Meet the fabulous Nikki from I Do Designer Weddings

A few weeks ago I met this amazing lady who helps you to plan the most amazing weddings. I was keen to find out more about her services as there is a common mis-conception in the Uk that wedding planners just add to your costs and are not worth having but as Nikki from I Do Designer Weddings explains, this is really not the case and often they can save you money instead!    


Find out more about what she had to say here:







Tell us a bit about yourself and your company.

We specialise in the design, planning and management of spectacular weddings and events throughout the North of the country.

We help our clients create truly memorable days and specialise in a highly personalised service, getting to know our clients so that the wedding reflects the individuals.

We currently run I Do Designer Weddings and are in the process of lauching ‘I Do Designer Events’.

The business was set up by myself (Nikki Foster) after a successful career in financial services.  Working with two of the top financial firms in the UK my roles included managing a portfolio of elite wealth management clients, negotiating terms on business deals, heading up a PR team and organising high profile, global events.

I absolutely adored the planning and management that went on in putting together large corporate events.  In 2001 I planned my own wedding and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of that too.  I felt like ‘weddings’ was what I was born to do.  However, I was working in financial services and earning a very good salary so didn’t give it a moments’ thought.  Through the years I planned many weddings and parties for friends and almost became an ‘unofficial’ wedding planner.  It was in 2009 that I realised I could follow a passion and set up a successful business – I Do Designer Weddings was born.

What is your favourite thing about your job?

All of it…..from meeting a couple for the first time and hearing their ideas and vision for their day, right through to that first dance.  We get to know our clients so well over the planning period that every bit of our journey with them is special.  

Seeing it all come together on the day and their faces as they say ‘I Do’ is the most emotional for us, but with each client there will be something along the way that stands out.  It could just be when we find them something that they absolutely love or the squeal as our  Bride- to-be sees her mood board for the first time.


Where do you get your inspiration?

Absolutely everywhere, it’s not just about looking through magazines and on the internet. We are very heavily styled and like our weddings to feel like a lot of thought has gone into the design as it’s the little details that make people go ‘Wow’.  

I can be walking through town and see things in shops that I know will fit with a certain theme.  I can be in a friends’ house, on holiday or even just out in the countryside and spot things that look beautiful.

Tell us how a typical day would go for you.

Gosh!  Big question!  Typically at a wedding we arrive extremely early to set everything up and make sure that it looks right.  A lot of brides think that on the morning of the wedding they will be able to lay tables, put chairs in the right places, put ribbon in trees etc.  In reality they should be relaxing with their family and friends, getting excited and getting ready.

Once the venue looks perfect we will head to the ceremony venue (if different), to check everything is ok there.  We tend to help to greet guests, introduce ourselves to the Ushers and remind them of their jobs throughout the day, put on buttonholes, do up any cravats or black ties for people that are struggling, calm the Groom down, check the musicians are in place and have what they need, and a whole host of other things.

We will then make sure the ceremony goes by without a hitch and be the first outside to congratulate the newlyweds before heading to the reception venue.

We have our Timeline for the whole wedding which shows me what should be happening at any point throughout the day, I tick things off as the day progresses; it is often over 4 pages long!  

We spend the day making sure guests are happy, the venue looks beautiful, the suppliers are doing what they are supposed to when they are supposed to, and generally running around troubleshooting so that our wedding party only ever feel like everything is flowing perfectly.

We also often act as Master of Ceremonies for our clients and can be found helping out the catering staff or pouring champagne if things seem to be a little behind.

If you could organise or plan a wedding or event for a famous couple, who

would it be, what would you organise and where?

It would have to be for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.  They have all those children, they really should get married.  They have recently been talking about moving to New York so I would love to go over and plan a New York Wedding.  That has to be the ultimate in wedding planning.  We are so heavily influenced by the US, I think it would be nice to go and show them a thing or two.

How does your service work? Do Brides pick from a selection of packages or do you

have one set offer?

Everything that we do is bespoke, because every wedding should be bespoke.  Our website shows some typical services that we offer, ranging from Complete Wedding Design and Co-ordination through to simply On The Day Management, but in reality every client is different.  We don’t charge on a percentage basis or have set fees; it really depends on how much work will be involved in the wedding for us.  Once we have had an initial consultation with our clients we forward a full proposal outlining what we can do for them and the fee attached to this.

What timescales do you recommend for Brides to work on? Do they need to contact

you at the start of their planning process or are you available for help along the way?

Ideally the earlier the better as we can then help guide them through the ‘maze’ of wedding suppliers.  In addition we can save them money as we know what represents good value.  

However, we are often contacted by clients that have planned most of their wedding themselves and want us to step in at the final stages and take over so that they can relax and enjoy the final countdown to their big day.

What sets you apart from other suppliers? Why should a bride pick you?

Our professionalism, attention to detail, contact book and personable nature.  A lot of our brides become friends because we have such fun planning their wedding.  You need to choose a planner that you get on with or the relationship will never work.

Do you get any unusual requests - can you share them?

Of course we get unusual requests, they make our job even more fun!  Some people want their dogs to bring them their rings, others want flash mobs to spring up through dinner or really odd heirlooms to be incorporated into the day.  Whatever the request, we will find a way to make it happen. 

Do you have a favourite venue or location?

There are so many amazing venues around Yorkshire.  Swinton Park, Allerton Castle and The Star Inn are all beautiful and all different.  However my absolute favourite venue has to be a marquee on private land.  There is nothing better than a blank canvas to inject the bride and grooms personalities into.  

What is the best way for Brides to contact you?

Website: www.idodesignerweddings.co.uk

Email: info@idodesignerweddings.co.uk

Phone: 0845 396 8858

Mobile: 0777 0585692

Give us a call for a free initial consultation.

Anything else you’d like to add.

Most people either think that wedding planners are either too expensive or going to take over their day.  I would love British couples to understand that we are simply here to help.   In the US it would be unusual not to have a planner.  

My job is to work with couples to plan their day their way, the beauty of it is that I have all the knowledge and contacts to be able to do it efficiently.  Plus we can actually save couples money in two ways; firstly we know what represents good value and so money isn’t wasted, and secondly, we negotiate terms on your behalf with suppliers, terms that you would not be able to get yourself for a one off event.

We are member of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners.

We love weddings and we love Yorkshire.  

I'm sure you'll agree, some great advice from Nikki!  I know there are lots of very busy brides out there and Nikki can really help to take the pressure off - why not give her a call - I wish I had :)

Nicky