Bespoke Wedding Planning & Event Specialists
ELEGANCE, SOPHISTICATION & UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES
The Crouch Collective
Why use a Wedding or Event Planner?
When you book your chosen venue, they often have an Events team, General Manager or Events Co-ordinator. However, they work solely for the venue and not for YOU! They are there to ensure the operations run smoothly on the day and often ‘up-sell’ you extras along the way. When you engage us to be your Planner, we work for YOU!
We are there for you at every step of the process and by the time the day comes, we know you and understand your vision perfectly. Having this understanding means that you can trust us to make your dream a reality and make the experience one of happiness and not of stress or worry.
Even if you love designing and planning and have endless ideas, having someone to manage the process and be there on your special day can be transformative – and the best investment you can make for such an important event.
We will offer you our expertise and advice, ensure that you find the right team of suppliers (at the right prices) so that everything runs smoothly and on-time, that all suppliers understand the vision and the schedules and solve any problems without you even being aware of them – so you and your guests can enjoy the day.
Who are we?
We are a ‘collective’ of specialised experts within the Crouch Valley of Essex with expertise in creating exquisite events, weddings, parties and corporate gatherings.
We specialise in bespoke weddings and events for clients who are looking for an unforgettable experience and express their individuality.
From the initial concepts and designs, to planning and management, we will ensure every detail is thought of and your event is one to remember! Here’s a few reasons to consider us: –
1. A truly personal approach
We want to get to know you really, really well. The more we know about you and your story the more be can be inspired to interpret this into your event.
2. Supported by a hugely experienced team
We are a ‘collective’ of specially chosen experts with unparallelled expertise. We also don’t receive commissions from our suppliers and hence we recommend the right people ‘for you’.
3. Access to unique venues in the Essex area
We select unique and special venues that don’t just look great – but also deliver on service. And having that established relationship we can work collectively with them on your event.
4. Bespoke Services tailored to you
There are no set packages because every event is different and unique. If you only want one element or you want the whole shebang – we will still make it amazing and unique!
Our Services
By offering a bespoke tailored Wedding & Event Service means you can ‘mix and match’. You can work with us on only what you need and what suits the venue or event.
Event design & styling
Expert guidance on flowers, accessories, theme, style and colour scheme.
Planning & co-ordination
Timelines, supplier sourcing, budgets and on the day co-ordination.
Venue research & management
Finding the perfect venue, at the best price and ensuring all runs to schedule.
Vendor sourcing & management
From the standard to the completely unique, we’ll help make it happen.
Catering & Bar
We can design and deliver unique menus and a variety of alternative bar themes.
Floristry & Room styling
Show-stopping, cohesive and unique yet elegant floristry and themes.
Why choose The Crouch Collective?
We like to think we’re different- and hence better!
If you just want standard then you can do that yourself. With us we always want to tell your story in a unique and personalised way. That’s why we’ll ask you 101 questions on our first meeting, so that we can find inspiration from your story and tell it to your guests.
We also don’t do tacky, we aspire to deliver class and perfection, and we’re fanatical about details. They may only be the smallest things but all added together it ensures the overall offering is really special.
For example, at a high-profile beauty awards event we organised, we worked with the Chefs to create a dessert using lipstick containers and raspberry sorbet to create edible lipsticks and moisturiser pots containers containing crème burlet to make mini moisturisers.
These two elements combined created a totally interactive menu that is still talked about to this day. It was totally Instagram worthy and was shared multiple times of the guest social media – great for raising your profile and status.
At a recent Art Gallery press launch we proposed to purchase empty metal paint cans and suspend them over the doorways with cascading paint made from flowers. Again, a real talking point and something that had to be photographed and shared.
For one couples’ Wedding the surname was ‘Mason’ so we purchased lots of glass ‘Mason’ jars that had the lettering Mason embossed onto them for all the floral table decorations.
So, you get the picture, we do things above and beyond and a bit differently to the norm, but always remaining tasteful in the way that we execute it.
Featured venues from our collective...
Crouch Ridge Estate
For a quintessential English country Wedding reception or Event that’s both stylish and romantic the Crouch Ridge Estate is a unique and beautiful location.
Nestled in the Essex countryside with wide spanning views of the Vines, the Crouch Valley and the river, it’s the ultimate setting for a glamorous event or Wedding.
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
If you are looking for a unique wedding or event venue in Essex, the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham fits the bill. Their Grade 2* listed building provides the perfect backdrop for your special day with a unique combination of beauty, romance and history.
With the elegant Club Rooms and the south facing balcony area entirely at your disposal your photographer will be able to capture some spectacular and memorable moments of your wedding or event. You and your guests can look forward to delicious food, beautifully presented with the river view offering a spectacular backdrop to your reception.
Royal Burnham Yacht Club
The Royal Burnham Yacht Club, located on the river Crouch, is a picturesque and idyllic setting for any wedding ceremony or reception for up to 150 guests.
The Royal Burnham Yacht club, located on the river Crouch, is a picturesque and idyllic setting for any wedding ceremony or reception.
The varied spaces of the clubhouse, ranging from the balconies and courtyard to the wood-panelled, traditional library, can be tailored for large celebrations as well as intimate events. The south facing bar, Sun Lounge and outside decks bask in evening sun and boast panoramic views of the river.
About Lydia
I originally grew up in Devon and my love for style has always been evident. My first word was shoe and my second word was pink and I have always been fascinated with fashion magazines such as VOGUE and the glamorous actresses and destinations in all the movies.
Therefore it was no surprise when I moved to London to train as a Hair, Make-Up & Fashion Stylist at the London College of Fashion, aged just 18. This was a wonderful experience for me as I learnt all the elements of ‘creating a look’ and interpreting a design brief. I was fully engrossed in the life I had always dreamed of and trust me I had lots of fun!
I then naturally moved into marketing and events, working for some of the UK’s biggest fashion and beauty brands and magazines. I created and organised many premium events including beauty industry Awards Events at hotels including the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge and The Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair, attended by over 300 beauty industry professionals every year.
After a 30 year career in the big smoke my Husband and I decided we needed a change and moved to Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex in 2024. Moving here gave me the opportunity to realise my long-term passions and I recently re-trained in Floristry at the ARU Writtle University College.
From here I have realised that there is a real opportunity to take this combination of skills and experience in hair, make-up, fashion styling, floristry and events management and offer people looking for someone to assist them with creating a very special and unique Wedding or event. I believe all my experience enables me to offer a level of vast and varied expertise that you would not usually find in a standard wedding planner.
I have always been a real perfectionist with a natural eye for what looks good, but I’m also a creative that can think outside of the box and conjure up new and exciting ideas from the smallest of inspirations. I see events as stories waiting to be told. I don’t just want to plan weddings or events—I want to design moments that leave an imprint – in both your head and your heart.
“LLydia is a consummate professional who always exudes charm and capability. She organised our inaugural Cosmetics Business Awards which she executed to great acclaim. It was a triumph of an evening and I marvelled at how she managed to pull everything together so successfully with every single last detail thought of. She is a perfectionist in the best sense of the word. I have always admired Lydia for her qualities of hard work, tenacity and creativity and would certainly recommend her to any client without hesitation”
Katie Middleweek previously Editor at HPCi Media