Last week I attended the Top Tier Wedding Awards at Ardoe House Hotel and Spa in Aberdeen, and it was such a good night from start to finish. The Top Tier Awards are North East Scotland based and recognise wedding suppliers as voted for by Brides and Grooms.
For a 3rd year I was a finalist for Cake Designer of the Year, which in itself felt like a big achievement. Knowing my couples have taken the time out to include me in their top 3 suppliers means so much!
On the night Cakes by Chloe took the award and honestly, I was really pleased for her. She’s a lovely girl and it was actually the first time I’d met her in person. That’s one of the nice things about these events. We all see each other’s work online, but we don’t always get the chance to properly chat. It was great to see everyone and celebrate the winners.
The venue was looking its best. Ardoe House is always impressive, but the monochromatic styling by Rainbow Drops looked amazing without feeling over the top. Everything was finished beautifully and it really set the tone for the evening.
The food was great too. At big award nights you never quite know what to expect, but the meal was spot on. Well organised, well presented, hot and tasty – which is always a bonus when you’re surrounded by wedding suppliers with high standards!
Once the awards were done, the party really started. Starsky brought loads of energy to the dancefloor, and then Harry Butler the DJ kept us all going until the wee hours. It was one of those nights where everyone let their hair down and enjoyed themselves. There’s something nice about seeing fellow suppliers out of work mode for a change, no timelines, no cake deliveries, no setup stress. Just music, dancing, a few drinks.. and maybe a few sore heads in the morning!
One of my favourite parts of the night was catching up with some of my supplier friends. Usually we see each other in passing at weddings, mid wedding cake setup! Having the chance to actually sit down, chat properly and celebrate each was so much fun. The wedding industry can be busy and intense, so nights like this are a good reminder that we’re all in it together.
Of course, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a small part of me that hoped to hear my name called. That’s natural. But I left feeling proud rather than disappointed. Proud to have been a finalist. Proud of the work I’m putting out. And motivated to keep pushing myself. Awards are brilliant, but they’re not the only measure of success. Being in there, surrounded by talented, hardworking people who genuinely care about what they do, and there because my brides and grooms have voted for me, is a win in itself.
All in all, it was a great night – good food, good music, great company, and a reminder of why I love being part of this industry.