Blogger Spotlight: Louise Baltruschat Hollis, Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

Louise Baltruschat Hollis started Whimsical Wonderland Weddings after becoming ‘hooked’ on the industry, the community ‘and all the loveliness’ ten years ago and her relationship with blogging is still going strong.

Getting to tell the stories of couples planning their big day and beginning their married lives together is a privilege this blogger loves – read on for her advice to couples who’ve had to delay their day and ideas for whimsical and wonderful wedding themes.

What keeps you passionate about wedding blogging?
The stories. I am such a romantic at heart and love hearing how couples create the beginning of their marriage together by celebrating their wedding. There are always so many personal ideas and heartfelt touches that constantly inspire. The best part has to be when I get to feature WWW reader weddings and they say how the blog has helped them to shape their day. It’s an awesome feeling.

What originally got you into writing about it?
I started WWW ten years ago now, when I was planning my own wedding. I became hooked on the wedding industry, the community and totally fell in love with all the loveliness.

How have you had to change your approach to blogging, or your content, during the COVID-19 crisis?
I had to take a three-month schedule reduction to manage home schooling my little boys. I offered all of our current sponsors free advertising during this time to help support them as many of them are small businesses, too. It’s been tough and I hope that the wedding industry will recover well when the pandemic is over. I have done a few helpful blog features for our readers surrounding COVID-19 and weddings as well as a live Instagram Q+A session, which is now on IGTV, too.

What are the main pieces of advice you’d give to couples whose big day was delayed by lockdown?
Hang on in there and don’t panic. Your wedding will happen, it just may be delayed, but boy will the wait be worth it. Contact all of your suppliers individually to discuss, also contact your insurer directly to see if you are covered, and how, financially. Also consider having a 30-person ceremony now and partying later; we did something similar for our own wedding and it was magical.

Weirdest/coolest/most unusual wedding theme you’ve seen?
Oh, this is a tough question! I have featured over 3000 real wedding features on our site – I adore each and every one of them and they are all so unique. I always love a Harry Potter-themed wedding, which I have shared a few of (I am a big fan of the books, myself). Oh, and rainbow, colourful celebrations too, with lots of DIY decorations!

Have you noticed interest in getting married waning or becoming more popular with couples again since you started blogging?
To be honest, I don’t think I have noticed any change here, BUT I have definitely noticed how different weddings have become. In 2010, unusual, unique and creative weddings were few and far between. They were much more tradition led. Now, so many more couples are ditching the rule book and making their day personal to them, whether that’s getting married outdoors or eloping. Anything really does go.

How do you collaborate with brands and which kind of brands do you really like working with?
I have collaborated with some amazing sponsors, who I have been so lucky to work with. From small UK indie artisans to large worldwide brands, and they all bring so many different products or services to the wedding industry. I always work with brands who make my heart sing and who I know will resonate with my readers.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you and with what kind of content?
Email is the best way to reach me. Send over your website link, social channel links and your reviews page – if I feel we are a fit to work together, I can send over my media pack and rates card.

What other blogs do you check out regularly (whether wedding-related or not)?
I follow hundreds of photography blogs, most of which are wedding photographers. I also follow some pro wedding blogs which have great tips for bloggers.