Marziplanner is a contemporary wedding planning concept

from The Stratford Group, an event-lifestyle marketing company founded in 2003.

Launched in March 2006, Marziplanner is a consumer software program created by a group of passionate and highly skilled professionals dedicated to helping couples plan their weddings and empowering brides to have fun during what can be a stressful period of their lives. The team does so by offering the latest easy-to-use technological tools and by providing up-to-date industry information and editorial advice, in a stylish modern environment.

Why the name "Marziplanner?"

"Marzipan" is a traditional wedding cake icing & "Planner" is what our product is. We wanted something different and easy to remember, so a cute play on words was obvious..."Marziplanner"

Our name signifies the marrying of tradition and technology...the past and the future.

Some trivia: Marzipan icing is made of ground almond paste and is most famous in Lubeck, Germany. Ironically, almonds in excessively high doses can be poisonous, so husbands watch out!

Ilka Brookes, director of the Stratford Group

is an event planner and marketing professional whose career has spanned the worlds of high fashion, lifestyle publishing and the bridal industry. She worked in marketing and advertising at some of the leading women's lifestyle titles in the UK and Australia including Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan and Harpers & Queen. She was also Client Services Director for Australian Fashion Week in 2000-2001.

Before returning to Sydney in 2005, Ilka spent three years in Brisbane and Auckland, where she consulted in event management and marketing roles, for two leading event & catering companies, which designed and coordinated weddings and corporate events. During this time she planned and orchestrated over 200 events, from small intimate weddings to gala corporate launches.

Brookes' experience as a wedding planner and a bride (she married in October 2005 after a three year engagement) led her on a quest to create an easy and modern way for couples to plan and implement their big day. It was from this experience and dedication that Marziplanner was created, with help from Branding Agency Movement Design Group, leading New Media Design and Web Development Agency um creative and Software Developers Agile Software Consulting.

You can contact Ilka on ilkabrookes@marziplanner.com.au

The contributors who helped launch Marziplanner include:

Bride to Be Magazine, a leading consumer title for Australian and New Zealand brides. Bride to Be's Cost of Love Survey is an indispensable guide to how much brides and grooms are spending on their weddings and how savings can be made.

Fresh Creative Stationery is an expert at making that all-important first impression with their contemporary invitations and stationery. The online company is based in Melbourne and services couples Australia-wide. www.freshcreative.com.au

Sue Robson, Director at the online bridal registry Wedding Gifts Direct, is known for her impeccable taste and her ability to help couples put together a perfect gift registry for their wedding. Sue is based in Balmain, Sydney and provides her registry services nationwide. www.weddinggiftsdirect.com.au

Margie Borschke is a freelance features writer and editor based in Sydney, Australia. She specializes in lifestyle reporting, design, architecture, travel and the arts. She has contributed to many of the world's best magazines, newspapers and websites including The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Time Out, Esquire, Harper's & Queen and many more. Margie is currently a Freelance Sub-editor at: Bride to Be Magazine, Sydney.

And thanks to the talented and highly sought after photographers who have contributed to the stunning images you see in Marziplanner and on the website:

Marcus Bell of Studio Impressions in Brisbane | www.studioimpressions.com.au

Anni Payne of Milk and Honey in Sydney | www.milkandhoney.com.au

Dan Blumenthal, Sydney | www.blumenthalphotography.com.au

Ian Wilkinson, Brisbane | www.ianwilkinson.com.au

If you would like to contribute to M-Parlour please email your submission to mparlour@marziplanner.com.au