This is the first of a new series of blogs to highlight some cool wedding suppliers that are on my radar. As a London wedding planner + coordinator, it’s going to be suppliers I wanted to know a bit more about, to bring you their business but also the person behind the brand.
It’s a ’20 questions’ type series (although it’s actually 25 questions!) asking suppliers of interest everything from why they got into the wedding industry to what their guilty pleasure is, to changing the world!
So I thought it was only fair that I should kick things off! So here goes!
Please introduce yourself:
Hello! I’m Laura. My maiden name is Laura Devine. I’m a London wedding planner + coordinator (although I prefer to be known as a wedding coordinator; I find wedding planner a bit too J Lo…!) and I run a multi award winning wedding blog, Devine Bride. I offer pick + mix wedding planning to help couples plan their wedding in a more flexible and fun way.
Your business…
1. Where do you call home?
My house in Wathamstow with my husband.
2. What made you want to set up your business?
The lack of on-demand and flexible yet creative wedding planners, who were upfront about their costs. I searched for something like this when I was planning my own wedding, but I couldn’t quite find what I was looking for – so I just did everything myself!
3. Why the wedding industry?
I love making people happy. The environment is lovely too; it’s like working in a bar vs a shop – people are out to have a good time…! I also love working with so many amazing women all the time, which was an unexpected bonus.
4. What’s the best part of your job?
Seeing how happy couples are on their wedding day, and knowing that I’ve contributed to that.
5. What’s the worst part of your job?
Being an agony aunt, a mum, a dad, a PA, and a therapist all in one! Although a lot of the time that can also be the best part, too. 😊
6. What’s the weirdest request you’ve ever had from a client?
Being a wedding planner, no job is too big, too small or too weird! So I never find requests weird as it’s all par for the course. No two weddings (or brides or grooms) are the same.
7. You’re surrounded by beauty in your job, what do you find beautiful?
Any kind of floristry, because I’m amazed at natural botanical beauty, but also any kind of wedding cake, because I’m always amazed that such perfection is made by hand!
8. Best piece of advice to offer to those getting married?
There are no rules, and you can’t please everyone. Your wedding = your rules. Remember why you’re doing it, and do what makes you happy. 😊
9. Who or what is your biggest influence?
Would it be awful to say Instagram? It influences my work and connects me with clients on another level. I love that it’s a visual scrapbook and that you can write mini blogs with each post. That and my big sister, who is an inspiration, a creative genius, and always a voice of reason.
10. Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail!’ That and, ‘just get on with it!’
11. What was your career plan B?
This is my plan B! However, plan C would be… a Pilot. Or, more realistically, a Florist.
You…
12. Tell us something surprising about yourself!
I trekked to Everest Base Camp when I was 23, and didn’t do any training for it! I survived, just, and it was amazing!
13. Pints and pies or coffee and cake?
I am partial to a pie but I‘d have to say coffee and cake. Ideally a soya mocha and a scone with jam and cream please!
14. What’s your favourite shop?
Colette in Paris. It’s a cooler, more curated, succinct and accessible version of Dover Street Market in London. Plus I once saw Karl Lagerfeld in there when I used to work in Paris at Fashion Week.
15. If you could buy any building, which would it be?
Battersea Power Station. I have a geometric illustration of it hanging on my living room wall.
16. Favourite film?
Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet. Although mostly because I love the cast, rather than the film. I’m not a particular fan of Shakespeare, actually…!
17. Your biggest pet peeve?
People speaking with their mouth full. It’s disgusting and it’s such bad manners.
18. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Percy Pigs.
19. Favourite thing to do on a rainy day?
I am always working… but on a hypothetical rainy day if my laptop was broken, I would bake and cook.
20. Cosy night in or big night out?
Big night out, always. I love dressing up and going out.
21. What’s the most romantic thing someone’s ever done for you?
Probably propose, is that cliché?! It was so well thought out, considerate, perfectly planned, seamless, special, emotive, all of that! Plus, we were on holiday, and there was an awesome view – two of my favourite things.
22. Most perfect place for a sunrise?
From a beach bungalow in Bora Bora, we went on our honeymoon and it was magical. I felt so lucky. The top of The Shard is also pretty awesome.
And finally…
23. Invisibility or flight?
If I had one wish I would always wish for a magic carpet… so flight?
24. Do you believe in fate?
Yes! But I also believe that you can make your own luck and if you work hard at something, it will come to you. Nothing ever came to anyone by fate from them just sitting on their bum.
25. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
Equal pay for women, always and everywhere. World peace would follow as a result.
Hope you enjoyed reading a bit more about me…! I’m a London Wedding Planner + Coordinator, and my services are fun and flexible; please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to chat anything wedding related!
Stay tuned for an exciting supplier (out-with Devine Bride!) next month!
Photos a mixture by Devine Bride, Lex Fleming and Amanda Karen.
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Please email any hellos or enquiries to laura@devinebride.co.uk
