The annual Guides for Brides Customer Service Awards recognises and rewards wedding businesses that deliver exceptional service and achieve outstanding customer satisfaction.
After such a busy season, it is really important to bring recognition to the wedding industry, and shine a light on the many businesses, of all sizes, that are making it thrive and delivering their clients a brilliant experience.
The awards are totally free for our advertisers to enter, and we have over 25 main categories.
From the experts
What is the process for entering the Guides for Brides Customer Service Awards?
Step 1: Ask your couples for their help
The Guides for Brides awards are based on both the quality and quantity of your reviews. Your couples - past, present, and future - will be happy to help as they'll want their venue or suppliers to be award-winning too!
Make it easy for them to leave reviews by sharing the news on your website, on social media and in your email footer with a link to your Guides for Brides listing or to guidesforbrides.co.uk/reviews.
If your couples have left reviews for you elsewhere, these can also be included as long as you include the individual's first name, wedding date and venue.
Step 2: If you are shortlisted
Businesses will automatically be shortlisted in January 2024. This will be based on the quantity and quality of reviews left from 1st January - 31st December 2023. We take the size of your business and the number of wedding clients you have into consideration to give small businesses the same chance as larger companies.
If your business has been shortlisted, you will be sent a short questionnaire to fill in. Here you can tell our leading industry experts why your business should be the winner of a Customer Service Award in 2024.
Step 3: Finalists
Our industry experts will analyse the shortlisted businesses in order to narrow them down to our finalists and pick a winner for each category. This is based on their reviews and supporting information that shows they are delivering excellent service and achieving great customer satisfaction.
All finalists will receive an email confirmation of their status and an invitation to the awards evening. These are announced by the end of January 2024.
We then hand over to our panel of judges who will select our winners.
The Awards Ceremony
Then comes the celebration! Our Awards Ceremony is also a fundraiser for our chosen charity partner for the year. 2023's Awards raised funds for VOW for Girls.
There is an opportunity to round up the ticket price to add a donation to our chosen charity and there will also be a raffle ticket on the night to raise money for the great cause.
The last awards event was held in March 2023 at the prestigious Oxford Town Hall. Finalists enjoyed a meal and toasted to the achievements of all of our finalists and winners and raise money for this exceptional cause. It's always a fantastic event and a chance to network with the best in the industry.
Save the date!
The date for our next event will be confirmed soon, however, the event usually takes place in March.
More details will be sent to those in the running once the nomination process is complete. Finalists will be given priority to purchase a ticket however, if you would like to attend our awards for networking purposes then you can be added to our reserves list.
See our winners for 2023 Customer Service Awards
Who chooses the winners?
Our awards are judged throughout the process based on the quality and quantity of the reviews you receive. Once we get to the finalist stage, the decision is handed over to a panel of industry experts to select the winners.
The Judges
Once again we have asked a group of judges to choose the winners in each category and we are always grateful for them taking their time to make sure the business with the best customer service will win. With so much great talent it is no easy feat but we are sure they will rise to the challenge!
Our judges for 2023 were:
Jonny Bann had experience of working in Graphic Design as well as Event Management before his current role as Head of Sales at Various Eateries PLC. This combined experience gives him an eye for detail which we are sure will be an asset to his judging.
Nina Beer is the Director at Occasion Queens an on the day wedding coordination company that strives to make the day stress free for both the couple and the host venue. Nina therefore knows the power of good customer service and will be able to use this to select the winners.
Siobhan Craven-Robins has been a wedding coordinator and director of Siobhan Craven-Robins Weddings for 26 years and runs the National Association of Wedding Professionals. Siobhan's experience as a planner is shaped by her customer service and her ability to bring together wedding businesses to create the perfect day for her couples.
Michelle Miles is the Founder of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance and Owner of Fusion Events and Weddings. Her focus on creating memorable events that are also kind to our planet makes her an excellent judge for our customer service awards.
Cath Poucher is the Sales, Events and Marketing Manager at Oxford Town Hall, the beautiful host venue of our awards. Cath's experience spans many important aspects of customer service which is why we think she will make an excellent judge.
LaToya Patel is the CEO and Co-Founder of SW Events as well as the Co-Owner of The Asian Wedding Club which specialises in helping couples plan their Asian Wedding. LaToya has judged at other industry awards too so knows what qualities to look out for!
Becca Poutney is a Speaker, Blogger and Marketing Expert. Becca organises networking events for wedding businesses and advises them on how they can develop and grow. She shares many of her expert tips in her podcast, Wedding Pros Who Are Ready To Grow. As an industry expert and will be a great judge for our awards!
Rebecca Waldron has been a winner at our awards for the past four years and is now stepping back in order to be a judge. Having won before, Rebecca has demonstrated customer service in her own company White Rose Ceremonies and knows what to look for.
James Walton is the Director at THAT Event Company and has years of experience in audio, lighting and the production of weddings and events. James' industry knowledge and years of working with other suppliers and venues gives him a great understanding of customer service.
About The Event and Our Sponsors
With many thanks to our event sponsors. Without your help, we wouldn't be able to bring such a wonderful event together.
The Oxford Town Hall was decorated by THAT Event Company and the food was made by Elegant Cuisine. Throughout the evening there was plenty of opportunities to have your photograph taken, whether that was taken by the photographers on the night Sam & Steve Photography or in the fun photobooth provided by Freezeframe Photobooths!
Ear Candy Oxford provided live music, Alan Simpson was there to draw caricatures and Lucca Studios performed amazing candle scribing so everyone had a momento from the event to take home! Also thanks to Richard Parsons who performed close up magic and hosted the raffle prize announcement.
A special mention to Lauren Cohen MUA who helped our team look beautiful on the night.
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