Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Happy Holidays!!

Hi everyone reading this blog! I just wanted to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year!!!

I hope all of you out there were able to relax and enjoy the holidays with your family and friends!

Until next time, happy planning...

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Choosing the Perfect Date

Since I'm assuming that you're reading this blog because you are engaged, the title of this week's post is referring to when you're going to get married - not to whom!

For some couples, choosing when to have their wedding is easy. Some couples have a special anniversary that they want to cement. Others know that their school or work schedules will only allow for a certain period of time in which to celebrate.

For others, selecting a date can be more difficult. I try to help them narrow down the choices by asking questions about their preferences -- Do they absolutely hate the heat? Then, the summer months are out. Do they have guests travelling to their wedding via airplane? Then, skip the winter when the weather can be more iffy.

Sometimes, we will go to various venues and if the couple falls in love with one of them, they will ask the venue's availability and select from those dates. Or, they may be members of a church and ask when the priest has openings to perform the wedding. Couples also may choose their date based upon "how" the date sounds -- 7/7/07 was a very popular wedding date!

Just remember, no matter which date you choose, you will always remember it!

Until next time, happy planning...

Monday, December 10, 2007

'Tis the time to ... Get Engaged!

Congratulations!! The "engagement season" is in full swing -- more engagements happen between Thanksgiving and New Year's than any other time during the year. I, myself, got engaged on December 13th many moons ago!

So, now you've already said "Yes!!" to your fiance (get used to that term!), received a ring, and told your family and friends the great news. You're basking in the newly-engaged euphoria. And you should! This is a great time for you and your honey -- treasure it!

Because, soon enough, you will get the inevitable questions: "So, when's the date?" "Where are you having your reception?" And many other like questions offered by well-meaning family members and close friends. Just remember, your family and friends want to help you down the path to wedded bliss, even if their questions just bring you agita!

My recommendation to you is to do a few things. When you're ready to begin the planning process, you should first think about how many guests you want to invite to share in your day. Next, you should come up with an overall budget for your wedding, including money to be received from all sources including contributed by you and your fiance. Armed with these 2 pieces of information, you should contact a wedding planner and take it from there. S/he will help you define your style and theme, and help you locate the perfect venue(s) for your celebration.

Until next time, happy planning....

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Association of Bridal Consultants conference

Just a few short weeks ago, I attended my 6th annual Association of Bridal Consultants' conference which was held in Orlando. Every year since becoming a wedding planner, I have attended conference -- to meet other planners worldwide, to get up to date with the trends, to learn more about the industry and to interact with new vendors on the corporate level. This year, with over 500 attendees, the conference was even more exciting and informative than ever!

Let me share some great info with you!

Sandals and Beaches - luxury-included resorts in the Caribbean. I continued my training with Sandals and Beaches and have renewed my Certified Sandals Specialist designation, so I can help anyone out there with honeymoons, weddings, or vacations to these wonderful resorts. I have been to nearly all of the Sandals and Beaches properties on Jamaica, and can say without reservation (some travel humor!) that the resorts are impeccably maintained and offer so many diverse activities and restaurants that you will always be experiencing something new...or you can simply relax by the pool everyday, and no one will interrupt you! Sandals and Beaches have teamed up with Preston Bailey and Sylvia Weinstock for their wedding packages, and Preston is introducing 2 additional packages soon! If you want to go away and be pampered, without having to pull out your wallet ever, contact me and I'll book a great vacation for you at one of these great resorts!

David Tutera - Disney wedding packages. David Tutera was the featured speaker at the conference, and a small group of us were able to go with him to the wedding pavilion on the Disney property followed by a reception at the Contemporary Resort. David has developed a line for Disney that is young, hip and trendy - perhaps not what you would think of as a Disney wedding! The packages are customizable, so you can take the "bones" of the design and put your own spin on it. David is so creative, I'm sure you will want to check out his line - and who doesn't love Disneyworld for a great honeymoon?! Feel free to contact me for more information about this exciting new collaboration!

Mary Dann - celebrity wedding planner. Mary Dann has been featured on television shows such as Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? and Platinum Weddings, not to mention her contributions to national wedding magazines. She is launching a line of stationery, with beautiful papers and verses. I spent about 1 1/2 hours talking with Mary, and can definitely say that she has inspired me to be a better person and consultant. Her outlook on life is so positive, and she views every challenge as an opportunity to grow, which is what I'm trying to incorporate into my life as well. If you're interested in Mary's stationery, contact me or go to www.marydann.com.

Until next time, happy planning...