Inside the Diary of a Wedding Planner
As part of Historic Royal Palace’s Confetti takeover, we spoke to Laura Roser, events planner at Hampton Court Palace, about the wonderful world of palace weddings, how she got her job, and the most unusual request she’s ever had.
Read on for some serious insight…
My career at the palace started when…
I joined two years ago as an event planner at Hampton Court Palace and love the job! As the main point of contact to newly engaged couples, I sell, organise and manage their wedding day to ensure they feel at ease and enjoy experiencing their special day.
My favourite part of working at the palace is…
The wonderful people I get to work with, from my lovely colleagues to the fantastic clients!
I also enjoy walking into work every day as the view walking up to Hampton Court Palace makes me smile and feel proud that to be a part of this incredible venue’s history.
A typical day goes like this…
I always start the day with a cup of coffee for that all important caffeine kick! I then spend my day responding to client enquiries alongside helping with plans for couples’ upcoming weddings.
My favourite wedding concept was…
An informal alfresco dining concept at a summer wedding, with food stations and music to entertain guests in the Garden Room. It was great to see something other than a classic sit-down meal and to utilise the beautiful outdoor space we have available at the palace.
The most unusual request I’ve had was…
I was once asked if I could hire groomsmen as the groom didn’t have any! My solution was to hire actors …
The biggest challenge I’ve faced has been…
Managing two events at the same time – multitasking is a definitely a required skill for this job!
My ideal wedding at the palace would…
It would be a civil ceremony and reception using the East Front vestibule and outdoor gardens, with a pyrotechnic display in the gardens and music to entertain guests, followed by a two-course dinner in the mighty Great Hall complete with singing waiters. Then to finish off, dance the night away in Henry VIII’s beer cellar, the Undercroft, with a dessert station and a band.
If I wasn’t a wedding planner I would be…
A Travel Guide – I love escaping and visiting new places and to be in a job that could allow me to travel the world would be bliss.
My favourite space within the palace is…
The Little Banqueting House. A beautiful hidden gem in the grounds of the palace, it’s a captivating venue that makes me smile every time I am inside. Looking over the River Thames, it is perfect for intimate civil ceremonies and dinner receptions alike.
The biggest upcoming wedding trends are…
Informal dining options – couples are straying away from more traditional, formal formats in favour of more creative catering solutions that better reflect their personality as a couple.
The wedding I would have loved to have organised would have been…
Henry VIII’s last wedding to his sixth wife Katherine Parr at Hampton Court Palace. There were only 20 people present and Katherine was proclaimed queen at the celebration breakfast after the ceremony – not your average wedding day!
My biggest piece of advice for anyone starting to plan their wedding would be…
Ensure you plan your budget out – and remember to focus on why you are getting married, it’s all about you and your partner’s special day.
READ MORE: What Does a Wedding Planner Actually Do? An Expert’s Point of View
