ABOUT DAWN MARIE

My family call me 'The Organiser' - maybe not very dramatic but it is true! I have arranged events for years - I will spare you the photos of the Charity 'Rocky Horror' night from my University days or the staff Christmas party from my gap year - but you get the idea.

After graduating from Newcastle University with a BA 2:1 Honours Degree in Law, Computing Science and Sociology, I realised that organising was my destiny and started work at a wedding venue in 1995. Responsible for everything - wedding planning, conferences, Christmas parties, public events, wedding fairs, sales, marketing, advertising, wedding packs, menu design, accounts, payroll, training waiting and bar staff, food and drinks orders, wine lists etc. etc. - this is where I learnt my trade. As well as giving me the chance to complete my professional qualification, HCIMA, it was also a great opportunity to establishing links with some of the region's best wedding suppliers. Nine years and one child later, I set up 'Dawn Marie Wedding & Event Design' and the rest, as they say, is history.

Since January 2006 my company has gone from strength to strength planning weddings, arranging Elite Wedding Fairs, Shows and Open Days in some of Northumberland and Newcastle's best wedding venues, planning and writing baby naming and renewal of vows ceremonies, mentoring new wedding companies and ghost-writing many of the regions wedding packs.

I am also very excited to have created and successfully launched the new 'Trusted Partners' association. This is an elite collection of wedding professionals who I have worked with over many years - companies I have seen in operation and whom I have no hesitation in recommending to my clients. After more than 29 years in the wedding industry, I have seen a lot of companies come and go, seen bad companies, companies with no pride in what they do and low or no standards of customer care. I have also seen some great companies run by true professionals who deserve to have their high standards and thought for their customers celebrated. Companies who will not let you down and who will go above and beyond what is required to ensure you have the greatest of days. You cannot apply to be part of this group...it is by invitation only based on reputation and assessed by me and my 29 years experience.