Wedding Scene – LUXURY WEDDING BLOG

Top 10 Celebrity Wedding Planning Tips by Liz Taylor

5 Star Weddings — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 07:05:39 +0000

Liz Taylor, managing director of wedding planners the Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC), celebrates her company’s 15th anniversary this year and during that time has organised weddings for over 500 couples in the UK and Europe.

Liz has built an enviable portfolio of private clients, blue-chip businesses and well-known celebrities including wedding clients Alan Halsall and Lucy Jo Hudson of Coronation Street, Manchester United football star Gary Neville and this summer, television presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.

Luxury Marquee Wedding By The Taylor Lynn Corporation

5 Star Weddings: Can you please tell us what TLC does for brides?

Liz Taylor: The name is a happy coincidence – the company was formed when industry colleague, Dianne Lynn, and I joined forces 15 years ago and the initials of our name were used to form TLC – the Taylor Lynn Corporation. Dianne is no longer with TLC, but the name and brand stayed as it has become synonymous with event quality, care and creativity.

It’s these skills that we put into planning the big day for our couples – this can be organising the entire event for them from the venues, dress, catering, flowers and a fabulous party at the reception, or, simply sourcing the best entertainment around. As much or as little support as they need.

5 Star Weddings: Liz, you are celebrating your 15th anniversary this year. What sort of changes have you experienced?

Liz Taylor: Quite a few things have changed. In 1995 most people were sceptical about the role of a wedding organiser and few employed the services of a professional but people’s expectations have changed. Venues started to employ their own organisers to improve service levels and this has influenced the whole wedding scene. People no longer want an ‘off the peg’ hotel wedding package. They now expect so much more and are far more adventurous. They have been influenced and impressed by friends’ weddings and the celebrity culture and seek professional support to help them deliver their dream day.

Couples are now also more adventurous with their choice of wedding reception style and venue, actively looking for something individual and funky. Splashes of shocking pink or black were virtually unheard of in 1995 but today’s bride can choose from the widest colour palette. We recently organised a wedding with a turquoise and chocolate-brown theme and another with Moroccan influences, both of which worked fabulously. Venues range from marquees, to Venetian palaces to hip city centre hotels and the traditional venues seem less popular.

Wedding catering has also changed. 15 years ago everyone had chicken but today we are seeing a big demand for Thai and other ethnic foods and clients can enjoy anything from chefs cooking live in front of their guests to a Yo Sushi belt set up in their venue.

Moroccan Style Wedding Table By The Taylor Lynn Corporation

5 Star Weddings: As you know we have over 150,000 brides visiting our website monthly. They are all interested to know what are the latest trends in weddings?

Beautiful Wedding Table by The Taylor Lynn Corporation

Liz Taylor: Tables are all about drama. To be on trend you should think of layered and textured fabrics such as embossed taffeta and lace tablecloths, or even clear perspex tables filled with your favourite flowers. Ornate candelabra as also big at the moment. Plus, many of my brides are opting for a single top table – reserved just for you and your groom. It means you can mingle amongst your guests freely without leaving any guests on the top table to entertain themselves

Alternative catering – everything from fish and chips to oriental food on the menu. And personal mixologists visiting each table and blending a bespoke cocktail for each guest is very popular as an alternative to offering wedding favours.

Entertainment has been heavily influenced by TV shows such as the X Factor and Britain’s got Talent with many couples wanting to hire former contestants or choose acts similar to those they have seen on TV. Recent examples are a gospel choir or a contemporary string quartet in bright funky dresses and trainers playing colourful instruments – hip and fun.

And your two buzzwords as far as wedding dresses are concerned are vintage and designer. Whether someone is opting for sophisticated elegance or vintage glamour, most people want that designer influence.

5 Star Weddings: Are brides influenced by celebrity weddings or do they choose their own theme?

Liz Taylor: Brides are influenced by celebrity events – I know as I plan many celebrity weddings! I always encourage a couple to find their own style though. It’s fine to take inspiration from these glamorous, high budget weddings, but interpret this in a way that makes the wedding style your own.

5 Star Weddings: Can you please give us your insight on where and how should a bride spend her budget?

Liz Taylor: If you are working to a limited budget, I always recommend focussing on one main WOW factor such as a fabulous band or love entertainment. People will remember this long after the wedding.

Trying to spread the money too thinly will simply create a watered-down wedding style, so invest in simple but impressive styling. For example, use your venue’s white linen (often included in the price of your venue booking) and invest in bright, striking floral table decorations that will stand out. Alternatively use big Church candles on mirrored plates and lots of tea lights to create a simple and inexpensive decoration.

5 Star Weddings: Any tips on planning the big day?

A Stunning White Wedding Theme by The Talyor Lynn Corporation

Liz Taylor: Employ a great wedding planner – it takes all the stress out of it!

If you can’t afford to do that, then utilise friends and family to help keep the event on track. Make lists of everything that you need to do and include realistic deadlines. Give the best man, ushers and bridesmaids jobs such as organising the flowers, dressing the tables and gathering family members for photographs on the day.

Also, get any quotations in writing and negotiate where you can. The current economic climate means that most venues are being more flexible on prices. But, remember that sometimes quality does come at a premium so don’t expect a 5 star venue for a 2 star price – just be realistic and don’t be afraid to ask for a deal.

Most of all – keep calm, relax and enjoy it!

5 Star Weddings: Obviously in the last 15 years you have worked with celebs which wedding stands out for you?

Liz Taylor: Every wedding, celebrity client or not, is special and stands out to me in some way, but I did really enjoy working with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford this summer. A charming, lovely couple and we created a really special day for them.

5 Star Weddings: Any seasonal tips? What should a bride opt for a summer, autumn, winter or a spring wedding?

Liz Taylor: The bridal colours and style shouldn’t be unduly influenced by season – she should look to find her own personal style for the day. You can however weave in seasonal trends to the flowers and reception; for example, you could use some red berries and winter foliage in the bouquet and traditional reds, greens and gold colours in the table decorations. English garden flowers for a summer bouquet and table decorations, with simple white linens or light summer colours such as pinks or yellow for the table.

5 Star Weddings: According to your experience which is the most popular time of the year for weddings?

Liz Taylor: It is an even split between high summer and December.

5 Star Weddings: Whose wedding would you like to plan? Please name names….

Liz Taylor: HRH Prince William is a dream wedding – just the scale and grandeur would be fabulous for me. To plan an event with such expectations is a pressure, but also a fantastic challenge – just give me a call William! I also have one very special wedding that I would love to plan – my daughter Katie. I planned the wedding of my eldest daughter Goldie last December, so Katie is next. Nothing is more rewarding than planning your daughter’s big day

Contact Liz Taylor at the Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC) on 0161 876 6266 or visit www.tlc-ltd.co.uk

Interview – Luxury Wedding Styling

5 Star Weddings — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:42:14 +0000

Earthy tones are a huge trend right now for wedding décor and theme. Many couples are looking to create the natural, rustic look for their wedding day that can be created using pieces straight from their own garden. With nature as their inspiration and easy-access to materials like sticks, stones and all the different flowers in bloom, there is an array of projects that brides and grooms can do together to bring the natural look to life.

We have managed to interview the lady behind the creation and design of Edward and Bella’s breathtaking wedding scene from Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1, Tammy Carmona.

5 Star Weddings: Can you please tell us what your company specializes in?

Tammy Carmona: In two words? practical designs! We do everything that has to do with design; color coordination, style, out of the box thinking. I started as an event planner and a chef, but it went on to so many other areas. For example, I have created my line of dishes, Carmona New York & Co. which I use at a lot of the weddings that I design. Being in the service field for so long showed me the need of the market for a new innovative line that doesn’t change like the weather.

People want to be able to repurchase dishes they love, but when they go out of style than what are they going to do? Switch everything they have? Our designs go from the kitchen to windows of stores to events to flower design. Once you are an artist you just have the way to redesign anything! An artist that is limiting himself to only one medium, will always stay in one corner.

Tammy Carmona: First of all it was intimidating; I thought to myself, can I pull it off? I have done big events before, won competitions, and knew I’m good enough to be able to do it, but still! A lot of people have watched the previous movie and who knows how many are going to watch it now! It’s scary! But I’m a real Twilight fan myself so it was super exciting! When I read the book, I told my teenage daughter “I want to do that wedding” She rolled her eyes at me and said, “Mom, get a life, you’ll never get that!” and now she doesn’t roll her eyes anymore!! It was amazing! When we came to the forest it looked like blank canvas. There was nothing there; just moss, ferns, stones and a million trees. Our job was to bring nature to life and to bring reality in to a dream look.

5 Star Weddings: How did you get into planning weddings and events and what do you love about it?

Tammy Carmona: I started as a chef, but pretty soon I started designing the sweet tables, then the buffets, then the tables themselves. I changed table cloths, redid flowers that I bought from florists until I had a customer that saw me fix a ready-made flower arrangement and she pushed me to do it myself all together. I tried and the next thing you know I won 3 competitions on floral design! I love the colors, the art in it, and the amazing delicate touch of a rose.

Tammy Carmona: Back to pearls and romance chic! Take Romeo out of the closet and dust him off! Laces are back; more 3D, soft colors and tiny feathers inserted into the flowers as opposed to the Vegas big feather style old look.

Tammy Carmona: Most brides will look at celebrities to know WHAT’S in style not to copy per say, but just to get the feel. I do have brides with $10,000 budget that bring pictures of a million dollar wedding and want it copied exactly. We try to make sure they understand that it’s impossible! Most brides will want something new , and they take these pictures as a reference only.

5 Star Weddings: What is your favorite part of the job?

Tammy Carmona: There are so many things I love about this job! To sit with the bride and try to read her mind, to come up with new designs, to see thousands of roses in the store everywhere! To see the bride come in and have her mouth drop and see her speechless taking in the room …

Tammy Carmona: In Cipriani on Wall Street in NYC I just did a job that every table was a different center piece. Some center pieces were 7 foot tall from the table up, then stretched 20 feet across and were actually covering 3 tables at once! I also had a party located around a pool where the waiters were dressed only in a small swim suit and a bow tie. Another event the client invited the original circ de soleil as an opening act!

5 Star Weddings: Do you have any top tips for brides planning their wedding?

Tammy Carmona: You have opinion, you know what colors you like, don’t just follow instructions from other people. Before you go to your coordinator, sit with the groom (if he is open-minded enough for design) or a best friend and talk it through. Come up with a budget you want to spend and try to stick to it! Even if its $50,000- $500,000 you’ll find out you can be dragged to more than you expected and a concept that YOU are uncomfortable with. If you like soft and romantic, don’t let friends try to pull you to do black feathers just because they find it hot!

Tammy Carmona: Quality more than quantity. I have brides that think that inviting 1,000 people will show how popular they are and will make it grand. It’s not the case! The budget is stretched over too many tables and too many people and it makes the wedding feels like a chicken market.

Too many people who don’t know each other. I love more intimate weddings – tops 300 people, food served on dishes that are not your typical round/ square, more interesting shapes that will be a conversation piece maybe even monogrammed. Also food served in a swap of 10 waiters serving at once an entire table instead of a waiter serving a whole table alone slowly. More courses in smaller portions, sophisticated and smart design rather than big and grand.

To speak to Tammy herself please contact Aristocratic By Tammy.
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