Our Mission Statement
The Nottinghamshire Wedding Specialists Association (NWSA) was formed as non-profit organisation to bring a higher degree of professionalism to the wedding industry in Nottinghamshire.
The professionals of NWSA are fully vetted and must meet certain criteria to attain membership. You can be assured that when you hire a member of NWSA that they are fully licensed and insured. They also have a track record since they must have been in business for at least a year before they may become regular members.
Our monthly meetings are a networking opportunity for our professionals. This means that, for the most part, we all know each other and have worked together on many occasions. Choosing NWSA professionals for your event is a large step in ensuring that your event runs smoothly.
Membership is limited but open to those who specialise in the provision of wedding services to the highest of standards within the geographical area of Nottinghamshire.
To become a member of NWSA, a business or individual must
- Pledge to do business by the highest ethical and professional services to each other and especially to the couple getting married
- Be committed to professionalism and outstanding customer service.
- Conduct business in a transparent manner, using contracts when necessary.
- Engage in honest, legal business practice.
- Demonstrate experience and competence in their field.
- They must be fully licensed and insured
- They must carry any and all permits that pertain to their business, such as health and trade permits.
- Keep up to date with new trends, styles and techniques.
NWSA also provides members support in continued professional development through networking.
Wedding of John and Louise Redhead - April 2009
We found ourselves in quite an unusual position regarding our wedding preparations, as we got engaged in Australia and had been living in New Zealand for almost 3 years. After getting engaged in January and planning on returning to the UK in the August of that year, we really wanted to get married in 2009 and avoid a long engagement. Thankfully, I have a wonderful mother who took on the task of visiting some wedding venues, and giving us her opinions on various locations.
After a few visits to various hotels/stately homes, she came across The Lakeside and her decision was made. To quote her, ‘The Lakeside is beautiful; I cannot imagine you getting married anywhere else. The search is over!’ I knew I could trust her, and she definitely made the right decision.
The wedding organisers at the Lakeside were very helpful, and gave my Mum lots of information and recommendations regarding photos, flowers etc… It’s very difficult to meet people and do too much research when you are on the other side of the world. For that reason we went with all their recommended companies, and I am so delighted that we did. The fact that they all knew each other meant that communication was fast, efficient and so easy. I could put my total trust in to each of them, and I was just able to enjoy my special day.
Feedback on our members
Forever Young Photography
The photos of our trips around the world are so important to us, and we really wanted the photos of our big day to show all the fun and relaxed atmosphere that we hoped to create. Angie and her team were brilliant. We had a meeting at Lakeside prior to the event, and because they know the venue so well, they were able to take us on a tour to show us the usual routines and photographic opportunities. We talked about our theme for the day and the type of photos we wished to take. We had the usual family frames, but I just love looking at the photos that people didn’t realise were being taken. As there were three photographers, they managed to capture everything about the day, thank goodness, as it went so fast I was unable to take it all in.
The hardest part was choosing the photos to put into my album, but again Angie arranged a meeting to suit us, and we were given all the time we needed. The way they have managed to shoot the photos, to capture the scenery and lake reflections is just fabulous. I’m convinced this could only be achieved by someone who works so closely with Lakeside.
Tineke Floral Designs
When my Mum had her first meeting with Kerry, she wasn’t sure she had gone to the right place; a small office on a quiet side street. However, one look at her previous work and we realised how talented Kerry is. She was able to accommodate all our wishes, doing research into New Zealand flowers and ferns, and even finding some Kiwi style Raffia to tie around the bouquets. When it came to table decorations, we had no idea, but Kerry was able to show us lots of ideas from previous weddings at Lakeside.
On many occasions we asked her to make the decisions for us. On the day itself, I am still astounded at her work. The room at Lakeside was transformed from a ceremony, to a beautiful restaurant, without me realising a single thing had happened. Kerry had used New Zealand paua shell and carefully placed individual pieces on all the tables. The fish bowl table centres were a huge hit, and Angie was able to take some amazing photos, as again she knew the angles that worked best. Kerry was even able to add vases to the top table so that the bouquets could be displayed, which I would never have thought of. My Mum also loved her button-hole, which Kerry had added a diamante to, so it looked extra special. The bouquets themselves lasted for weeks after the event, the flowers were so fresh. Again, I am sure that it was Kerry’s previous work at Lakeside that helped her to make such perfect decorations.
Lakeside
Lakeside is truly an amazing place in which to get married. My Mum was put at ease from her first visit and I always felt like my wedding was so important to them. We had about 3 meetings to discuss various options for the day, but the wedding organisers were always on hand via the phone or email to answer any last minute questions. The venue looked stunning (thankfully so was the weather!) and the staff could not have been more helpful throughout the entire day. The food was delicious, with my guests still talking about the amazing Yorkshire pudding canapés they were given.
The host DJ played every single track on our playlist, despite us only writing the list 2 days before the wedding itself. Lakeside was able to accommodate our every need, from disabled access for our Nan, through to beautiful gardens for the photos, and a relaxed atmosphere throughout the day. All I had to do was drop off a few extra items the day before and pick them up afterwards, no instructions needed. My every wish was catered for, from the first meeting, through to the final celebratory drink at the end of the day.
Summary
The most important thing for me was to be able to enjoy my wedding day, and spend my time trying to take in all that was happing, rather then having to worry about how the day would run. From the moment I arrived at The Lakeside, I felt like everything was being taken care of and all my responsibilities drifted away. The photographs were taken, the flowers arrived, the rooms were transformed and looked beautiful; all without me or any member of my family having to worry. I am so thankful to have been able to put my trust into such an amazing team – it was truly the most perfect day!
