The White List | Little Pink Book

Carey-Anne Robson is the owner and creator of The White List that is, as they say, about “All Things Weddings”. Hope you enjoy our Q&A session with her and finding out more about what makes this lady and her business tick.

Q: Your website is absolutely amazing! In short how would you describe The White List to a new browser?

A: Basically it’s a tool for planning brides to get inspiration and find the best suppliers for their needs. I believe we’re still living in a conservative market and people are scared to interact. I’ve moved across into planning and décor for brides and events because I’ve wanted to be more involved in execution. I’d love to get more comments from brides on the site.

Q: You have dealt with big corporate brands such as Estee Lauder, DKNY, Michael Kors, Hugo Boss and Dolce Gabbana. How has this prepared you for the wedding industry?

A: Aside from a degree in corporate communications, working with premium brands and amazing people prepares you to have huge attention to detail. When I was with Estee Lauder Companies, I managed PR and launch events across most brands in the designer fragrances division. What was fantastic about working with different brands was that they each had their own unique identity and personality- similar to each different bride I deal with. You get to know what works from one to another. That and working under pressure is preparation enough!

Q: What do you love the most about your work?

A: Aside from managing content on the site, I love to I love meeting new people and interacting with brides. To help them to find what they’re looking for when they can’t is a huge sense of accomplishment. When running a wedding, I enjoy the setup process as well as the end result. The excitement of the setup is something I really enjoy, but ultimately, there’s nothing better than walking away from a beautiful table setting and seeing the smile on a bride’s face when she walks into the room for the first time.

Q: You’re a woman of many talents. How does The White List allow you to explore all of that creativity?

A: The wedding and events industry is boundless. Whether it’s looking for opportunities or interacting with people, not being tied to a desk allows me the freedom to be inspired all the time.

Q: Tell us more about the current Gauteng wedding industry – Trends/Challenges/Tips.

A: We’ve seen so much vintage in the past few months, but I definitely think a deciding factor when it comes to the style of a wedding is the venue and the personality of the bride. I love to see people stepping away from the norm and doing something totally different. As much as vintage is timeless, it’s new ideas that keep the industry fresh.

Q: What makes a wedding?

A: In my opinion there are two points of view. Those are mine as the planner and that of the couple and their guests. From my side, I think décor makes the biggest statement as it’s really a reflection of the personality of the couple. From a guest’s point of view, I have to be honest and say that food can make or break a wedding. It’s just one of those things that people talk about and link back to specific venues.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration? Do you have a muse or do you follow your own style?

A: I’m inspired by my surroundings and the people I work with and meet every day. I definitely have my own style but am easily taken with beautiful things and creative ideas.

Q: What, in your opinion, would be the key to your success?

A: My success depends largely on relationships with people who I have met and worked with in the course of the past two years. There are days when I think I could never do what I do without my florist Leeandra from ‘Fields of Colour’. She’s been in the industry for the past 15 years and has been a huge inspiration.

Q: What have you found to be some of the biggest challenges?

A: Getting enough work. Being ‘newer’ to the industry is tough. It is competitive, but understandable that a company needs to be established enough to have credibility. Word of mouth is the most important marketing tool, so I need to ensure that I’m consistently ahead of the game.

Q: What is your favorite thing in the world?

A: My husband.

Q: Coffee or tea?

A: I’m definitely a coffee fan- and it needs to be the real deal.

Q: How would you like people to describe your contribution to your industry?

A: I’d love people to say that I was dynamic enough to leave a mark and get people talking.

Q: What would be your one sentence advice to any bride?

A: On the day, always take a step back, look around and breathe it all in. Before you know it, it’s all over.

Q: Why do you love the Little Pink Book?

A: The book is just gorgeous. I love that I can fit loads of copies into my handbag or the cubbyhole of my car to hand out anywhere. It’s a gift I give to all my brides.