At our Customer Service Awards 2020, as well as our usual award categories, we had some extra special awards to give out. In an unprecedented year, the wedding industry has been dealt a significant blow by the Coronavirus. So, we want to celebrate those individuals and businesses who have persevered through countless difficulties in order to offer couples, their communities and other businesses the help and support they so desperately needed.
This award was nominated and judged by our team and there were too many businesses and individuals nominated to list them all. So, here are our COVID Hero Award Winners.
Thief Hall
Image courtesy of Thief Hall
Set in beautiful North Yorkshire countryside, Thief Hall is a barn conversion restored in stunning style, offering a classic barn venue with open beams, and a clean modern finish - the perfect blank canvas wedding venue. Consistently through 2020, we received several emails and notifications about how amazing Thief Hall has been to their couples. One couple said: "They are there 24/7 to support all couples and more! They will go above and beyond to keep everyone happy".
Oxford Fine Dining
Image courtesy of Oxford Fine Dining
Oxford Fine Dining has been providing exceptional catering for wedding breakfasts and receptions in beautiful venues around Oxfordshire for over 10 years. During 2020, they have been donating their time and expertise to support their community. Many businesses that our team have chatted to over the year have told us about their fantastic charity work, in particular creating and delivering much-needed meals to NHS staff and supporting the Oxford Hospitals Charity.
The Ravenswood
Image courtesy of The Ravenswood
Set in the heart of the Ashdown Forest, The Ravenswood is a beautiful 15th-century wedding venue. Couples raved about the excellent customer service at The Ravenswood during this difficult period and in particular identified Gemma, their wedding coordinator, for being such a wonderful help to them. One bride commented, "I honestly think I would have gone insane if we didn’t have her as our coordinator ".
White Rose Ceremonies
Image courtesy of White Rose Ceremonies
White Rose Ceremonies deliver wedding ceremonies wherever you want them. The ceremonies can be simply traditional, delightfully quirky or calm and spiritual and they can be at any location, with no restrictions. Rebecca from White Rose Ceremonies has been identified by couples as being central to their wedding planning and problem-solving through COVID. One bride described Rebecca as being "the most giving, uplifting and lovely lady I have ever met. She keeps us motivated, even on her down days, she's always smiling and lending a hand."
Ellie Sanderson Bridal Boutique
Image courtesy of Ellie Sanderson Bridal Boutique
Ellie Sanderson is a multi-award-winning business with shops in Beaconsfield and Woodstock offering a collection of dresses from the worlds top dress designers. Ellie adapted her business to help her brides, bringing in virtual appointments to ensure her brides with weddings soon after lockdown were still able to have their dress ready in time. Now, it is becoming central to her business model. Congrats to Ellie and the team for this fantastic innovation and their bravery in giving it a go in order to help their customers through a difficult and stressful period.
Tzeitel Degiovanni
Image courtesy of Tzeitel Degiovanni
Tzeitel does not work in the wedding industry but offered her expertise as a gender and race theorist to support the taskforce in their diversity and inclusion efforts. Tzeitel helps ensure all people, communities and businesses are considered in solutions being discussed within the UK Weddings Taskforce. Her tireless work has been so greatly appreciated.