Online wedding planner aims to ensure a stress-free big day
Getting ready for the “big day” is known for being one of the most stressful times in people’s lives.
But one recently launched Swansea company aims to take all the stress out of wedding preparations by providing a unique planning service for budding newlyweds.
CompareMyWedding.com, which prides itself on its unique approach as liaison between customers and suppliers, has surpassed its initial expected target of sign-ups by more than 200% within the first month of launching.
Although launched in Wales, CompareMyWedding.com has already established contracts with caterers, venues and weddingguest accommodation on a global level, with its most recent partner being the Palm Hotel in Dubai.
CompareMyWedding.com has ambitious plans to continue to grow at this fast pace by connecting with further suppliers in the UK, such as respected family brands like Debenhams, an affiliate of the site.
As well as featuring large and well-established suppliers on CompareMyWedding.com, founder Lauren Evans, from Bishopston, also aims to support smaller local businesses by giving them a platform to promote their services.
Ms Evans, who began her career as a wedding photographer, understands the difficulty of standing out to customers, especially if you’re a freelancer or a start-up.
She feels that CompareMyWedding.com could be a platform for all manner of suppliers to promote their services and show potential customers a portfolio of their work.
Ms Evans said: “I am overwhelmed by the success and support CompareMyWedding.com has received since its launch just a few months ago. We are thrilled with the amount of suppliers that have already signed up to our system. We now have such a diverse and wide range of suppliers consisting of caterers, venues, photographers, videographers, florists, entertainment, catering and more. The list keeps growing – it’s all quite unbelievable.
“Our system is unique in the fact that it allows customers to message every supplier that meets their requirements in one quick step – rather than message them all individually, which takes excess time and stress. Our aim is to take the stress out of wedding planning and instead, make it a memorable and enjoyable process. This is definitely one of our main USPs, and I’m excited to watch the business continue to grow.”
Ms Evans came up with the idea while planning her own wedding.
“I had little time to research and find suppliers through Google and social media sites as well as send everyone the same message over and over again,” she explained.
“I thought, ‘There must be an easier way to do this’. After a lot of research, the only sites I found were really just directories, again having to request a brochure or a call back each time.
“Comparison websites are so widely used now these days for everything. Why not weddings? We are all comparing anyway, whether it be style, location or price etc.
“Most couples are trying to work to a budget, large or small; our suppliers provide a vast range of packages and services to suit everyone.”
So far the venture has been selffunded, but Ms Evans is seeking an investor to take it to the next level.
Ms Evans does the day-to-day work on the website as well as marketing, but she brought in WatersCreative to help turn her dream into a reality.
“Knowing what I wanted to do with CompareMyWedding.com, I knew I would need a company that would fully understand what I was trying to achieve,” Ms Evans said.
“Once I had a meeting with Waters-Creative in Swansea, I knew it was the one that would take this idea and make it a reality.
“We have worked together for over a year now and it has gone far and beyond creating an amazing website and giving great input throughout. Creativity is key to standing out against the competition and I truly believe that we will have a great working relationship for years to come.”
Ms Evans has big plans for the business, with the possibility of looking into destination weddings, and hopes to expand its global reach.