Our FIRST EVER Live Wedding Podcast… Suppliers Expose What Couples Get WRONG

We took the podcast LIVE for the very first time… and brought together real wedding suppliers to answer the questions couples actually need to hear.

In this episode, Isla & Paul sit down with multiple wedding industry experts including jewellers, photographers, content creators and more — all sharing unfiltered, honest advice from real weddings.

💍 We cover:

• The biggest wedding planning mistakes couples make
• How to choose the right wedding suppliers
• What actually matters (and what doesn’t 👀)
• Red flags to watch out for before booking
• Wedding trends (including lab-grown diamonds 💎)
• Real emotional + funny behind-the-scenes stories

🔥 This episode is packed with:

• Honest opinions
• Expert wedding tips
• Live audience energy
• No-BS advice you won’t hear anywhere else

If you’re planning your wedding, this will help you save money, avoid stress, and make better decisions.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:08

Very good. Very positive, yeah. Good. A lot of uh genuine interest.

SPEAKER_07 0:14

That's good then.

SPEAKER_10 0:17

Are you ready for your questions? I'll take us off then. Right. Yeah, that's fine. Okay. What's the biggest wedding mistake couples make before they even book suppliers?

SPEAKER_03 0:28

Um I would say basically that they jump they they just sort of jump in and they don't think about you know this what they're what yeah, does it suit them, the style? Are you talking about wedding rings in general or just a general company?

SPEAKER_10 0:45

General company.

SPEAKER_03 0:46

Okay. Probably not doing the research actually on the actual company. Finding out, you know, is it really suited to them? You know, some people have different criteria that are looking for when it comes to buying something. They might want it because it's like, I don't know, which is made, or they might want it because it's you know um a particular sort of you know a lot of these days we're find people that want things that are ethically ethically made and things like that as well. So that's important to a lot of couples as well.

SPEAKER_07 1:14

Yeah, correct. Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna go off piece here a little bit because whether you're a jeweler, so it just makes sense. So, what decision do couples rush into? So let's gear it to rings. So do you find that they just think, oh, I'm gonna go for a solitaire or and that's it, or do you present them any options?

SPEAKER_03 1:34

Oh no, oh no, we don't uh we wouldn't just say, Oh, you know, that's that's it. We would give them a choice for sure, absolutely. Um it just comes down to I don't know, I think sometimes the the guys can sort of want to rush and and and choose something, whereas if they come together, it's more considered. Yeah you know. So there's a lot that goes into choosing engagement, as I'm sure you know.

SPEAKER_07 2:00

Definitely, definitely. Yeah, they're wearing it for for life, hopefully. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_10 2:05

Perfect. Next. What's something you do behind the scenes that couples would never realise?

SPEAKER_03 2:12

Oh gosh. I don't think you really want to know that one. All kinds of crazy things. Um realise. Um we well, I suppose I I uh we're a jeweller, so it's not just wedding rings and engagement rings. We are a jeweller in the sense of people come in and have batches fitted and things like that. Yeah. Um so I suppose you could say behind the scenes you don't realise, you know, um things are can be quite hectic in the back, quite rushed, you know, we've got lots of things going on at any one time. So you can be fitting the watch battery, or you can then be, you know, uh doing an order for somebody, you know, discussing designs. So there's a lot that goes on. Yeah. Well, there's a lot more admin, I would say, probably, to be honest, that has happened than people realise. We're quite front-facing, so people are coming to the shop um to choose things, to look at things, talk about designs and have things made, but there's a lot of admin that people don't realise that goes on behind the scenes as well. Fair enough.

SPEAKER_09 3:17

Perfect.

SPEAKER_03 3:18

Uh how can couples tell if a supplier is right for them? Um, I think generally, uh like on the one on a one-to-one basis, if the person is you know open and honest with them, which obviously we are. Yeah. Um, and obviously I think it's if the people have a genuine sense of that the person is uh interested in them, yeah, and what they've got to say, gives them a uh you do take your time with them, I think notice that they're sure you actually take time with them and that's it. I mean we we are a um a service industry, so from our point of view we like to make sure that the the customers or the the couple are happy, you know, not just with the product but with actually the service. And if things go wrong, which sometimes they can, um you know, we can you know take it seriously and and and and put the problem right. Not that I'm suggesting we have problems, but you know, if anything happens, you know, there's a slight chance that we're digging a hole and things like that, you know. Yeah, so it's good to know. Yeah, amazing.

SPEAKER_10 4:22

Right, final one. What is the top trend that you're loving right now?

SPEAKER_03 4:28

In your industry as well. In your industry. Yeah, yeah, I'm intrigued. Um, I would say it has to be lab grown. Lab grown, yeah. Yeah, because obviously um lab grown diamonds and also created gemstones came about probably about five years ago. Yeah. Uh a lot of children's just at the toe in the water, didn't know what's going to trade it's gonna go. Now it's obviously very it's here to stay, so you either embrace it or you don't. So you embrace it. Yeah, so so we have a develop the collection, and obviously people come in and uh you know, particularly engagement rings is very exciting because it's an exciting time of people's lives. Um, and obviously we do a lot of design as well, so we can create something for them. Seeing that it comes from start to finish is a nice process. Um, I would say the lab grown is definitely an interesting um phase in the jewellery industry, you know. People still want natural, you know, and we still do natural. Uh it's not going away, um, but it's just nice because it can be probably a bit more um scope for different designs with the lab grown because obviously the the cost element is is isn't as prohibitive in some cases as well. So bringing it back to being affordable for people, yeah, it's affordability, but also you know, it is still essentially it is still a diamond aesthetically, chemically, you know, the just the difference is the price tag. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll go into that in another show. Yeah, yeah, definitely we will. Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_07 5:55

Okay, we'll have you on for a bigger show, definitely.

SPEAKER_02 6:01

Hello, hello again. I'm alright. Yes, good, yeah, it's a good one today.

SPEAKER_10 6:08

Yeah, we're gonna hit you with some quick fire questions. Okay. Are you prepared? No. Okay, great. Right. What do couples think matters but actually doesn't? Do you know what?

SPEAKER_02 6:20

I sometimes think that people think that everything needs to be perfect and like you know, like the little details that they think are gonna matter, but actually it doesn't. Yeah. Um that's all I can think of, really. Yep, agreed. Yeah, don't stress the small stuff. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 6:39

If a couple could spend extra money on one thing, what should it be?

SPEAKER_02 6:43

A content creator. I knew you were gonna say I knew you were gonna say, I always say allows always some kind of video footage of your wedding day. You cannot replace video footage. I would always say, absolutely, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 6:58

That's a random answer of content creator.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

Yeah. Fuck you.

SPEAKER_10 7:03

I feel so fucking myself. Okay, next one. What's a wedding moment that still gives you goosebumps? Do you know what?

SPEAKER_02 7:12

I think it was a recent wedding that I did. Um, I can't remember how long ago it was now. A bride and the first look, because you always see like the first look with dad and stuff, but she did a first look with her three boys, so they were all dressed in suits. She was in her in her dress, and they all did like the first look. And I'm not kidding you now, I've I've never really cried at a wedding. We were all crying. Me, the photographer, the bride, her boys, and they were like age six, eight, six, and four, I think. And it was just such a beautiful moment, and even now, it was just yeah, it was it's stunning. All about it was so beautiful, yeah. That by far, definitely.

SPEAKER_07 7:53

What are the red flags that couples should watch for when booking suppliers?

SPEAKER_02 7:58

Red flag out somebody. We want names. No, I always think, I always think a red flag is I at the end of the day, it's your wedding day, and I don't think any supplier out there should be telling you who you should or shouldn't be booking or persuading you either way. I always think, especially when it comes to your wedding day being documented, I think it's up to you as a couple. You decide, it's your decision, and I don't think the supplier should be sort of dictating who you can and can't have. Um it's it's your choice at the end of the day. So you do you do you.

SPEAKER_10 8:34

It is actually very nice. Okay, final one. Okay. A trend you wish. I I am just thinking of that. Um yeah, I do like a bit of a lot. No, no, no. A trend for me would be taking the motherfuckers.

SPEAKER_02 9:09

I just did have a wedding actually, and um they took her. Ah, yeah, that was the plow on Friday. They did the same. Yeah, they took I thought, yeah, why not? Yeah, well, yeah, maybe that's one. It's 2026 now. Yeah, modern day.

SPEAKER_07 9:30

I really don't care.

SPEAKER_10 9:31

I am honestly trying to think of a trend of a current trend that I'm like, ah yeah. It was like when the random was in I didn't rate that. So I could have said that, but that's not in anymore, it's black and white, really, isn't it? What's that? Rose gold. I've always having like rose gold y stuff and I didn't. Yeah, no, I'm not gonna.

SPEAKER_07 9:46

That was awful.

SPEAKER_10 9:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 9:48

Basically, all the trends that I want to go have gone.

SPEAKER_10 9:50

Shall we ask you a different one?

SPEAKER_02 9:52

Yeah, I can do it. I honestly don't, I honestly can't think of one like that, you know.

SPEAKER_10 9:56

Um what is one word that would describe your ideal couple? Easy going.

SPEAKER_02 10:04

Is that two words? One word.

SPEAKER_10 10:06

We can make it one word hyphen age.

SPEAKER_02 10:07

Easy going. Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 10:09

Amazing. You fantastic. Well done. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of the show. Okay, first one.

SPEAKER_07 10:14

You haven't even said who we've got.

SPEAKER_10 10:15

We've not said that for anyone. Have we not? No, we haven't.

SPEAKER_07 10:18

Oh we haven't. We have a star in the lake in here.

SPEAKER_09 10:27

Did you see the hello fans?

SPEAKER_07 10:31

Do you want to plug aisle diaries?

SPEAKER_09 10:33

Do what? Do I plug aisle diaries? Yeah, why not? Hey, I'm handed out a few leaflets, you know. Yeah, come on. Yeah, so me and Joella, we have our own little podcast under the aisle diaries. Woohoo! Woohoo!

SPEAKER_06 10:44

Good. How many episodes have we on? Four? Four episodes so far?

SPEAKER_09 10:48

No.

SPEAKER_10 10:48

This will be six and seven coming out, okay.

SPEAKER_06 10:51

I'm behind. I've had listeners.

SPEAKER_09 10:53

And it's obviously all wedding related. Um so it's got lots of humour in there, it's quite casual, and we're just asking everybody to kind of submit any questions, bridal spirals, and just have a laugh with it, really. An easy, easy listen, and hopefully they can pick up lots of tips, tricks, and yeah, have a have a laugh. Give it a listen, guys.

SPEAKER_10 11:15

Right into the main event. What's the one thing couples should ask you but almost never do?

SPEAKER_09 11:22

Um would you like a drink? And by that I mean to your coffee, not alcohol. Yeah, maybe. On terms of the wedding morning, because obviously they're so busy. They never get you a drink. Yeah, when you're gonna have their parts. Yeah, for like seven hours. Dry mouth. Next one.

SPEAKER_07 11:46

Uh what decision do couples rush that they should slow down a lot?

SPEAKER_09 11:51

Um god, there's loads. Maybe decision on bridesmaids and groomsmen.

SPEAKER_10 12:02

Oh, controversial. Yeah. Is this coming from experience?

SPEAKER_09 12:08

Better both. Yeah, yeah. Make sure you choose people for the right reasons, not because you've grown up with them or you know, who are present now and you can rely on now.

unknown 12:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 12:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 12:21

That one makes sense. I like that one. What's the funniest or most unexpected thing you have seen at a wedding?

SPEAKER_09 12:29

Um my god, again, there's loads. Um, funniest and expected thing.

SPEAKER_07 12:38

Pressing that firework button now would be the funniest thing. His face is literally on it.

SPEAKER_09 12:43

Oh my god, I can't pinpoint one. You might have to move on.

SPEAKER_10 12:49

What's a small detail that totally changes the vibe of a wedding?

SPEAKER_09 12:54

Music, entertainment.

SPEAKER_07 12:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 12:58

That's what guests remember. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 12:59

What's the difference between a good supplier and a great one?

SPEAKER_09 13:04

A good supplier and a great one. A great one, I would say you can really gel with. It's it becomes a little bit more personal than professional, but you still got that fine line. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_10 13:18

Like it, right. Last one. Is it the last one?

SPEAKER_07 13:21

It is.

SPEAKER_10 13:22

It is. One piece of advice you'd give to couples getting married next year.

SPEAKER_09 13:27

Um god, try not to fall out with people.

SPEAKER_07 13:34

No, uh, makes it cheaper.

SPEAKER_09 13:38

Just try and remember why you're doing it and try not to get wrapped up into like the stresses. Um yeah, yeah, just try and remember.

SPEAKER_01 13:52

There's too much going on in my arms.

SPEAKER_09 13:56

Yeah, I would say just try not to get wrapped up in the stress of it and just remember why you're doing it. Yeah, I hope that helps.

SPEAKER_07 14:04

I think that was a good set of answers.

SPEAKER_10 14:06

That was perfect, so good. Thank you very much. Thank you. Hello! She's back. It's the return of Tony. Okay, we're hitting you with some quick fire questions. Okay, oh, you're ready.

SPEAKER_07 14:18

Don't panic.

SPEAKER_10 14:18

Yeah, let's do this.

SPEAKER_07 14:20

What do what decision do couples rush that they should slow down on?

SPEAKER_00 14:25

They're new, I reckon. Yeah. So you can go sometimes and look around and then think, yeah, we'll have it, and then I'd sit back and think, oh, I didn't like that. Yeah?

SPEAKER_07 14:35

Yeah, fair enough.

SPEAKER_00 14:36

Perfect. What's a small detail that totally changes the vibe of a wedding? Just not not be stressed, just be happy. We're a year, let's party. Activate parties. Yeah, ready.

SPEAKER_07 14:51

What should couples look for beyond price when choosing someone in your category?

SPEAKER_00 14:57

I personally think the vibe, if you get a good vibe off somebody, yeah. I think so. Yeah, because you bounce off each other, don't you? Like, if you get on with them, whereas if you're a bit like, do they like me? No. But yeah, that's why I think so.

SPEAKER_10 15:13

Yeah. Okay. What is a trend you wish would disappear?

unknown 15:21

Oh.

SPEAKER_07 15:23

I don't know. These are a trend in hair at the moment.

SPEAKER_00 15:27

It's just massive, isn't it? There's stuff that's from like years ago slowly creeping back. So it just changes all the time. Yeah. No, I don't think there is.

SPEAKER_07 15:35

No.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

It's too fast-paced, isn't it? Now everything's on the move all the time.

SPEAKER_07 15:40

But if it's varied, I suppose. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:44

Yeah, with hair, because you can like one person can have that and it's a complete tail end, but it's still within the reach. Do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_10 15:51

Right, okay, we'll go through the way it's one piece of advice you'd give to couples getting married next year.

SPEAKER_00 15:57

Have a lovely time.

SPEAKER_10 15:59

Have a lovely time. She did it!

SPEAKER_08 16:04

Hello! Hi, welcome! How's the show going? Yeah, busy. It's had been like a nice flow of people got a book in already, so that's good. That's brilliant.

SPEAKER_10 16:20

Yeah, maybe. What do couples think matters, but actually doesn't?

SPEAKER_08 16:30

I think wanting to please everybody else. Like it doesn't matter. Please yourselves and everyone else will have a good time around you, won't they?

SPEAKER_07 16:40

Spend extra money on one thing, what should it be?

SPEAKER_08 16:45

That's gonna be my I don't know fun stuff. Like whether it be like one of the selfie mirrors or I don't know like the casino tables that you've got here today, like just something fun for everyone to just let their hair down and have a good time.

SPEAKER_07 16:57

If we could go extravagant on a cake, what would we?

SPEAKER_08 17:00

Oh I don't know, we're just we're talking like several tears and nothing like white. Everyone wants a white cake. Let's go for a bit of colour. Let's go wild. Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 17:11

Okay, what what's something you do behind the scenes that couples would never realise?

SPEAKER_08 17:17

I was gonna say wash up, but I don't, I make my husband do it. Um I don't know, it's like it's just all the boring stuff like the admin and ordering all the stuff that people don't realise that I need to use. Yeah. I don't know, it's a hard one really. Like, because I do everything, like I do my books. I do I do everything. Like my social media, like I don't pay you anybody to do anything. Probably because I'm a bit tight.

SPEAKER_07 17:45

On all the money. What red flag uh what red flags should couples watch for when people suppliers?

SPEAKER_08 17:54

Um people that don't get back to them when they say they're going to, people that don't take deposits, um, because that's just security for you as a supplier and as a customer as well.

SPEAKER_01 18:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 18:07

Um yeah, just unreliable people that haven't got a good flow of communication with you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 18:19

Final one. Top trend, you're loving my um.

SPEAKER_08 18:22

I'm loving on them, and then you either cover them in fruit or they put candles on them, and the couple's gonna pick either on them and they blow them out and they make them in all the kiss. I'm there, I've got my first one in July, and I'm so excited. I mean candles. They're not having candles, they're just doing the fruit thing, and they're gonna have a bowl of fruit meat and like throw more fruit on the top, and hopefully they'll get a kiss. I want an invite to that wedding, actually.

SPEAKER_10 18:55

Perfect, thank you so much! Thank you very much. What's the one thing couples should ask you but almost never do?

SPEAKER_04 19:06

Oh my goodness. What do they ask me they should do? Oh, you know what? No, I think actually I've got a good answer for this, I think. What they should do is ask people that have been in our industry for a long period of time whether we can recommend something or help them in some way to do with their wedding day. Because I've seen a lot of weddings, I've seen things go wrong that shouldn't have. I've seen suppliers who aren't good enough, and I could have recommended better people. The truth is, you could. Um so I sometimes wish they would go to like you guys, someone with authority, with a network of contacts, and people, because it matters to you and it matters to me, yeah, that I would only recommend someone that I'd put my name on.

SPEAKER_07 19:48

Yeah, yeah. It's difficult to put your name to anyone, isn't it?

SPEAKER_04 19:52

Yeah, there's a risk. If you recommend if you recommend a supplier, you're risking something personally, or in your recommend in your um Yeah, you're risking something by recommending someone else. If they don't turn up or they're late, that reflects badly on you. And uh so I so genuinely I think you know we'd have top tips to give couples or people getting married, which you don't think of. Almost everyone, I think they'll have get get married and afterwards they'll go, I wish I'd done this. Or I know this now. Yeah. A good idea. When you get that wedding age, when everyone's uh peer group, you all your friends start getting married for a period of a few years, you spend a fortune going for weddings that you and at their you go to their stagdo Hendoo wedding, it costs a fortune for a period of. Expensive time. It's an expensive time. Yeah, and then um, but what what couples do is you nick your friends' best ideas. You look at their wedding and you go, Oh, oh, I like that. I like this, and it's great. It's you nick their suppliers as well, which are we've all seen done. Yeah, if you've my sister's photographer was great, you know, all her friends used them, yeah. And that's a great way of doing it. You see someone, you like what they deliver, and you nick it, but at the same time, ask for recommendations. I've got a top tip for couples. My single top tip I would give to anyone getting married, and primarily it's the bride, is delegate. Yeah. You have this, yeah, you get nearer the day. The worst thing I see at weddings-ish is um the the bride walking in and then an hour in looks looking knackered, because they are, you know, they are, aren't they? And um I I often just wish I could have said to them a few days before, delegate everything, get to bed early the night before, yeah. Um, and and yeah, have they they all think they've prepped and then it it's a it's um it's an exponential graph of things to do, isn't it? Is it that near the day? It is. Um are we on the fifth question now?

SPEAKER_07 21:42

Um second, believe it or not. Uh what actually makes a wedding feel luxury even on a budget?

SPEAKER_04 21:53

Okay, I don't think a wedding needs to be luxury. I'd I'd look absolutely personally, I'd go completely off. Way a wedding doesn't matter at all about luxury, it matters about more importantly, work within your budget. One, it's about you both being there, that's all that matters. Yeah. Secondly, having your friends and the people closest to you there, that's the second thing that matters. Third, do it within your own budget, don't exceed your budget. There's more important things in life. If you're at the age at which you've got to buy a house, or things like that coming along, it's more important you get your money together for your kids or whatever it might be in your life. Uh I don't mean to sound like I'm lectur lecturing in any way on this, just an observation. No, it's just common sense. It's common sense, isn't it? But I but I see it broken.

SPEAKER_07 22:36

Yeah, don't break yourself just booking a wedding.

SPEAKER_04 22:39

You don't need to. It's painful to see, isn't it? Yeah, it's painful to see. If you're rich enough, you can do whatever you you know, great. Yeah, whatever you want, fantastic. Spend it. If it if it really matters to you, spend it. But it but you know, don't exceed your budget. And um luxury is actually just then I'd suggest looking after there's three things in a wedding. One is the venue, second is the food, and third is the entertainment. Yeah, that that that genre. Um, just make it fun for your friends. Yeah, you know, make it a happy fun day. Do what you like. Do what you do what you like, absolutely.

SPEAKER_10 23:08

Amazing, right?

SPEAKER_04 23:09

I'm trying to think of what if you had one luxury, what would it be though? I just want to know if there was one luxury. Mine was always a live band. A live band. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 23:17

For me, it was fantastic.

SPEAKER_04 23:18

It is, isn't it?

SPEAKER_07 23:19

I do like a live band. I do like entertainment such as the casinos. Yeah. I do like people like yourselves walking around, hottering about. Yeah, yeah, I think the portraits thing seems good lately, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_10 23:28

I want to parachute into my wedding.

SPEAKER_04 23:31

I am I'll come and do I'm coming to that wedding. I had that as a list on my agenda. That's one of my options. Yes.

SPEAKER_10 23:38

You're gonna I want to parachute in.

SPEAKER_04 23:39

Can you free fall? Can you skydive or you're gonna No, I need to learn.

SPEAKER_10 23:42

But I'm gonna parachute onto the aisle.

SPEAKER_04 23:46

So I used to free fall parachute. Yeah, yeah. So um, and I could used to fly planes as well, so I could do both. Oh god!

SPEAKER_06 23:53

Can you fly my plane?

SPEAKER_04 23:54

I'll fly the plane. Go do an AFF. It's called an AFF course, accelerated free fall. So in about 12 jumps, you should get qualified enough to freefall by yourself. There you go. Not strapped on some on someone. I'll fly the plane because I'll get banned afterwards for letting you jump out in a place that you're not supposed to. But I'm up for it. We're in.

SPEAKER_10 24:12

Amazing. Let's do it. Right. But I'll see you in like giving me five years. Perfect, right? On to the next thing. What is the funniest or most unexpected thing you have seen at a wedding?

SPEAKER_04 24:25

Okay, a few things. At my own wedding, my friends hired a tank. It's a white limo tank. It's the only one in the country like it. That was a surprise for us. Made us laugh. We're in Wales. And it drove round uh the village roads. We got into the Sun newspaper because of it. No! Yeah, it's mad. So that's it. My own mum's weird. Uh I made some errors at my own wedding, for example, my wife when she walked down the aisle. Bringing a tank.

SPEAKER_08 24:50

What you was gonna say, bringing some errors, for example, my wife.

SPEAKER_04 24:53

My wife, for example, my wife was an error. I look round, it's a wonderful moment. She's there in a white wedding dress, and she stood next to me, and I went, You look funny. Because it just was what was in my mind. It is. And I'm still to this day, I'm still paying the price. I think you should. She didn't look, she looked, she did look funny, but um and it's not apparently the right thing you should say.

SPEAKER_10 25:14

I'm gonna suggest not, no.

SPEAKER_04 25:16

But um, so what was the term you used for the weirdest thing I've seen?

SPEAKER_10 25:20

The funniest or most unexpected.

SPEAKER_04 25:22

It's wedding related, but it's not a wedding at a wedding. I was at a party after the wedding. The couple had gone to the Caribbean to get married. Great idea. They've taken their best friends, there's about 30 of them gone to the Caribbean, and the bride says to me, Do you want to see our wedding photos? So if I'm honest, I don't. But I'm polite enough, I'm polite enough to know the social sort of social situation. Of course you say, that'd be that'll be lovely, thanks. So the couple, the couple hold up uh photo like this, swipe, and they've gone to a clothing optional resort.

SPEAKER_01 25:55

Right.

SPEAKER_04 25:56

And so I yeah, I went, huh? Swipe. And uh what anyways, clothing optional, they're all wearing something, but the one image that still stays in my mind was the one of the male guests. He's wearing a white top hat and a white tie down to about there and flip-flops.

SPEAKER_07 26:15

Right. Lovely!

SPEAKER_04 26:19

And that was one of their wedding photos. Priceless, and you know, back to that question of making your wedding your own. Yeah. Very much so. It wasn't a luxury, they'd gone to Caribbean, had an absolute blast. They were a great crowd, had so much fun, and uh, I asked for some of the photos, they didn't let me have them, so I just priceless. But uh that's probably the most bizarre thing I've seen, wedding related.

SPEAKER_01 26:41

It was them, yeah. Right, come on.

SPEAKER_07 26:44

Uh what shall we say? Um what's the difference between a good supplier and a great one?

SPEAKER_04 26:50

Good communication is is is is fundamental, really helpful, I think. Uh good communication from the start, it represents who they'll be on the day. Arriving early. Sounds weird, but it just takes the fact that uh delegating bride and groom, make sure your best men and your groomsmen and your bridesmaids are running around, making sure everything's there. Everything's in place, everything's in place, relax. Yeah, you'll enjoy it, take it in. Um then uh they'll do a good job on the day. If if if they've been around for a while, you can rely on the fact that there's a reason, and especially if they've been recommended. Good, good.

SPEAKER_10 27:30

Last one. One piece of advice you'd give to couples getting married next year.

SPEAKER_04 27:35

Come and visit a wedding fair here. Come and visit me. Come and visit me. I've been to thousands of weddings, uh, hundreds of weddings and a lot of venues. Uh honestly, come and have a look at the suppliers here. It's been a really enlightening day. Brilliant people here, professionals, exactly what I've been saying about who I think are of value. It's uh it's worth the day out here. Definitely.

SPEAKER_07 27:55

Even though it is a warehouse.

SPEAKER_04 27:56

Say again, even though it's a warehouse on an industrial park.

SPEAKER_07 28:00

It just works, doesn't it? Yeah, bizarre. Yeah, brilliant. Uh yeah, it it yeah, it works. Good. That's my one top tip. And we're definitely getting this guy for a show.

SPEAKER_10 28:08

Definitely, you're coming on a show. You're coming on an actual podcast.

SPEAKER_07 28:11

Yeah, you're having a full episode. Is there an episode? Yeah, no, we're gonna get the one for one.

SPEAKER_04 28:17

I'm butt. Just check the diary.

SPEAKER_10 28:21

I love you, I think you're great. You're coming back on.

SPEAKER_04 28:24

I'm only wearing my top hat and tie. Okay, maybe we'll get it on. I'm coming in with flip floors. Well, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_10 28:33

You've smashed it. Well done. What do couples think matters but actually doesn't?

SPEAKER_05 28:41

Oh gosh, that's a tricky one. I could say things like dance floors. You could do. I could, but I won't.

SPEAKER_07 28:54

Then I think you should go with that.

SPEAKER_05 28:56

I I don't know. I mean it's like sometimes I think bride shoes, does it really matter? Yeah, we don't know. Because quite often they don't see them. And you know, I've seen a lot of shoes get ruined. You know, I've seen Le Boutons, Valentino's get really tiny narrow heels get stuck in cracks in pavements, and we're pulling the shoes out and things like that. I just didn't go for comfort, go for block, heels, wedges, because you'll be in them all day because quite often they're just in flip-flops and things within a couple of hours. Because I once did a wedding uh a few years ago where she spent an absolute arm and a leg on a pair of shoes. This was at Heaton House Farm, and it was his crystal, she had crystals stuck all over them, weighed a ton, and she kicked them off down the aisle because we literally her feet were bleeding.

SPEAKER_10 29:50

Oh my god!

SPEAKER_05 29:51

And I've got this great shot of a bride and these heel these shoes just halfway down the aisle. She just couldn't wear them anymore.

SPEAKER_01 29:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 29:59

But he made a great shot, but and she actually afterwards she she's got these shoes in a display cabinet in her lounge.

SPEAKER_10 30:06

Oh my god, how much did she pay for them? Do we know?

SPEAKER_05 30:11

Close to a thousand pounds. Bloods. So, you know, quite often you don't see the shoes, and you need to just look at comfort. I mean, I'm a big fan of the boutons, I'm a big fan of Valentinos. Not that I wear them, I was gonna say, but I do wear them. Well, you've been trying these on, yeah. But you know, I wouldn't you know, shoes sometimes.

SPEAKER_10 30:34

Just be comfy. Just be comfy. Perfect. Next.

SPEAKER_07 30:38

What one thing can couples do to get the best experience from their supplier like you?

SPEAKER_05 30:44

Communication, yeah, ask lots of questions, like with what I do, you know, I could shoot lots and lots of different photographs, lots of different options, but if you see things that obviously what they've seen in mine has obviously drawn them in, and if they like certain shots, tell me. I can't guarantee to get every shot, every every shot that I can do at a potential venue. I can't guarantee different weather, different times of year, you can't get those, but just communication, just tell me what you like, what you don't like, and then it'll make a far better. And if you don't like really, really posy, cheesy smiles, you won't do it.

SPEAKER_07 31:26

So you get the gallery that you want.

SPEAKER_05 31:27

Yeah, just it's the same with any suppliers, just communication, just keep them informed, just keep in touch.

SPEAKER_10 31:34

Amazing, perfect. What's a wedding moment that still gives you goosebumps?

SPEAKER_05 31:47

Oh, it's a nearly falling off a cliff in Portugal. It doesn't really give me goosebumps, but it's it gets a heart racing. Yeah, it does. I had this it was uh on the Algam, I had a couple out on this big outcrop and I just the fence was in my way, so I climbed over the fence on the cliff.

SPEAKER_10 32:12

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_05 32:14

And I'm thinking this isn't a good idea, and it's starting to get a bit loose under my feet. And that totally not give me goosebumps, but it's just like oh crap. You know, I just visions of me disappearing into the sea.

SPEAKER_07 32:26

Yeah, gone too far for your work.

SPEAKER_10 32:28

Yeah, that's but I feel like that would have been your own fault.

SPEAKER_05 32:30

I mean, some I get quite emotional and things as well. You know, at ceremonies, you know, and speeches where there's people passed away, and I get goosebumps and things like that. Because I'm you know, we're quite deep down, quite emotional. Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 32:47

I can't imagine that.

SPEAKER_05 32:49

It doesn't give me much hard. I've once you know once shooting some speeches once photographing it, and I'm almost crying behind the camera. Oh because of you know, there was this once a groomer had I think the best man had given him some major organ. His best man was his brother, and I can't remember which organ it was, but he'd obviously don't know whether it's a liver or a kidney or something like that, and I just you know, and it's like these moments, and I'm like I'm blubbering behind the camera, holding it up to my face, thinking, you know, don't like any VC, try me hard.

SPEAKER_07 33:23

Does this affect the picture quality?

SPEAKER_01 33:25

If you're shaking, I mean go on.

SPEAKER_07 33:30

Oh, is it me? Uh what shall we ask? Um what should couples look for beyond the price when choosing someone like you?

SPEAKER_05 33:41

I mean, I'd like to say that price isn't important. The most important thing is you have a connection with your photographer. Yeah. Your photographer's gonna spend an awful lot of time throughout the day with you, and you must get on with it. I can almost say it's not, it doesn't matter how good the photographs are, if you don't get that vibe straight away when meeting them, and you there's something you don't quite click with, then you need to move on. I mean, obviously, price is critical to a lot of couples in this budget conscious you know world we are now in, but the most important thing is I think you have this vibe and you have a connection. Just because they're gonna be in moments, quite personal moments, a lot of private moments with you, and it's important that you get on with them. So I would say what was the question again before I went off on roll.

SPEAKER_07 34:35

What was it? Um yes, uh, what do couples look for beyond price?

SPEAKER_05 34:40

Yeah, that's yeah, that's basically it. I think it's especially with photography, yeah, because we're there longer than any other supplier. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. And we're gonna be asking things from them that you know it's very unusual, but basically we're strangers to them to a point, and we're gonna be asking things from them to do things that well possibly make them a little bit uncomfortable, but we we've got to get them doing it, we've got to enjoy what they're doing. Yeah, because we I don't want any any of my couples to be uncomfortable in front of the camera. We've got to be comfortable. Yeah, so to like your photographer, to get on with your photographer is very important, is incredibly important. Yeah, it's a big thing. Whether you're video alpha or you're content creator, the same. Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 35:27

Amazing. Last one. Top trends that you are loving right now.

SPEAKER_05 35:36

I didn't know there was any.

SPEAKER_10 35:38

So I asked you a different one. I feel like there isn't a lot of things. Yeah, it has to be a different one.

SPEAKER_05 35:41

I don't I'd I know I should be aware of this, but no trends in photography right now. I mean there's a lot of editorial. The look, the editorial look. Uh it's quite harsh flash at the moment. I mean there's some photographers that are quite blur and you know, go for this documentary editorial look. I try and do everything. Yeah. A bit of everything. Go for all angles. But as for trends within my industry, I just be I try and just be myself.

SPEAKER_10 36:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 36:17

And try and capture what I think my couples are gonna like and want, and not be forced to do anything they don't want to do, and just and just hopefully capture the content that they want that makes them happy. That's pretty good.

SPEAKER_10 36:32

Welcome, you did an award!