Hat-trick of triumphs at Top Tier Wedding Awards for Buckie area firms
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A TRIO of local firms have struck gold at a prestigious north wedding awards.
Sunday, February 25 saw Buckie DJ Paul Tough – known professionally as Paul T – Avorio Bridal from Fochabers and Caroline Holmes of Twisted Willow Florists, which was formerly based in the village, make their way to the Sandman Signature Hotel in Aberdeen for the finals of the Top Tier Wedding Awards (TTWA).
All three were to head back up the road clutching silverware.
Mr Tough was the only DJ shortlisted for Evening Entertainers of the Year section but that was not to stop him triumphing, recording his first win in the awards.
Avorio claimed their second Top Tier accolade in the shape of the Bridal Wear Supplier title.
Also claiming a second award – and a third finals appearance on the trot – was Ms Holmes in the Florist of the Year category.
In Top Tier couples nominate their top three wedding suppliers, with the top one receiving a gold vote and the other two a silver and bronze respectively. The finalists are drawn from the suppliers attracting the most votes in each category. The victors are determined by highest level of gold, silver and bronze votes.
Prior to the event, Mr Tough said he was hoping to focus more on the TTWA this due to an increase in business from the Aberdeen area, where the awards are based.
Taking the title was something of a shock for him.
He continued: "Winning was really unexpected.
"It was such a strong category – I was the only DJ nominated, the rest were all bands – I was actually just going along for the night out and the chance to catch up with friends I hadn't seen for a while.
"The nominations were all read out and when I was announced as the winner I thought 'Oh, my goodness!' and jumped to my feet. A huge roar went up, which really brought a tear to my eye. All the other suppliers were grabbing my hand and congratulating me as I was walking to the podium to receive my award.
"Top Tier has exceeded my wildest dreams. It's all the more special to know that I've won this award thanks to couples I've worked with."
He did not have to wait long for his triumph to have a positive impact on his business.
Mr Tough said: "My social media just blew up after I won.
"I've got lots of new followers and within 24 hours I was getting enquiries, I've got bookings through to 2026
He will have little time to rest on his laurels as he seeks to defend his Wedding DJ of the Year crown at the Scottish Wedding Awards on Wednesday, March 6, with the TTWA win giving him an "enormous boost" ahead of the awards ceremony in Glasgow.
This year is Avorio Bridal's 20th anniversary and the celebrations started in style when owners, sisters Leigh-Anne Murray and Sonia Pozzi, along with staff members Carly Aitken, Gemma Innes and Ashley Smith, made their way to the Granite City, later to leave as champions.
Mrs Pozzi said: "We're just delighted, this is a big thing for our team of girls who work so hard.
"The award puts all that hard work into perspective, especially when you remember that it's the brides themselves who vote for the winners. I suppose we must be doing something right!
"Winning this makes everything worthwhile.
"We were up against big stores and bridal shops so the competition was really strong, but we work hard to have our own niche. It's all about the experience for the brides; that doesn't start on the wedding day, that road starts 12 to 18 months beforehand."
The Avorio team will also be heading to Glasgow on Wednesday for the SWA awards where they will be battling it out in the Wedding Boutique category.
With two wins in three years under her belt, Ms Holmes was still reeling from her TTWA victory.
She said: "I didn't really believe I'd won at first, I was thinking to myself 'Did I just hear my name read out?' then I saw it up on the screen.
"It was totally unexpected, the other eight florists in the category were brilliant, which makes it all the more special to win.
"It didn't seem real at the time, it was kind of like an out of body experience. I was just going to go along and see what happened, I thought being in the top nine florists in the north was an achievement in itself.
"The fact that it was brides themselves who voted me adds an extra dimension to it, it's extra special."
The award seen a bounce added to her already flourishing business.
Ms Holmes added: "I've already had a lot of bride enquiries since I won it.
"I think when you win something like this it makes people trust you much more, it's stronger than word of mouth. Even getting nominated makes a huge difference, you find you get shared on social media more so it all helps."
