Member Spotlight: Hannah Nicolet of Noble Nuptials

Buried in the heart of South West France, Hannah Nicolet, Owner of Noble Nuptials, lives in an area steeped in history. She has a passion for all things French, most especially fresh croissants, raspberry macarons, champagne, and Chanel! Her in-depth knowledge of the local area and her ability to speak the language is what gives her clients peace of mind, especially when planning a wedding from afar. To enable her to offer an exceptional level of service, as well as forge a strong relationship with all of her clients, Hannah has chosen a ‘boutique approach’ to wedding planning, accepting only a limited number of weddings and events per season. Hannah's design is inspired by the simplicity of nature, her beautiful surroundings, and a deep love of the finer things in life. She describes her style as "Barefoot Elegance with a Luxurious Wink!" Keep reading to learn how Hannah's love for weddings transpired and how Aisle Planner helps her be clear, efficient, and accessible.

What inspired you to enter the wedding industry?
My love of live events and helping people! Prior to organizing weddings, I worked in London coordinating large scale live events and design projects—working with actors, writers, tv personalities, photographers, artists, designers, and musicians, as well as organizing corporate days out and parties. When the opportunity to organize weddings presented itself, it felt like a natural transition for me.

Why did you start Noble Nuptials?
It was my own wedding here in France that planted the seed. When I saw how much running around my friends and family had to do on my wedding day to make it work, I felt guilty that they weren't able to relax and enjoy the day as much I would've liked them to. 

A few months after the wedding the seed began to grow when many of my guests said that they'd never been to a wedding quite like mine before (it was very animated with African Scottish and French music and dancing) and that I should consider planning weddings for other people. I did a little research, and with no other planners in the area, I decided to launch Noble Nuptials with a view to only working locally and with high quality local suppliers and produce. It's incredibly important to me that I work with people I know and trust, and that I give back to the community where I live as much as I can.

If you could change one thing about the weddings and special events industry, what would it be?
Pinterest! I have a love-hate relationship with this site. Similar to alcohol, it should be used in moderation. When speaking with clients at the beginning of the planning process, I'll see the same images appear again and again as their main inspiration. I'm more than happy to create a wedding that looks like these images (some of them are gorgeous!), but I do try and encourage all of my clients to delve a little deeper and find the essence of who they are, individually and as a couple, and allow this to come through in their wedding. My own wedding was completely about me and my husband and totally 'off-trend' at the time, and we loved it, as did our guests.

How does using Aisle Planner help you deliver the client experience you want to?
Clarity, efficiency, and accessibility are essential to what I do and Aisle Planner enables me to work this way. 

What's your favorite Aisle Planner feature?
The 'Contacts' feature is by far my favorite section. I use this to share supplier's details, brochures, contracts, and payment schedules. I also love the fact that I can have written conversations with clients about a certain supplier, under the supplier's name. This means no more scouring email threads or looking for a certain piece of information, as it's all there in one place and at a glance.

If you weren't the Owner of Noble Nuptials, what would you be doing instead, or what would your life be like?
I'd probably be in some kind of teaching, counseling, or coordinating role. These are the roles I've found myself in since my early twenties and are what I naturally gravitate towards, and more importantly, are passionate about.

What are three things you never show up without on event day?
When setting up in the morning, I wear a little apron and in it I carry a Swiss Army Knife (for the quick opening of boxes and packaging and cutting ribbon and string). My phone, with my production notes, and an insulated flask with cold water. It can be incredibly hot here in the South West of France and with all of the running around it's incredibly important to keep hydrated.

What’s your personal philosophy on becoming a great wedding and event planner?
You have to adore people, stay calm no matter what comes your way, and never assume anything—check, double check, and check again! 

What’s your trademark in the client or event experience?
Clients often comment on how calm and unflappable I am and say how reassuring it was to have someone like this by their side in the lead up to the wedding especially, when tensions can run high.

Is there anything you're particularly excited about working on this year?
Yes! I've just become the in-house wedding and venue consultant for the website French Wedding Venues. If any couples come to the site unsure of where to start with planning a wedding in France, the costs involved, and which venues would work best for them, I'm there to help them find their perfect venue.

Want to see more from Hannah? Check out her website noblenuptials.com!

Hero photo courtesy Corrina Tough Photography