As part of our blog, we are now going to feature selected wedding and event companies, and our first feature is "ByGina".
Tell us about your business, when did you start and why?
ByGina offers handmade Swarovski jewellery and Wedding stationery.
I also offer and Event and Wedding planning service.
My
website went live in September 2010 after 6 months of planning. I designed and made the jewellery and stationery ranges before building the website by myself. I have worked with
websites before but I had never been involved in the build, it was very interesting but challenging!
I worked as an event planner in hotels and missed working in the wedding industry after I left. I decided I would like to continue to work with weddings but didn’t want the unsocial hours that come with the hotel industry. I then decided to make wedding stationery and when I had mastered that I started to make jewellery. That was 4 years ago now.
What is it that is unique about your service?
ByGina uses top quality materials but doesn’t charge a premium for them. I only use Swarovski Crystals and Pearls and Sterling Silver fitments in my jewellery so it can be worn time and time again.
My stationery is made using the finest card, Swarovski Crystals and Beresford ribbons.
I believe that you can have top quality products without paying a premium for a designer name.
A lot of wedding suppliers believe you can charge more because it is for a wedding...I believe in letting all couples with different budgets have the same quality without compromising on their dreams.
I also have the same strategy with my planning service...I charge a % of a couples total budget so it isn’t only the big budget couples that can afford professional advice.
What is the best thing about doing what you do?
I love to know the bride and groom are happy with their order. I pride myself on making sure every item is made to the highest standard and I’ll not send anything out that I’m not 100% happy with. Because of this I have received some lovely feedback from couples. I always ask for a photo from their wedding day too...and I have a pin board to put them on so I can see how lovely they look and how happy they were on their big day. Knowing I have contributed to that is the best feeling ever.
When planning an event...there is nothing better than watching a groom’s face as the bride walks into a room. And witnessing their vows always causes a lump in my throat.....I am so privileged to be able to be a part of peoples wedding days and I will never loose the feeling of being part of something very special.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
My aim is to have a gorgeous boutique in Tynemouth, were I live. I would love couples to be able to come in, sit down and talk through all their hopes and dreams for their wedding day in a consultation room. I also aim to have a shop front in the boutique displaying all our handmade jewellery and stationery...I would also love to have other handmade items from local wedding businesses in the boutique.
