I missed the creativity that comes with wedding planning. I had the chance of planning a friend’s wedding and of course I loved absolutely every minute of it! The whole experience, even thriving on the wedding day itself, further cemented the idea of setting up Cherry Topped.”
After such a successful wedding Stacey-Marie went into full business planning mode and after extensive research and training with some of the most experienced industry experts in the country from the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners; Cherry Topped bespoke weddings was born in order to plan and coordinate memorable and beautiful weddings, bespoke to their clients! Quickly she was contracted for her second wedding and enquiries are already flooding in for next year over the phone and through her fantastic website; www.cherrytopped.co.uk.
Of course every couple Stacey-Marie works with is different and for that reason she has decided to offer a flexible approach to wedding planning where she can provide as much or as little as you require. The Full Wedding Planning service is the most comprehensive of course, the Bringing It All Together service is for those who have already started, but realise time is against them or need help in finalising the plans, and the Cherry Pick service offers a set list of modular wedding planning services such as budget monitoring, researching options and design ideas, supplier sourcing, venue searching, coordinating with suppliers on the wedding day to name but a few!
It is certainly evident after having spoken to Stacey-Marie that she has a real passion and desire to bring to couples that perfect wedding day. She explained to us that when it comes to hiring a wedding planner it is all about choosing the person who shares your vision and has a personality that you can relate to and work with. Although you will of course need to meet Stacey-Marie to decide whether or not she is the person you choose to make your day truly memorable, at the very least you’ll leave inspired by her creativity and organisational skills!
by Marc Aplin
