ABC Florida State Conference Recap #BeBoldABC

This week, I had the pleasure of working with my dear friends and fellow Master Wedding Planners Carmen Mesa of Carmen Mesa Events and Tammy Waterman of Special Moments Event Planning to produce a fabulous conference for wedding professionals. The Association of Bridal Consultants' Florida State Conference is always a labor of love, but hearing each and every attendee walk away saying how much they had learned makes it all worth it! Here's a little recap: Saturday night, we treated our amazing speakers to a fun evening at Sweet Pete's and The Candy Apple Cafe and Cocktails.

Sunday morning kicked off with brunch, where I got to tell everyone some interesting facts about Jacksonville. (#ILoveJax)

(thanks to Rose of Sharon European Florist for the centerpieces, Beachview Event Rentals for the chairs, and PRI Productions for the super cool Jacksonville backdrop)

After brunch, we went into our general session room for lots of great educational content:

• Steve Kemble -Revitalize and Re-Energize Your Brand

• Lauren Sarnoff Atwaters, Ten23 Designs - Creating a Unique Event Experience

• Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting - From Stressed to Streamlined: Creating an Organization Syste that Works

• Tamatha Cain, Choux Cake Studio - Emergency Wedding Cake Fixes

• April Knight, Jos. A Bank - How To Tie A Bow Tie and Fold A Pocket Square

• Donnie Brown, Donnie Brown Weddings and Events - Reading the Red Flags: Don't Let This Happen To You

And then it was on to the poolside cocktail reception! The weather could not have been more amazing. As event planners, we always worry about the weather when planning outdoor events - especially in August in Florida! But there was not a drop of rain that day, and the breeze made the rooftop deck quite comfortable.

Day 2 of the conference started with a casual breakfast. How cool are these centerpieces from Rose of Sharon European Florist?

And the Omni Hotel Jacksonville staff created the letters "ABC" out of the parfaits!

For Tuesday's lunch, each speaker was assigned a table. Lauren from Ten23 Designs created these adorable signs with their names! She also made tons of other cute decor pieces that were used throughout the conference.

Monday's educational sessions were just as amazing as Sunday's:

• Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting - Attaining Expert Status: How to Become on Expert Industry Leader

• Susan Southerland, Just Marry! - Selling to Couples at Every Planning Phase

• Charlene Shirk, C. Shirk Productions - Pitch Perfect: How to Deliver A Great Media Interview

• Bryan Glynn, BGPictures - Critical Website & Internet Tips for Your Business and Making $$ with YouTube

• Donnie Brown & Steve Kemble - Social Media As Your PR Consultant (Round Table)

Sadly, it was time to say good bye to all of our friends, new and old. These little snack packs had water, chips, and sweets for the drive/flight home.

It was an amazing (and exhausting!) three days, and I am so thankful for everyone that attended. Want to see more photos? Check out the ABC Florida Facebook page.

Wedding Trend: Glam It Up!

Adding shiny and sparkly elements to celebrations is a continuing trend! Whether you want an over-the-top  bling-fest, or subtle touches of gold or silver, add a touch of glam to any color palette or theme.

Are you drawn to pale pink, blush, ivory? These are the perfect colors to add gold accents to.  If you are going for a blend of cobalt, teal and navy, add some rhinestone touches to brighten it up.

How are you adding metallics or bling to your wedding?

2014 Planner of the Year - National Association for Catering and Events

I've just returned from the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) conference - known as Experience! 2015 - in Scottsdale, AZ. I love going to conferences, and I think continuing education is crucial in our industry. Even though I have been doing weddings for 16 years, and I have owned my own company for 13 years, I learn something new at every single session I go to. While I anticipated coming home with lots of great new knowledge, I didn't anticipate coming home with this amazing award: 2014 Planner of the Year. Wow. I'm still in shock. Especially since I didn't even know I was nominated!

Our NACE Northeast Florida Chapter President, Belinda Cottrell from the Marriott Sawgrass, secretly entered me into this category. I have no idea how much time she put into this process, but I'm sure it was many, many, many hours of digging. Having submitted awards entries for our chapter, I know how detailed and arduous the process is! So my eternal gratitude goes to Belinda and everyone else that helped her gather the information she needed.

So what is Planner of the Year? According to the pretty glass plaque (which I can't get a decent close-up photo of), this award is given "for outstanding achievement in the overall planning and production of events, as well as contributions which have made significant impact on the catering and events industry." Wow, again.  That's pretty heavy. And a lot to live up to! It amazes me that my industry colleagues think that description fits me. I am beyond humbled! It still hasn't sunk in that the beautiful glass plaque with those words etched on it also contains my name.

When I earned my Master Bridal Consultant designation in 2011, I was so honored that a panel of my peers thought that I deserved to be in this amazing group of professionals. And now, to be selected for one of the top honors in our industry, I can't believe that I get to do what I love every day and that people think I'm THIS good at it. Mind. Blown.

I have lots and lots of cool information to share that I learned at the conference, so stay tuned for more blog posts in the coming weeks. Cheers!

March Madness Sale on Wedding Invitations

Premier Wedding Expo Bridal Show This Sunday!

Looking for a great way to meet lots of wedding professionals in one place? Stop by the Premier Wedding Expo this Sunday! We have been proud to help produce these great events for many years, and they keep getting better.

• Over 100 exhibitors

• Great discounts and prizes will be available for brides and grooms planning their weddings

• Each couple gets a bridal bag when entering the show

The event runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village. Tickets are $10 at the door, but if  you purchase the online in advance they are only $7! Be sure to visit the show's website, www.PremierWedding.com, to learn more.

Unique Photo Booth for Jacksonville Weddings

Are you looking for something other than the typical photo booth for your wedding? When Ann Meyer LeFiles, publisher of Premier Bride of Northeast Florida, got married last fall, she wanted to incorporate historical touches into her wedding. And she came up with an amazing idea for the reception - not just a photo booth, but a Moon Booth! How romantic is this?

What's even cooler is that her parents made this moon - you read that right, they MADE it! But what makes this idea really awesome is that your parents don't have to be this creative - you can rent the Moon Booth for your Jacksonville wedding. Want to reserve it for your big day? Email ann@premierbridenefl.com.

Photos by Bec Photography.

Steampunk Themed Photo Shoot

Last summer, I had the honor of working with Ann at Premier Bride Magazine to create a steampunk-themed photo shoot for their Winter/Spring 2015 issue. The magazine is out now, so we are finally able to share the photos with you! Not only did we get to shoot at my alma mater, Flagler College, our photographer is a fellow alum too. It was amazing working with such a talented team of wedding pros on this shoot: zach•thomas•photography, Jade Violet Wedding & Event Floral Boutique, Beautiful Faces by Erin, Jill Stonier, Professional Makeup Artist, Bridals & More, Take One Productions, Flagler College, Brooch the Possibilities, LLC St Augustine FL, The Panama Hat Company of St Augustine, Men's Wearhouse, Southern Charm Events, First Frost Designs and Simply Delicious Cakes.

And here is a great behind-the-scenes video to show how it all came together! It was so fun to think outside the box a bit for this shoot.

Premier Wedding Expo Bridal Show This Sunday!

 

Looking for a great way to meet lots of wedding professionals in one place? Stop by the Premier Wedding Expo this Sunday! We have been proud to help produce these great events for many years, and they keep getting better.

• Over 100 exhibitors
• Great discounts and prizes will be available for brides and grooms planning their weddings
• Each couple gets a bridal bag when entering the show

The event runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the EverBank Field West Touchdown Club. Tickets are $10 at the door, but if  you purchase the online in advance they are only $7! Be sure to visit the show's website, www.PremierWedding.com, to learn more.

A Reminder About Wedding Insurance

We've written a few blog posts about wedding insurance before, but here is a reminder: every wedding should have wedding insurance!

As I type this post, fierce storms with damaging winds and enough rain to cause flooding and landslides are hitting California. What if your wedding was this weekend?

Closer to home, a North Florida wedding venue had some issues last month that caused them to tell couples getting married in December that they can't host their events. What would you do if you had 10 days to move your entire wedding? Or if you DJ or photographer suddenly went missing?

Wedding insurance covers so many things that brides and grooms don't want to think about. But saying "it won't rain on my wedding day" doesn't mean you shouldn't have a backup plan. And wedding insurance is the ultimate backup plan.

This article from CNBC illustrates just what a benefit insurance can be. Josh and Kristina paid around $250 for their insurance policy and were reimbursed for roughly $14,000 in deposits they had paid when their Brooklyn wedding venue went out of business. Just like you wouldn't want to drive your $25,000 car without insurance, you don't want to invest that amount (or significantly more) in your wedding and not have protection.

We recommend WedSafe and Wedding Protector Plan for wedding insurance - check out their websites for more info!

Congratulations, Ashleigh and Charles!

This weekend, we'll be celebrating the wedding of one of our own! It's time for Ashleigh and Charles to tie the knot, and we couldn't be happier for them. Ashleigh has written some blog posts during her wedding planning journey, and I'm sure that after some down time she'll share with us what she learned along the way!

I have gotten to witness three of our team members say "I do" - Emma, Melanie, and Lauren - and I'm so excited to add Ashleigh to that list. Best wishes to the happy couple!

Spring 2015 Internship

Does this look like fun?

We are currently seeking smart, professional and outgoing students to apply for our Spring 2015 internship! Interns must be enrolled in a Bachelor's/Master's program at an accredited college or university and provide documentation from their school stating they are able to receive academic credit for this internship. This unpaid internship will run from January through April or May, depending on your school's calendar and/or requirements.

Intern Office Duties:

• Assist with daily office operations
• Email information to prospective clients
• Follow up on inquiries and book appointments
• Create blog entries
• Work on marketing campaigns
• Answer phones in a professional manner
• Respond to emails in a timely manner
• Work with the First Coast Weddings team to create new procedures, promotions, etc.
• Use proper grammar and spelling at all times
• Maintain a clean and organized work area
• Other duties as needed

Internship Requirements:

• Minimum of 12 hours in the office each week, and availability on weekends.
• Dress in business casual attire while at the office, black suit on wedding days. Remember, first impressions are everything in this business!
• Represent First Coast Weddings in a professional and courteous manner at all times.
• Be pro-active and look for tasks to assist with when your assignments are complete
• Willingness to sign a agreement stating that all paperwork, files, vendor information or client data is proprietary and confidential
• Act as a team player
• Failure to report for a scheduled shift without notice (no-show) will result in termination of the internship. If you cannot work your scheduled shift, you must notify the lead coordinator at least three hours prior to your scheduled start time.

Application:

To be considered for an internship, please complete the application by clicking here.

ABC Florida Shine Conference 2014

I had such an amazing weekend last week! Not only did I get to attend the Association of Bridal Consultants' Florida State Conference - shine - but I also got to speak at the event. Here are a few images from Day 1 of the conference, taken by fabulous photographer Claire Pacelli. If you've wondered what happens when a group of wedding planners get together for continuing education, here's a little peek:

My fellow speakers, along with the conference co-chairs: Sharon Baragona, A Chair Affair; Kelly McWilliams, Weddings By Socialites; oh hey, that's me!; Mark Kingsdorf, ABC Florida State Manager; Coach Jenn Lee; Brian Joyce and Richard Streitler, Flourish Floral Productions; Elisa Delgardio, A Flair For Affairs

Oh, and did I mention, another fellow speaker: celebrity wedding planner Donnie Brown?

There are so many more fabulous photos, but this one I think is my favorite:

"The Speaker Selfie." This beauty was captured by Kelly McWilliams (and posted to Instagram) after we posed for a more formal group photo. Love it!

If you work in this industry, and you aren't attending conferences like this, you are missing out! And if you are a bride or groom, as your wedding professionals what they do for continuing education. It makes a huge difference!

Introducing Bowing Oaks Plantation

I've been keeping a secret! Please don't hold it against me. For almost two years, I've been consulting with some dear friends that had a crazy idea to build a new wedding venue in Jacksonville. And now, that crazy idea is a reality! What started as a "simple pole barn" has turned into a magnificent venue with all the amenities you can imagine! Introducing Bowing Oaks Plantation... Plantation amenities include:

• Indoor Seating for 200 Guests (with Dance Floor and Food Stations)

• Wrap-Around Porches

• Two Outdoor Ceremony Areas - Under Beautiful Oak Trees, Or Open-Air Chapel

• Bride's Suite and Groom's Cabin

• Catering Kitchen

• Fully Air-Conditioned and Heated

• Indoor Restroom Facilities

• Ample On-Site Parking

• Secluded and Private Location

Bowing Oaks Plantation is debuting this fall, with our first wedding booked for November 16th. We're also booking weddings for 2015 and beyond! I will be handling all the bookings for this fabulous new venue, so feel free to contact me for more details! Be sure to visit our social media sites for more photos and construction updates: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Having A Detailed Backup Plan For Your Wedding

Here in North Florida, we see a lot of outdoor wedding ceremonies. Most venues have a great indoor space that they reserve as a backup, in case of rain. Which let's face it, happens a lot here, especially in the summer months. (Side note: did you know that Jacksonville gets an average of 14 more inches of precipitation every year than Seattle, which is "known" for it's rain?)

But what if you reception is planned to be an outdoor event? It may not be as simple as "we'll just move inside."

We're working with a sweet couple getting married in October, and planning a "dinner under the stars." Today we met at the venue to talk through all the logistics. As we talked, we came up with very detailed Plan A and Plan B options. Because of the logistics of the space, the two are very different. In fact, quite a bit of the reception schedule will change from Plan A to Plan B.

As you are working through your plans, be sure to think through all the logistics from the guest perspective. Talk to your venue staff about the timing of weather calls, which could be anywhere from 2 hours to 24 hours, depending on the complexity of the setup. And communicate Plan A AND Plan B (and Plan C and D if needed!) to all the wedding professionals that will be on-site on the wedding day. But don't wait until the day before! Preparation is key when dealing with Mother Nature.

Note about the photo above: we were playing beat the clock with a storm rolling in just before this ceremony! Luckily we made it, and Ashley and Matt were married in a beautiful ceremony at TPC Sawgrass.

Love Note: Kyle & Brian (06.06.14) - Ponte Vedra Beach Wedding

What a lovely note in the mail this week!

Dear Heather,

Thank you so very much for all the help, support and handling that you cared for throughout our wedding celebrations. You made all of our planning and our visions just come to life! You cared for all of the little details and helped to ensure it was such a special day. Thank you for bringing it all together in a meaningful way.

Most Sincerely, Kyle and Brian

(photo by Dawn McKinstry Photography)

Honoring Your Dad At Your Wedding

Weddings are often full of very "girly" moments shared between the bride and her mom - picking out the dress, getting hair and makeup done, etc. Dad is usually expected to show up with the checkbook. In honor of Father's Day, we thought we'd look at some ways to make Dad feel extra special on your wedding day.

• Ask your dad for a military medal, a tie you particularly love, or a piece of jewelry you could incorporate into your wedding day ensemble as your something old.
• If you won't be seeing your fiance before the wedding, stage a first look with your dad. Fathers often get very emotional the first time they see their little girl in their wedding gown and veil!
• Take dance lessons with him, and your father-daughter dance will be a big hit.
• Create something special for him to wear. Dads often look like all the other groomsmen or ushers, wearing the same tuxedo or suit. Get a special tie for him to wear, or add something unique to his boutonniere.
• Ask your dad to sign your marriage license as one of the witnesses.

Do you have a special way you are including your father on your wedding day?

(Photo above from Marta and Michael's wedding earlier in 2014 - copyright Deremer Studios)

Kathleen and Robby - Sawgrass Beach Club Wedding, Ponte Vedra Beach

Here's a peek at Kathleen and Robby's brunch wedding at Sawgrass Beach Club! Thanks to Fox Fotography for the slideshow.