More and More Are Getting a Piece of the Wedding Pie

I’ve been a member of AAA for a very long time. Since I have begun focusing more on destination weddings and honeymoons, I read their magazine “Journeys” a bit more closely. In the January/February issue for 2012, I see that they are reaching out for the brides; not only for travel, but for wedding insurance and news articles giving advice for planning the wedding. They cover topics like: ”what to look for in a reception venue” to “wedding cake trends”. Go to AAAJOURNEYS.com  for the complete article.

As a wedding planner for 19 years, I have seen my slice of the pie getting smaller and smaller. With the Internet presence having the largest slice, brides are finding it so much easier to plan the wedding of their dreams. My niche for years has been with full service planning. Each client having the ability to customize their needs. No cookie cutter wedding for any of my brides! I believe that every bride needs to feel like she is the only bride that day!

But, many brides today are doing their own research and finding they can do much of the planning via the Internet, and my own customized full service has been downsized.

I would never say that a bride can’t plan her own wedding, because it is done everyday. I can only say using a full service professional like myself can make wedding planning the best choice. We, in the industry are the professional experts. Brides are first time buyers and we do this every day! We, unlike the Internet, know the client and how to best utilize their needs. From the budget to team building and micro-managing the event, we are there to make the client “guests at their own wedding”.

To help fill the gaps of the Internet savvy bride, I have begun to focus on destination weddings and honeymoons. I have had the opportunity to travel extensively with the Association of Bridal Consultants (www.bridalassn.com)  and have met many wedding industry people. I can challenge most travel agencies in that I prefer to refer locations that I have visited. And, as a perk, I offer to accompany the wedding party as their personal coordinator.

In closing…I resolve as a wedding professional  to continue being a slice (hopefully larger) of the wedding pie and never succumbing to being just a crumb on the plate.

Add a comment January 14, 2012

Cincinnati Caterer…Best Kept Secret!

Traditionally, every New Year’s Day, I attend an open house at my friend and colleague’s home. Karen Schwartz is known for her exceptional skills of tailoring. She has been my constant referral to brides for custom design gowns and alterations and a tuxedo or two. Going a step further, Karen, of The Golden Thimble, (513-829-3483) has often been a part of my team and been available to assist the bridal party with steaming, dressing, making on site repairs and getting the bride and her maids down the aisle. What a treasure for any wedding planner.

To top this off, Karen has another great and wonderfully delicious talent. She can cook! Over the past couple of years, Karen has added to her above business, The Silver Spoon (513-829-3483). Her menus are all custom designed for the client. From o’doureves to original dessert’s…she is a rare find. Karen has tripled the size of her kitchen space in her home and can cater from a small intimate affair to a large wedding reception. She is well known for special events in Hamilton and Oxford, but has no issue with going anywhere else.  Recently, she has been contracted to prepare the desserts for a popular restaurant in Hamilton. Her Creme Brule’ is to die for!!!!

So the secret is out…call Karen for your next soiree. You will be so impressed with her talent as both a tailor and caterer.  

4 comments January 5, 2012

National Association of Catering Executives Comes to Cincinnati

After 18 years of asking why Cincinnati does not have a local NACE chapter, we finally have one! Under the leadership of Linwood Campbell (linwood-campbell@hilton.com), the national Treasurer of NACE (www.nace.net) and the new Director of Catering for the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza (www.cincinnatihilton.com), a meeting was held at the Netherland Hilton with the largest ever in attendance for a kick-off meeting. Sixty-five of the the industry’s best gathered for a food demonstration and luncheon by national award-winning Chefs from the Hilton.  A Board of Directors was already appointed and in place under the leadership of Ashley Judy (Ashley.Judy@hilton.com) as their first President. If you are interested in joining this exciting organization, there is a special membership discount rate for the next few weeks. NACE is not just for caters, but a mix of event industry members including, but not limited to: planners, florists and rental companies. Join NOW and make Cincinnati proud!

Add a comment October 26, 2011

Wedding Planner Class

The next Wedding Planner class at University of Cincinnati will be February 2 and 9 from 6-9 p.m. See write up of previous post: Wedding Planner Class…back in the classroom. Class size is limited. Save the dates and register early.

Add a comment October 19, 2011

Wedding Planner Class…back in the classroom!

Having retired from teaching Ancient World Cultures, Theatre and Language Arts and starting a wedding business 18 years ago, I am going full circle! October 13 and 20 from 6-9 p.m. I will be back in the classroom teaching a class called “So You Think You Want to Be a Wedding Planner” at the University of Cincinnati. There’s more to being a wedding planner than meets the eye. And if you’re considering a career in this field, it’s best to go into it with your eyes open! This introductory course will cover all the essentials you’ll need to consider, from getting started in the business, creating a preliminary business plan, marketing ideas, client services, what’s needed to stay on top of your business, plus steps to working with the client from beginning to completion.

Joyce C. Smith, MEd, is a Master Bridal Consultant with the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC). She travels internationally for ABC, teaching novice classes to those considering a career in bridal consulting.

Cost of the course is $129, including all materials. #1119-01

Location: UC main campus.

Call Joyce for more information @513-742-1645 or e-mail her at joyce@weddingsunltd.com

Hope to see you there.

2 comments September 11, 2011

Be a Guest at Your Own Wedding

For awhile now, there has been a lot of press coverage on the “Do It Yourself” (DIY) bride versus the “Professional”. Until this last weekend, I hadn’t really given it much of a comment, other than…”Of course, anyone can plan a wedding; but playing the dual role of  wedding coordinator and bride is  a major task.” My philosophy is that the bride, groom and their wedding party should always “be a guest at their wedding”.  

One of the service I offer with Weddings Unlimited, is to officiate at weddings. I don’t do it a lot, but there are circumstances that brings the couple to me. Most are brides that have planned their own wedding and are looking for someone to conduct the ceremony outside of a religious setting. During the course of the interview, I asked if they have a wedding coordinator to report to, and the reply is usually that a friend or the venue is taking care of that responsibility.

This past weekend I was asked to also participate in the rehearsal. Arriving at the designated time, I saw that another wedding ceremony was taking place in the space where our wedding would be the following day.  Another room had been assigned to my couple. About 15 minutes after we were to begin, I asked if all participants were present and ready to start the rehearsal. The bride replied that she was waiting on the venue wedding coordinator to join us. Second guessing myself that she would be busy with the other wedding, I suggested we get started and she could take over when she arrived. Guess it was a good thing that my real job is being the coordinator, because she never showed! Nothing had been pre-planned with the venue coordinator and we worked from scratch.  

Within the hour we were finished and everyone seemed to be pleased. I was invited to join them for the rehearsal dinner which is always a treat and a great opportunity to get to know the wedding party better.

The next day, I arrive about 40 minutes before the ceremony and am met by the venue coordinator (to which I had to re-introduce myself as the celebrant). She quickly tells me that the bride is all stressed out due to some vendor issues. Seems, the cake is not the right color (yellow shade) and sticks out like a sore thumb in a room of all white! The bride refused to use her all white topper, because she felt it would bring more attention to the cake.    The flowers were not what she ordered. They were beautiful, but the bride ordered tall vases and they were all in fish bowls.

Seems that instead of getting dressed and having photos taken, the bride was on the phone with heated conversations with the bakery and florist. All this lead to a total meltdown and make-up had to be re-applied. Not sure if any prenuptial photos took place.

I did what I could to calm and reassure her; but when I asked for the marriage license, she clouded up again. It was at home on her desk. I quickly and calmly told her it was OK and we would get it next week.  

I noticed that an amplifier cord was stretched out over a major walk-way to the ceremony, and asked if it could be taped for safety measures. I was told the venue did not allow that, but maybe they could find a mat to lay over it.   

I was to wear a cordless microphone. Testing it, it didn’t work well.  I was first told it may have a short, but maybe it was just the wind.  There was no attempt to replace it, so in the end, I  just did my professional thing, turned it off and spoke in a  louder voice. All went well and the couple seemed happy that the trauma was over.

An added note: The couple chose to write their own vows and the ceremony was short. Cocktails began before 7:30 and the dinner was scheduled to begin at 9:00. I left shortly before the reception and do not know what followed.  

Now, my questions to the professional wedding vendors, venues and brides out there. What would you have done in a three-hour time span? Or maybe longer, if the load-in was earlier before the bride arrived? Please comment.

Add a comment August 8, 2011

Nuptials in the Netherlands

Can you imagine getting married in the most beautiful spring park on earth? Keukenhof (www.keukenhof.com) is where spring arrives in all its glory. A historic parkland of 32 hectares brimming with flowering tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and all the other spring bulbs. And yes, a spectacular windmill! An overwhelming display of color, a feast for your eyes and a wonderful spectacle for a wedding celebration.

Or tie the knot in Holland’s capital city of Amsterdam. The Grand  hotel (www.TheGrand.NL) dates back to the 15th Century when is was a convent. During the 16th century it became the residence of royal guests and headquarters of the Dutch Admiralty so called ”Holland’s Golden Age”.  Later, after serving as the city hall until 1988, it went through a major restoration and opened as a five-star hotel in 1992. A room set aside for special events is called the “Marriage Chamber”. The decor is in colors of gemstones and is a hymn of praise to love and marriage. The magnificent frescoes and stained-glass windows were created by Chris Lebeau in 1926 and portrays scenes of married life.   

While retaining the soul of a historic site, The Grand offers it guests the highest level of modern facilities with 138 guest rooms, 28 suites and 16 apartments with modern comfort. Included on the property is the renowned Cafe Roux, an elegant bar and a spa with heated pool, sauna and Turkish bath.

The hotel’s subtle magic is accented by a charming garden in which one can have lunch, afternoon tea, dinner or perhaps a wedding ceremony.

You guests can take a trip to Delft, a small picturesque town that showcases its Delft Blue Pottery (1653), an ambiance of the artist Vermeer and many visible reminders of the history of the House of Orange.   

For those of you into flowers, there may be the opportunity of a lifetime to see how flowers go from this country to your nearest floral shop in less than 48 hours. It is kind of like a stock market exchange in reverse!  

To inquire more about having your wedding or honeymoon in the Netherlands, contact joyce@weddingsunltd.com. She’s been there and can provide more details on this beautiful country.

Add a comment July 11, 2011

Wedding & Event Planners Learn How to Market Themselves

Last evening I attended a function at All Occasions Rental sponsored by our local Cincinnati ISES and ABC chapters. If you missed it..you really missed it! Tonya Shadoan (www.tonyashadoan.com) an image and marketing consultant gave a most inspiring talk on how to successfully brand and market ourselves. I have to admit, I actually have some work to do with my new niche of destination weddings and honeymoons.

I personally want to thank Tonya for mentioning me as an influential person in her quest to become what she is today. Years ago, she attended one of my Novice ABC classes and commented that it set her on her  career path to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Today, she owns three businesses!   

Tonya is offering a monthly teleseminar where a nationally recognized celebrity planner joins her to talk about their successes in the wedding and event industry. She also has a free educational teleseminar, followed by a 6 week paid starter series which will  help you in launching your own business. And finally, Tonya has a fast track private coaching  session she offers where she examines your business, your competition and will take you to the next level. Wow! I might just need to take advantage of this. Never too old to learn something new.

Kudos to you Tonya!

Add a comment June 22, 2011

Let’s Have a Fiesta Wedding in Mexico

This could be you!!!!

My latest destination site visit was to Mexico at the Vallarta Palace in Puerto Vallarta (palaceresortsweddings.com) on the Pacific Coast. Located just 15 minutes from the airport, this resort is the perfect spot for any occasion from a family vacation  to a group gathering for a romantic destination wedding. 348 guest rooms with double Jacuzzi, 9 spa treatment rooms and fitness center, an outdoor covered amphitheatre and numerous beach activities to keep the guests involved.

The resort’s wedding services can accommodate a small group of four to four hundred in a 6300 square foot ballroom. With a Palace wedding, the aisle you walk down is graced by the beauty of their majestic surroundings. The couple will take their vows in an elegant setting, surrounded by soft waves lapping the shore. There will be a personal wedding planner (along with me) to take care of everything from your marriage certificate, cake, decor, photographer, music and dinner reservations for the wedding party.     

At the Palace, it’s not just the ceremony that makes the memories. It’s the extra little touches presented as part of the wedding package. Details such as fresh fruit and sparkling wine welcoming the couple as they arrive. A continental breakfast in bed in the morning after the wedding  to a candlelight dinner for two in one of the resort’s restaurants.  

Whether  the couple prefers an intimate ceremony, a lively gathering of family and friends, or an extravagant gala, there’s a perfect package for your dream wedding. Once you’ve made your choice, planning between Weddings Unlimited and the Palace Resort is easy because everything is included. Just pack your suitcase, purchase your plane tickets and be on your way!

Add a comment June 6, 2011

Unique Wedding Proposal

Since I promote destination weddings and honeymoons, why not add proposals to my niche! Weddings Unlimited is now linking with a French event planner specializing in creating romantic and extravagant marriage proposals in Paris. ApoteoSurprise was created in 2006 to help tourists coming to this “city of love” to amaze their sweetheart with a once in a life time marriage proposal. Go to their website at: http://www.proposeinparis.com and you will find about 30 romantic experiences; one of which I know will surely suit your fancy for that unique wedding proposal. Some of them being very spectacular (a giant message of love appearing at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, or four airplanes suddenly appearing in the Parisian sky to draw a giant white smoke heart). Or, just say, “I love you” in a limousine. Pick one and let me (joyce@weddingsunltd.com) know what you have chosen. I would love to add your proposal as one of my upcoming blog post.

Add a comment May 31, 2011