I started my career working for the designer ‘Roland Mouret’ on his London Fashion Week show – which was my first foray into the events world! I now have over 15 years’ experience in the fashion, event and wedding industries and I set up my own company in 2009. Here at Cranberry Blue Events, we pride ourselves on our creativity, discretion, high standards and unwavering attention to detail, coupled with having an approachable persona…”
Melanie Helen, Founder and Director, Cranberry Blue Events
Melanie Helen is the Founder and Director of Cranberry Blue Events, a luxury wedding and event planning company that operates at the pinnacle of the industry. The company stages special occasions in prestigious venues such as the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Rosewood London, Claridge’s Hotel, and The Lanesborough. In this interview, we meet with Melanie to discuss her background and the approach she takes to create highly memorable events, whether large or small…
C&B: “Melanie, your brand is very established in the events arena. How did your events in the fashion world first evolve into weddings, and what is it like operating in that sector today?”
MH: “The event planning world is a very saturated market nowadays, with wedding planning being perceived by some as a fun and popular career choice, or dare I say, as a ‘hobby.’ However, creating and building a successful event planning business requires a significant amount of hard work and unwavering dedication. After working on behalf of Roland Mouret during his London Fashion Week show, I transitioned to the position of Fashion Buyer. I continued to be the ‘go-to’ person for the annual company ball and retail conferences before I quickly realised that my true calling was to become an event planner in my own right. I spent several years studying and gaining specific experience by collaborating with other event planners before launching Cranberry Blue…”
C&B: “You’re based in London, but which geographical areas do you cover, and which are your favourite locations and/or venues worldwide?”
MH: ”We predominantly work across the UK; however, we also cover parts of Europe and are even travelling to the States later this year. It’s always a tough question when it comes to favourite locations as I love many venues for different reasons… if I’m put on the spot, then I’d choose the iconic Claridge’s in London and Cliveden House in Berkshire… further afield then it’s Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, which is positively dreamy…”
Our clients tend to be highly successful business men and women with a typical budget for a wedding being in the range of £250k – £2 million depending on the size and complexity, but this tends to be less for an event. We tailor each occasion to the personality of the client and their individual style; we try not to be dedicated by trends…“
Melanie Helen, Founder and Director, Cranberry Blue Events
C&B: “Yes, both of these venues are stunning for both intimate and large-scale occasions. What is the smallest event your company will organise, and what is the largest?”
MH: ”Good question – the smallest event we’ve arranged was a beautiful baby shower at the Lanesborough Hotel for about 25 guests, and it was absolutely exquisite. It really depends on the clients’ requirements, vision, and, of course, their budget. The largest event we would organise is probably for around 400 guests…”
C&B: “Cranberry Blue is renowned for its extravaganzas – what theme has been your most successful?”
MH: ”I’d say our interpretation of a Masquerade Ball which we recently designed for a client’s 40th birthday at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in Knightsbridge; this concept provided so much scope for amazing design and entertainment – creating a fully immersive experience…”
C&B: “Your events are often very extravagantly decorated. With a strong emphasis on sustainability these days, what happens to all the installations after an event?”
MH: ”We try, wherever possible, to repurpose the floral décor by giving it away to guests or to charity. The installations are broken down, and the various elements are then reused; however, when that is not feasible, they are recycled as much as possible. When designing our events, we always keep the ecological impact in mind from the outset to limit our carbon footprint…”
We’ve planned high-end weddings in as little as six weeks; occasionally we have eighteen months to organise the occasion. However, our typical lead time is around eight months…”
Melanie Helen, Founder and Director, Cranberry Blue Events
C&B: ”With Pinterest and Instagram being the prime source of most event vision boards, what are the challenges you’ve seen recently when it comes to the event design business?”
MH: ”It means more and more ‘event planners’ are popping up, which presents challenges, as some clients find it difficult to understand the difference in cost between someone who has just started out and an established company such as Cranberry Blue…”
C&B: “Yes, the experience of a company such as Cranberry Blue is essential, particularly when planning what could be the most significant event of a client’s life. Out of all the many events you’ve organised over the years, which has been your personal favourite?”
MH: ”A highlight in my career, so far, has undoubtedly been a wedding we designed and produced in Scotland; it was a weekend-long celebration for two hundred guests which started with a vintage circus party and was followed by a whimsical, magical marquee wedding at Hopetoun House located just outside Edinburgh. The design brief was quirky, and the bride and I had clicked immediately so it made the process so much easier. Entertainment and lavish décor were key parts of the weekend, as were the small details throughout…”
C&B: “As summer approaches, marking the height of wedding and event season, we must ask: Do you ever manage to take a holiday?! If so, where do you travel to?”
MH: ”Haha, it’s always tricky to get away! Our busiest months seem to vary year on year, so it’s hard for us to plan too far ahead, however we do always manage to take a couple of weeks off throughout the season and I do love going to the South of France…”
We approach each event with fresh eyes, and whether a client wants something simple yet stylish, grand and lavish, or something in between, we work with them to create a truly personal and fabulous event. For me, it’s about understanding a client’s priorities and really getting to know what makes them tick. My aim is to create an event that exceeds a client’s expectations and leaves their guests talking about it for years to come…”
Melanie Helen, Founder and Director, Cranberry Blue Events
PHOTO CREDITS: Sanshine Photography; Mike Garrard; Matt Porteous; candy-stripe bar from Bespoke Events
CONTACT: http://www.cranberryblue.co.uk
