I chose South Coast Weddings to be included in this event, as Director Sam is wonderfully passionate about each and every Wedding she plans, which shows in the results! She has various packages, from fully planning the entire Wedding, to On-the-Day Co-ordination, so everything you've planned runs smoothly.
If you choose Sam to plan your Wedding, she will be with you every step of the way, helping to create your Dream Day, whatever that may be. She even has a 'Plan as you Go' service, so you can test the waters before jumping straight in, or just get that extra bit of support with your planning.
Sam shared her Top Ten Wedding Planning Tips, as well as some important information about Terms & Conditions and Contracts, during the Wedding Planning Tips Section of the Fayre. You can now see this video below!
The wonderful Sam has also answered your questions below the video, showing you just why you should choose South Coast Weddings to make your special day everything you're dreaming of and more - Thank you Sam! xo
If you'd like to talk to Sam, I've included her contact details at the bottom of this piece, or you can leave a comment underneath the piece and I'll pass her your email address! 🤍
South Coast Weddings - Wedding Planning with a Heart
Wedding Planner, Sam Savage, owns South Coast Weddings, who are based in Dorset and cover the south of England, with Full Planning services through to On the Day Coordination.
So, if you’re a busy professional who wants to hand over everything, or you just need someone to run everything on the day, get in touch!
Q&As
What areas do you cover? Can you plan International Weddings?
South Coast Weddings is based in Dorset and typically, I cover Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset & Wiltshire, although I can do weddings anywhere in the world!
What is your favourite part of what you do?
I think for me it's seeing the stress visibly leave the couples when you take everything off of their plate. That and the big smiles they still have at the end of the day.
What makes South Coast Weddings different to other Wedding Planning Services?
I provide an extraordinary service, every time. Rather than just providing a wedding planning service, I provide more. I am a friend and invested in not only couple’s weddings but their lives. I celebrate their exciting news with them and share their disappointment when things are not so great.
I had a bride call me, crying about her mum’s cancer treatment. I listened, sympathised, offered advice with regards to the wedding and adjustments we could make, but I genuinely cared that this bride not feel pressure or concern herself with the wedding plans, when she needed to focus all her attention on her mum.
Last October, one of my On the Day Coordination couples were told, the day before their wedding, that they couldn’t hold their wedding in tipis as planned, due to the unusually high winds (the marquee company said it was the first time they’d had to do this). I was meeting the couple the day before the wedding as they weren’t from the area and I wanted to be sure that I knew exactly where everything was that I needed and that everything was confirmed, so that on the wedding day, everything would run like clockwork.
I arrived onsite to find the bride looking glum and she let me know that the tipi company had let her know that there was a strong possibility that they couldn’t use it the next day for their wedding. Obviously, this is not an ideal situation, or one that could have been pre-empted. So, I advised the bride to contact her insurance company to find out what she was covered for (luckily, I strongly advise all of my couples to take out wedding insurance).
The insurance company were very helpful and let the bride know that she was covered for the worst-case scenario. Once the tipi company had confirmed that they definitely couldn’t use the tipis, I needed to find a new venue fast. Within a few hours, we had a new venue, furniture, lighting and lots of bodies to pull it all together. Now, don’t get me wrong, I certainly didn’t do all of that alone, but it certainly helps to have amazing contacts in the industry who will have your back. We are lucky to have a really great community of suppliers around us.
Why did you decide to become a Wedding Planner?
I first became involved in the wedding industry when I used to publish a local wedding magazine. I had previously worked in a more corporate job, so it was refreshing to be able to work with small businesses whose sole purpose was to make people happy on their special days.
A chance meeting with a marquee venue led me to taking over as their
wedding coordinator, and my love for weddings and helping couples plan
their day, grew and grew.
Years later and I’m now living the dream of being a wedding planner and
the same things still motivate me today; helping couples have their
wedding, their way. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing a couple beaming
from ear to ear, the whole day!
I love the challenge of finding an unusual supplier, coming up with a
solution for a potential problem and all the while, learning new skills,
such as pinning on button holes or folding a pocket square or creating a
cake tower out of things to-hand as the one the bride ordered had no
screws to hold it together.
Are there any trends you'd really like to see more of in Weddings?
I don't think there's anything specific I'd like to see more of, but I absolutely love when couples bring in something unique to them or things that are really personal. I'm definitely the sort of wedding planner who get emotionally invested and will be in the corner crying at the speeches!
What's your favourite Wedding Theme/Style?
That is an impossible question! I feel like this changes constantly as there are always so many amazing trends around the corner.
Have you planned any alternative or unusual weddings? Which was your favourite?
I've definitely has a few quirky elements at some of the weddings. Oompah Loompas after the first dance, a unicorn ice luge, some really different ceremony seating layouts - I love it when things are different and unique!
Does any Wedding you've planned stand out for you?
Is is a cop out to say all of them? I honestly adore every single one and that's because of the people I get to meet. Not just the couple but their family and friends too. It is the happiest day and you get to share that with each of them.
Who are you in lockdown with and how are you staying sane/passing the time?
I'm in lockdown with my husband and two dogs. I've mainly been focusing on how I can be productive - helping couples who have had to postpone, advising wedding suppliers on communications with their couples and also doing lots of Zoom interviews with wedding suppliers to share on my social media.
I did also dye my hair 'tangerine dream' just for some balance!
With things the way they are at the moment, what's your postponement/cancellation policy?
All of my couples who have had to postpone have rebooked for a later date. I haven't charged any additional fees - I think couples have enough to try and sort out without having to pay more money.
What are your 3 Desert Island Items?
Tea, Chocolate and Wine
What's your favourite Wedding Theme/Style and why?
That is an impossible question! I feel like this changes constantly as there are always so many amazing trends around the corner.
This Wedding Fayre is raising money for Mind, the Mental Health Charity - Why do you personally feel like this is a great cause?
Mental Health is so important, especially with the incredible amount of pressure from social media now. Plus, it's so easy to get overwhelmed - it's so important to be able to ask for help!
Thank you Sam, for getting involved in this Event! xo
Sam was also incredibly generous with her time and kindly created some incredibly useful documents, especially for those of you who joined us for the fayre! In your Goody Bag, you'll find a written copy of her Top 10 Tips, along with a document containing FOUR(!) Wedding Spreadsheets, so you can keep track of absolutely everything you need to remember, from booking all your Suppliers, to your Emergency Wedding Day Kit.
I've included South Coast Weddings' contact details and important links below, please take a look and get in touch - And don't forget to leave Sam some love on this post!
Take care and stay safe everyone 🤍
Lindsay xo
Contact Details:
Phone: 01202 959717 / 07766 244362
Email: sam@southcoastweddings.co.uk
Website: www.southcoastweddings.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/southcoastweddingplanning
Instagram: www.instagram.com/southcoast_weddings (@southcoast_weddings)
