Understated Wedding Styling by Charlotte Nichols Weddings

Over to the lady herself to tell you all about her business story and the services she offers couples. Oh and there’s a rather lovely 15% Off all planning & design services for our readers!

Charlotte says…

Charlotte Nichols Weddings was born out of a love for understated style and, of course, an epic party. I am an adoring mum, a complete perfectionist, totally obsessed with interiors, and most of all a self-confessed wedding junkie. I love to use a wedding as an opportunity to tell a couple’s unique story and for me the magic is always in the details. I take a fresh and visionary approach with each and every couple, crafting one-of-a-kind, artistic designs that are overwhelmingly authentic and timelessly sophisticated. Thoughtful, subtle and stylish touches that tell a couple’s story fused with flawless attention to detail ensure that every event is totally individual and as magical and memorable as the last.

A little bit about me… when I don’t have my head buried in a spreadsheet or when I’m not busy making mood boards, you will usually find me in Anthropologie, drinking chai lattes or dreaming about, and plotting, our next family getaway.

My entrance to the wedding world was really when my now-husband got down on one knee back in December 2012, on a very frosty morning in the wilderness of upstate New York (a brief excursion from the hustle and bustle of a pre-christmas shopping trip to NYC). From that point on I was really in love with all things wedding. I soon realised that being involved in, and specifically planning and designing, weddings really encapsulated everything I love about life – celebrations with the ones you love, planning stuff, creating beautiful things and meeting amazing, inspirational people.

Unfortunately a slight life detour that took my husband and I across the pond to Canada for four years meant dreams of starting my own wedding business had to be put on hold. But in the years that followed I started my own fashion blog (giving me that fix for all things ‘wardrobe’) and I used my talents in creative design and event planning whilst managing the marketing for a successful start-up in the ever trendy creative hub of Montreal.

What do I love about my job? What is there not to love!? Of course, as with all jobs, it comes with never-ending admin that always seems to get pushed further and further down the to-do list. My favourite bit has to be that every day is always completely different. I am one of those people that likes to be kept on my toes and gets easily bored with monotonous, repetitive tasks. I thrive on meeting a wide array of interesting people and absolutely love working with them in such an intimate way, bringing their visions to life. To me, nothing could be more rewarding.

My Services

I offer flexible and entirely bespoke wedding planning and design services that are tailored to suit each couples needs. I can provide guidance, support and expertise for every aspect of the wedding day and will do so with a calm, professional and friendly approach.

It often starts with the venue search, whether you envisage a traditional country marquee wedding, something with a bit more ‘edge’ at an industrial warehouse, an intimate occasion with your nearest and dearest or just the party of all parties with the ultimate wow factor – together we will find the perfect place to say your ‘I do’s.’

Once we have nailed the where and when, it’s time to tackle the aesthetics (my favourite part) and the numbers, usually the client’s worst part! After getting to know you, I will create a bespoke design concept that is the perfect reflection of you as a couple. I will then recommend a team of top notch suppliers to suit your style and budget and be their point of contact throughout the process and on the wedding day itself.

I really believe that for your wedding there is no rulebook and that also applies to the services that I offer. I am there to take on as much or as little as you need. I offer an initial free, no-obligation consultation so that I can find out more about you, understand what makes you tick, and get to know your tastes and the level of support you require.

My Brand

Elegant, understated, design-led, meticulous, effortless, fashion-focussed, personable, professional are all words that describe Charlotte Nichols Weddings.

In my role as a wedding planner and designer, I hope to achieve so much more for my client than just managing budgets and creating schedules.

I will define a bespoke design concept for my couples and ensure that all suppliers see it through to the very end. I will use my knowledge and contacts in the industry to save them as much money as possible and identify where to spend and where to cut. I will take all the stress away, ensuring that my couples can enjoy the engagement and rely on me for reassurance and advice throughout the planning process. I will save masses of time, leaving my couples to have their evenings and weekends free and not being swamped by research, emails and DIY. Although I will ensure that my couples are without stress and time-consuming tasks, I will always make sure that they are the ones making the final decisions.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, when it comes to the wedding day itself, I don’t want my couples to have to think about anything other than letting their hair down and having the celebration of their lives. So I will be 100% in control of all logistics, suppliers and styling needs, to ensure that the bride and groom are happy, calm and that their wedding day is more magical and memorable than they could ever have imagined.

My Prices

My wedding planning and design services are entirely bespoke, whether you are looking for the full works in the design process or simply a helping hand with particular event elements. As a guide I have put together four custom planning packages:

The Works: A full wedding planning, design and styling service that will focus on every last detail, from initial design concepts, to sourcing top-notch suppliers, and on-the-day styling and coordination, so that you can focus on making lasting memories. For this service the investment is 12-15% of your overall wedding budget (minimum fees apply).

The Pick ‘N Mix: You’ve already got some of the pieces of the puzzle figured out, but there are still some parts missing and you need a helping hand putting them all together. I can take on as much or as little as you need. A custom package and quote will follow an initial consultation.

The Creative: At the core is a bespoke design concept that is the perfect reflection of you as a couple. Expect a luxury lookbook, management of all visual suppliers and on-the-day styling. For this service, your investment starts at £2,000 depending on the complexity of the project.

The Wardrobe: A bespoke bridal styling service in the form of a personally curated walk-in ‘wedding wardrobe’ promises to put an end to time-consuming and often disheartening trips to multiple bridal boutiques. Instead, brides will revel in a day of top-to-toe personal styling, choosing between an extensive but carefully chosen collection of designer gowns, shoes and accessories within the comfort of a luxury room at one of the UK’s trendiest boutique hotels.

For the ‘Copper’ wardrobe package which can include designer and boutique recommendations, scheduling appointments and assisting with the bridal party wardrobe, prices vary from between £250 and £1,000. For the ‘Rose Gold’ wardrobe package (as detailed above), a custom quote will be provided following consultation.

Advice & Tips

Hiring a wedding planner is such a personal thing, and your thought process will be much the same as choosing a personal assistant who you know you can rely on, starting up with a personal trainer who you know will get the best out of you, or simply just making a friend with someone who you know gets you. So, first of all have a think about all the qualities that you are looking for in your planner. Everyone is different and will be appealing in their own ways to different people; it is just about finding the right match for you.

The UK Alliance of Wedding Planners is a great place to start, as the leading industry body for wedding planners in the UK. With strict entrance requirements and an obligatory code of conduct that all members must follow, this should give you the reassurance that you are bringing on an expert.

Browse through your favourite blogs and magazines and follow their Instagram accounts. Scrolling through different planners’ Instagram accounts will also give you a really quick but reliable overview as to their style (check out my Instagram account here). You will see a lot of planners get featured with editorial styled shoots and real weddings, so if you see something you like reach out to the planner who was responsible.

At the end of the day it is all about going with your gut. Very rarely will couples meet with a number of planners for a consultation and then decide to just go with the cheapest. That’s not to say that you should necessarily go with the most expensive, well known name either. You will often find that there is someone who just gets you! You are going to have a very close working relationship with this person for a reasonably long period of time, and you need to be able to trust them with the most important day of your lives, so it is worth taking a bit of time over and making sure you find the right match. Because that is all that is needed: the right match.

Branding

Photography Amanda Karen Photography

Wild Romance

Photography Sarah Hannam

Design concept, planning & styling Charlotte Nichols Weddings

Venue & styling assistance B.Loved Hive

Flowers AESME

Dress Halfpenny London

Shoes Freya Rose

Stationery Pale Press London

Furniture Virginias Vintage Hire

Cake Milk Street Kitchen

Model Hannah Janes

Hair & Make-up Be You Weddings

Jewellery Emma Clarkson Webb