The
Judging Panel

Damian Bailey
Founder of The Wedding Industry Awards
Chairman of the Judging Panel
Wedding Photographer (www.damianbailey.com)

Damian is an Award winning wedding photographer. He shoots weddings all over the country, every weekend. No one sees more of a wedding than the photographer. From when everyone is getting ready right through until when everyone goes home, Damian’s job is to see everything. Damian not only has an intimate knowledge of how weddings work, he also sees a wide range of wedding suppliers week in, week out.

Sheila Abrahams
Director, Freelance Hair & Beauty Federation
www.fhbf.org.uk

Sheila launched the Freelance Hair and Beauty Federation in October 1993 having worked in the ahir dressing industry since she was 13. The FHBF sets the standards for self-employed hairdressers and beauty therapists and gives them a voice within the hair and beauty industries. Over the years the FHBF have introduced many services and membership benefits to help freelancers in all aspects of their business.

Annabel Beeforth
www.lovemydress.net

Love My Dress was established in 2009 by newlywed and blogger, Annabel Beeforth. In just 20 months, Love My Dress has established itself as one of the UK’s leading influential Wedding Blogs, offering daily inspiration to Brides to be and industry professionals. Love My Dress now gets over 150,000 unique visitors each month and Annabel regularly writes in many industry publications.

Maxine Briggs
Editor, You & Your Wedding Magazine
www.youandyourwedding.co.uk

Maxine Briggs is the new editor of leading bridal brand You & Your Wedding. Her editorial vision for Y&YW is to provide an invaluable guide to brides, full of inspiration and advice for the most exciting journey of their lives

Sarah Haywood
www.sarahhaywood.com

Sarah Haywood is internationally acknowledged as one of the world’s premier wedding planners and designers; sought by celebrities, leading public figures, and nobility. She is the UK’s top-selling Bridal author, making her ‘Wedding Bible’ an indispensable source for couples since its publication in 2006. Sarah was established as the go-to International commentator for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton; She was CNN’s expert on the day of the wedding, and appeared on every continent and television network in the days preceding the royal nuptials. Sarah recently launched The Ultimate Wedding App for BlackBerry, Android, Nokia, and iPhone. Now every bride and groom can have at their fingertips the luxury of this world-class professional to help them plan their perfect day.

Sarah Hewson
Sky News Presenter

Sarah Hewson presents Boulton & Co on Sky News every weekday lunchtime and is also the channel’s Royal Correspondent.

2011 was a year dominated by weddings for Sarah with Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s marriage, followed a few weeks later by her own.

When the royal couple’s engagement was announced, Sarah joined them for a cup of tea at St James’ Palace, where Prince William teased her about a possible date clash.

Fortunately there was no such clash and on April 29th, Sarah was at Buckingham Palace anchoring Sky’s coverage of the royal wedding alongside Eamonn Holmes.

Sassi Holford
www.sassiholford.com

Leading English designer, Sassi Holford, creates classic wedding gowns with a contemporary edge. Exquisite lines and sumptuous fabrics echo the bride’s own style, and nothing is spared in the structure and the detail to provide the renowned Sassi Holford cut and fit – all the gowns are handmade by her first class team in her studios in Somerset. Sassi Holford is widely regarded as one of the world’s best wedding dress designers and is stocked by the most exclusive dress boutiques across Britain and overseas

Severin Hubert & Roz Edwards - NEW JUDGES!
www.hepburncollection.com

Born in Paris, Severin Hubert has more than 20 years experience in hair design. Previously a Creative Director at a leading salon in Paris, Severin is renowned for his creative, natural flair and passion for the industry. With a talent for artistic hair design, Severin launched The Hepburn Collection in 1996 to specialise in bridal hair. His extensive experience working alongside some of the leading professionals in the fashion and wedding industry has led to features in many glossy international magazines and publications including The Times, Conde Nast Brides, You & Your Wedding and Professional Photo as well as multiple cover shoots for Wedding magazine. Although now based in London, Severin travels the world working with photographers, brides and regular clients.

With a strong background in the hair industry, Roz Edwards launched Hepburn Collection alongside Severin Hubert and is the company’s Managing Director. With a focus on delivering the highest levels of customer service and ensuring everything runs like clockwork for Hepburn Collection’s clientele, Roz has extensive experience in managing a successful bridal business that has earned a well respected reputation within the wedding industry.

Cassie Lomas
Makeup Artist
www.cassielomas.com

Cassie is one of the most sought after makeup artists in the country. She worked with leading photographers such as Rankin, Simon Emmett and Tim Brett Day on advertising campaigns ranging from Julian McDonald to Pied' a Terre to Adidas and has a CV full of celebrity clients such as Twiggy, Coleen Rooney, Demi Lovato and Lady Gaga. Currently the UK Spokesperson for beauty brand Bourjois, Cassie is regularly sought after to provide expert tips, quotes and advice for glossy magazines and online beauty pages, along with appearances on TV.

Sandy Moretta
UK Alliance of Wedding Planners
www.ukawp.com

The UK Alliance of Wedding Planners was founded for one purpose: to promote professionalism in wedding planning. The company believes that by investing in training and development and helping to grow the wedding planning industry in a professional manner that we can together provide an outstanding and unparalleled service for today’s brides and grooms.

Sandy Moretta launched Tern Events (previously known as TIPTOP Weddings & Parties), based in Tring, Hertfordshire 8 years ago, following a 12 year career in marketing, which provided an excellent background in project management and creative thinking. She has been planning and managing weddings since. Sandy has a reputation for excellent organisation, creativity and attention to detail. Sandy is well known within the industry and writes for various websites, speaks frequently on the radio and in 2010 appeared on the TV series ‘Three Grand Weddings’ on Wedding TV.

MV
www.mvphotographers.co.uk

Founded in 2008, MV is an 80 strong invite-only collective of some of the UK's most respected Wedding and Portrait photographers. MV's purpose is to inspire its members to improve and excel in the craft and art of photography, and to constantly question and push the boundaries of their photographic genre.The judging will be done by the founders and workshop leaders.

Peggy Porschen
www.peggyporschen.com

Peggy is one of the best known Cake designers in the UK. Renowned for irresistibly pretty and elegant designs that are not only visually stunning but also taste delicious, Peggy has acquired an enviable client list including many celebrities, Royals and members of high society. Peggy is widely known to have redefined the art of modern sugar craft. She opened the Peggy Porschen Parlour in London’s Belgravia in 2010 followed by Peggy’s Cake Accademy, London’s first cookery school entirely dedicated to baking, cake decorating and sugar craft, in 2011.

Paula Pryke
www.paula-pryke-flowers.com

Paula Pryke holds a greatly influential position as one of the most innovative florists in the world and her fourteenth book has recently been published. Paula also appears frequently on television both in the UK and abroad, writes regular magazine columns, demonstrates her floral design nationally and internationally and has run her world renowned flower school since 1994. Paula is very hands-on and heads an artistic team of designers who remain at the forefront of fashionable floristry. Known for her original and ingenious creations, Paula provides a wide range of floral services for all needs, tastes and budgets. Paula Pryke Flowers is in constant demand to design flowers for celebrations nationwide, from dinner parties, press launches and award ceremonies to government and other state functions.

Susi Rogol
www.bridalbuyer.com

For the past ten years Susi Rogol has been the Editor of Bridal Buyer magazine, the industry's voice and the core communication between suppliers and retailers. Bridal Buyer is the official magazine of the British Bridal Exhibition in Harrogate (BBEH), The London Bridal Show and White Gallery London. Susi is also responsible for content on bridalbuyer.com, and spearheads the annual Bridal Buyer Awards. Her central interest lies in driving business to the UK's bricks and mortar retailers and in seeing standards of professionalism increase throughout every sector of the industry.

Dominic & Helen Sharland
www.cutture.com

Having run their own successful design practice for over10 years, Dominic and Helen Sharland set up Cutture, the luxury laser cut event stationers, in 2009. With their expertise in graphic design and manufacturing Cutture has fast become one of the leading event stationers in the UK. All of Cutture’s work prides itself on being designed and made in the London studio by the team at Cutture directed by husband and wife duo Dominic and Helen.

Cutture works with both private couples and planners as well as a select collection of event organisers from around the world and continues to offer innovative and highly respected design for event stationery across the UK and internationally with clients from Harrods Elite to celebrities alike.

 

Adam Sternberg, Director, Sternberg Clarke
www.sternbergclarke.co.uk

Sternberg Clarke are a leading supplier of entertainment for any type of event all over the country. They are recommended by more than 100 venues and supply entertainment across all genres from magic to music, dance to circus for a huge range of high profile events. Their knowledge of entertainment, and particularly what is new and different, is second to none. Their focus on sourcing, vetting, developing and monitoring their artists is perfectly balanced with their ability to create bespoke entertainment for their clients . Weddings have always been a key part of their business (since they supplied entertainment for two of the Spice Girls' Weddings!) and in 2011 Sternberg Clarke supplied the entertainment for over 300 weddings.

Vicky Sullivan, Sylist & Journalist
www.fxfilms.co.uk

Vicky has over 10 years experience working as a stylist and journalist in the publishing industry. It was as the Style Editor of Wedding and Wedding Flowers magazines, from 2004 to 2011, where she established herself as an expert in her field, before leaving to pursue a freelance career. She is now a renowned art director, stylist and consultant, specialising in food and interiors, working for a wide range of clients, including Harrods, House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, Marie Claire and Swarovski. She also continues to work in the bridal industry as Style Editor ofWedding Venues & Services magazine.

 

Richard Wakefield, FX Films
www.fxfilms.co.uk

Richard is at the cutting edge of wedding cinematography. His skills and expertise are highly sought having passionately developed 2 film companies over the last 6 years; FX Films (award-winning Wedding Cinematography) and FX Media (award-winning Corporate Cinematography). Since 2010 Richard has been sharing his knowledge and expertise with other wedding cinematographers via incredibly popular 1-to-1 training and seminars. He has also given seminars for, and represented, Canon UK, Adobe, BVE, IOV, SWPP and WeddingTV, and has gained sponsorship from Glidetrack and Canon UK. International requests for training recently led him to create and solely manage a world-first online-tutorial site, WedFilm Academy, specifically designed for those wanting to learn more about Wedding Cinematography.

Rosemary Williams, House Manager
Goodwood House, West Sussex
www.goodwood.com

Trained as a cordon bleu chef Rosemary started her career in the hospitality industry managing private luxury chalets in Verbier, Switzerland. She returned to the UK as Head Chef for a catering and events company specialising in Weddings, progressing to become their Events Manager before moving to the prestigious Goodwood Estate. Nestled in the spectacular Sussex countryside, surrounded by 12,000 acres of mature parkland and home to the Dukes of Richmond for centuries, Goodwood House combines the glamour of a great English country house with the warmth of a family home, filled with magnificent paintings and wonderful treasures.

Having joined as House Event Planner Rosemary is now the Manager of Goodwood House where she and her world class team of planners, chefs & butlers provide the coordination and execution of numerous high end weddings, corporate and celebrity packed occasions including the exclusive parties for the world famous motorsport events Festival of Speed & Goodwood Revival.

Isobel Starbuck, Head of Sales and Revenue
Goodwood, West Sussex
www.goodwood.com

Isobel has over 15 years experience in the hospitality industry, commencing her career with Jarvis Hotels, specialising in weddings and social events before working for one of De Vere’s premier venues hosting over 100 weddings a year. During this time Isobel was instrumental in designing a bespoke self contained event suite dedicated to the weddings and civil ceremony market. She transferred into a regional sales role supporting the events business across the De Vere portfolio before moving to Goodwood as Head of Sales and Revenue for the Estate’s venues businesses. Isobel works closely with Rosemary Williams and to ensure the dedicated, personal service for the luxury weddings held at Goodwood House are individually tailored for each event and impeccably delivered through a suite of carefully selected suppliers and the team at Goodwood House.

CONSULTANT JUDGES

Due to the wide ranging nature of the wedding industry, the main judging panel will consult with the following industry-specific experts to ensure that every angle is taken into account.

 

Natalie O'Donovan
www.natalieodonovan.com
www.twobytwoweddings.com

Natalie O’Donovan launched Two by Two Weddings in 2002. Heralded as “The ultimate in stationery” Natalie’s collections have dominated the wedding stationery market for almost a decade. Her work has been featured in Brides, You and Your Wedding, Wedding Day, London Weddings, Vogue, Tatler, Wedding Venues & Cosmo Bride.

Clare Gould
www.english-wedding.com

The English Wedding Blog was born in November 2009 to showcase what makes weddings in this country so great. The site is updated daily and is full of inspiration and advice for brides in the UK and for anglophile brides overseas. With a unique perspective from inside the UK wedding industry, English Wedding also focuses on the brightest and best new talents in all aspects of wedding design, with a special focus on real weddings by the UK’s finest wedding photographers.

Julia Braime
www.bridesupnorth.co.uk

Professional wedding blogger Julia Braime knows weddings, having grown up as daughter of a wedding planner and hotelier at one of the North’s most prestigious wedding venues. In it’s first year, Brides Up North has skyrocketed in popularity and profile to become one of the most visited wedding blogs in the UK - and is the only top bridal blog especially for Northern Brides - offering a double daily dose of real and celebrity wedding inspiration, bridal fashion, supplier showcases, discounts, giveaways and more.

For more details on the judging process click here