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 were automatically shortlisted in January 2024. This was based on the quantity and quality of reviews left from 1st January - 31st December 2023. We took the size of your business and the number of wedding clients into consideration to give small businesses the same chance as larger companies.
If your business is 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.
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, Towards Recovery, Henley.
Book your tickets for the highly-anticipated Awards Night at Oxford Town Hall on Wednesday 27th March. We can't wait to celebrate with you all! Tickets are £115+vat per person. Spaces are limited, so please call 01235 770078 or email your account manager to book your tickets.
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 on the night to raise money for a great cause.
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, we are always incredibly 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 2024 are:
Anthony Stears, the renowned "Telephone Assassin" and leading expert on Telephone Engagement, brings not only his wealth of expertise but also his contagious passion for enhancing customer service. Get ready for a fantastic blend of knowledge and friendliness on our panel!
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.
Susi Rogol is the current editor of Wedding Trader Magazine and the previous editor in chief of Bridal Buyer Magazine. With a wealth of experience in the wedding industry, she possesses a remarkable knack for delving into the finer details that elevate ordinary customer service to the extraordinary.
Charlie Clements is the Sales & Marketing manager at Oxford City Council. With a fantastic nine-year background in the leisure industry, she brings a warm and friendly demeanour that makes her the perfect choice as a judge for our customer service awards.
David Bostock is an award-winning wedding photographer with over 15 years of experience, having photographed over 500 weddings and designer bridal fashion shoots. Trusted and endorsed by some of Oxfordshire's most luxurious venues, David possesses an impeccable understanding of what is involved in delivering great customer service and will make a fantastic judge for our awards.
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 on multiple occasions over previous 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.
Tomas Willoughby is assistant manager of THAT Event Company Oxford. With a fantastic history in the events services industry and a highly skilled in delivering great customer service himself, Tomas has a talent for spotting those amazing individuals who always go above and beyond to create delightful experiences for their customers.
About Our Event and Our Sponsors
With many thanks to our event sponsors. Without your help, we wouldn't have the opportunity to bring such a wonderful event together.
The Oxford Town Hall will be decorated by THAT Event Company and the food is to be made by Elegant Cuisine. Throughout the evening there will be plenty of opportunities to have your photograph taken, whether that's by the photographers on the night Weaver & Waters or in the fun photo-booth provided by Freezeframe Photobooths!
JBMAC will be there to provide live music, Alan Simpson is there to draw caricatures and Charles Burns will be creating amazing paper silhouettes so everyone has a memento from the event to take home! Casinorama will be entertaining guests with fun casino games for the evening. Also thanks to Richard Parsons and Dean Leavy who will be performing close up magic.
Attending the Event
Oxford Town Hall is conveniently located in the city centre and is easily accessible. Park and Ride bus stops are nearby, as well as all major bus routes, various car parking facilities and Oxford train station are just a short walk away. For directions, the town hall is located on St. Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1BX.
If you require accommodation after attending the ceremony, Voco Oxford Spires Hotel have kindly offered a 10% discount against rooms booked for the awards dinner when you book with their link.
SPOTLIGHT
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