One thing can always be relied upon in January – the phone will not stop ringing. Now don’t get me wrong, I love it, because new brides mean new challenges and I like nothing better than being able to flex my creative muscles.
What makes me laugh is the way brides contact us; ninety per cent of the time, they’re flustered. It took me a little while to realise why this is, and it would appear to be the New Year Effect. Brides generally book their venues 1-2 years in advance and then put deposits down on things like DJs, bands etc. Then there’s always a bit of a lull before couples get to finalising dresses, suits, florists and – of course – the cake.
The New Year Effect is this; pre-Christmas, brides have been getting along with wedding preparations swimmingly but now everything goes on hold because they have the festive period to get through – and anyway they’re getting married in 2010, next year. Then suddenly the tinsel’s packed away, everyone’s laid on the sofa recovering from the obligatory New Year hangover and … Oh God. We’re getting married this year!! (And in some cases brides then have the completely horrifying scenario of realising they get married in less than six months. Gulp.)
Cue a long line of enquiries and phone calls the minute brides can reach the internet. Now for most cake companies this isn’t so much of a problem as they don’t really book more than 6 months in advance. Us? Well, I’m fielding enquiries and taking bookings up to October 2011.
May I make a suggestion? If you’ve had a little wander round our site, you like what you see and you’re getting married in the next year-18 months, get in touch. You can put down a £50 deposit that holds your date with us and then six months or so before your big day we can get together and finalise your cake design. (And you avoid the New Year Effect, too. You get to start 2011 feeling smug and something of an organisational goddess. Afraid that won’t help with the hangover, though.)
Equally, if you’ve had a wander round, decided we’re the cake company for you but you’re a New Year Effect bride – give us a call too. We’ll always do what we can to give brides what they want and if we have to work a little harder … I guess we’re just suckers for a good wedding.
Good luck with your blog Helen, your site is looking lovely! Taking a deposit for a cake is such a good idea and goes a long way to being an organised and un-stressed bride!
Wedding day is special, as special as it comes, I always tell my brides to sit back and relax.
Many thanks for the advice. I’ll be sure to need it when I plan my wedding (coming up in May next year)