Scaling Up in Style: UKWA Event Delivers Insight and Inspiration at Trinity House

Myself and Beth Hancock, attended the UK Wedding Association’s second networking event this week, held at the stunning Trinity House in London.

With the recent launch of EIN’s dedicated Wedding Industry News section, the event provided the perfect opportunity to connect with leading planners, suppliers and venues, while gaining valuable insight into the evolving wedding landscape.

From the moment guests arrived, there was a strong sense of energy in the room. With more than 80 industry professionals in attendance, the evening focused on meaningful networking, fostering genuine relationships and future collaborations across the sector.

The highlight of the evening was the expert-led panel discussion, “Scale It Up: Delivering Large Weddings Safely, Smoothly & Professionally.” Hosted by Kelly Chandler, the session brought together two of the industry’s most respected voices: Raj Somaiya, CEO of Silver Fox Events, and Lee Sansom, CEO of Sarah Haywood Exceptional Celebrations.

The panel delivered a candid and practical discussion on what it takes to execute large-scale, luxury and international weddings without compromising on quality or safety. From implementing robust risk assessments and health and safety protocols, to developing scalable processes, the session offered actionable advice for businesses at every stage of growth.

One of the key messages to emerge was the importance of mindset: businesses don’t need to be operating at scale to begin thinking like they are. Planning ahead, putting the right structures in place, and maintaining professionalism at every level were recurring themes throughout.

Among the standout takeaways were the importance of recognising your value as a planner or supplier, and having the confidence to stand by your expertise. The panel also emphasised the need to bring in specialists for essential operational areas such as HR, VAT, health and safety, and risk assessments – allowing creative professionals to focus on delivering exceptional experiences while ensuring compliance and efficiency behind the scenes.

Beyond the panel, the evening offered ample opportunity to connect over drinks and canapés, with catering provided by Greenleaf Catering. Trinity House proved to be an impressive setting, adding to the overall experience of a well-executed and engaging event.

This marked EIN’s first UK Wedding Association event – and it certainly didn’t disappoint. As the publication continues to grow its presence within the wedding sector, building relationships with organisations like the UK Wedding Association will be key to supporting and amplifying the voices of industry professionals.

EIN looks forward to future collaboration with the UK Wedding Association and encourages wedding planners, venues and suppliers to explore membership within this dynamic, inclusive and knowledgeable community. Take a look at their future events here.