Snap Happy

We have booked our photographer! After much research, meetings and discussions, we have chosen the photographer who will cover our day - Paul Pope. If you would like to take a look at his work, please visit: www.paulpopephotography.co.uk.

We really like Paul's fresh approach and the way he seems to capture special moments as they happen - and unbeknownst to the guests!

We will be having a mixture of the formal family / group shots after the ceremony and reportage shots throughout the day, from when we are finishing getting ready and the guests start to arrive, through to the end of the wedding breakfast. The photography is a key element for us as it is how we will remember the day, and rather than having an album put together by the photographer, we will be doing our own and getting creative with tissue paper, glue and confetti! We want to create more of a storybook/scrapbook of the wedding, and will include our invitations, place settings, photos, cards etc. to make something really special.

There's lots of places where you can create your own printed photobook too, which we will be doing as a gift to our families, but will also have a CD with over 400 images from the day which we can copy for anyone else who wants them. We will post the best bits on this site, and encourage you to do the same with your own snaps as we know we have a few aspiring David Bailey's out there!

And remember, when the day comes, don't forget to say cheese!

Wedding Season

Weddings, weddings, weddings! It really has been the season to say 'I do' recently and it's turned me into a bit of a wedding snoop...
We've been to two weddings over the past few weeks and had a lovely time, plus it has given us a real life insight to things we might have overlooked; i.e. having music in the background whilst guests are waiting for the ceremony to begin, how guests need to be entertained between the photos and the meal and getting the balance right when watching the pennies. It's only when you go to a wedding that these little elements come to your attention - we have already made a lot of choices when it comes to processional and recessional music, readings, table pieces, unique favours and other special touches, but there are some practical things you don't realise until you are a guest yourself.

It's almost a year to go now and we have a really good idea of how the day will go, how it will look, how much fun you will all have with us etc. so as soon as the new year comes round, we'll be able to get on with a lot more of the ideas.

We'll be off to the wedding show at the NEC again in October - can't hurt to get together even more ideas! - and have started looking at possible honeymoon locations now too, with Austria being a particular favourite at the moment... As long as there is lots to do, beautiful scenery to see and we can jet away a day or two after the wedding, we'll be a very happy Mr and Mrs!

Graduates need not apply?

Fresh faced and ambitious, many new graduates are embarking on the search for work within the exciting arena of PR this summer, but what are their prospects within the current climate?

This time last year, PR Week reported record numbers of graduates coming into the industry which was very encouraging at the time – after all, these are the account managers of the future. However, with the economic outlook challenging for companies across the board, the problem now is that there simply aren’t enough jobs out there. PR certainly hasn’t been immune. To put this in context, a recent survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters found that there were 48 applications for every graduate vacancy. Within the competitive PR industry, this is much higher (our latest graduate position was responded to by 80 applicants), so the prospects for university leavers aren’t looking too healthy.

That said, I don’t think that the outlook for graduates is quite so bleak and would encourage any students reading this not to be disheartened. If anything, the trials and tribulations of gaining a first foot on the PR ladder will stand you in good stead for the trials and tribulations of life as a PR practitioner. As the old adage says, ‘what doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger.’

In my view, university leavers need to be realistic. We would all love to fall into our dream job straight away and start earning the wages that make our student loan look like peanuts. However, what the graduates of today are facing is competition from their professional elders who have been unfortunate to find themselves out of work and who need to go for positions further down the ladder just to keep doing what they love.

For all new recruits, experience, commitment and a strong work ethic are the order of the day. Many universities offering PR related degrees are now placing a much stronger emphasis on work experience throughout the three years – this is crucial in building an understanding of the PR world outside of the lecture hall and will set students up with the all-important contacts that could be invaluable once the degree results are in. With that being said, it can be a ‘chicken-and-the-egg’ scenario, as students can only gain relevant experience if agencies give them the opportunity in the first place, so a little understanding on both parts is needed.

Four years ago today, I joined WPR just one month after getting my degree results and whilst I was very fortunate to find the right company with a junior executive position available, I hope my personal experience helps new graduates to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, PR is as hotly-pursued a career as ever and each agency has a different protocol when it comes to recruiting students for work experience or graduates for junior positions, but the industry needs fresh blood in order to keep its finger on the pulse. This is more relevant than ever with the growth of viral, digital and social networking possibilities and graduates would do well to understand the skills they can bring to the fore.

Whilst some agencies have put the brakes on graduate recruitment, others have been unaffected and to be successful in the search for work now, adaptability and versatility is key. If you can’t get a placement with a PR agency when still at university, widen the net and consider other aspects of the media; after all, journalists, researchers and design agencies need PR’s and PR’s need them. The most important thing is that you DO something that will help demonstrate your skills and appreciation of PR to a prospective employer.

To achieve stand out, show you understand the company and the career you are pursuing, and you never know, you could be the right graduate at the right time.

Only 433 days to go...

Ok, it sounds like it's a long way off still but I know it will fly by.

This month we have contacted the council to notify them of our marriage and arrange our registrar etc. Hopefully the process is quite straightforward, and that we can pay the fees nearer the time.

The real saving starts now towards the big day - we want to make sure everyone has a wonderful time sharing the fun and festivities with us, so any suggestions on how we can make the day as memorable as possible, then just let us know. Also, we have a visit our 'Have Your Say' page on our wedding website where you can vote for your favourite song (which we will ask the DJ to play on the night and dedicate it to you) and also submit your ideas for the best hen / stag party etc.

Next thing we will be doing is looking at photographers. They book way in advance so we need to arrange to see a few to see what they can offer. Next to the venue, the photography is the biggest thing for us as it will be how we remember our day, so we'll be meeting with a few different photographers to see which one feels right. We've had a couple of recommendations, so as always, suggestions are welcome.

Inside or outside? I can't decide!

We went to see the venue again yesterday as they were unveiling their 'Alfresco' weddings. Hogarths has lovely grounds, bordered by woods and with a Victorian moat surrounding a little 'island' where there is a folly that they have just renovated so that cermonies can be held outside. Surrounded by bluebells, chirping birds and even bunny rabbits, we really want to have our ceremony outside as it feels really 'us'.

I think this is what we will be planning. Plan B will be to have the ceremony inside if the heavens open, which will still be lovely as the hotel has views of the gardens from all sides.

I have a week booked off at the start of June and I think I'll use this to get everything organised whilst things are still calm. The next priority on the list now the venue is all sorted is to book a photographer, as they seem to get booked quite far in advance. Any personal recommendations, then please let me know... we would like a mix of reportage and traditional photos, covering the getting ready stage, through to the first dance.

Save the Date

All is going well on the wedding front so far - glad to see that you all appreciated the little purple hearts with your Save the Date cards! Tee-hee!

This month we are getting our affairs in order and will be off to see the venue again at the weekend as they have renovated their garden folly, which you access via the kissing bridge over the Victorian moat (how romantic!) and they are having an open day so we can see about having the ceremony outside.

Plan B would be to have the ceremony room and umbrellas on stand by, but just love the idea of getting married in the woods...

We're getting married - really!

It's official - we are getting married in September next year! We've been engaged a long while now so we are really happy to be able to confirm the date and the venue.


We've already made a few decisions about what we do and do not want to do, but the main thing for the next 6 months or so will be to save, save, save!


One thing we can tell you in advance, aside from the fact the wedding venue is Hogarths Hotel in Dorridge, is that the colour theme we have chosen is deep purple.

And that's all you're getting for now!