As a Devon wedding photographer for several years, I work alongside a lot of different suppliers, so recently I thought ‘how can I shout out about the suppliers who really stand out to me, those who when I walk into a room I think ‘oh yay, it’s….’ and so this feature was born. I want to highlight some of the best and most talented people I work with on a regular basis, meet up for a chat and take a few photos they can use on their socials, as well as finding out more about the person behind the business.
I’ve worked with Natalie many times over several years (usually at two of my favourite Devon wedding venues Huntsham Court and Pynes House) and she is a joy to be around, she puts everyone around her at ease whilst making planning and coordinating a wedding look easy (which it most definitely is not!). Natalie’s calm and friendly demeanour has helped smooth the anxieties of many couples both in the end up to the wedding and on the day, she from my own perspective as a photographer, I know she makes suppliers feel comfortable, informed and welcome.
We spent an hour or so at Pynes house with the pups followed a fairly standard Q&A format, but to read more about Natalie, please head over to her page. We love working with Natalie and it’s definitely an ‘oh yay’ moment when we find out we are working together!
Tell us your name, business name, and what you do in the wedding world?
Natalie, founder of Hyland Weddings and Events.
How did it all begin?
My love for organising was sparked when I was at college (which feels like a lifetime ago now!). As part of one of our assignments, we were asked to organise a trip or an outing and to document every step of the planning. It’s not always for the faint hearted, but I LOVED the organisational side of this assignment from the research,to the planning and documenting. I knew then that I wanted to do something that would incorporate this. Years later I landed my first coordinating role for a wedding venue in the Cotswolds and I haven’t looked back ever since. I have now been coordinating and planning weddings for 15 years across the UK and some destination weddings.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love that our couples get to fully relax and be present and surrounded by their favourite people. Seeing them with a drink in hand during the drinks reception, making their way through the tables to have chats with guests during the wedding breakfast or dancing the night away with old school/uni friends in the evening. Seeing the joy on all of their faces gives me the biggest high.
What makes your business, you? What do couples notice or comment on about working with you?
I guess it’s that myself and the wider team truly care about each and every wedding and will be just as excited as the couple. We want our couples to have the best possible time. We are all pretty calm even when things crop up on the day. I think that makes the couple and their guests feel like they can fully relax, because even though there might be things happening behind the scenes, they know it will be in hand so they can be fully present with their loved ones. We are also all super friendly and approachable (even if we do say so ourselves 
) so although we take our roles very seriously and know how much of a privilege it is, we can also have fun with the couple, their guests and their suppliers.
What’s one thing couples might not know about you?
I think most, if not all of my couples know how much I love a good cake! What they might not know is that when I was 10 years old, I danced on stage at the London Palladium.
What’s your favourite moment of a wedding day?
Ohhhhh….there are so many parts that I still get excited about on a wedding day! I love seeing the bride and groom (usually separately) in the morning while they are getting ready. The atmosphere in from both camps is usually slightly different, but still charged with the air of excitement. Seeing the bridal party down the aisle when the excitement levels really level up. When the bride and groom see the wedding breakfast space or marquee set up properly for the first time (and before the guests take their seats so they can get the full effect) when they fully see their vision come to life. The entrance into the wedding breakfast…….I actually LOVE this part…..especially when they have appointed a good MC who properly hypes the crowd and they have a great entrance song. It’s like a whole other celebration. And to top it off…….I love nothing more than seeing a packed dancefloor with the bride and groom surrounded by their favourite people, no more formalities, letting their hair down and having the absolute best time!
Also…….cocktail hour……..it sets the precedence for the party ahead and who doesn’t love a great cocktail!?!?
What’s important to you when working alongside other wedding suppliers?
Communication is key. We all have different roles to play in a wedding day and as a planner, we are overseeing every part of it which is why it is super important that we know what is going on, where we are all supposed to be and what should be happening. Are the registrars ready before we send the bridal party down the aisle? Have the caterers been made aware that the ceremony will be finishing soon so the drinks can be poured and ready? Have the table candles been lit before the photographer/videographer gets detail shots? Does the photographer/videographer know what time we need the couple back from portrait shots so we can seat them and serve food? Are the caterers ok with current timings for seating guests or do they need a little longer? Does the band know we are in speeches and not to sound check just yet? There are so many elements to a wedding day and so many suppliers to bear in mind, but if we all know what is happening and when and we all check in throughout the day, it makes the day so much more manageable (and way more fun!)
Finally, what advice would you give to couples planning their wedding?
I think there would probably be a few bits of advice:
a. If you see a supplier who’s work you love or that you know you definitely want to work with…..book them! I think I can speak on behalf of all suppliers when I say, we hate having to say no to couples, so get your booking secured
b. That being said, make sure you feel like you have a connection with your suppliers, particularly the ones you will be working closely with in the lead up to and on the day itself. Have a video call or phone call with them so you know they are definitely the ones for you.
c. Don’t let other peoples opinions get to you. Everyone (including that auntie you haven’t seen in years) will have an opinion about what you are doing for your wedding, where you are holding it, who you have invited…….I cannot stress this enough……it is not their day!!! You will only get this day once. Do it how you want to do it!
d. Don’t stress about the weather! It is the one thing out of everyone’s control! Yes, of course, we would all love to have a gloriously sunny day that is just the right temperature with just the right amount of cloud cover to keep the heat off, but the reality is, even in a typically year round sunny country, we can’t guarantee it! Have a solid wet weather option that you are happy with and know when the call needs to be made so that the last thing you are stressing about on the morning of the wedding or the day before is what the weather is doing. It is honestly the last thing you will remember about your wedding day and quite frankly……who doesn’t love a moody, dramatic sky in a photo?
