John Maddaford

About John

John has been a member of the Guides for Brides team for nearly 22 years, he has worked with many of his clients for years and has gotten to know them really well. He began working for the company while engaged to his now wife, Helen, and always comments about how helpful it was to work here while they were planning their wedding.

John's Role at Guides for Brides

John is our Head of Sales & Operations at Guides for Brides. In this role, he leads our team of account managers, supports our team to build great relationships with clients and refines our sales strategy. He works with wedding businesses across all categories on Guides for Brides and supports businesses nationally with specialist focus in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Not only does John manage our sales team, within his operational role, he organises our events too! From wedding fairs, to networking events and our annual customer service awards, John leads the effort and planning to make every event we put on a success. You can often find him in attendance at those events too, chatting away to suppliers and greeting couples as they walk through the door.

John's Experience and Background

John has over 22 years of experience in sales and operational roles. He has a natural ability to build effective relationships and has known many of the businesses represented on Guides for Brides since they were formed.

One of John's favourite parts of his job is the organisation of our events. He was heavily involved in the formation for our wedding fairs and annual awards, and continues to strive to make them even better as the years go on.

In his spare time, John is able to continue the development of his organisation skills thanks to his involvement in his children's sports teams. John organises the fixtures for his son's football team (and all over 11 boys teams). This involves coordinating with the wider league, other teams, and the coaches to schedule games that work for everyone's schedules. He makes sure that the team is well-informed of upcoming fixtures and any changes to the schedule.

What is your favourite thing to read about on Guides for Brides?

I love reading the reviews that have been left for my clients. I know how hard they all work and how much passion goes into their businesses. It's wonderful to see them getting such positive feedback from their clients. The best bit, of course, is seeing those reviews help these businesses be recognised in our annual Customer Service Awards!

What wedding trends are you liking at the moment?

I’m really enjoying the shift we’re seeing from couples who are putting more focus on guest entertainment. It’s great to see things like magicians, photobooths, interactive live bands, and live illustrators becoming part of the day. It adds such a personal, memorable touch for everyone involved and creates those little moments that guests talk about long after the wedding itself.

What is your biggest tip for couples planning their weddings right now?

If you have found a supplier that you really want for your wedding, book them as soon as possible. The very best of the wedding industry get snapped up very quickly (especially for summer Saturdays!) and if you liked the look of their work, their reviews and their social media, it's likely that other couples did too. So secure your first choices as soon as you can!

How to contact John

You can email John at john@guidesforbrides.co.uk or connect with him on LinkedIn.