Sponsors and Judges - The North of England Wedding Awards
Bartercard UK
Flagship Sponsor
Bartercard is the World’s largest business to business Trade Exchange servicing over 55,000 cardholders who barter-trade over $60m every month with 72 offices around the world.
If you own or run a business, you can benefit from Bartercard here in the UK. With over 10,000 different products and services; as a member of this continually growing business network you can help your business to increase its market share.
Bartercard is unlike any other credit or debit card because it allows you to exchange your services or products whilst preserving your all important cash resources. Bartercard transactions have the greater benefit of giving your business an interest free line of credit using your trade currency instead of a cash outlay; making your business more profitable.
Becoming a Bartercard member opens up previously unavailable paths of new contacts and customers, in turn nurturing new referrals and growing sales within your business; this extensive business network is promoted and managed by the Bartercard Team.
Chris Marsden
Host
Definitive Media
Radio broadcaster and proud member of The Radio Academy, Chris has been in the voice over industry for well over 19 years and has voiced projects on a global scale. Clients have included BBC, Clear Channel, Qatar Airways, PG Tips, Chrysler and many more! Chris can turn his vocal talents to anything, from straight natural reads to character, station imaging to comedy sung jingles and narration/corporate to on-hold!
As a Master of Ceremonies - Chris has hosted award ceremonies up and down the UK with his distinctive voice and humorous manner. As a M.O.C. for weddings, Chris will act as a host to your formal occasion, keeping decorum,
introducing guests and speakers to the wedding breakfast. Along with this, Chris can also host your disco for the evening entertainment and even supply greetings at the church, just to make the whole day run
smoothly.
Apart from being a skilled voice over artist, Chris is also a dab hand at production. New media, music beds, station imaging, commercials, documentary overdubbing...Chris has done the lot!
In his spare time, apart from being a husband and father of two children, he is also a patron for S.N.A.P.P.Y (Special Needs Activity and Play Provision York) a charity that helps disabled children and young adults with a fabulous time. It's been going for 25 years and Chris holds it very close to his heart.
To book Chris for your special day, please call 07801 291 890 or email mail@definitivemedia.co.uk
For more details, please go to www.themasterofceremonies.co.uk
Julia Braime
Sponsor
Brides Up North
Julia Braime is the owner and editor of Brides Up North. Since the site’s launch in November 2010, 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.
Brides Up North was recently named the "Best Blog For Northern Brides" by Channel 4, was listed in Bride Tide’s Top 100 Wedding Blogs in the World in both 2011 and 2012 and the Top 100 UK Wedding Blogs by Easy Wedding Search.
Julia is a freelance columnist for Wedding Magazine and Hitched Magazine and contributes regularly to Wedding Ideas Magazine. Julia also has recently had features published in Bridal Buyer, Pure Weddings Magazine, Belle Bridal Magazine, The Journal, The Daily Mirror, The Evening Chronicle, The Sunday Sun, The Times and Times Online.
As a sponsor of The North of England Wedding Awards, Julia will raise awareness of the event through her blog, networking and social media pages.
Alison Wren
Yorkshire and North East Judge
Paprika Marketing
Alison Wren escaped corporate life to create ecommerce business The Wedding Crafter in 2004, growing it from back bedroom start-up until selling in Spring 2011. She now runs Paprika Marketing and also edits Wedding Business Success, a blog for wedding suppliers.
As 'Head Judge' for the North of England Wedding Awards, Alison will be judging both the Yorkshire & North East nominees and in the event of a tie, will be responsible for the final decision.
Bev Howard
Sponsor and Yorkshire and North East Judge
The UK Wedding Shows
Bev Howard is a Director of The UK Wedding Shows and has been working with Linda Williams the MD for the last five years. The company organise two day wedding exhibitions throughout the UK at eight venues including two in Yorkshire and two in the North East and are delighted to be the sponsors for the New Business Award.
The UK Wedding Shows introduced Exhibitor Awards to their shows in 2011 and they have been very well received with information posted on the website about the winning exhibitors. "We felt that it was important to recognise the hard work that our exhibitors put in when they attend our shows, so these awards were devised as a way of giving a token of our appreciation for their creativity and loyalty. We have ourselves won industry awards presented by the Bridal Show Producers International organisation, and we know how much of a boost it can be when someone recognises the work that is done within the wedding industry. It is a pleasure to be involved with Liz and Nicola as they launch the North of England Wedding Awards and we very much hope that this will become an annual event" commented Bev.
As sponsors of the New Business Award The UK Wedding Shows will provide the winner with a 2mx2m stand at one of their shows. The judges’ decision is final and all of the usual UK Wedding Shows terms and conditions will apply.
Tricia Sherriff
Sponsor and Yorkshire Judge
She Loves York
Tricia is the genius behind the She Loves York exclusive lifestyle club. First set up two years ago, it provides the ladies of York with generous discounts on a huge selection of local businesses, including fashion, health and beauty, food and drink, gifts and even exercise classes! Among these of course are discounts for the wedding related florists, photographers and jewellers, ensuring York’s brides-to-be can save a small fortune in the run up to their big day.
Knowing that we women enjoy the finer things in life, She Loves York had succeeded in building a community in which local women can experience the more luxurious treats the city has to offer at a reasonable price, as well as enabling these businesses to promote forthcoming events and offers to the customers, and to each other.
Looking forward to being a Judge for the Wedding Awards, Tricia is always on the lookout for businesses that would be interested in becoming partners in her company, and is eager to see the standard of organisations that she has never worked with before.
Rebecca Almond
Yorkshire Judge
Prior to working for Yorkshire Post Newspapers Rebecca worked as Business Development Executive for Leeds United Football Club, organising events for customers; including weddings, corporate dinners, trade shows, exhibitions and much more!
Rebecca lives in Leeds with her boyfriend Rob, and is a proud member of the Leeds Amateur Operatic Society, involved in musical productions at the Leeds Grand Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse. Despite her childhood and teenage years being spent in South London and Sussex she moved to York for University and never looked back.
Dawn Marie Buckton
Yorkshire Judge
Dawn Marie Wedding & Event Design incorporating Elite Wedding Events
Dawn Marie is a highly established, independent Wedding Planner based in the North East of England. With over 17 years experience and more than 460 weddings successfully arranged, her renowned reputation and knowledge of the industry speaks for itself. Dawn has also written many magazine articles and 'Wedding Agony Aunt' columns over the years, is a regular judges for the North of England Wedding Awards and is regularly called upon by BBC Radio Newcastle to comment on 'all things wedding'.
Her company has a highly successful business section as well as arranging a host of Elite Wedding Fairs, Open Days and Shows in the North East. Dawn is regularly called upon by BBC Radio Newcastle to comment on 'all things wedding' and has written many articles and Wedding Agony Aunt columns. Dawn has high expectations of what she expects from wedding professionals and is looking forward to seeing some of the best the Yorkshire region has to offer.
Although occasionally working outside her area, Dawn mainly covers Alnwick to Durham meaning she can judge the Yorkshire region with an impartial view. She looks forward to seeing smaller, independent businesses who deserve recognition for high standards of customer care, flexibility and who have built their reputation on delivering the best possible service.
Andrew Scott Clarke
North East Judge
Photographer
Sheffield born photographer Andrew has 15 years of experience behind the camera. His photography is not just that of brides and grooms, but also portrait photos, family photos and baby photos. His unique style of capturing images at that crucial moment, as well as using a very individual style of lighting and special effects, has meant his work has become greatly recognised, not just within the UK, but all over Europe. He has also contributed work to Vogue, one of the world’s most prestigious magazines. He currently has offices in both Sheffield and Marbella.
Andrew knows nothing about any nominees he will be judging in the North East region, meaning he is looking forward to finding out about them from a new and spontaneous point of view.
Jemma Cochrane
Sponsor and North East Judge
Chair Covers of Yorkshire
Jemma Cochrane is the owner of Chair Covers of Yorkshire. Since setting up the business in 2008 Jemma has had a busy time - covering over 300 weddings in 2012 alone! With this amount of contact with brides to be Jemma has a wealth of experience in customer service and this was recognised when Jemma won the 'Best Wedding Enhancement' category at The North of England Wedding Awards in September 2012 - a real highlight of Jemmas career to date as the nominees were voted for by previous brides and judged by industry professionals.
Covering the Yorkshire area means that Jemma will have an impartial view when judging the North East area at the awards.
Jemma lives near York with husband Liam and their two children, and is absolutely delghted to be a North East Judge at the 2013 North of England Wedding Awards.
Laura Murray
Sponsor and North East Judge
Bride Bay
Laura Murray started out working in the hospitality industry and with a desire to work in the wedding industry completed her events management degree at Leeds Metropolitan University. Whilst studying and until last year she has worked in two of Harrogates top hotels as a wedding coordinator, where she put her knowledge to the test, meeting potential brides and grooms on a daily basis and running weddings most weekends. This is where she found her love for the finer details of a wedding.
At the end of last year, Laura took the big step of setting up Bride Bay Shop to provide affordable venue dressing.
Laura also writes the 'Ask Laura' blog on The Wedding Guide blog where she answers any questions that brides and grooms may be struggling with.
Liz and Nicola Clark
The Wedding Guide
Liz Clark launched The Wedding Guide in 2000 covering both Yorkshire and the North East with one bumper book. The business has always been very much a family affair and her daughter Nicola has become more involved over the last few years.
The Wedding Guide is the indispensable guide to help brides plan their wedding available free from wedding fairs, bridal shops and Register Offices throughout the whole of Yorkshire and the North East. It offers a highly targeted marketing approach to Yorkshire and North East brides to be, providing information and recommendation of Yorkshire and North East wedding suppliers just when they need it most.
The Wedding Guide works hard to create a winning blend of personal contact (at exhibitions), with printed matter (The Wedding Guide book) and virtual media (web & e-mail). This 'marketing cocktail' is perhaps the most distinctive blend we can offer bridal businesses, combined with our personal approach and care for the needs of brides to be and businesses alike.
Many of our wedding suppliers value their association with other businesses through The Wedding Guide. We believe there is substantial marketing strength to be gained from association with a geographical network of specialists.
In order to give even greater recognition to the outstanding service offered by many fantastic businesses throughout the two regions, the North of England Wedding Awards in association with The Wedding Guide were recently launched. Nicola has been the driving force behind this project and has gone to great lengths to make sure everything will run as smoothly as possible. Liz & Nicola have been overwhelmed by the response and look forward to making this an annual event on the calendar.
