Monday, 17 October 2011

Once bitten forever smitten - Wedding Fairs

In my last blog I discussed the decline in wedding numbers every year and so I have to ask, "why are there so many wedding fairs every Autumn?

I know we ladies like a good excuse to shop but I seriously believe the wedding fair market may now be offering so much choice it is just making things harder for couples to make decisions. Its a good principle to bring all wedding industry services together but now every venue holds at least one wedding fair throughout the winter plus there are the big shows like Leeds Castle and Detling.

Last weekend I exhibited at The Wedding Show at Leeds Castle, there were lots of Brides, Chief Bridesmaids and Mothers having a fun day out window shoopping all the fantastic services the wedding industry can now provide. I only met a handful of Grooms and all of them had a wedding date for the next six months. So it seems to me that guys don't get involved till it gets proper serious or do they just want to be involved in the fun stuff like tasting cake? Joking apart the Bride has a lot more to think about and needs a longer lead time to research the market and plan the details of the big day. However my advice is don't go to every one you see advertised and if your wedding is in the next 6 -9 months go to 2 or 3 shows then start booking your suppliers or you'll miss the chance with the one you really want.



On the point of avalability last year several couples were turned down by Delicakes as there just wasn't the capacity to make any more cakes.  So despite the downward trend in wedding numbers in the UK,  Delicakes have doubled the Wedding Cake capacity for 2012 and either Linda or Janet will take sole responsibility for your cake design, creation and delivery. Mind you even with Linda and Janet working flat out July '12 is definately going to be a tricky month to get a bespoke wedding cake and some couples will have to have the takeaway service or find another less busy cakemaker.


One of the really pleasurable parts of planning is going to your Design and Taste together. Would you buy your Wedding Dress or Tux without trying a few on? Of course not - so why would you order a cake that hasn't been designed and made just for you?

All Design and Taste sesssions in October are now booked but if you are free on November 19th or December 3rd you can book with Janet by email.
Just a quick note to any couples looking forward to a 2013 wedding - why not order a birthday cake or christmas cake so you can have an advance taster of your wedding cake. Best wishes, Janet





Monday, 3 October 2011

Once bitten forever smitten - Marriage in decline!

Marriage is now a choice rather than a norm. I have been browsing the Office of National Satistics reports on marriage rates in the UK and it is very clear there are fewer marriages now than 10 years ago. In fact the trend downwards as a percentage of adult population is even more evident as population is rising but marriage rates are falling. The chart below shows thousands of marriages from 1950 to 2009 (last year for ONS data).
Chart showing decline of marriages in the UK


So how come if actual numbers are in decline the wedding industry is growing in glamour, spectacle and pounds spent every year? Well it's really because getting married is now a real choice (rather than conforming to parental pressure or society) so as the chosen option we want to spend time effort and money making our weddings glamourous and spectacular.


There are also other ceremonies now that have helped the 'Wedding' industry blossom including Civil Partnerships, Renewal of Vows and a noticable trend towards Big Christenings for the first baby - particularly when the parents have not had a big wedding celebration for themselves.



If you are getting married in the next year you will be investing a lot of time and effort to make your wedding day extra special because it is literally the first day of your new life. Make sure you choose the right professionals to translate your wedding vision into a photobook, video, floral display or Cake!
Using a bespoke cake maker is easy if you are based in SE London or Kent. Phone Janet for Design & Taste consultations  01732 843518 or text 07714286911 (24/7)
check out this website for ideas www.weddingdelicakes.co.uk or email your questions to Janet