Destination weddings appear to be on the rise. Is it because of the economy, or the fact that couples are looking for the dream location where they can share their special day with close family and friends?

Since destination weddings often have smaller guest numbers, a large chunk of the budget can be downsized for food and beverage. It’s a lot more economical to pay for fifty guests than one hundred and fifty.  Be cautious though! Will you be covering the cost of travel & lodging for these guests? School of thought is: they would be traveling anyway! Research the difference in transportation and lodging for an at home wedding vs faraway.  

Destination wedding  locations like Sandals and Beaches in the Caribbean offer all inclusive packages. Knowing your expenses up front will keep you at ease and not have to worry about unexpected or hidden charges!

Other options: Plan a destination wedding including only your parents and a small wedding party. When you return from your honeymoon, have  a reception for the larger guest list. Again, this could or could not be a savings.  Be a wise shopper. Certain months, day of week and location often provide savings.  Even service providers have their specials. 

If you are looking to explore destination weddings..stop by my booth at the Dayton Bridal Connection (www.dbcohio.com) Sunday, July 26 from noon to 5:00 p.m. Looking  forward to discussing your options and how Weddings Unlimited, Inc. can help you. Wanting other information on planning your wedding…go to: www.weddingsunltd.com or call 513-742-1645

As a wedding planner in Cincinnati, my brides often ask: What do I asked the vendor during the initial meeting? 

To keep it simple there are five basic questions to remember:

…Why did you start your business?

…How long have you been in business and how do you stand apart from the competition?

…What sort of guarantees do you offer?

…What is the most valuable part of your service or product?

…Why should I hire you?

Notice, there was no question about pricing?  That comes after all your fact finding and knowing whether or not you have the perfect match.

A good part of my wedding planning business is “referrals” and knowing if  the client and vendor will be a good match. In the early stages of the wedding planning process, I work hard at getting to know the couple’s personalities and needs. I want to know what they are looking for in the way of a photographer, florist or any other service provider.  With these findings, I am ready to give them three to four qualified referrals.  

Planning time is difficult and time consuming. If your wedding planner is a good matchmaker, hours will be eliminated from your search. And, I can guarantee that you will  find your perfect match.

Now, it’s time to talk dollars and sense!  

This past weekend, I was an instructor for the  Association of Bridal Consultants’  (www.bridalassn.con)class of 22 beginning wedding planners from all over Ohio and bordering states. Creekside Event Center in Columbus hosted the seminar. What a wonderful venue for weddings and other events.  Check it out if you are in the area. A full day focusing on starting their businesses included, but not limited to: business plans, naming the business, marketing, insurance for both the owner and client, setting fees and etc.

It is so evident that the wedding industry is growing by leaps and bounds. There are 5000 members of ABC worldwide and Ohio has 140 consultants and vendors. It appears that over half in the above class were non-members and found out about the seminar through the Internet. Most commented that they learned so much about starting their own wedding planning business, and they would definitely join the ranks.   

I cannot emphasize more…If you are a recently engaged bride and feel you need assistance in planning the most important day of your life, you should only contract with those wedding planners that are members of a professional wedding association. Check to see if they are not only a member in name only, but have been actively engaged in the education and have the expertise to handle your special day.

 ABC is the largest organization and offers professional development courses, seminars and conferences throughout the year. Our consultants, coordinators, wedding planners and vendors are given the opportunity to grow with their profession through these opportunities. Some will eventually advance to the level of Master Bridal Consultant or Master Vendor Member. Who could be more trustworthy than that?

Throughout  Ohio and other states, there are local networking groups that meet, network and hone their skills with educational programs. Be sure to check for one in your local area.

Cincinnati has a local networking group made up of about 55 wedding planners and vendor members. Getting to know each other leads to building great teams for the bride planning her wedding. Go to www.cincinnatibridalconsultants.com and see who is listed in our area.   

As the Ohio State Coordinator, I know most of my members and can vouch for them. Go to my website for more information on my Cincinnati based wedding business. www.weddingsunltd.com    Have a great day and hope to hear your feedback.

I keep reading over and over “the wedding industry is recession proof”. Well, I don’t deny that weddings are still taking place, but my observation is that those involved in providing services are indeed affected. As a Cincinnati wedding planner, I have witnessed first hand that brides and families financially responsible are seeking ways to stretch the dollar as far as they can and still have the wedding of their dreams. Bridal parties are narrowed down, guests lists are dwindle and “do it yourself ” seems to be in vogue.    

Let’s start with the ceremony: Getting married at the court house or in a public park. Who loses? The place of worship and those involved in the ceremony. Celebrant, custodian, church coordinator, musicians who all get a portion of the fee paid to the house of worship.

Flowers: Why use a florist or floral designer, when a bride can go to a wholesale dealer and make their own bouquets and centerpieces? Going silk or finding ways to not use flowers for centerpieces.  The local florist may be seeing less weddings and/or downsizing of their orders.    

Music:  Brides are opting out on professional musicians. Recording their own music and having a friend play an I-pod at the ceremony and/or reception.  Many professional musicians, including deejays, have day jobs, but look forward to that weekend wedding ”gig” for  supplementing their incomes. Or maybe, it’s just something they love to do.

Food: Finding venues that allow for your own catering where friends and family can do the cooking. Some brides are being more selective on scheduling the time of day for the reception, so that  it requires less food. Not to say that there is anything wrong with that choice, but what happens to the “real” catering businesses if they depend on weddings as a major portion of their business?

Transportation: The bride and groom may be the only one using a smaller limousine or classic car, leaving the transportation service with a contract for less hours or service and difficulty filling the gap time from one client to another.

Photographer/videographer: Smaller packages with options of giving the raw footage  to the client. Booking an event where only one camera is used, or coverage of the  ceremony only. Some service providers have difficulty with multi-events on same day due to number of employees.  

Wedding Planners: There are a unique few that state they are doing really well, but there are many well  established consultants that comment that there are fewer full service clients and more pull out services or day of coordination than in the past.  Many brides are opting to rely on friends and family to help with the planning and coordination, so that they can use what would be our service fee on other areas of the wedding.   

I could keep this up for awhile, but am hoping that the researchers that are spreading this idea that “weddings are recession proof”, will stop and examine this more closely. Don’t just report the stats on how many are applying for marriage licences.

If you are wondering what to do on a Sunday afternoon in February; mark your calendar for the 22nd, and join us at the Contemporary Arts Center in downtown Cincinnati between 2:00 and 6:00 in the afternoon.  

The Ohio Branch of the Association of Bridal Consultants (www.cincinnatibridalconsultants.com) is producing a fundraiser to benefit Dresses That Heal and the Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation. Along with Cincinnati Wedding magazine and the Perfect Wedding Guide, we promise you a great time!

 During the course of the afternoon, we  will be conducting a silent auction of designer bridal gowns and other wedding related products (Paris has donated a beautiful headpiece). This is your big opportunity  to bid on a gown of your dreams (and save some major bucks!), while  at the same time, helping a local breast cancer survivor spend a few days at a healing retreat.

You will also have the opportunity to view some spactular table-tops  designed by some of our local wedding industry professionals. 

Please join us for this wonderful cause.  We are assured that you will be glad you attended. Great appetizers, entertainment and a slice of wedding cake  to send you off on a sugar high!

You can simply register on line at our site or pay at the door. Your donation is tax deductable. See you soon!

 A Dress to Remember By Steve Zugelter
View in HD  Download 1080p HD Version  Visit Steve Zugelter’s ExposureRoom Videos Page

A Sneek Peek

Foget your worries

Last week I attended an Association of Bridal Consultants’ conference in the Bahamas. We were there to be certified (or a refresher course) as Sandals Resort Specialists. The Royal Bahamian Sandals was our location in Nassau. All 34 bridal planners were treated as if we were the couples we helped to plan their honeymoon or weddingmoon.

I actually felt like I had died and gone to heaven for those four days. Being an ultimate all inclusive resort, I never had to carry a purse, the staff knew me by my first name, and I never wanted for anything. 

My suite faced the Caribbean and was huge. King size bed, a tub for two and a fully stocked Premium bar at my disposal. I had the choice of using the full Red Lane Spa on the property or have them come to my room for a personal massage. There was even a fully equipped gym on the top floor  where you could look out at the water while doing your workout.

During the day and evening, I could lounge around my choice of pools and hot tubs, participate in numerous land and water sports (including scuba diving) and dine at any of their multiple ethnic restaurants.  If I wanted to explore the city, I could simply take a taxi or short bus ride. How easy is that? One evening, we actually watched a recently released movie on one of the numerous patios.

Our stay ended with the easiest check out service.  An envelope was slipped under my door with instructions on check out time, luggage pickup at the room and where it was to be stored until you departed for the airport.  If your plane leaves late in the day or evening, you were still given the full use of the resort until then.  The only money that exchanged hands during my stay was the tip I gave the driver to and from the resort. If you elected to purchase gifts or other services on the property, they simply credited it to your room and charged your credit card that was on file.    

There are numerous Sandals and Beaches (family) resorts all over the Caribbean. Even if you are not planning a honeymoon or wedding, there is a resort just for you!  Just go to my website at www.weddingsunltd.com and find the Sandals logo.  Or simply contact me and I will help you find the resort that best fits your your lifestyle. I am sure that when you go, you will feel like I did. ”Died and gone to heaven!”