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wedding at the Tithe Barn

Meet The Finalists At The Kings Head In Christchurch

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Last night it was the Meet The Finalists evening for the Hampshire and Dorset Wedding supplier Awards and Ce and I went along. The event was held at The Kings Arms Hotel in Christchurch. Last time I was there it was for Max and Kevan’s wedding a couple of years ago.

I’ve put in clickable links to everyone I can remember us talking to at the Meet The Finalists event incase you want to check out any of them (except the DJ’s 😉 )

We were greeted at the door by the hotel General Manager Nicolas Roulier and the event organisers Sam and Claire from South Coast Events – another great evening from this excellent company!

As always at these events we headed for the people we knew, so first up it was the other DJ’s Mark from Pegasus Disco from Weymouth and Toby from Your DJ. Early arrivals also included lovely local florist florist Jo Hicks.

Fellow Hampshire Wedding Group member, great photographer, and all-round good guy, Antony Burdett-Clark (Lightbox Studio / ABC Wedding Photography) also made it. Talking of photographers it was fab to see Tom and Murray from One Thousand Words Wedding Photography who I worked with at Mandy and Dave’s wedding back in 2015 – click here to see their blog, they are in the Dorset finals this year.

Talking of photography, we also met Imogen and Sam from The Caravan Photobooth Company who have converted “Betty”, a lovely old caravan, into “Betty Booth” a wonderful way to put some quirky style into your celebration.

We met a couple of lovely bridal wear suppliers from Wimborne, who are both in the Dorset finals. First we met Kelly from Brides With Curves who specialise in plus size wedding dresses in sizes 18 to 32. Then we met Oxana from Minster Designs who carry dresses by designers Martina Liana, Separates, Stella York, Willowby, White One, LouLou, Callista and Ivory & Co. Minster Designs supplied the dresses for the wedding that’s been in the news recently with TWENTY EIGHT Bridesmaids, and One Thousand Words were the photographers – CLICK HERE for the story on the Mirror website

Mobile bars seem to be very well represented in the 2017 Awards Finals, it’s always good to see Darren from A&D Bars in attendance who are in both the Hampshire and Dorset awards. and also to meet Mike from The Paddock Bar from Dorset.

We also had a quick chat with Andrew and Robert from Creatiques Bridal Boutique from Southsea and The HairDressSir along with Lucy Bernier hair, makeup, nails and beauty and Rachel from Flaunt Your Face makeup artistry.

Next time we’ll meet the finalists will be at the Awards dinner on Friday 10th November at The Ageas Hilton. It was great to be back in that room with so many great memories of Max and Kevan’s wedding – their beautiful ceremony across the road in the Pavilion, Kevan’s speech, and Max’s special guest DJ set (which she repeated at her birthday party earlier this year!), here’s a picture from their big day at The Kings Arms.

wedding at the Tithe Barn

Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards Finalist 2017

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Following on from the announcement I made last month CLICK HERE I am delighted to say I’ve been selected as a Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards Finalist 2017

Last year I was honoured and delighted to win in two categories – “Best DJ” and “Contribution To The Wedding Industry”
Hampshire Wedding

So now it’s time to book our tickets to Award Ceremony event on the evening of Friday 10th November at The Hilton at Ageas, Southampton. Competition for the award looks even tougher this year so I’m taking nothing for granted but it will be good to meet up with so many great wedding industry colleagues. I’m delighted to see fellow Hampshire Wedding Group members Miriam ~ Miriam King Hair & Make Up, Sue ~ Tie The Knot Events and Antony ~ Weddings by ABC / LightBox Studios (who like me also won last year) have also made the finals in their categories.

I have a couple more testimonial blogs to post over the next couple of weeks which were given in support of the awards. As I explained in the previous post about this topic (link in the first sentence) these awards are “judged blind”, so there can be no favouritism which I think is really excellent. I’ve stepped back from the National Awards this year as I only really work in Hampshire and occasionally Dorset so networking further afield isn’t really for me.

So I will be keeping everything crossed until 10th November (which will be murder on my circulation!) for the Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards Finalist 2017

If you, or anyone you know, is looking for a Wedding DJ in Hampshire please send them my way – thanks x

More Hampshire Wedding Suppliers Awards Stuff

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This is probably the last post about the recent Hampshire Wedding Awards, for a while at least 😉

Thank you to everybody for all your kind messages. It feels very strange every time I see someone new who congratulates me!

Hampshire Wedding

Following on from my post featuring all the winners at Hampshire Wedding Suppliers Awards (CLICK HERE TO VIEW)

The sponsors of the event included …
(please click on the names to go to their websites)

County Wedding Magazines

The Photo Rooms

Pegasus Disco

Mari’z Events and Wedding

HampshireWeddingApp

A&D Mobile Bars

The host for the evening was Paul Kinvig from Aspirin Business Sloutions

The Hampshire Wedding Awards were organised and promoted by
South Coast Events

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Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards 2016 ~ Winners!

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hwsa

Last Friday night, 18th November, was The 2016 Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards were held at the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton.

As promised, there will be a few posts about the Awards over the coming days. I still can’t believe I won not one but two categories! The main award winners were selected by a panel of judges who “judged blind”, so they had no idea who the entrants were.
I wrote about the process and the judges previously CLICK HERE

The evening was very well organised and it was great to be there meeting lots of old friends and making some new ones. We arrived just before 7pm for a drinks reception before making our way into the meal and Awards presentation.

The Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards 2016 winners are (click on the winners name to go to their website) …

Accessories – Lucy With Diamonds

Attire – Tilly Mint Weddings

Bridal Wear – Creatiques Bridal Boutique

Cake Maker – Sweetcheeks Bakehouse

Caterer – The Little Kitchen Company

Entertainment Musical – DJ – The Party DJ … never heard of him 😉

Florist- Jennifer Poynter Flowers

Hair Stylist – Elegance Bridal Coiffure

Makeup – CJ Beauty & Co

Newcomer – Sass & Grace

Photography – Lightbox Digital Studio

Stationery – Manta Makes

Venue – Penton Park

Venue Stylist – Fundoo Weddings

Wedding Extra – Brock Ice Traditional Ice Cream Bikes

Contribution to the Wedding Industry – The Party DJ … I wasn’t expecting that! 🙂

Peer’s Choice – Laurel Designs

People’s Choice – Kelly’s CakeAway

Highest Overall Score – The Little Kitchen Company

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Why I Enter Wedding Awards Competitions!

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Why I enter Wedding Awards competitions … Well, for the last few years I’ve entered the National Wedding Industry Awards (WIA’s) and this year I’ve also entered the first Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards and I know some people will wonder why.

I don’t believe I am the best wedding DJ in the World, or Great Britain, The South Of England, Hampshire or The New Forest. In fact for a while a few years back I may not even have been the best DJ in my house while Joe, my son, was learning the skills! I do, however, want to be the best DJ I possibly can be at every event I’m booked to play at.

Even with the depth of experience and knowledge that I have I continue to study, train and practice so that I can improve and move forwards. I wrote a post a while ago about personal development and training CLICK HERE. Entering these competitions means I have to review my work and I get genuine feedback from my previous couples.

Each award I’ve entered has been a genuine process where I believe the competition is fair. Obviously “you have to be in it to win it” and it may be possible to cheat, but what’s the point!

Once you’ve been nominated in The Wedding Industry Awards (WIA’s) you pay an entrance fee to register for the competition. Then you are asked to contact your clients and ask them to score you on various criteria and write a little about their wedding and your service. You start in a regional group, mine being South East (including London), and then the Regional finalists go through to the National Finals. I’ve been a Regional finalist for the last two years, in 2015 with Alan and Gary in The Party Hosts and last year in my own right. I’ve entered again this year and I’ll know in the next month if I’m going through to the National Finals.

This year the organisers of The Dorset Wedding Supplier Awards have started The Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards. In this one I had to get testimonials from two couples and another supplier and I have blogged about that previously … click on the names to see the posts…
Hannah and Dan’s Beaulieuful Wedding
Gemma & Brian’s Wedding DJ Testimonial
Antony on me! A testimonial from a professional colleague
I also wrote another blog with full details of how the competition process worked in the Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards ~ CLICK HERE

As I have been chosen as a Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards Finalist in the ‘Musical Entertainment DJ’ category, I’ve also been entered into ‘Overall High Score’, ‘People’s Choice’, ‘Peer’s Choice’ and ‘Contribution to the Wedding Industry’ awards. The ‘People’s Choice’ award is one where you are supposed to ask your clients, friends and family to vote – which, to my mind, is just a ‘who knows the most people’ competition so I’ve decided not to promote myself in that category.

There’s one more BIG reason why I enter Wedding Awards competitions, I want future Brides and Bridegrooms, as well as everybody in the wedding industry, to know that there are DJ’s who offer more than just music.

So, that’s why I enter wedding awards competitions ~ wish me luck!

why-i-enter-wedding-awards-competitions

Wedding Supplier Awards Meet The Finalists Evening

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On Wednesday evening Ce and I went to the Wedding Supplier Awards Meet The Finalists Evening which was held at The Italian Villa at Compton Acres.

We actually stopped for a meal just around the corner at The Cliff, 6 Ravine Road, Poole, BH13 7HX We arrived around 5:30 so lunchtime prices were still applicable and had a very good two course meal for £12:50 per head. This was my second visit (thanks to fellow DJ Paul Armstrong) and both times I’ve been very impressed (CLICK HERE)

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I love The Italian Villa, it’s a wonderful setting for a wedding. I’ve only played there once so far, two years ago for Lauren and Dave’s wedding. They host weddings across the three floors, starting upstairs with the ceremony in the Medici Suite, moving to the ground floor and the Verona Suite for the wedding breakfast and then to the lower floor Siena Suite for the evening party. With all that and the amazing gardens they have won numerous awards and justifiably so. CLICK HERE to go their website.

The Wedding Supplier Awards Meet The Finalists Evening was hosted in the Verona Suite and was for the finalists for the Dorset and Hampshire awards. We met lots of old friends and made some new ones.

We were welcomed at the door by Sam from South Coast Events who organised the awards (SEE PREVIOUS POST HERE)

Among the finalist friends who were in attendance were photographers Antony Burdett-Clark from Lightbox Studios (who nominated me), Brian & Wendy Carter from BC DigiPhot who are both in the Hampshire photography category and Keith Bridle ~ Bridle Photography who is in the Dorset awards.

It was also good to catch up with Carol and Kirsty from Laurel Designs who I’ve blogged about before (CLICK HERE). Laurel Designs offer a wide range of services to couples planning their wedding including stationery, decor and wedding planning.

One of the new suppliers (to us) was Manta Makes Ltd who offer a wide range of wedding decor, personalised items and keepsakes. If you love wood you’ll love Manta Makes. I think they are in the Dorset finals.

Also in the Dorset finals are A & D Mobile Bars. Andy and Darren are passionate about drink and service – and I really do mean passionate! They know their drink inside out and we really enjoyed chatting to them and their team.

We also chatted with J.C. from Daisy Roots Vintage Photo Booth who have an amazing selection of props dating back to 1890 – perfect if you are “going vintage”.

Finally, all three finalists for the Wedding DJ category from Hampshire were there, Toby from Your DJ, Colin and Denise from Eclipse and … us 😉 It was good to catch up with the competition who we’ve both known for many years.

I’m sure there were other people I’ve missed out but that’s a flavour of the Meet The Finalists evening.

meet-the-finalists