Now I know I’m super lucky to be part of the wedding world and there are so many reasons why I love what I do. However, if you asked me what makes it so special, I’d have to say it’s the people. Beautiful loved-up couples and, of course, super talented, dedicated suppliers and wedding professionals just make me happy.
Today, we’re speaking to one of those brilliant people who make the wedding world go around, Oskar Grodnicki from The Principal Hotel Company who was named as the Scottish Wedding Coordinator of the Year at the Scottish VOWS Awards 2016.
Oskar is the Group Senior Wedding Coordinator at not one but two new and exciting wedding venues in Edinburgh – The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square and The Principal Edinburgh George Street. Charlotte Square overlooks a beautiful private garden and is, in essence, seven inter-connecting Georgian townhouses in the New Town area of the city. It’s the newest venue in the Principal portfolio and has undergone a multi-million pound restoration and refurbishment. George Street won the title of Scottish Hotel of the Year at the 2017 Scottish Hotel Awards and it’s a luxurious escape from city life.
With two such stunning wedding venues to work out, it’s no wonder Oskar loves his job so much so let’s hear a little more from this fantastic chap:
Tell us a little bit about yourself Oskar and your role with The Principal Hotel Company
“My story started eight years ago when I arrived to Edinburgh from my home country of Poland and enrolled into my undergraduate course in Joint Events and Marketing Management at Queen Margaret University. I simultaneously took on the role of Wedding Supervisor at The George Hotel (now the Principal Edinburgh George Street) in Edinburgh. At the time, I had an immense passion for events but I didn’t think back then that wedding planning would shape my career this far.” “Eventually, after completing my Master’s degree in International Management and Leadership, I was offered my first role in wedding planning and one year on, I was approached by the Principal Hotel Company to take on my current role and shape up the strategy for weddings across two of their luxury city centre venues.”
“Finally, in September 2016, I was honoured to have been shortlisted to the final of the Scottish Vows Awards in the Wedding Coordinator category, to then win this category at the official award ceremony in November 2016. This year, I am aiming to achieve the repeat of last year’s success, having been shortlisted for the second year running in the same category.”
What’s your favourite part of the job?
“I could quite confidently say that I have not got one part of my job I enjoy the most because I love it all! I most definitely enjoy meeting new people, from excited freshly engaged couples and their families, as well as on a professional level, other wedding related service providers who are passionate about their businesses in making a difference to couples’ once in a life time experience.”
“Meeting the couple for the very first time is indeed very exciting. They also feel very excited themselves, however at the start of their wedding planning road they might feel at the same time a little lost and overwhelmed and therefore it is a great feeling for a wedding coordinator to be able to build a rapport with them from that very first moment and assist them to shape up their very special day. I still keep in touch with my previous clients who have now welcomed their first born babies, celebrated their big birthdays or first Christmas since getting married – weddings are so much more than just the one day, great relationships flourish long after ‘I dos’.”
“I also love the creative side of my job with marketing and social media management as well as hosting and attending various wedding exhibitions and fairs nationwide where I let loose my creative flair! This part of my job allows me to showcase to our lovely couples the type of services and offers we have for them to consider. Plus, this creativity also guarantees that I am always up to date with the vibrant wedding trends and fashions.”
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned and would pass along to other new wedding coordinators who might just be getting started with their careers?
“My advice would be for new wedding coordinators starting out to take their time in getting to know their couples, wedding trends and their competition. There are simply no shortcuts in wedding planning. Weddings are about taking time, getting to know your couples, expanding your partnership portfolio and most of all attention to detail and personalisation. It is those early days in your career that will set you apart you from your competition so make a mark for yourself and identify your strengths and weaknesses in order to work on both.”
“The biggest part of a wedding coordinator’s success is their personality. Your friendly approach and can do attitude will guide your career and your success. This approach will help you with gaining a better understanding of every one of your clients, and in turn allow you to make a real difference to their experience. All couples are simply looking for your assistance and also to become their wedding expert making you crucial in ensuring their special plan is executed perfectly.”
“Most of all, make all couples’ requests your priority. You want to ensure the planning process is smooth and simple, and therefore stress-free, for your couples.”
Tell us some of the great stories you must have from weddings that you’ve worked on
“My number one story is the winter themed wedding at the Principal Edinburgh George Street at the end of November 2016. I was not long in my role taking over from my predecessor and Amanda and Stuart arranged an appointment with me to talk about their concerns and plans. Their main aim was to ensure none of the hotel’s Christmas decorations were in the Kings Hall with the exception of one Christmas tree beside the altar table. One and a half year later, the big day finally arrived. I still remember the moment during my morning check on the Bride, when Amanda opened a gift from Stuart and in a little lovely decorated box were sitting two porcelain turtledoves with a love message. My heart was melting. This might sound like a cliché, but you genuinely could feel the love surrounding this couple!”
“It was when I headed to our King’s Hall to check that all the final preparations were under way, I fully appreciated Amanda’s vision. The design and the décor were mind-blowing with a small addition of a Christmas touch in a form of a dressed tree. It was just stunning. I know now how important it is to take note of every smallest detail to ensure each wedding is just perfect. Amanda and Stuart still keep in touch with me and it’s these experiences that show why I love my job so much.”
“On another occasion, I was assisting Elizabeth and Sinisa with their wedding plans for July 2017 and as they were based in Malaysia, planning was slightly more challenging. All was going perfectly to plan until the morning of their wedding, when the zip to the Elizabeth’s bridesmaid’s dress broke off completely. The only option was to sew her into her dress! I took on this challenge having stocked my pockets with sewing kits. My sewing must have been rather good as the thread wasn’t visible and it lasted until the end of the night. Elizabeth and I still have a giggle over this!”
What’s your current favourite colour combination?
“This is a very interesting question as every couple I have the pleasure of dealing with has a different idea on the trends and colour schemes. It is said, however that creams, whites and greens are the colours of 2017/2018 weddings. Personally, I love these colours very much myself and am using a very similar palette for my own wedding in January 2018.”
“On the other hand, if I was to make an unbiased recommendation for weddings within our two luxury wedding venues in Edinburgh, I would definitely add some delicate pastel colours of blush pink, Scottish thistle blue and a small amount of pale green amongst creams and whites. These colours blend in very well and work perfectly in all types of venues. Coloured up-lighting, on the other hand, allows us to add different shades of colours to these subtle colours for the evening entertainment without clashing with strong or intense colours otherwise.”
Are there any trends that you absolutely love or would love to see couples leave behind?
“The new trend that I absolutely love is bespoke wedding chairs in various colours and styles, the most popular ones are Chiavari and Rococo chairs which you can see in most of the current wedding literature.”
“In terms of food items, more couples these days opt in for alternative forms of dessert stations for buffets, that either being sweet carts or doughnut trolleys, a lot more fun for the guests allowing the couple to personalise their food preference.”
“One final thing that stands out to me in the trends is a replacement of photo booths with magic mirrors. This evening entertainment solution gives the same level of fun, reduces the need to provide sizable amounts of space and shortens the setup duration.”
“The areas that are now becoming less and less popular are receiving lines. Trust me, it is no longer an expected necessity and it can take quite a lot of your time, and can delay things on your wedding day. If you don’t feel like it, you don’t need to feel pressured to do it!”
What tips or advice can you give to couples that are in the midst of planning their own weddings?
“Remain calm! It might not always feel like calm is the option, especially when there is so much choice out there and so many overwhelming details to consider and remember. Stay calm and talk everything through with your family, friends and your wedding coordinator is the best solution.”
“Remember at all times that you are planning your wedding to celebrate your love to your fiancé and no matter what, it will be the best day of your life as your most important person will be right there beside you.”
“One very important piece of advice from the practical side of wedding planning would be to give yourselves enough time to plan each and every stage of your wedding so don’t feel uncomfortable about asking your wedding coordinator to help you in working out the timeline for your wedding planning. This will help you feel on top of it and the task doesn’t feel as overwhelming broken down into smaller sections.”
“Finally, pick the Principal Hotel Company and be assured of the highest standard of personalised service provided by our highly skilled and trained wedding coordinators!”
Thank you Oskar – it’s so great to see your love of your job coming through so clearly in everything you say.
To find out more about The Principal Hotel Company and their altogether brilliant wedding offering, just take a look at the website.
Love,
Tamryn x
Annabel View all Annabel's articles
Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.
