September 5th 2020

It's been a pretty crazy year... right?!

I used to have a blog a long time ago - posts about books, music, food and travels and it was a lot of fun to write. But I guess I felt like I was running out of interesting things to share.

I love hospitality and events, and it would probably make sense for me to share the things I am most passionate about. But when you work in the field, sometimes it stops being your "passion" or your "hobby" and it just becomes your normal. It's easy to forget just how wonderful it really is when it's your everyday - it soon becomes about the early mornings, the late nights and the midnight missions on the motorway. And besides, who wants to go to work 12 hours a day and then come home and write about it?!

But this website is a fantastic space where I get to share all of the things I love most about this industry - creativity, inventiveness, love, fun, passion. And, now more than ever, I adore what I do.

My day job is in corporate catering, and for a lot of reasons I really like it. But talking about flowers, cakes, weddings... I love that in a very different kind of way. 2020 has taught us all, I'm sure, what really matters to us and over these past few months I have definitely learnt just how important this all is to me. It's not just about loving my job. It's about special moments, celebrating love and life and memorable occasions. It's about being a part of what is the most wonderful day of someone's life. It's about the suppliers who have the vision and the determination to actually make it all happen - small business owners who have turned their talent and their passion into a business that puts food on their table, but lights a fire in their bellies at the same time. And I really want to do what I can do help them, too.

The purpose of Chouette Events is to help those planning weddings and events make it as simple (and as fun!) as possible. My website is here to help them find the people they need quickly and easily - the most fabulous and most reliable people in the industry, all in one place. And at the same time, I get to work with these lovely suppliers and give them a space to tell their story. I've made some amazing contacts and friends in the industry, and being able to support them and try to bring new business their way is incredibly exciting and humbling.

I never expected the website to go down this road... I mean, honestly, I expected to get about 10 followers and give up after a few weeks! But having 6 months (and counting) off work has really given me time to focus on the website, get to know some wonderful suppliers and it's given me a chance to take a fresh look at this crazy world I work in! And in seeing the effect Covid is having on brides, grooms, families and the amazing suppliers I work with, it's made me want to do all I can to support.

I am so proud of the businesses who have kept going through this time - those who have worked night and day, driven thousands of miles delivering their goods, those who have had to think on their feet to adapt their business for 2020. But my heart breaks for those who, through no fault of their own, have lost almost 12 months' worth of work, almost a whole year's income, and who are watching the businesses they have worked so hard to build face collapse.

So, I thought this blog would be a good place to update you not just on what I am up to on the website but also what is happening in the world of weddings and events as a whole! I'll be able to post about Open Days, Wedding Fayres and post some positivity from suppliers who are absolutely smashing it! And also do some real time updates on where we are at with weddings, Covid and how you can support.

My features will still go up each week, and you will see the A-Z keep growing. And my Insta is getting a lot of love lately so I'll be all over that too. There are a few other little ideas I have up my sleeve, too! But in between times, I'll keep you all updated with website stuff, wedding stuff and general wonderings here.