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Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 00:03
Hello, everybody, and a very warm welcome back to the Supplier Spotlight Podcast. My name’s Liam Ball. I’m your magical wedding host, also known as the Gentleman Magician. Now this podcast exists to shine a light on the very best people in the wedding industry and a heads up with sharp minds and people that you absolutely want on your side when it matters. Now today’s guest fits that brief beautifully. They’re a wedding planner and events known for organization, attention to detail, and their ability to bring order, elegance and calm to even the most complex of celebrations. They work closely with couples to turn ideas into well run, thoughtfully planned events, and always focus on experience, flow, and removing stress from the process. So it gives me huge pleasure to welcome Naomi from Peyton Events to the podcast. Hello, Naomi. How are you?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 01:01
Very well, thank you. How are you?
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 01:02
Absolutely fabulous. Thank you very much. Yes, and how are you finding this winter weather?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 01:09
Oh, not great. I’ll be honest, this morning I woke up, it I felt like it was still dark. It was miserable out there. Yeah, hoping it clears off a little bit. Not the best.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 01:18
You and me both. You and me both. Well, listen, let’s dive straight into it, Naomi. Obviously, you’re a wedding and event planner. How did you get into being a wedding and event planner? And how did Patent Events, of course, come about?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 01:32
So it all started probably from birth, really. I was born into hospitality. My mum was a caterer. She did a loyal wedding catering and all sorts of different events. So, my our kitchen at home was always full of food. It planning was pretty much what she did day in, day out. So I took a lot on board from that. I worked for her for most of my young childhood, growing up into teens. And I stayed in hospitality. I stayed in events and weddings predominantly. Yeah, pretty much from there onwards. And I think I’ve always known deep down that I wanted something of my own. I own my own business. I once thought about coffee shop as well because I used to run and manage a coffee shop. So that was a thought. But I think it just naturally was a progression that I’ve worked with people for many years. I want something of my own. I’ve always wanted something. And I’ve been in the wedding industry and kind of had that experience. And so, yeah, it was just just a natural I think it was al always meant to be.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 02:37
Get you. So so you essentially started working in the hospitality industry. Have you ever done anything else?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 02:43
Um, no, not really. No. Events, hospitality, yeah. I think yeah, everything, everything tailors all around that.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 02:51
That’s fantastic. So but pre pre being a wedding planner then, what was your favorite part of working in hospitality?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 02:59
Wow, so many things. Every day was completely different. I, especially the people, so even just going down to the staff members and the culture of you really have to. get to know people quickly because you’re thrown into situations where you’re having to make big decisions and come up with solutions So, I think it was just a love of being around people and creating connections quite quickly.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 03:25
Yeah.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 03:27
Yeah, that was what you mean.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 03:29
Do you know what I was so I’d I’ve got a I’ve got a history of myself in catering. I was an army-trained chef.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 03:35
I wow.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 03:36
Yeah, one of the things that always makes me laugh is when you see people like, I mean, it’s a great example, is Gordon Ramsey on the TV. And a lot of people kind of think, gosh, he’s putting that on for the camera, right? He’s got to be. But I think those hospitality environments can be really highly charged, can’t they?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 03:53
Yes, definitely. Yeah. Yeah. Very stressful at times.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 03:57
Yeah. There’s a lot more truth in that than people realize. So how did you make the transition then from just being in for want of a better phrase, general hospitality to going into being a full-time wedding and event planner.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 04:12
Yes. So I went through a transition of quitting a full time job that enjoyed, but it led to a bit of burnout towards the end. And then I went into freelance work. for a year a couple of years, actually probably two years, where I continued to do hospitality, worked more on freelance basis for wedding venues, which I’ve managed wedding venues beforehand. full time, but this is on more of a freelance basis. And I got married myself as well. So I planned my own wedding. So that really once I got married and had planned my own wedding is when Payton Events was born. I had more time because I was freelance And I just, yeah, started the the business proposal and the the my you know, the reasons why and all of that came from, yeah, as I say, getting married and being freelance, having a bit more time.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 05:05
So essentially, you did it for yourself, and then after that, you thought, I enjoyed that, I can do this for other people.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 05:13
Yes, yeah, yeah. And it’s quite a lot of planners go down that route as well. I’ve you know, I’ve had planned weddings for couples for many years from a venue perspective. Yeah. And it was just doing it for myself. just brought new nuances that I wasn’t aware of and learned a lot more because there is so much more to it from not just from a venue side. So yeah, I was able to do that for myself. And that since, you know, from that early stages, I was able to do it for friends and family as well. And then, yeah, just develop from there.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 05:46
Fantastic. So, for anybody out there who doesn’t know what a wedding planner does. How would you describe what you do in the run-up to and on the day of a wedding?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 05:58
Yes. So a wedding planner from start to finish really takes over all of the logistical admin responsibilities. This is before the wedding day. So come on board right at the beginning for the couple, take over their venue sourcing, supplier sourcing We would then give proposals to the couple. This is what we’ve come up with based on who you are, and we would have already found out everything about the couple and kind of what makes them tick. tailor the supplier and the venues to them, give them proposals and then book them for them, take over all of that communication And really just taking so much away, all of that stress and admin on the run up to the wedding day. Nothing is forgotten because we’re doing it all for them. with their them at the they are the decision makers at the end of the day, the couple, it is going to be what they want. We’re just helping them and guiding them along that journey. And then on the day especially, it really is a no brainer to have either a wedding planner that you’ve had from the start or to have a coordinator, someone that is truly there for the couple and their guests. You have venues that look after the venue side of things. We look after the couple, everything that they need on the day. You know, running timelines, liaison with the suppliers, keeping everything on track. problem solving is huge because they do happen and having someone there to make it so that you never even know it was a problem is invaluable. And it’s something that we yeah love to do as well. Yeah, love to do that.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 07:45
That’s something that people really underestimate, isn’t it? The kind of problems that you can get on a wedding day.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 07:50
Yeah. Definitely.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 07:53
I mean, I I know I’ve been to a wedding, I definitely f one that I talk about quite a lot. So I went to a wedding and just before the ceremony, I looked at the best man and I was like, Do you know that you’ve got a hole in your trousers? Anyway, yeah, I bent over this morning and they split and I just haven’t had time to fix them. And I was like, you can’t. In no photograph, can you hide that hole? Yeah. And he went, Wow, there’s nothing I can do. I was right. Get your trousers off, get the sewing kit out. And he was like, Really? Yeah. So yeah, I think it’s a really I think it’s one of those things, isn’t it, that people really underestimate having somebody on side can take all of those problems and stresses away. Yeah, what what’s what’s been the funniest thing you’ve ever had at a wedding where it’s just been a case of, wow, but I know what to do?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 08:42
Oh, goodness, so many. I think more recently I can remember we with actually in the last couple of weeks with the snow and the ice we had issues with sheet ice and boiler problems from a venue side, but also sometimes we have to get involved in these things and We yeah, I had to call Plummer, um, was getting sand out grit out onto this sheet ice just to help because of how much of a it was quite a big issue. So, you know, we are there to t to help in any capacity that’s needed. Um, and actually that morning the bride came in and she just had to deal with a um Cyclist who had fallen over and half of his face was grazed, the cut. So she had to call an ambulance in the morning and then arrived at the wedding venue with she dies and no boiler. So we dealt with all of the problems and kept she was amazing, kept her calm. And it’s being able to in that moment go, right, this needs solving. You’re going to Everything is, we’re all good. I’m going to sort it. Don’t worry. We’ve got it. Off we go and we sort it. And we and in terms of that way, you keep the couple and the bride, especially. They don’t really need to know too much. They’re just nice and relaxed and calm. And you get ready. Do you want a glass of champagne? That’s right. And we will sort this for you. And you just keep going on to the next problem and the next problem.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 10:12
It’s like that analogy of a swan, isn’t it? You’re calm on the surface, but your mic is doing a thousand and one things all at once. What what do you think in your I mean, obviously, I I know there are some brides and grooms out there who are very much from day one When when they decide they’re gonna get married, they’ll out right. We want a wedding planner. Let’s go and find one of those right now But I think in my head, those are perhaps maybe the minority of people. What do you think is the moment where most couples think, oh gosh, we we really need to hire a wedding planner?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 10:47
Yes. So I think it’s as you said, is a probably a minority. You even know quite soon, even before you’ve gotten married, it’s something that you’re like, right, I don’t actually want to have to deal with this wedding planning Headache. They may have heard from previous family and friends how intense it was for them. So they know quite quickly. There is also potentially another group of people that would start, that maybe at the back of their mind think it’d be lovely to have a planet, it’d be amazing. But Let me try, let me just try and dip my foot in and see how far I can get. And then, probably quite quickly within the first week or so, it becomes very Very overwhelming. I think it’s very overwhelming for anyone that even doesn’t have a planner because there is so much choice nowadays. You can just get stuck in a Google black hole of looking and looking and looking. And then you you don’t know the answer to your questions. You actually end up with more questions and more things that you’re worrying or thinking about. And this is in the in the first week. So there is, yeah, I’d say very quickly, even if they do start themselves, they’ll go back to the planner.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 11:55
Yeah.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 11:55
Yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 11:57
I think that’s something I think you’ve hit the nail, is that choice paralysis is real.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 12:01
Yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 12:02
Because I think also as well, there’s definitely maybe a large percentage of people out there who think, right, photographers. Well, A photographer’s a photographer. But of course, we know they’re absolutely not. That every single one is different. They’ve got a different style, a different personality. So, yeah, f so what do you think is the biggest misconception the couples have about planning a wedding?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 12:28
Um why when they plan it for themselves. that it’s that it’s all roses and it’s going to be the planning side of things is just going to be the most amazing experience Because it can be, it definitely can be. But I think if you go in maybe a bit blind or don’t have the resources and the support. To help you along the way, then it can become overwhelming. And it’s difficult because you then also have at times you’ve got family and friends involvement that you haven’t asked for. And they can lose track of actually what it is that they want or what it is that they’re trying to trying to create and also lose track of the fact that you are you you are go having a wedding to your your best friend, your partner. And that can sometimes get lost, which I think is sad.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 13:25
I mean, in all those things, what do you think is the biggest stress people have?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 13:30
Um possibly outside opinions.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 13:35
Yeah. Unless there’s peer pressure, isn’t there, to do this or you do that, or goodness, why are you doing that?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 13:41
Yeah, yeah. And also just tr you know, the traditions that have been set in stone for many years that you see on when they’re researching online, you have these traditions that But that someone may look at that and go, mm, actually, do you know what? That doesn’t feel right. That doesn’t sit right. And it’s just having that that core priorities and values in yourself to be able to move past those opinions or things that don’t that you don’t want in a wedding anymore that maybe people have for many years.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 14:13
Or maybe even things that you do want that people will think, Gosh, why why are you doing this? So, yeah, I think that’s do you know, I I had a wedding once where the brother-in-law of the bride interestingly enough, was a toastmaster, but he was there on the day as a groomsman, and she said just before the speeches, I think I’d like to make a speech. To which I said Okay, and he kind of peered out from across the table and he went, Don’t be ridiculous, you’re the broid. I’m sorry. And I said, No, no, if you want to make a speech She said, If you make a speech, I shall catcall you all the way through. And I thought of that I was like, and I just looked and I went, No, you won’t. And he kind of very sheepishly sat back in his chair. And that the hilarity of the moment is that she was the best speech of the day.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 14:59
Yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 15:01
I’m not surprised. She was just great. But yeah, it’s a really crazy thing, isn’t it? All that peer pressure about you must do this and you mustn’t do that. And I think many people lose sight of where a lot of these traditions come from.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 15:16
Yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 15:18
I think if they knew they think differently. So what I’m doing is that we’re going to be able to do that. I mean, you’re obviously you’re known by the couples that you work for, and of course, for what you do, for being sort of really organized in terms of how you approach both the planning and the on the day management. So, how would you say In fact, how important would you say that things like structure of the day and timelines are to the success and the overall outcome of a wedding day?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 15:48
huge. And that is something that I do harp on about a lot, which is creating a timeline that works. And that’s from experience and many years in events. And also, a flow for the day is another biggie. And that is essentially. Creating the timeline that your guests are not bored, they’re not waiting around, they’re not wondering what’s going to happen next. It all flows nicely from one part of the day to the next. So that might be from the ceremony through into the drinks reception. time then after the drinks reception for people to be seated. That time for that needs to be allocated. Nothing is too rushed, too forced. There’s a lot of pre-planning and a lot of thought that goes into a timeline, and they are all bespoke and individual, but essentially, it just creates So much more of a relaxed flow that your guest won’t even know that this has been preplanned within, you know, an inch of its life. They will come and I have this time and time again when couples come to me and guests Towards the end of the night, and they say, Wow, this has just been so easy. It’s flowed so well. You know, we’ve been moved from place to place with such, you know. flow and it just oozes well. And that’s the goal. So that the the guests and the couple don’t actually realize On the day that they are being ferried, really, from place to place, being moved around, being told what to do. It can be quite clinical if you think of it like that. But our job is to make it so it doesn’t seem like that at all. And you would know, especially as a host and an MC and you know, moving the guests along, it’s done in a in such a way that they would never know. And that is what flow and timeline really are so important.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 17:52
It’s like having a battle plan, isn’t it? We’re going to do this, and then we’re going to do this, and then we’re going to do this. And of course, in the back of your mind, you’re also thinking, and if that happens, I’m going to do this And if this happens, I know we need to do that.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 18:04
Yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 18:04
And if we get to there and this hasn’t happened yet, I’ll do it like this. And I think so many. I think that that’s probably one of the bits where people really really do underestimate what what the job of planning and executing a wedding date is. Because I think that given enough time and resource probably most people would be able to plan a wedding to a a a greater or lesser extent. But then the actual executing of that on the day, because suddenly they’re at the center of all the attention and they’re the people in charge at the same time.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 18:47
Yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 18:48
And I often feel that that’s that’s the part where where people really then start to think, oh gosh, what have I done? And of course we need the help to make that help to make that much, much better. So how do you balance the bit where your your You’ve got everything planned, everything set, and then we all have the no we it’s one of those days where just nothing is going to plan And you find yourself having to be really firm, but at the same time, being really calm and reassuring. How do you find that balance kicks in?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 19:24
I think, yeah, you should say it’s definitely a balance. And then it’s that s Swan thought process again is that you know you’re you’re dealing with potentially multiple issues or delays in some capacity and you everything above board in terms of how you are communicating with your suppliers, your guests And the couple themselves is all on a calm, I’ve got this. And I think that’s kind of one of my taglines I say a lot: is, you know, I’ve got this. I can handle this. Don’t worry, it’s covered. And then the other half of the brain is going, right, solution. How can we solve this problem? Can we move timing slightly? Leaning on suppliers as well is a way that can help mean this situation is they are experienced in their own capacity. If something needs to get moved or changed I can communicate with them and say, well, how long is this going to take you? I’ve got a window in about half an hour that you can do this. Is this okay? And you know, they will then be able to give me their input on what works for them in that moment. So they’re less definitely collaborative and You know, I can’t necessarily solve every single problem single-handedly. And I think thinking that you can is going to probably set you up to fail. So, you know, using whether it’s the venue, whether it’s the suppliers to kind of help come up with a solution is something I’m not afraid to do. So that in, you know, overall, the couple and the guests. I’ve got this. We’re all good. You carry on. Do what you need to do. You know, even if we need to give an extra 10 minutes for them to sit down or whatever it might be, these things can get solved.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 21:08
Yeah.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 21:08
Yeah, yeah. Priorities are really in that moment.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 21:11
That says the end of this that you’re you’re you’re for want of a better phrase you’re leading a team And you’re all there to get the job done and do it right. And I think that when you’re in the position that you are as the planner on the day organizer being there running it, I think everybody sort of looks to you, don’t they, and say, Right, well, this is what I’ve got, this is where I’m at. What do you want me to do now? And yeah, I’ve yeah, I mean, I’ve definitely had moments where people have gone, right? So this has happened. And you’re right. You go, right, I’ve got this. And in your mind, you’re thinking. I absolutely haven’t got this, but I know what I’m going to do in order to get it. And I think sometimes it’s calm reassurance, isn’t it, that kind of makes people think, oh, this is going to be wonderful.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 21:52
Yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 21:53
And then you get to the end of the day and you think, goodness gracious, fifteen crises averted and nobody noticed. Sucks.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 21:59
Yes. That’s the goal, exactly. Yeah, that is the goal. It happens.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 22:03
Yeah, that’s yeah, that’s fabulous. And I mean, having having that team around you, I mean, that must give you, you know, obviously the most confidence that there’s probably. I mean, in every industry, there’s people that you’re going to sit back and think, thank goodness I’ve got them with me today.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 22:19
Yes, definitely. Yeah. Yeah. No, it’s helped. It’s a team effort. It definitely is. So it yeah, to have those people with you that you know, that you trust, that you work with the best is just invaluable. Yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 22:33
Absolutely. So, what’s your favourite part of a wedding day then?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 22:40
I would say, probably maybe controversially, probably more towards the end, not because it’s nearly over. But because at that moment there is so much thanks and so much love in the air, because you know, everyone is either having you know going crazy on the dance floor, the energy is really kind of at its highest at this point. Yeah. And you really feel it. For me, it’s that feeling of wow, I have just executed this day. exactly how not always exactly how I wanted it to be, but I always know that towards the end of the day it it’s it’s always going to go well. And it’s that feeling of I’ve just done this This has been amazing. We’ve averted many crisis. The Kaha are extremely happy. The energy is high. I’ve got people coming to me telling me how amazing the day was. And that is what makes it all worthwhile. So it’s it’s that moment, I would say, for me, and more towards the end, yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 23:33
It’s a real big payoff, isn’t it? Yes, it really is, yeah. I mean, I think I’d agree. I love that moment during the day when, I mean, for me, I’ve just announced the cape cutting, the first dance is happening, the first dance is finishing, and the DJ goes right. Let’s do it. And the music changes, the atmosphere changes. Everything you’re up to, people party on, and you kind of get to sit back and think, Wow.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 23:57
Yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 23:58
Fabulous. They’ve had a great time. I’ve had a great time. Yeah. Absolutely fantastic. So, here’s an interesting question for you. It’s the day of a wedding.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 24:08
Yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 24:09
You’ve set your alarm, you’re waking up. What’s the first thing you’re going to be doing that day? And how do you plan your morning pre-a wedding?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 24:23
Cup of tea first, huh? Hat with beef tea. Builders. Oh, good. Drop of milk, no sugar. Yeah. Excellent. Tea bag, hot water, and then milk. Teabag out and then milk. Yeah?
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 24:37
Do you know do you know? Right, so do you know what? This is funny now. So QI did a thing on this a little while ago where they said what what should be first? Milk or tea? And it turns out that everybody gets it right. Because if you make the tea in a pot You pour the milk in the cup because the tea is already brewed. You’ve got to brew the tea and then add the milk. And actually, it makes no difference at all after that, does it? You’d better brew the tea first.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 25:01
Yes, definitely. Yeah. Brew first.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 25:04
There you go, people. Oh, you heard it here.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 25:06
Yeah. Yeah, definitely a cup of tea first. Cup of tea in the morning. Yes. What I would have pro most likely done the night before well I would have done the night before is have everything ready in terms of printed out schedules, outfit ready to go, ironed, packed the car. And then it’s it’s tea, it’s breakfast, always have breakfast in the mornings. I would most likely check my phone for any urgent notifications from any suppliers. I will message the couple happy wedding day. Please don’t reply, but I’ll be with you soon. Just a quick happy wedding day message so that they know that I am up ready and on the way. So that’s always nice to know, isn’t it? That I’m not having that alarm hasn’t gone over and I haven’t snoozed. The wedding banner is which is on her way, that’s great. Banner’s on the way, yeah. Yeah, it’s nice to know. And then, yeah, leave plenty of time and and and on the way. So it’s pretty pretty easy for me. It’s tea, breakfast, check in with a couple. Everything else would have been predone the ni the the day before. or you know the many months before. Um yeah. No no no other special routine or ritual currently that may change.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 26:18
Listen. a cup of tea in the morning and make you sure the night before. That’s pretty ritualistic enough, I think. But at least it means that you can wake up in the morning without any you haven’t got to do anything, you haven’t got to stress anything, you can just You get up and you can focus and you can crack on straight away. So if there’s people out there now who are listening to this and have thought to themselves I think I need a wedding planner. Yeah. Beyond the very obvious news of getting contact with Naomi, what advice would you give them?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 26:49
So there are there is a wedding planner out there for everyone in terms of the many different types of couples that we have or the different styles of weddings. So what I would suggest is Always look at your top priorities in terms of what your wedding day, what you want your wedding day to look like, whether that is you are prioritizing a certain venue, that might be a marquee that could be a country house whether you are looking at you food foods really important to you um food and drink wine, whether it be the decor, for me, a lot of my couples come to me because they really want kind of bold experiences exceptional hospitality and just something that runs seamlessly on the day for them and that high energy that brings everyone together on the day. And you know, if if you know if that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ll find it through research. Looking at different wedding planners offer different specialities. whether it be they are specializing in marquee weddings. You know, I just mentioned what I specialize in, you know, the high energy, the bold decor, it may be someone that specializes in multicultural weddings or intimate weddings. So it’s finding your priorities and what it is that you would like in a wedding day, and then you can really Tailor your search for a wedding planner based on that because finding it may be a personality trait that you’re looking for. you want someone that is, you know, it could be a larger than life wedding planner. It could be more of a positive, calm, kind wedding planner, which is what I would associate myself as. Someone that just gets it done, tells you how it is, but isn’t going to scream and shout. And, you know, if once you know those priorities and what you’re looking for, even in a wedding style and a person. That’s going to make your search a lot easier.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 28:49
Fabulous. So one last question for you then. Yeah. You’ve got a couple. They come to you. They’ve decided to work with you. And then they say to you, Hey, Naomi, we’ve had a think and we want to do this on our wedding day and you go Yes What’s that comment for you?
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 29:08
Well, how does it feel? And what is that?
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 29:11
What is it? Yeah. What’s the thing that people do that you think brilliant? I love that. I love that.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 29:19
Oh god, there’s so many. When the bride wants to do a speech, like we just said, absolutely love that. All here for that. I think when they when they want a wedding for me it’s actually made more when they want a wedding day and they come to me and they say we would like a wedding day that literally is all about us Who we are, how, you know, are our bold personalities crazy glitter decor or All they want a wedding day that really screams who they are. And that could be in the middle of a forest somewhere. It could be in a castle. It could be abroad. whatever it might be, it’s undeniably authentic to them. That is exac that’s what lights me up. And then I can start getting creative with them about How are we going to do that then? Let’s do that.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 30:14
So, yeah, maybe that’s more of an overall thing, but that I would say is what unapologetically authentic.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 30:22
100%, yeah, yeah, all about them and who they are. Because that for me, it transp that’s transportative into their guests. Knowing on the day itself, when you have a wedding day where the couple are so relaxed and at ease because everything around them is tailored to who they are. their personalities, what they like, what they you know, their their life loves, it then it it does there’s a you know, a snowball effect on the gas. They can see that, they can they can feel it. Yeah. I think, yeah, it’s definitely that feeling for me, and being able to give them that feeling is huge.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 30:54
And of course, it’s 2026, and that’s what weddings should really be about. It’s the joining of two people and the sharing of their life and love.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 31:01
So, yeah.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 31:02
And that’s fantastic. Listen, Naomi, it’s been absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much for joining me today. And I’d like to catch you up soon. Take care.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 31:08
Amazing. Thank you so much.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 31:10
Bye-bye.
Naomi Payton – Payton Events – Wedding & Event Planner • 31:11
Bye.
Liam Ball – Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 31:13
So there you go, folks. If there’s one thing that really comes true from this conversation, it’s just how much care, clarity, and calm a wedding planner like Naomi can bring to the process. Now weddings really do work best when they’re well thought out, they are well run, they become genuinely enjoyable, and none of those things happen by accident. So if you’re currently planning a wedding and you want somebody in your corner who understands structure, flow and importance of getting the details right, I can wholeheartedly. recommend that you go and find yourself a wedding planner and also get in contact with Naomi. I’m sure that you will really enjoy doing that. And I’ll make sure that her website and details are attached at the end of this video and also below the podcast if you’re listening. To the audio. To everybody who’s listening, thank you so much again for tuning into the Supplier Spotlight podcast. Your time is always appreciated. There are plenty more brilliant conversations with exceptional suppliers coming your way very soon. Until next time, plan well, choose your suppliers wisely, and I’ll see you on the next episode. Take care, folks. Bye bye.