Wedding Awards Debrief | Do They Really Matter When Choosing Your Suppliers?

Wedding awards are everywhere in the wedding industry but what do they actually mean for engaged couples?

In this episode of Totally Absolutely Engaged, we're unpacking our experience at the latest wedding awards, discussing what goes on behind the scenes, what judges are really looking for, and whether awards should influence your supplier decisions.

From industry recognition and supplier credibility to the realities of entering awards and what couples should focus on when choosing their wedding team, this is an honest conversation about one of the most talked-about topics in the wedding world.

Whether you're newly engaged, planning your wedding, or currently searching for wedding suppliers, this episode will help you understand how wedding awards work and what really matters when booking the people who will bring your day to life.

Topics covered:
• Wedding industry awards explained
• Are wedding awards important?
• Choosing wedding suppliers
• Award-winning wedding businesses
• Wedding planning advice
• What couples should look for when booking suppliers
• Behind the scenes of wedding awards
• UK wedding industry insights

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Transcript

Speaker 0:06

Welcome to Totally Absolutely Engaged. And today we are without Isla who's currently away. However, I am joined by three women from the wedding industry, all here to discuss the County Bride Wedding Awards. So thank you all for coming. I'd like to welcome Michelle, obviously owner of Rella Event Stationery. I always forget the events. And you were on only recently, weren't you? So yeah, we're a bit tired of you anyway. And then Rihanne, owner of Bakelicious, one of the early early episodes that we did. And Catherine, it's your debut. So it was this time last week, wasn't it? Yes. Yeah. So were we nervous? How did we get to the awards? It was miles away for Oslo, wasn't it? Yeah, it was the depths of Lancashire.

Speaker 5 0:57

Yeah, we drove up early and we stayed so up early into the room to get ready. Yeah. Yeah. Bottle of Prosecco in the room. Nice little build or calm the nerves.

Speaker 1:08

See, we had what did we? We had talking to Ezra, she's behind the camera, so but uh we had work in the morning and then we just had a casual day, really, didn't we? Yeah, and then uh Hannah ended up driving because Jen was meant to be coming with us from Peeny. She was very poorly, so uh yeah, we ended up driving. You lot the plough lot, you started early. You went DVA, didn't you?

Speaker 2 1:31

No, we went to the bear the no the new one, the how you say it in the bear garden. It was really nice. Yeah, but yeah, we may have started a little bit too early. There was loads of you, weren't there? Sixteen of us. And then we got two mini buses which descended into chaos, but it's fine.

Speaker 3 1:49

We did a video too early, though, because lots of you were still on the dance floor at the end.

Speaker 1:54

They're all arguing at the end though, we were getting onto the mini box.

Speaker 3 1:58

We left three behind.

Speaker 2:01

Was yours easy journey?

Speaker 3 2:03

Yeah, I had my brother's 16th birthday that day as well, so it was literally party, leave straight up to the awards. I had to get the permission from my mother to go and have fun myself that night. So we drove off and drove back.

Speaker 2:15

So the night itself then we just run run through the night. So you come, don't you? You have your drink, drinks, yeah.

Speaker 4 2:25

A few photos with photo boots, and we got the light up letters that you have your photos next to.

Speaker 2:31

What entrance did you go into the hotel in?

Speaker 4 2:34

Um the back where the iron gates were.

Speaker 2:37

The back's not as pretty as the front, is it? We don't know, we don't see the front.

Speaker 6 2:40

And we went through the front. We went through the front.

Speaker 2:42

Yeah, the front was a very pretty hotel, and the back was like, oh my god. Yeah, it was not like raw at Iron Gate. But uh we didn't see that. Yeah, it was a that's that was my welcome, and I thought, oh no, what are we in for? But actually, once we got in, nicely decorated, welcome to good. I think I ran into Joe's over the plough, so we started watching the Portugal match. Portugal match, yeah. Um obviously it's Portuguese, and you just basically catch up, don't you? With everyone, like you say, photo booths. Did you all have a go on that?

Speaker 3 3:13

Yeah, I had a go. Yeah, yeah. We I think we got one, didn't we? We did, yeah. I saw some of your silly ones on that through the next day. I've not been through them yet.

Speaker 3:22

Oh, I've not been through them. Um, and then it's into the into the room, isn't it? Yeah, um, so the theme this year was it black and white? Yeah. Movies or something like that. Yeah, it was a bit like movie themed, wasn't it? Yeah. Um, but we were saying before that all the floral decoration was then really bright. Yeah, not quite on theme. Pretty still, but yeah. And black and white, and what were you wearing?

Speaker 5 3:47

For me, I was like a full full bronze disco ball.

Speaker 3:53

You had a way you look round and go, What?

Speaker 5 3:58

Hollywood, blind Michelle when the lights were hitting me, I can't see.

Speaker 4:05

And then it's it's into the meal, isn't it? Yeah. So what did everyone enjoy the meal? Yeah, the starters. Yeah, it was a tomato.

Speaker 5 4:17

Needed a bit of bread, yeah. Needed a bit of bread under it.

Speaker 4:21

It was a tomato and an olive. That was the starters, basically.

Speaker 5 4:24

And mozzarella, don't forget that. Oh, yeah. Three little bits.

Speaker 4:27

Yeah. Picked those bits off. Uh the base was alright, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 4:33

It was nice.

Speaker 4:34

Yeah.

Speaker 5 4:35

They took mine away. Have you had your dad? I was desperate to go to the loo, and I ate a little bit off the front, and I went to the loo and I came back and it was gone.

Speaker 4 4:42

I could have cried. Could have cried.

Speaker 4:45

Oh, that was the best bit as well. No, it wasn't really nice. Our table didn't actually turn up. Uh the extra waste. And Lartspur didn't turn up. Jen was ill.

Speaker 3 4:57

And there was a catering company.

Speaker 4:58

Yeah, and the cater company didn't turn up. So I don't know what we did to upset our table. Yeah, because it's not cheap, is it?

Speaker 5 5:07

Yeah, we should have all scooted up and two on your table, two on ours.

Speaker 5:11

Well, they had their own table.

Speaker 5 5:13

Well, yeah, you'd got your own table.

Speaker 5:14

Everyone had round tables, and you had this huge picnic table with everyone on it. Yeah, you're a loud bunch, aren't you? That's why you're in the back, you know.

Speaker 4 5:27

Good fun.

Speaker 5:29

And then we had Dwayne's speech, which is always fun.

Speaker 5 5:33

You know what? It wasn't as long as I thought it was going to be. No. It's usually longer. However, it's right.

Speaker 5:39

His press releases. I've just printed it off and it's five pages. It doesn't matter.

Speaker 3 5:47

This is my first year. So I didn't know what to expect. How how did you find that?

Speaker 5:55

Was it what you expected though? Yeah, I think it was. Yeah. Because they've all been slightly different, but you've been going quite a few times, don't you?

Speaker 3 6:04

It's my fourth one I've been to. I think the shot for me was when earlier in the day you'd put an Instagram up saying that the awards well, you would go live from half ten. The awards don't start till half ten. I don't want to be on the road on the way home.

Speaker 6:19

Yeah, I was thinking that at the time as well with the football. All the football's finished, so I could then concentrate on the awards. But it's a long night, isn't it? Yeah, it is a lot really long time. I mean, we got there at what I bet we got there about half five in the end. So we got there quite early. So by the time you're having drinks, go in, have your meal, speeches. It's a long night.

Speaker 3 6:41

It's marathon, isn't it? Yeah. We didn't get home till half past one. I had school run the next morning as well.

Speaker 6:46

Because the band didn't even start till half eleven, did they?

Speaker 2 6:49

No. That was quite late.

Speaker 6:50

Who was the band? I can't remember. I can't remember.

Speaker 5 6:54

They were good fun though, weren't they?

Speaker 6:56

Yeah. And there's one woman that got up and sang, and she was brilliant.

Speaker 5 7:00

Yeah, apparently Andy sung a line. I completely missed it. Oh, your husband? Yeah. Yes, he did. I was singing on the mic, I was like, no, you weren't.

Speaker 7:12

Yeah, I think he saw that you'd left and he thought, right, this is my moment. This is his opportunity. And um Gabby from um Plough. She she she loves a mic, doesn't she?

Speaker 2 7:23

Yeah, she loves to stay.

Speaker 7:26

We were sorry she was there right to the bitter end as well. She was still there at one o'clock in the morning.

Speaker 2 7:30

If we didn't have a taxi, we all would have been there at the end because we usually are the last ones.

Speaker 7:34

Yeah, it was a shame actually when you lot left because it pretty much half a dance floor.

Speaker 2 7:38

We had to be sensible because we all would even work at nine.

Speaker 7:45

Um the charity, I mean, there was the auction, wasn't there, for the charity. Charity raised £4,600,600.20 pence. So that was uh for the destination Florida Children's Charity, which is basically giving children who are poorly a holiday of a lifetime, and uh Carrie Brides have sent 14 children so far. So as much as it's about awards and getting pissed, we're doing some good.

Speaker 4 8:13

Exactly, we're doing something somewhere, yeah.

Speaker 8:17

Yeah, we're doing it all for kids, um, right. So, the awards then. Did you think you'd win?

Speaker 3 8:24

No, not at all. I was shocked that I was even there, so I in my head wasn't winning at all. Yeah, and then when they announced Rella, well, I was shocked because obviously there was a technical error and they weren't reading the last name of every one, all the ones previously that the screen was coming up the list. They were only reading nine out of the ten people.

Speaker 8:44

Okay.

Speaker 3 8:45

So I'd said, if my name's at the bottom, I'm not winning. I know I'm not winning because it's the last name at the bottom, and it came up on the screen and it was the last name.

Speaker 5 8:53

You turned to me and said it, you were like, he's not even gonna read my name, I'm not gonna win.

Speaker 3 8:57

Yeah, you got a video of it, and I literally just put my head down and looked at the floor because seeing who was on the list and then saw her as the bottom, I was like, Yeah, that's it, I've not got it, it's fine.

Speaker 9:07

But you're not quietly confident though. No, I actually thought you would win. Like genuine, you've worked hard all year.

Speaker 3 9:13

I have worked hard, so hard.

Speaker 9:16

That's a stationer, though. There's not many that are just out there all the time, and you've you've made sure you are. Yeah. So I think I think you well deserve that. Well and truly.

Speaker 5 9:25

I wasn't that I wasn't shocked at all. Yeah, like it was so well deserved.

Speaker 3 9:30

I think because it was my first year there as well. Like I've been nominated before, but never got it as finalist. So and I also didn't push it because it has been so busy this year, it's just been one of the last things on my mind. So I haven't been asking people to vote for me, or I think I did it once, only because you shared it and there was 24 hours left to vote. Oh my gosh, that's so I shared it, but I hadn't pushed it or anything, so I just thought I was shocked to got to finalists because I hadn't pushed it. That's so good though, that you won and you hadn't even pushed it.

Speaker 2 10:03

That says a lot to be fair.

Speaker 10:05

Yeah, not pushed it. She was on the phone, so everyone's vote. Uh and you nearly won another award.

Speaker 3 10:13

Yeah. Oh, I didn't I didn't even know I was up for that one. No, you don't get told. I was told you nearly fell off your chair. Why is my name on the screen? Absolutely calf smack at that point.

Speaker 10:28

So we better say you were shortlisted for uh newcomer Disneys, weren't you? I was, yes. And so just pipped to the post by Say Wee. Say we are they bridal. Bridal dresses, yeah. Yeah, fair enough. Well done to them as well. Finalist. Again, was it again? Again, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, third year. So when are you gonna get better then? That's it.

Speaker 5 10:54

I'm just gonna keep trying, haven't I?

Speaker 10:56

No, he just didn't know the person that won.

Speaker 5 10:59

Uh no, I didn't actually. I had followed her because she must have maybe put up that she was a finalist and I'd I'd seen that Counter Bride had shared it. So I'd have gone on and followed her, but hadn't previously seen her work before.

Speaker 11:11

Right, okay.

Speaker 5 11:12

Yeah. I was that there's been a woman that's been um a finalist, so I was Cake Haven, that's been a finalist every time I have. She won it my first year, she didn't the second year, and I thought maybe it was going back to her because she does a lot of weddings and her work's fantastic. Yeah. And I thought maybe it'd go that way. But yeah.

Speaker 11:30

And you're on table with another cake person, weren't you?

Speaker 5 11:33

Yeah, so Georgia.

Speaker 11:34

So me and I really wanted one of you to win just to see what happened.

Speaker 5 11:38

You know what? I actually didn't said if she won, I wanted to touch the award because I had to deliver one of her wedding cakes when she was giving birth. No, I think either of us would have been really happy. We we are industry friends, we talk a lot, so yeah, that's it. I would have been happy for it. Yeah, yeah. We've it's quite supportive, actually.

Speaker 12:00

So and you're gonna win this thing, it's just a marathon.

Speaker 5 12:03

I don't know.

Speaker 12:04

You will.

Speaker 3 12:05

You just I don't know. I don't you just don't know going in. You've done a change though as well, haven't you? From um birthday party cakes to wedding cakes.

Speaker 5 12:12

Uh yeah, I'm I'm wanting to edge more that way because I don't know, it's just more enjoyable, I think. Um you create more of a masterpiece rather than a little cake, but yeah, even in this weather.

Speaker 12:22

Oh don't cooking a cake in this weather is not. I am melting. And then the plough, Catherine.

Speaker 2 12:31

We've won again.

Speaker 12:34

What is this now? Four, five, four? Four. So we're the same. So we we've won a we've won each year, you've won. We're four out of it. So yeah, so did you think you were gonna win? Because I didn't.

Speaker 2 12:46

We genuinely did not think we were gonna win this year, so we just went for the party. Yeah, let's go and get really drunk.

Speaker 12:52

We were a bit the same, we weren't actually gonna go. No, and then we basically stuff twisted my arm and said, Right, we're gonna have to go. We're gonna do it.

Speaker 3 13:00

What is it, a week, two weeks before you were going to be bought officially four days before?

Speaker 13:05

Yeah, so we just wasn't maybe that's why no one was at our table either. But yeah, we uh yeah, we just thought, oh sad it, we're just gonna go. It was a bit of FOMO, I think.

Speaker 3 13:15

Yeah.

Speaker 13:16

Because all of a sudden, everyone that I knew. When you said you were going as well, I thought, oh my god, now it is like everyone's gonna be there. Everyone's going.

Speaker 3 13:24

How much would you have been kicking yourself if you hadn't have gone?

Speaker 13:27

Well, I'd have been pissed right off, wouldn't I? I mean, we were we were we we obviously won the special touches, which I feel like I have to clarify is curtains and um uh uh LED dance floors and things like that. Nothing untoward. Um we narrowly missed out um on the photo booth category, yeah, which uh went to reflections, who I have to say are a very good company, and I'm not just saying that they've dug me out the WhatsApp when we've had a software problem, they've dug me out. So fair play to them. I like them. Um and then yeah, we got business of the year, which was a complete shock, and I didn't expect at all. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But that basically is what we I've been working for, so now I've hit that. I don't know what to think.

Speaker 5 14:16

Has anybody ever won it twice?

Speaker 14:18

We're not allowed, I was told I wasn't allowed, yeah. Because I said to Dawn, is that it? And she says, That's pretty much it. Yeah, you can't you can't win it again. The only way for me is down. So on that business, uh sets up a new business and a new name. So we'll have to go for a podcast, something like that. But no, the plow's done really well, hasn't it? And uh I think I I I think you're just gonna win it.

Speaker 2 14:44

We were all super super nervous, like on the videos. You can see us all like getting really scared about it.

Speaker 3 14:50

We do so many weddings a year, though.

Speaker 14:52

But it's between you and Col Shaw. I always think yeah, it's between you and Colshaw.

Speaker 2 14:56

To be fair, yeah, because they're all on par with how many weddings they do, I think. Yeah, so that's why we were kind of thinking they'd maybe pip up.

Speaker 5 15:03

I don't just think it's like the amount of weddings you do as well, because obviously you get in the votes, but it doesn't just go off the votes, it goes off the feedback as well, and the effort that you put into your couples and things, yeah, obviously reflects, which is why you win.

Speaker 15:18

Yeah, and I think because you do a lot of shall we say, DIY brides. Yeah. I hate that phrase, but you do, yeah. I think they're always very they're a lot more grateful, aren't they? Than the ones that are spending. Yeah, I think uh how do you word it? I think if you're paying 15,000 plus for cold shore, you expect you expect a certain standard. You're are then people then the type of people that are gonna go to your vote. Which they should do, because it all helps, but I think you have that edge. Yeah. Yeah. I think you're definitely. Totally. So So did you feel differently about being a finalist than having one? Because are you proud because you you're proud you're you're pleased to be a finalist, aren't you? Yeah. And you're proud to be a finalist, Lesbian. Yeah.

Speaker 3 16:11

I don't know, I think it's even now still in the state of shock and not quite sure if it's fully something that you did it. I I have cleaned the windowsill and I've polished it and put it on the flowers and stuff, and I was very proud, but yeah, I still think it's see when he's put a design for us for the wall, haven't you?

Speaker 2 16:31

Oh, as well.

Speaker 16:33

Yeah, you get a new one. You have to, don't you now? Yeah.

Speaker 4 16:36

You need it, you need to show it off.

Speaker 2 16:38

You can't just keep them on reception forever.

Speaker 16:43

So, how did you feel up? Because you were up for best wedding coordinate as well. Obviously, you've bullied all your brides for that. Did you?

Speaker 5 16:52

Is it gonna be nice to us with them? Just lose it over their side.

Speaker 16:58

Which is half and half. I'm on both then. It's just me. No, it's a massive achievement, though. For a wedding coordinator as well, to be in the top ten.

Speaker 2 17:10

Because it's the whole of Northwest. That's I was really shocked to even be a finalist. Yeah, we were shocked that you were a finalist. Thank you so much. Really appreciate it.

Speaker 17:20

Yeah, but I'm waiting to put a dance floor down. It's like, I'll go slow just for you.

Speaker 2 17:27

But no, to be a finalist for the whole of the Northwest was quite a big, yeah, big achievement. I was really, really proud of it, but I never in a million years thought I was gonna win it because there's so many coordinators. Um I think we might just do a meeting with somebody who might just do their wedding, so we don't see them from the beginning to the end, whereas other coordinators maybe do. So yeah.

Speaker 3 17:51

I saw you on the Saturday before the awards. Very calm and collected when loads of glass vases went everywhere.

Speaker 2 17:57

I don't know if I'd call me calm and collect, but you were.

Speaker 3 18:01

I watched you.

Speaker 18:04

She's very calm and collected.

Speaker 2 18:05

She wishes there was water going everywhere. In the background, I am not calm and collected. On the inside, I'm screaming.

Speaker 3 18:16

You didn't come across at all.

Speaker 18:18

So, were you happy with all the winners? There was loads of different winners I thought that.

Speaker 5 18:24

Loads of new names as well. I mean, especially in my category, there was a lot of new names, and you think, oh, I'm not sure who they are.

Speaker 18:31

A few familiar, but there's always that myth that saying people win. Yeah. Which it really irritates me.

Speaker 3 18:37

One thing I really liked was the fact that people still won it even though they weren't there. So it wasn't a case if you paid for a ticket, you're gonna win, and if you don't pay for a ticket, you're not gonna win to go because there were quite a few people who would won who weren't there on holiday or yeah.

Speaker 18:51

So And there was qu there was quite a lot. I think there was about 15 of them that weren't.

Speaker 3 18:55

I feel like that shows the validity of the awards.

Speaker 18:58

Yeah.

Speaker 3 18:58

That it's not just a like a popularity contest that you've paid to go there, you're buying the awards.

Speaker 19:04

Yeah, because I think people think you pay to get in you don't even pay to enter this competition, do you? And we we've got an episode with Dwayne, so we won't go into the whole of what it is, but I mean he did actually throw some numbers at us, and I think it was uh finalists did incredibly well this year. The judges had to go through 4,436 emails with 38 sections on each email to notify 2,827 individual companies um that were nominated. So that's a lot extremely well. So we got it down to 38 categories, yeah. Well, 39 include uh business of the year and the newcomers. So thirty yeah, 39 and there's top ten in each one.

Speaker 5 19:46

Yeah, so that's to get from all of those companies down to the top ten is incredible, isn't it?

Speaker 19:51

And it's actually the votes from the couples that get you to the final ten. Yeah, and then the judges do step in a little bit and then they look at things like your branding, your marketing, your your social media, everything else. They look at all that kind of thing. But like I say, it's all on Dwayne's episode, and I thought that that was enough to live through once, so you should go back and listen to that yourself. Um but yeah, was there anyone that didn't win that you thought should have? Controversial, but Faith Elizabeth. Yeah, don't want to discredit the other cake person, but you should have won.

Speaker 2 20:27

I was shocked at the single long ways, didn't you? Win the show. Yeah, really sharp.

Speaker 20:32

And they've won the third one the last seven years. Something like that.

Speaker 5 20:35

Yeah, that does prove then that it doesn't have to be the same person because they were obviously put to the post on that one.

Speaker 20:43

Yeah, I mean the only multiple winners now is Lau. Yeah, added extra. The added extra, obviously. Um Crazy Crazy Nine, who I love. They are so pleased. I mean, I don't I basically don't want anyone else to win in that category. So I'm not I'm very biased. They were on the stay with the show two two weeks ago. So yeah. They're such good fun, I love those guys. Yeah, yeah. Um, cover story. I I love cover story. I'll put Sharon. Sharon did mine and Joe's wedding, so we've obviously got affiliation. She's won quite I'm gonna say seven again. I'm gonna say seven, yeah. Wow. But there's also there's also a lot of venue dressers in the room, isn't there? So I felt sorry for her because they said her name, and there was a slight groan, but I don't think it was that they didn't want her to win, but it was just there was obviously a lot of disappointed venue dresses. But then obviously, when you hear the plow, that everyone cheers, don't they? Because you lot are so loud. Yeah, it's a venue thing, actually, isn't it?

Speaker 3 21:42

It's an old man you have to go out for your award and you wall just keep coming. That's the stage. Oh my god, how many is it? Do you fit in for every group photo dons?

Speaker 2 21:52

We only just it was you were spilling out on the side, we're back. It's the first year that all of us. Look okay on it, and one of us isn't like pulling a face, which is really unusual for us. We were quite proud of that as well.

Speaker 22:09

No one else was pleased with their photo. Our office hated it.

Speaker 2 22:14

The first year we've been happy with it, to be fair.

Speaker 22:17

Yeah.

Speaker 3 22:17

You were I had a personal photographer who followed me around.

Speaker 22:21

Let's go following after you. Yeah, we're going to talk about your address. I didn't know it was just so so so blinding.

Speaker 3 22:31

Didn't we have someone to you and they didn't even know who you were, but they just wanted to dance with you because you're like, I was going to the toilet.

Speaker 5 22:39

She was like, I'm coming for a photo with you. I was like, hi. You did get stuck in the door. I did get stuck in the door. Yeah, I had a little train and it got stuck. It was from Sheen though. It was so cheap. Seriously.

Speaker 1 22:53

Yeah.

unknown 22:54

No way.

Speaker 3 22:55

How many did you actually order though to get to that dress?

Speaker 1 22:58

I don't know if I want to tell you.

Speaker 3 23:00

I had one in commentary as the parcels were coming. And then as soon as that one, I got a picture of that dress. I was like, it's the one.

Speaker 5 23:08

It was um it's got one. It was the last one, it was the last one I tried on, and that was dress number 16. 16. Yeah, but I send them all back.

Speaker 23:23

I just give Colin a ring from L and J formal. That's pretty much all the they all do that at the plough, don't they? He just waits on the phone calls. I've lost weight this year. Well done. That's what you said. Oh, he did take the pist the year before because I put on so much and it's because of him that I then lost weight.

Speaker 3 23:43

Um dashing, you and Pete.

Speaker 23:48

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Everyone looked nice, didn't they? Yeah.

Speaker 2 23:51

Yeah, everyone looked so smart this year. Everyone really went for it this year, didn't they?

Speaker 23:55

Yeah. I think it was a successful evening. Take away the winds and everything. I think that was a decent award, actually.

Speaker 5 24:01

Yeah, it was. And it was just good night. I feel like everyone was in good spirits as well. Yeah.

Speaker 24:06

Definitely, definitely your table. We had too many spirits. Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 3 24:12

Some may have gone into an ice bucket when people weren't looking.

Speaker 5 24:15

Oh yeah, I just couldn't keep up.

Speaker 24:16

No, it was just bottles arriving.

Speaker 5 24:18

Just not me. Shots.

Speaker 24:21

I mean, it started off with shots and then bottles.

Speaker 5 24:23

I know. The other cake maker, Georgia, she went up and she was like, Can I buy a bottle? And they said no. And she was like, Well, how many shots are in a bottle? And they said, and she was like, Well, I'll have that many.

Speaker 3 24:39

Yeah.

Speaker 24:41

Did you drink a lot of your type of?

Speaker 2 24:44

Yeah, we always do. The bottles of wine just kept coming to the table. And we were really trying hard to keep up with the water, but then the wine was just there. So much better.

Speaker 24:57

You were gone though, you were blurry-eyed.

Speaker 2 24:59

I always am.

Speaker 25:02

I know because I've actually seen you at weddings as well. Yes, you have. Not the ones that you work at, just to make that clear. But as a guest.

Speaker 2 25:09

Seen me as a guest on a couple of occasions where I just scream you name.

Speaker 25:13

Yeah, you yeah, we where did we meet? Was it Meriday once? Meriday. You literally just shouted Paul in my face about three times. Yeah. And then what?

Speaker 2 25:21

As you were carrying letters. Well, no, it was very important. I had to go find my prosecco that I'd lost. Right, I see. So that's where I watched.

Speaker 25:29

Cleared that up now then. So do the awards matter? Yes. Do you think we should have awards? Is it right? Well, let's say, right, is it it's benefiting the supplier, isn't it? And it's benefiting the couples. Yeah, it but how?

Speaker 3 25:45

Well, couples are getting confident that I think because it is voted right by other couples, that they're getting confidence that you are actually a real person. Yeah. That you are supplying a product and people are happy with what service you are providing.

Speaker 25:59

It's almost a shortcut for them, isn't it? Of vetting the supplier. They just know there's good recommendations that they can go, yeah, I want that one. And we have people actually that go down the winners. Oh really? Yeah, yeah. You get people that go down the winners and they just book all the winners.

Speaker 3 26:15

I had 32 emails the next day of people either people who I'd already spoken to but hadn't fully committed and wanted to then book in, or new people messaging me to book in. I decided the next day they never want to be a celebrity with my phone.

Speaker 26:34

But no, it's it's a fact though, isn't it? The next day you do get a jump in bookings. Yeah.

Speaker 3 26:38

And followers on Instagram as well.

Speaker 26:40

And all the pending ones like go, actually, yeah, we'll put them now quickly.

Speaker 3 26:43

That's what I noticed. There were quite a few that I'd been speaking to. We'd talked about prices, but they hadn't come back to me to confirm, and they did come back and book in, and not just book in for because I have like three booking stages, save the dates, invitations, and on the day. I just booked all three slots.

Speaker 26:59

Really? Yeah.

Speaker 4 27:00

That's amazing.

Speaker 27:02

It does help. Yeah, definitely. And it's good for staff morale. Yeah. I mean, I know it's just well, you've got staff now, yeah. Yeah, you've got staff now. Yeah. But it's good for staff morale, innit? Definitely. Uh everyone that enjoys the win. And uh for us, it's very much like a way of thanking the staff as well.

Speaker 5 27:23

It's like it's just a really good boost as well, because we're into wedding season already and we're all starting to flag a little bit because we're knackered, and it's just that boost, and you're like, No, I'm doing a really good job. Yeah, and yeah, it really spurs you on.

Speaker 27:38

Yeah, and that's the thing, isn't it? I mean, it used to be a definite wedding season, but it is spread a lot more. Yeah, and yeah, there are rules, then we are flagging a little bit of a lot of it.

Speaker 2 27:48

Yeah, it started in April and it's gonna end in December. Yeah, so it's nice mid-season. We had a little boost, yeah.

Speaker 27:55

Yeah, no, it is nice, but uh yeah. Um, and it pushes suppliers as well, doesn't it? Makes us all better, I guess.

Speaker 5 28:04

I don't know, it just gives the customer validity, doesn't it? That they're booking somebody that they can trust, they're booking somebody that's where people have said yes, they do do a good job, otherwise you wouldn't be a finalist, would you?

Speaker 28:17

You must be looking over your shoulder at Cold Shaw and stuff like that. I think we'd be better.

Speaker 2 28:23

We're completely different venues though, so yeah. You can't really go.

Speaker 28:28

Who is your rival then?

Speaker 2 28:30

I think it was Coleshaw really that we were worried about. But I think in terms of ones that do similar to us or similar pricing, maybe Larksbur are normally the ones that we kind of lose people to sometimes. But again, we are completely different. It sometimes just comes down to pricing and the aesthetic.

Speaker 28:48

Yeah. So the next morning then, how did you feel? Rough. Awful. Apart from Hillio, well, I bet you felt awful.

Speaker 5 28:57

It's absolutely terrible.

Speaker 28:59

You and the hubby. I must admit though, you and the hubby were pretty much great entertainment.

unknown 29:04

Yeah.

Speaker 5 29:05

It's not a good thing or a bad thing. No, it was a very good thing. It was good entertainment. We were having a great time. Yeah. I think it was the alcohol that helped as well.

Speaker 3 29:14

There was one point where I went to the toilet, and a husband leaned over to me and my husband and went, I'm steaming.

Speaker 5 29:22

Yeah, we were both. I don't know, it's a mixture of I feel absolutely awful.

Speaker 29:28

Yeah.

Speaker 5 29:29

Because I'm so hungover, but I feel absolutely incredible because I've had such an amazing night. You've spent it with other suppliers, winners or not winners, you all we've all just been in one room. You've had a really good night, and you're just really proud of yourselves.

Speaker 29:41

Because it is a great catch-up, isn't it?

Speaker 3 29:42

We were also saying as well, like being self-employed for us, it's like our Christmas party.

Speaker 5 29:46

It is, it's my Christmas party.

Speaker 3 29:48

It's a good night out to be with other people because being self-employed, it can get lonely being on your own. So getting out of mingling with other suppliers, not working, yeah, is a good night.

Speaker 30:00

Yeah, I suppose we don't get that, do we? Because we're pretty much with people all the time. Yeah.

Speaker 5 30:05

So we it's just it's just me in my kitchen. Occasionally with somebody on FaceTime, like keeping me company, or my dad walking in and out. It's it it's just me. Like we joke and say that Andy's my pot washer, but he's got his own job. So yeah.

Speaker 30:22

And do you find it good for networking? Like, is it is it a place where you can't because this is what brain always pushes, isn't it?

Speaker 5 30:29

Yeah, I suppose you get to you get to know people. Um, so before going to the awards, the only really industry people that I knew was Michelle, but that's only because we knew each other outside of work.

Speaker 6 30:41

Yeah.

Speaker 5 30:41

Um, and obviously I've I've got to know people that I didn't know before. So the first year I remember going feeling really nervous because I knew nobody. Whereas this year you you can't walk two metres without being like, Oh, hi, yeah, hi yeah, because you you know so many people, and that's lovely. And I feel like the awards really do help you get to know people, and then you feel more comfortable walking into a venue that you're supplying for because you've got a familiar face that you can say hi to. Um, because that's really difficult sometimes when you walk in somewhere and you're like, and they don't know if you're any god, they don't know if you're just a hobby baker. It's it is great for networking.

Speaker 31:20

Good, good, and then obviously you would have checked that your award existed, it wasn't a dream. Yeah, and then and then I I think going back to the first year that I won it, you do get a lot of messages.

Speaker 3 31:31

Yeah, the next day it was.

Speaker 31:32

And you're a lot of companies speak to you that have just never spoken to you. Yeah, all of a sudden you're accepted in this light little club.

Speaker 3 31:39

100%. There's private messages from people who I didn't even speak to on the night, but it was everyone's congratulating everybody. It was really love why your followers shoot up as well.

Speaker 2 31:49

Yeah, everything like this has gone mad since we won.

Speaker 31:52

Yeah, and you've not even put a thank you post up yet. We haven't, I'll publicly expose you. We we love our couples. So, on a personal level, what does it mean?

Speaker 3 32:07

I think validation for for me that I am good enough because you do get imposter syndrome, and especially like for us that are at home working on our own all the time, you're never quite sure. And there are big names in the industry. I remember looking at the list as it came up thinking, oh, I've not got a chance against some of those people in that list. So for me, it was validation that I am good enough and what I'm doing is good enough on a personal level.

Speaker 32:34

It really is, honestly. Nothing to worry about.

Speaker 3 32:37

The most exciting thing was being able to go onto my Instagram profile and changing my bio with a little trophy put in a water thing. I couldn't wait to do that.

Speaker 32:47

I just maybe need to do that. I haven't changed the bio. That's one thing. Um, I mean, you've got to take great pride in the fact that you were picked out for the personal one.

Speaker 2 32:57

Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 32:58

That is a that is a big I know we've took the the the Michael, but it is a big one, isn't it?

Speaker 3 33:03

Because you are all fantastic at the plow, so to have your name singled out a death is fantastic.

Speaker 2 33:08

And we are all a team.

Speaker 33:09

Upset the others, but yeah.

Speaker 2 33:11

But to be fair, it's a win for all of us to get a finalist because we are such a good team. Yeah, and yeah.

Speaker 33:18

You had PR trainers, haven't you? And how do you reflect on it?

Speaker 5 33:26

Um, I don't know, just echoing what you've both said. Like it just makes you feel amazing that you got there and yeah, it's validation because I like Michelle, I get imposter syndrome all the time because the way I view myself is it's just me baking in my kitchen at home. Like I'm not, I am a home-based baker, obviously fully registered and everything, but I've not got this big unit, I'm not this huge bakery.

Speaker 33:49

It's just but every time you post a cake, it's like, oh my god, this is amazing. Loads of people are like, This is amazing. So yeah, no, you just get that all the time, just think, oh yeah. When you've been in magazines and stuff this year, you're having an amazing yeah, front cover of Cheshire Live.

Speaker 5 34:04

Um but yeah, no, I still I just feel like I'm just Rihanna, I'm a mum of two, and I work in my own little kitchen at home around picking my kids up from school. So when you get something as big as like County Bryan being a finalist, like top ten of the Northwest, you're like, Oh shit.

Speaker 34:20

Well you realise you're in something bigger, don't you? Yeah, you all of a sudden you think you've got a sudden I'm like a huge industry that you're a part of.

Speaker 5 34:27

I'm not just me in my kitchen like I am doing something here. Yeah, I'm not just whipping up a few cakes as a hobby baker like I used to be. Yeah, bit of a slap of reality. I'm like, oh my god.

Speaker 34:41

So to finish then, what would you say to your customers?

Speaker 3 34:45

Thank you. Thank you for taking the time out to vote for me. And obviously it goes on comments as well. So what I'd love to see what the comments were, but whenever the comment. That's the thing, I want to know what people said about it.

Speaker 5 34:57

I want I want to know where I placed as well, like in that top ten. Like, did I just scrape in? Am I number 10? Or where was I? Am I sitting in the middle of the city?

Speaker 3 35:05

If you found out you were sacked and you were so close, you're like, what am I? Like crying inside.

Speaker 35:13

I mean, just phone Dwayne and ask.

Speaker 5 35:16

What to say?

Speaker 35:17

Yeah, surely it'll tell you.

Speaker 5 35:18

I'll get Duane'd and then I might find out.

Speaker 35:21

Yeah.

Speaker 3 35:22

One thing I have learned from Counter Bride's awards is that I've been saying his name wrong this whole time.

Speaker 5 35:27

You actually asked me, you were like, is it Duane?

Speaker 2 35:32

I was like, it's Dwayne. I can see how you got to that.

Speaker 3 35:38

Because, as well, I don't ever answer the phone calls when he rings because I hate talking on the phone. So it always goes to voicemail, and there's a like transcriber on my voicemail to read it out, and it comes up, it doesn't say it right.

Speaker 35:52

Yeah, we had a we had uh a member of staff that thought it was Duane. And they she she used to say, Oh, Duane's rang, and I thought, Duane. It took me ages to work out what she meant Duane.

Speaker 3 36:01

Well, that's what I learned.

Speaker 36:03

Yeah, yeah. I'm surprised that you're in that category, but okay.

Speaker 3 36:09

You can't be perfect all the time, anyway.

Speaker 5 36:12

Paul now thinks you're stupid.

Speaker 36:15

How do we get our war off?

Speaker 4 36:18

I'll take it.

Speaker 36:19

Uh yeah, I mean, I'll say that I I was extremely grateful to all our couples. Um we we obviously we're lucky, we have a lot of couples from a lot of venues. I think the plow obviously help us massively. I think a lot of their couples vote for you and consequently vote for us.

Speaker 2 36:35

So that's that's a good thing though, because when you've got so many suppliers, when like we send an email to say, Oh, vote for us, they then look down and go, Oh, I also had a cake from this person, oh, and I had this. So it just helps other suppliers as well.

Speaker 36:50

Because even Zappa was in it this year.

Speaker 2 36:51

Yeah, it was a finalist.

Speaker 36:52

I was hoping I was really hoping Zap was gonna do it.

Speaker 2 36:55

And Ruth from Heaven Send, yeah, finalist as well.

Speaker 37:06

Um anything you want to say?

Speaker 5 37:08

Well it's just a huge thank you, isn't it? Because their wedding's done and gone, but they're still going back to take that time out of the day. Um and whether it just be a two-minute because they have just gone on and like mark two five out of five or whatever, and press submit and not voted for all the others, or whether your Instagram story that you've put up to say, I'd like you to vote, and then they've gone down the full list and they've done everybody, it's it's not a two-minute job, is it, to select find everyone in the list, write a comment about everyone. It they've taken some time out of it. Yeah, and it it just makes it feel really special, doesn't it? Because they've got to be a good thing.

Speaker 37:43

And then comments matter as well. Yeah, yeah. Um I know I I don't know so much if you like just on your own, but for us, you know, if they actually mention a name from the venue or from that company or something, that counts as extra points in the judging panel, yeah, yeah. So it them comments are extremely important. So just to say, oh yeah, it was a great day, thanks. Yeah, that's basically a point. It's still good, still a vote. But yeah, that's it.

Speaker 3 38:11

Is it three years that people from the previous three years can vote? Yeah, so I can't remember what it is.

Speaker 38:17

Uh they they are shortening it. COVID messed it up, it changed slightly, didn't it, from COVID?

Speaker 3 38:21

Well, those people have moved on with their lives, haven't they? They're still voting, like two to three years from in the past. I think that's massive to show that they still highly regard you and they're still thinking about what kind of stay they've had to vote.

Speaker 38:38

Yeah, but when people moan about um multiple winners, i.e., like us, winning the last few years, it's the customers from two years ago that have stayed loyal, isn't it? So we've built up almost a catalogue of votes, so it it's hard to keep retaining.

Speaker 5 38:54

But also that that award that you won four years ago, those couples aren't voting for you anymore because they can't. So it's just it shows that you're carrying on doing a real job.

Speaker 39:04

But it's uh it is a pressure to keep right retaining it, and there is this urge to just retire from it a little bit. So, what's the plans then? You're an award winner to you, Michelle.

Speaker 3 39:18

I don't know, I'm done. I'm still busy. I didn't see it, and straight back in the office the next day making invitations.

Speaker 39:25

I know that's the thing, isn't it? We were all there the next day. I mean, we I don't want to harp on, but because we got the business of the year and that was something that we'd been working towards. I was actually a bit deflated the next morning because I was like, what now? What now? Since I've my head's come back and I've got a big head again. But uh no, uh no, since then you you you do think right, you re-evaluate stuff and you think, right, okay, we're gonna have this product, we're gonna go into this area. The stuff you use it because the staff are all motivated from from the experience, so it's like right, let's do this, let's do this. I'm guessing it's kind of similar for the for the plow.

Speaker 2 40:06

Yeah, it's just trying to keep consistent because I mean we brought in the loft, which we knew was gonna be a big thing for us.

Speaker 40:13

Um there won't be many people that have had the loft that would have voted, would they?

Speaker 2 40:18

No, because we only opened it in March and the boat stopped in April.

Speaker 40:22

So that's I mean, that's massive for us. Great feature, that isn't it?

Speaker 2 40:26

Yeah, but I think that'll help us going forward.

Speaker 40:29

Yeah, yeah, definitely. Keeps you ahead of the game. So you're already on it anyway. Yeah, we try.

Speaker 2 40:34

We're always refreshing.

Speaker 40:35

And you had the orange read in you a few years ago, so you're always doing something. Yeah.

Speaker 2 40:39

Which I don't know what will be next. But there'll be something. We'll find it.

Speaker 40:44

Well, yeah, we won't. And what's your plan?

Speaker 5 40:48

Uh I'm just gonna keep up with the momentum. Yeah. Um win it next year. That'd be nice.

Speaker 40:54

That's gotta be your target.

Speaker 5 40:55

Um, I kind of have I always have like a number target in my head of how many weddings I want to do, and that number's quite small in comparison to what numbers that you can um do just because of the amount of people there is. Um, and it is just me, so that number's creeping up each year, but I'm finding I'm having to turn other work away, and it's just it's the way the way my business is changing, it's naturally changing. I've never had a huge business plan, I just go with a flour.

Speaker 41:22

So, did you come into it because you enjoyed it? Is that yeah?

Speaker 5 41:26

Um, so I'd I'd always made cakes and I'd always made cakes for friends and whatnot, and then the thought of making teared cakes terrified me. Um, but then as I started making them and I did my first word, and I thought, you know what, I really enjoyed that. And just going and setting them up at the venues, getting a little bit of content, it's it's fun. Um, so they just they started to increase.

Speaker 3 41:49

Yeah, you've had a shiny new rebrand as well, haven't you?

Speaker 5 41:52

Yeah, I've moved away from the tacky pink drip lollipop cakes, and I've rebranded. No, no, there isn't. My my logo did not look good in pink. Um and it's mine's future. It had got this cake in the background that had got lollipops all over it, it's got a drip on it, and it just it wasn't me anymore. Um, so I've gone very minimalistic. Um, I've gone black and white, and I think you never know, I might rebrand again in the future, but yeah, just carrying that momentum. Yeah, I know I like it.

Speaker 42:27

You you you rebranded, didn't you? It was about a year ago. Yeah. Look what it led to. So you have to replicate that.

Speaker 5 42:35

Yeah. Maybe I need to rebrand again.

Speaker 3 42:38

Yeah, I love your brand now.

Speaker 5 42:40

Yeah, I know I do like mine.

Speaker 42:42

Right, so anything else to add? Yeah.

Speaker 5 42:45

Um, what was that bit about what didn't make it to the Instagram stories that you messaged me about? Because I'm just wondering when we message about you down in a blue WKD at this. Do you say it? I've got a photo I'll show you after.

Speaker 42:59

I don't make it a huge secret. I'm not particularly an ale drinker, I like a cocktail.

Speaker 1 43:06

Okay.

Speaker 43:06

Always have done. Took a lot of grief over it over the years, and I'm now 46 nearly, and I just think son it, I'm gonna enjoy my cocktails. However, I do enjoy blue wickets.

Speaker 1 43:15

I was gonna say, I'm not sure I'd call blue wickets straight from the bottle.

Speaker 43:21

So I was treated to a few blue wickets from the people that knew. But the problem is I've done photos of me with a bright blue mouth and blue tongue, etc.

Speaker 3 43:29

Having a lovely time. You're enjoying yourself, that's all.

Speaker 43:32

You enjoy what you enjoy, and that's it. So let's wrap this up. Thank you everyone for coming. Uh, I know it's just a brief chat, but it's just nice to discuss the awards. Such a big event in the wedding industry. Uh, I think it's uh important that we thank Dwayne and Dawn for organising it and putting the whole thing together. They did a great job, it was a great night. And we should thank the Park Hall Hotel because they they put everyone up and looked after everyone extremely well. Um, charity is obviously a winner, and we need to thank all our customers, especially, for the voting for us for the two walls that we are on. And let's just thank all couples, uh, as it's them that make the awards happen. So, see you next week. We should have Isla back, and I think we are talking to maybe the jewelers, or maybe it's just a solo show with me and Isla. See you next week.