Getting Ready For Indy

Melanie and I are getting ready to attend the annual Association of Bridal Consultants' International Conference, and we are so excited!  I've always been a believer in continuing education and feel that our clients benefit greatly.  Next week, we'll be learning from keynote speakers Sylvia Weinstock ("The Leonardo Da Vinci of Cakes") and Peggy Post (THE wedding etiquette expert), as well as two of the industry's top pros, Rebecca Grinnals and Frank Andonoplas. Each breakfast, lunch and evening event is themed, with events at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the famous members-only Columbia Club.

We're sure to come back with notebooks and Blackberries and cameras full of great ideas!  I'm looking forward to telling you all about it when we return.

(Please note, our office will be closed Saturday, November 7th through Wednesday, November 11th)

Love Notes: Lindsay and Erik

I love getting mail, especially when it is a comment card from a wedding!  I received this lovely feedback from the mother of the bride following Lindsay and Erik's October 10th wedding:

Coordinating plans between Chicago and Jacksonville really required anticipatory guidance, etiquette guidelines, advice and recommendations to keep us on course. Heather did a FANTASTIC job! The best help was the wedding day - we could leave everything to her and her assistant Emma.  I didn't relax until then.  I will highly recommend her.

Heather responded promptly and professionally to all our phone calls and emails.  She was pleasant, calm, and helpful, and very accommodating  My daughter and I are very detail oriented and Heather was knowledgeable about all the specifics during our discussions.  That was very reassuring!

Celeste and Michael (10.24.09)

I have to preface this post by saying I did not coordinate this wedding.  I was instructed to be a guest, and I tried my hardest!  Celeste is my oldest cousin, and couldn't have been happier that she chose our hometown of Orlando for her wedding.  But when she announced it would be at Walt Disney World, it was even better! Mike and Celeste both have a long history with the mouse, and since they were engaged at Disneyland it was only fitting that they say "I Do" at Disney's Wedding Pavilion.  After a perfect ceremony with the Florida sun gleaming off Cinderella's Castle, we boarded buses to the reception at EPCOT.

Cocktail hour was hosted at Italy's Isola, a small island overlooking the World Showcase Lagoon.  The view at sunset was beautiful!  And what entertainment - pop sensation Taylor Dane was performing next door.

We were escorted in to the American Adventure Rotunda for a scrumptious Southern-inspired dinner of pork medallions, mashed sweet potatoes, and green beans.  Celeste and Michael had chosen an orange theme (the fruit, not the color) - each table was named with an orange-crate label, and the centerpieces were stunning glass vases filled with sliced oranges.  Each lady received an orange pashmina on the back of her chair - which would come in handy shortly.  Mickey, the "Mouse of Honor," even made an appearance and posed for photos with the guests.

After dinner, we went back outside to Isola for dessert - and to watch the Illuminations fireworks/laser show!  What an amazing ending to the evening.

But the highlight for me was the incredible "first dance."  You see, Michael has a broken foot.  So since he wasn't able to "dance," the newlyweds came up with a great alternative:

(I'll probably get in trouble for posting this, but hey, that's what family is for)

New Spotlight Gallery!

Be sure to visit our Spotlight photo gallery on our website!  We have just uploaded some gorgeous photos from Jennifer and Karl's September 26th wedding, courtesy of Oeil Photography.

Commissions, Kickbacks and Referral Fees

We had an interesting discussion at The Wedding Party office today. A planning company called one of our vendors and actually asked her to raise her prices by 20% so that she can get that amount as a commission!  Several of our wedding pros have been approached by this company and asked to pay a commission in exchange for a referral, although not always quite so blatantly.

There can be a blurry line between commissions, kick backs and referrals.  Our company policy strictly prohibits the acceptance of kick backs or referral fees - we ask that our vendors pass that dollar amount along to our clients as a discount.  But what about a little gift thanking someone for a referral?  Is there a dollar amount that is too extravagant and the gift should be sent back?  It's not always black and white.

The Association of Bridal Consultants (of which we are members, and the above-mentioned company is not) has a Code of Ethics:

Members will...

Represent each client fairly and honestly, providing all agreed-to services in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

Establish reasonable, proper fees for services and provide written estimates to each client.

Use honest factual advertising.

Deal with employees fairly, in an unbiased manner.

Operate an establishment that is a credit to the Association and the community.

Disclose to clients any payment received from suppliers.

Members will...

• Represent each client fairly and honestly, providing all agreed-to services in a timely and cost-efficient manner.
• Establish reasonable, proper fees for services and provide written estimates to each client.
• Use honest factual advertising.
• Deal with employees fairly, in an unbiased manner.
• Operate an establishment that is a credit to the Association and the community.
• Disclose to clients any payment received from suppliers.

My question is whether or not the brides that hire this company know that not only are they paying them, but the vendors are also paying them.  And moreover, is the bride getting the best vendors for her wedding, or anyone that will pay a commission?

Many of the most well-respected professionals in North Florida will refuse to pay these commissions and therefore will not get referred by this other company.  Would you want to lose out on the best photographer or band in town simply because they will not pay your planner a commission?

I'd really love some feedback below, both from wedding pros and brides-to-be...What are your thoughts?

Jennifer & Karl (09.26.09)

Jennifer and Karl were married on Saturday, September 26th in a beautiful ceremony at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort and Spa.  I'll post more details later, but here is a sneak peak!  Thanks to Michelle at Oeil Photography for getting these to me so quickly!

Beautiful centerpieces by Rose of Sharon

Amazing ceremony decor - uplights and draping by PRI Productions, ceiling treatment, florals and candles by Rose of Sharon

The bride's shoes, custom designed to match her gown

The stunning cake from Classic Cakes

Spotlight: Rose of Sharon European Florist

Last night, we had the pleasure of attending the premiere of Rose of Sharon's recently remodeled studio. Amazing! The transformation makes me want to re-design our office.

The space formerly used for bridal consultations (and the accounting department!) now has a stunning “greenhouse” feel. The team actually demolished the paneling and found gorgeous brick walls. Add in some unique display shelves and the look is incredible.

And speaking of incredible, the new wedding section is fabulous. Not only is there a couch and a large computer monitor for viewing photos, but every type of vase, container, candelabra and column is right there to touch and feel. I feel like a kid in a candy store each time I walk in.

If you haven't selected a florist for your wedding, be sure to make an appointment with Lynette or Judy!

Green Bride Guide Approved!

I was just notified that First Coast Weddings has been approved as a vendor on The Green Bride Guide!

Being green isn't hard; here are a few ways that we try to stay eco-friendly:

• Our office is as paperless as possible.  We use Google Apps to keep all of our client files, vendor files, and business documents online and easily shared with our whole team.
• We recycle whenever we can, including the stacks of out-dated wedding magazines.  If there's something we love, we cut out that page rather than storing the whole issue.
• Our team carpools to events when possible.
• Our clients often choose to discard items they buy for their weddings - candles, vases, baskets, mirrors, and more.  Rather than toss them into the trash, we toss them into our storage unit, and let future clients use them for their events.
• We are also happy to take floral arrangements from the wedding to local nursing homes - the residents love to see all the flowers, and many florists will make them in disposable containers if you request this ahead of time.

What are your favorite ways to go green?  Is there anything you are planning for your wedding that is eco-friendly?

Pantone + Dessy = Fun!

New York Fashion Week always makes me happy.  No, I don't have the joy of actually attending, although maybe someday! {Fingers crossed!} Fashion Week means it's time for the next Pantone Color Report to make its debut.  And OH, how I love some of these colors!

Although it's not too obvious since our website/blog re-design, our corporate color is turquoise.  And there it is, at the top of the list for 2010 Spring Colors - Pantone 15-5519.  My heart skipped a beat!

And who can help but love a color called Tomato Puree?!  And Pink Champagne - my fave!

But even beyond the greatness of the Spring Color Report is the fun of a whole new concept from Pantone and The Dessy Group. Pantone Wedding is a way to create inspiration boards to share and order color swatches to go with them! So much fun to play with.

Are We The Best Wedding Blog?

I hope so! And I hope you think so too. As you may have read in our post last week, we have been nominated for Best Wedding Blog in the 2009 EventProfs Blog Awards. We would really appreciate it if you would take a minute to vote for us! (Our blog title is "Something To Talk About")

Voting will close on September 21, 2009 @ 5:00 pm EDT. Only 1 vote can be cast per person. All duplicate votes will be disqualified.

Visit Us At The Bridal Show Sunday!

Did you have a chance to visit The Wedding Party's booth at the bridal show on August 31?  If not, here is a short highlight reel compliments of In Motion Video Productions!

Be sure to visit us this Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the UNF University Center! Need more info? Check out http://www.jacksonvillebridalconnection.com.

We've Been Nominated!

We're honored to have been nominated for the Best Wedding Blog award in the 2009 EventProfs Blog Awards! Voting opens next week, we'd love for you to take a moment and vote for us!

Plus, we're in such amazing company! Other nominees include:

• Green wedding shoes
• RockNRollBride
• Cynthia Martyn Events
• Sasha Souza's Sparkliatti
• Diary of a Las Vegas Wedding Concierge

Wedding Colors Quiz

The Knot's website conveniently offers a Wedding Colors Quiz for all you brides-to-be who just don't know what colors your wedding will entail. While it may be right on the dot for you, don't take it too seriously. If you agree with the results, go for it! If it couldn't be further from the truth, disregard it with a laugh. If nothing else, let if give you something to ponder on! Take the quiz here!

Adorn Jewelry In The News

You may have heard about Adorn fine jewelry rental recently on The CBS Early Show, or read about them in USA Today.  If you haven't, here's the deal. You get to wear lots of expensive jewelry on your wedding day, without breaking your budget.

It's that simple.

You go to the Adorn website, search through their online catalog for just the right pieces to compliment your look, and place your order.  Your jewelry arrives two business days before the wedding, and comes with return packaging to send it back.  Best of all, our friends get 25% off! Just use promo code SNAA016 at checkout!!

View the Full-Size Adorn Promo Flyer

Remember, use promo code SNAA016 to receive 25% OFF!!

Tell the Men You Love: Choking Will Kill Them

This weekend, I attended the Association of Bridal Consultants Florida State Conference, where one of the seminars was a CPR certification class.  Almost 3,000 people die in the U.S. each year due to choking.  The good news is, the Heimlich Manuever, the traditional treatment for choking, is extremely effective in saving thousands of lives each year. However, there is one catch:  You have to ask for help!

We were told that more women suffer from choking (probably because we talk so much while eating so fast!) but more men die from choking.  The reason?  Men won't ask for help.  They go somewhere, usually the restroom, and think that they can use their finger to dislodge the food they are choking on.   90% of men who die of choking do so on a bathroom floor, alone.

Please pass this message along to all the men in your life!  If you are interested in CPR/Rescue Breathing/Choking Rescue classes in North Florida, check out the local American Red Cross website.

Hot or not?

What bride doesn't want to have great hair for their hairstylist to brag about on their wedding day? Even though you may not be doing your hair on your big day, it's still nice for the stylist to have an easy-to-work with mane that isn't overdried or full of breakage. There are tons of hair care products that claim to reduce the wear and tear that daily conditions put on your hair. While some of those may actually live up to what they say, you are really in control of the majority of damage that your tresses undergo. You ask, "How is that?" Well, my friend, it all comes down to heat exposure. If you are the kind of gal that takes a hot shower every day, followed by blow drying and straightening and/or rolling, chances are you're hair could stand a break.

You may think you have no other options, but you would be surprised to learn there are actually many alternatives if you get creative. Instead of a hot shower, maybe try warm water. From personal experience, I have found that when I rinse my hair with cool water, after about a week, I had fewer dead ends. Next in the process, you could attempt using the cool setting for drying your hair, just be careful with letting the ends of your hair beat in the wind, as this is also very rough on your locks. When it comes to straighteners and rollers, there really is no easy way around it. If you want straight-as-a-board hair, or you just love having that Barbie bounce, you've got to do what you've got to do. I would suggest testing out a few new styles. I have recently discovered that a side braid is very stylish and doable, but I don't have to actually do anything to my hair before braiding it. Another personal favorite of mine is having tousled hair. Some may be afraid of not being able to pull it off, but if you don't try it, you'll never know!

So, don't forget... you have the power! When in doubt about styling or tips, don't be afraid to search the internet. Fifty percent of the world is made up of women. The chances that some of those women are wondering the same things as you are highly possible!

(photo from TheKnot.com)

Coming Soon: Jennifer & Karl

Jennifer and Karl are getting married in September!  These are some of their awesome engagement photos by Michelle Dearing of Oeil Photography:

Check out more of the fabulous images on Michelle's blog: http://oeilphotography.blogspot.com/2009/07/karl-jennifer.html

Spotlight: La Terra Resort and Spa

Recently, the girls and I took a little trip down to the World Golf Village to re-visit Laterra Resort and Spa.  We did a wedding at this venue back in October, 2006 - how time flies!

The beautiful Mediterranean-style architecture is an elegant backdrop.  Can you imagine arriving under this porte-cochere in a horse-drawn carriage or antique Rolls Royce?

The outdoor lobby area is available for wedding receptions. as is the lawn/pool area.  Ceremonies can be held facing the stunning fountain, or the dramatic arches of the building.

Laterra is a beautiful property, but its only drawback is the lack of indoor space.  If you consider hosting an event there, be sure to consider the weather!

However, the added bonus is that the guest accommodations consist of 1 bedroom-, 2 bedroom-, and 3 bedroom-suites with full kitchens, which are great for families.

And of course, the best bonus is the Spa!  While we didn't take any photos inside, the relaxation room is to die for - a circular room with a water/rain feature from floor to ceiling.  Amazing!  And the floating cabanas over the koi pond look heavenly for a massage.

Laterra does not have on-site catering, so everything must be brought in, including tables and chairs.  For more information about rentals, contact Susan at (866) 828-3772.

Love Notes...Lauren + Jeff (07.11.09)

I just love getting notes from my happy couples (and their families!) after weddings.

Heather, just wanted to offer a big thank you for all your help with Lauren and Jeff’s wedding.  You truly helped us create a wonderful atmosphere and allowed us to enjoy it!  We have had nothing short of unbelievable feedback!

- Les, Father of the Bride

I just wanted to send a quick thank you to everyone for helping make my wedding day so special.   It was the best weekend and it wouldn't have been the same without everyone's help along the way!  I just got back to the office today and have emails, letters and voicemails from friends and family raving about the wedding from start to finish (flowers, hair, makeup, music, food, etc....literally everything!).  Everyone said it was the best wedding and that they had a blast.

I have lots of friends getting engaged so when they ask, I will be sure to send recommendations!

Lauren, bride

(this photo is one of Lauren and Jeff's engagement photos by the super-talented Agnes Lopez)

Love Note: Kristen + Sam

We just got a  comment card back from our wonderful April 18th wedding couple!  Here are Kristen's remarks: Would you recommend our services to others?

Yes

Please tell us about your experience with First Coast Weddings and Events:

Great experience - from start to finish! Heather & staff are professional and available - all appointments happened as planned.  Most importantly - Heather executed on everything we planned and more.  Our wedding looked even better than I imagined! On our big day we had no worries - any issue that came up was handled immediately.  We are so pleased and blessed to have found Heather/First Coast Weddings and Events.

Is there anything particular we can do to improve our services in the future?

Not at all - I felt that everything /every interaction was professional and executed flawlessly!

PS - Thanks to Melanie too for all of your help!