news | Hanami Dream | Cotswolds copywriter

Hanami Dream announce winner of the wedding UK Blog Award 2019

by Hanami Dream | 13, April, 2019 | blog, news

UK Blog Awards 2019

I was delighted to judge the wedding category in the UK Blog Awards 2019. In case you missed it, on Friday night I had the honour of announcing and announce the winner and highly commended blogs.

Take a look on YouTube or read my speech below.

Wedding category announcement

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the announcement of the winner and highly commended wedding blogs of the UK Blog Awards 2019.

My name is Nicola Jackson from Hanami Dream – a wedding blog based in the beautiful Oxfordshire Cotswolds. And a very proud winner of the wedding UK Blog Awards 2018. I’m delighted to hand on the baton to the winner this year.

Eco friendly weddings

It’s a sad fact that, by their nature, weddings can be quite wasteful.

So it’s great to see more couples addressing this by choosing eco friendly options to reduce the impact that their wedding day has on the environment.

More and more couples are going greener, thinking seasonally, reducing paper usage, keeping it local, having a smaller more intimate day, offering alternative menu choices and making more diy elements themselves. They’re considering how they can reuse elements after the day by donating any wastage to those less fortunate, offsetting the carbon footprint and reducing costs.

Marriage laws

Changes in the law have also had an impact on the diversity of weddings taking place and weddings are becoming more and more personal.

So it’s great to see this evolution and diversity being mirrored in the blogging world –

Wedding blog finalists

I’ve really enjoyed reading the finalists’ in this year’s wedding category and seeing how they portray a modern stance on the world of weddings and addressing up to date alternatives to old traditions.

I love that the wedding genre overlaps many other categories too such as Eco, Law, Lifestyle, Fashion and Finance amongst others.

I encourage more wedding blogs to enter next year – it’s a great exposure and experience and a wonderful chance to show off your own niche.

The finalists this year have epitomised the diversity of the wedding industry, showing originality, a forward thinking conscience and how we can all start to make a difference. They are as personal and individual as the weddings they report on.

The finalist are:
fierceblooms
Gay Wedding Blog
Magpie Wedding
Quirky Nuptials
Say I do on a budget
The Lovely Little Label
Unconventional Wedding
Wed in Central Park

Winners of the wedding category of the UK Blog Awards 2019

By the power vested in me by the UK Blog Awards, I now pronounce that the highly commended wedding blog is… Fierce Blooms
A wonderful personal voice showing authenticity, highly environmentally conscience and amazing story telling that paints a picture.

And it gives me great pleasure in announcing that the winner of the wedding category of the UK Blog Awards 2019 is…
Gay Wedding Blog
Not only a fantastic design with strong imagery but a clear purpose showing originality and diversity.

Huge congratulations to all the finalists and a very well done to the winners in this year’s UK Blog Awards.

Enjoy the celebrations.”

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Wedding marketing advice published

by Hanami Dream | 5, March, 2019 | marketing advice, news

Marketing article featured on Bride magazine

As well as writing an award winning wedding blog, I’m also a wedding marketing specialist, with 17 years experience in a number of industries.

During my career I’ve obtained my CIM Professional Diploma in Marketing and worked in various marketing roles for 13 years before starting my own business. I’ve also obtained my Diploma in Wedding and Event Planning with the UK Academy of Wedding & Event Planners.

Hanami Dream was founded in 2014, which combines my marketing skills and photo shoot experience along with my passion and knowledge of the wedding industry and local market. My marketing background gives me the insight and experience to help local wedding businesses with their marketing strategy and promotional plans.

So I’m proud to have one of my wedding marketing advice articles published on Bride magazine to help wedding suppliers to start and maintain a good company blog.

Keep an eye out for more posts where I share marketing advice for venues and wedding industry professionals from small, local, independent wedding businesses in and around Witney, Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds.

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Wedding judge interview with the UK Blog Awards

by Hanami Dream | 12, February, 2019 | news

Proud to be the wedding judge for the UK Blog Awards 2019.

Checkout my interview with the UK Blog Awards to see how I got started and what being a judge means to me.

https://blogawardsuk.co.uk/an-interview-with-nicola-jackson-blogger-at-hanami-dream-and-our-ukba19-wedding-judge/

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Hanami Dream in the press

by Hanami Dream | 12, February, 2019 | news

So pleased with the press coverage that Hanami Dream has been receiving recently.

Did you see page 14 of the Oxford Mail on the 19th Janauary 2019? You might have spotted a certain wedding blogger and UK Blog Awards #UKBA19 wedding judge in there!

Plus the Witney Gazette covered the article online too.

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Join me for my next Cotswold wedding styled photo shoot

by Hanami Dream | 4, February, 2019 | news, styled shoots

Following the success of the recent Secret Garden and Journey to the Centre of the Earth bridal styled shoots, Hanami Dream are proud to announce their next styled shoot for spring time this year.

The shoot is planned for this spring in the Oxfordshire countryside of the Cotswolds and I’m excited to offer the opportunity for local suppliers to join with me. So let me know if you’d like to provide products to bring my creative ideas to life in a wonderful new inspirational shoot.

The beauty of styled shoots (versus a real life wedding) is that this is your opportunity to be a little more extravagant and really show off what you’ve always wanted to do. You can indulge your fantasies. Maybe you’ve got a new product that couples won’t have seen yet or you want to create something really unusual that you wouldn’t normally do.

Styled shoots are a collaboration of like minded people that can create great things together but perhaps don’t have the budgets to produce this kind of work if they all worked independently.

Everyone works pro bono, so it is just your products that you’d need to provide to be involved. Nicola from Hanami Dream organises and styles the shoots. And the rewards are amazing with great imagery of your products in an amazing lifestyle surrounding, plus inclusion in all my promotion of the shoot and a feature on Hanami Dream’s blog, which is a UK Blog Awards winner in 2018 and wedding judge of the UK Blog Awards 2019. So there’d be plenty of exposure of your beautiful products.

Hanami Dream styled shoots have been published in Bride Magazine; Your Glos & Wilts Wedding magazine; Your Berks, Buck and Oxon Wedding magazine; SoGlos Weddings.

My shoots bring together wonderful local suppliers. Together we showcase the amazing talent that our part of the UK has to offer the wedding industry and all benefit from the lifestyle imagery and promotion.

If you’re local and are interested in showcasing your products in my next shoot then please email Nicola from Hanami Dream and outline what your product is and how you think it would fit in and enhance the theme. I’ve put together a mood board I can share if you want to get an idea of the kind of things that I’m after.

I am looking for some of the following (although this list isn’t exhaustive – if you can offer something I’ve not thought of I’d love to hear from you too):

Accessories (jewellery, bridal hat, shoes)
Bridalwear (separates with one part black – maybe dip dyed)
Cake (dark/black icing with fresh flowers)
Celebrant (and clothing)
Décor (dark, reflective and metallic)
Favours
Florist (wild flowers, dried flowers and grasses)
Hair & Make Up
Lighting (neon)
Suit (and dark floral tie)
Stationery (mirrors and bright florals)
Tableware (unusual crockery, cutlery, coloured glassware)

I’ll only be including one supplier from each category (ie only one florist will be used for the whole shoot) to provide clarity and clear communication.

You can see from my previous shoots that I really like close up detail shots which show off everyone’s products very nicely – it is all about the little details that bring any event to life.

I look forward to sharing more news as plans unfold for this collaboration.

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Judge at the UK Blog Awards 2019

by Hanami Dream | 10, January, 2019 | news

Winner at the UK Blog Awards 2018

Usually at this time of the year, I’m asking you to kindly support me and vote for the blog in the UK Blog Awards. As you may know, I was absolutely delighted to win the UK Blog Award in the Individual Event and Wedding category last year. And so, it is with great excitement that I’m pleased to say that I am a judge at the UK Blog Awards 2019.

The UK Blog Awards

The mission of The UK Blog Awards is to recognise the unique and resonant nature of the Internet community – from bloggers to Social Influencers and through organisations and individual creators. The UK Blog Awards is the most prestigious, and the only, multi-industry awards honouring online excellence.

Now in its sixth year, The UK Blog Awards continues to celebrate the most resonant and engaging content creators in the UK, those inside and outside of the prevailing trends.

This year, they have expanded the mission by introducing even more categories and there’ll be a completely live and online stream of the UK Blog Awards where the winners and highly commended bloggers will be announced in April.

Photography by Squib Photography

My judging credentials for the UK Blog Awards 2019

Being a judge for the UKBA19 is a great honour and a wonderful next step and evolution of my involvement with the UK Blog Awards.

I’m delighted that my wedding blog, Hanami Dream, won the individual Event and Wedding UK Blog Awards 2018 (as well as being a finalist in 2017 and highly commended in 2016). Being a judge of the UKBA19 will combine my marketing skills, blogging experience along with my passion and knowledge of the wedding industry.

During my career I’ve obtained my CIM Professional Diploma in Marketing and worked in various marketing roles for 13 years before starting my own business in 2014. I’ve also obtained my Diploma in Wedding and Event Planning with the UK Academy of Wedding & Event Planners.

My marketing background gives me the insight and experience to help local wedding businesses with their marketing strategy and promotional plans.

All this will put me in great stead when reading through the blogs in the wedding category.

Photography by Farrow Photography

My judging criteria of the UK Blog Awards 2019

I’m looking forward to reading some fresh content, with a unique angle and a new take on topics. I can’t wait to read the blogs, especially those tackling novel subjects that are ahead of trends and give a modern stance on the world of weddings and modern alternatives to old traditions.

I love something that reads well, speaks to the audience, looks good, plus uses its own imagery. I’m not a fan of too many typos and spelling/grammatical mistakes (which I think harks back to my proof reading days when my boss used to mark my work with a trusty ‘old red’ biro!)

I love that the wedding genre overlaps many other categories nowadays, with topics touching Eco, Law, Lifestyle, Fashion and Finance amongst others.

The current trend in the world of weddings is about making your mark, being different, not having a cookie cutter wedding like the next person, and personalisation. I believe that should be the same in the blogging world – make your own niche, be yourself, be unique and do what you do best.

Blogging for me is about being a content creator, a journalist in your own field, reporting on your area of expertise as you see it.

UK Blog Awards 2019 wedding judge

I’m looking forward to being inspired by the wedding blogs I have the pleasure of judging. I’ve already judged the first round and look forward to the next exciting steps.

Take a look at all the finalists of the UK Blog Awards 2019 in all 27 categories.

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2018 review of the year

by Hanami Dream | 28, December, 2018 | news

I hope you’ve had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas. At this between and betwixt time, I often take the time to reflect on the past year. And what a fantastic year it’s been for Hanami Dream weddings and special occasions in 2018.

Highlights of 2018

My blog has had a really exciting year and continues to go from strength to strength. The highlight of 2018, has to be winning the event and wedding UK Blog Award in April.

I was also thrilled to obtain my Diploma in Wedding and Event Planning from the UK Academy of Wedding & Event Planners to become a Certified Wedding and Event Planner.

I was pleased to be shortlisted in the Foxy Deer Awards and the Cotswolds Awards. Plus I was a finalist in a Pantone® colour trend challenge again.

Hanami Dream blog

This year, my focus has been on developing the blog commercially, as well as providing inspiration to brides and grooms in the Cotswolds. And 2018 saw a new look for Hanami Dream with a logo refresh and a complete redesign of the website.

The blog has featured posts on different elements of wedding planning:

As well as some submitted real wedding inspiration:

Along with my own winter bridal styled shoot:

journey to the centre of the earth wedding

And a video of my secret garden styled wedding shoot:

secret garden wedding

Trend posts have been exciting to write this year as we’ve had 2 royal weddings to draw upon this year:

I continue my review of local wedding venues:

Plus some wonderful guest posts from local wedding professionals have featured on the blog (with top tips and an insight in to different elements of wedding planning from their area of the wedding industry):

See the top posts of 2018 on Hanami Dream.

Marketing support

I’ve continued to provide marketing consultation to some local, independent wedding businesses in and around Witney, Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. It’s great to combine my marketing experience, with my local knowledge, in the scope of the wedding industry. Some of my clients have included a fantastic florist, a few wedding venues, a children’s toy hire company and a vintage Rolls Royce hire company.

I’m delighted to have enquiries for different aspects of the business including venue styling and consultancy, as well as such lovely testimonials from happy couples and suppliers I’ve worked with in 2018.

In print

I have been chuffed that some of my shoots have been published in print this year and featured in Your Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wedding magazine and Your Glos & Wilts Wedding magazine.

Plus, an article I wrote on 2019 wedding styling trends has been published in Your Berks, Buck & Oxon Wedding magazine and have an article in Martha Weddings due to publish any day.

Looking forward to 2019

Now is also a great time to look forward to the brand new year ahead. I’ve lots of plans afoot including focusing the blog on supporting and promoting local wedding professionals, services and venues #keepitlocal. And I can’t wait to produce more styled photo shoots and have more opportunities to collaborate with local suppliers. Plus watch this space for my ‘wedding fairs with a difference’ coming soon.

Meanwhile, I’m excited about being a judge at the UK Blog Awards 2019 early in the new year.

Please get in touch if you’d like to advertise on the blog, submit your own wedding details, would like to collaborate on a shoot, write a guest post or need some marketing advice and guidance. Together we can build the local wedding industry and inspire brides and grooms for their special day.

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Pantone® announce the Color of the Year 2019

by Hanami Dream | 6, December, 2018 | blog, news, trends

Pantone® have picked a warm and energising orange ‘Living Coral’ as their colour of the year for 2019!

Living Coral

For me, it was always going to be one of the warmer tones of either a bright yellow or vibrant red. This seems like the perfect compromise mix of the two, called Living Coral (also known as Pantone® 16-1546).

As Pantone® Vice President Laurie Pressman said, it is an “an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of Living Coral…embodies our desire for playful expression”.

Pantone® is the world-renowned authority on colour and the Pantone® Color of the Year is always really influential in any popular colour themes in fashion, interior design and weddings. They have been picking a colour of the year for 20 years now, taking into account cultural trends, as well as “how colors can embody our collective experience and reflect what is taking place in our global culture at a moment in time,” according to the press release from Pantone®.

Eco friendly

It seems quite fitting that this should be the colour next year especially when there’s such a focus on our oceans, climate change and protecting our natural resources. Living Coral seems the perfect ambassador to remind us of these important factors and to consider how to make weddings more eco friendly.

Living Coral instantly conjurors up images of life under the clear blue sea and makes me reminisce about happy days learning to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It is an absolute underwater paradise, literally awash with colour energised by the sunshine. I still dream about a phenomenal night dive when I felt like I was flying over mountains and as I shone a torch over the coral it all came to life when the light touched it. It was breath taking. I learnt how important coral is in the marine life for providing habitats and shelter, protecting coast lines, and also filtering the water. It needs to be protected.

2019 weddings

The 2019 colour of the year certainly would be fitting for a beach wedding although would also pair seamlessly with a sophisticated navy, grey or burgundy to make it a relevant colour to fit a wedding at any time of year. And of course coral is associated with a couple’s 35th wedding anniversary so it’s no stranger to being a part of weddings.

I’ve been desperate for a yellow or an orange colour to get top billing for a couple of years and my guess for the Color of the Year 2019 was for Aspen Gold or Mango Mojito (see my Spring 2019 report). I’m pleased to see a vibrant, playful colour leading the way again in 2019 and can’t wait to see couples incorporating Living Coral into their wedding colour schemes.

Living Coral wedding inspiration

See more about my Living Coral mood board from the UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning’s SS19 Pantone® mood board competition from earlier this year.

#COY2019

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Another styled shoot featured in a wedding magazine

by Hanami Dream | 3, December, 2018 | news, styled shoots

Feeling so proud to have another of my wedding shoots in print! Check out page 65 of the latest edition (December/January) of Your Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wedding magazine to see my Secret Garden styled wedding shoot featured.

And also page 78 for an article I wrote on 2019 wedding styling trends which also includes a shot from the same Secret Garden shoot (and a few others too).

It’s the little details that bring any event to life and this was made possible by the wonderful local suppliers who provided their time, services, venue and products.

Images on this shoot were taken by Squib Photography from Hanami Dream’s secret garden wedding styled shoot at Cogges Manor Farm. See all the fabulous suppliers that were involved in this styled shoot.

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UK Blog Awards 2019

Wedding category announcement

Eco friendly weddings

Marriage laws

Wedding blog finalists

Winners of the wedding category of the UK Blog Awards 2019

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wonderful wedding wares

Marketing article featured on Bride magazine

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winner UK Blog Awards 2018

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winner UK Blog Awards 2018

wonderful wedding wares

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winner UK Blog Awards 2018

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winner UK Blog Awards 2018

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Winner at the UK Blog Awards 2018

The UK Blog Awards

My judging credentials for the UK Blog Awards 2019

My judging criteria of the UK Blog Awards 2019

UK Blog Awards 2019 wedding judge

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winner UK Blog Awards 2018

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Highlights of 2018

Hanami Dream blog

Marketing support

In print

Looking forward to 2019

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winner UK Blog Awards 2018

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winner UK Blog Awards 2018

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Living Coral

Eco friendly

2019 weddings

Living Coral wedding inspiration

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winner UK Blog Awards 2018

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winner UK Blog Awards 2018

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