Wedding Story

If you live in New Mexico and get KOB-TV Eyewitness News 4, and are so inclined, watch the 10 pm news on Friday. You’ll see me talking about wedding planning in the current economic climate.

The Business of Blogging Presentation

This afternoon I gave a presentation at Perfect Wedding Guide’s Albuquerque Wedding Guild luncheon at Marriott Pyramid on the benefit to businesses of blogging.  I appreciate Shauna giving me the opportunity to speak to other event professionals about the marketing tool that is the business blog.

I mentioned to the Guild’s attendees that I would post an outline of my presentation here.  So… without further ado:

 

THE BUSINESS OF BLOGGING

 

What is a “blog”?

- “Blog” is shorthand for “web log.” 

- A website, usually maintained by an   individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. 

- Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order.

How is a blog different from a website?

- A website is static.  A blog is dynamic, changing frequently.

- A website is designed and maintained by a professional designer.  A blog is designed and maintained by you.

- A website reflects your business’ culture and professionalism.  A blog reflects your personality.

How do I get started?

Create a blog with a blog hosting website:

- Blogger: <yourname>.blogspot.com

- WordPress: <yourname>.wordpress.com

- Typepad: <yourname>.typepad.com

What do I write?!

Write what you know:

- Industry trends

- Unique professional experiences

- Local industry observations

- Problem-solving

Writing ideas:

- Serialized lists: Top Ten, New Ideas, Hints & Tips

- Real weddings:   What worked and didn’t, What you learned, What you would do the same, What you would do differently

… of the Month: Vendor, Bride & Groom, Trend, Product/Service

How do I get readers?

- Link from your website

- RSS (really simple syndication) subscription through a reader – e.g.  iGoogle

- Contribute to online discussions – e.g. Yahoo! Answers

- Send “You’ve been blogged” e-mails for reciprocal links

Blogging Tips

- Be positive at all times

- Post consistently – on a regular basis, if possible; e.g.  every Wednesday

- Write as much as you can when you’re feeling creative, then schedule your posts

- Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through

- Use proper grammar and/or find someone to look over your posts

Resources

Best Wedding Blogs

Wedding Blog Awards

Off Beat Bride (a really great example of personality in blogging)

 

Thanks to everyone who was at the luncheon today.  And happy blogging!

Bentley

Wedding Planning Class

On February 10 I began teaching a wedding planning class for Wedding Planning Institute at University of New Mexico Continuing Education.  I count as my students 12 very enthusiastic, professional and creative women.  As we begin to create their businesses, I become more inspired by their ambition.  I encourage anyone interested in the business of wedding planning to consider taking this class.

 

Site visit at Hotel Albuquerque

A Planner’s Wedding

Since I became engaged whenever I tell anyone that I’m planning my own wedding, the first thing they say is, “Is that a good idea?”  and the second is, “I bet you’ll have a big fancy wedding.”

Regarding the first question, my answer is “I don’t know.  I’ve never planned my own wedding before.”

The answer to the second question is a lot easier.  ”No.”  There will be no big fancy wedding, because Sean and I aren’t a big fancy couple.

A wedding should always reflect the personality of the couple.  If you aren’t a white fluffy bride, don’t have a white fluffy wedding.  You will regret it. While you’re eating chicken cordon bleu, you’ll be wishing you had a great big juicy hamburger.   Everytime you look at your wedding photos, you’ll wonder why you look like a meringue.  

Your wedding day is not the day to experiment with your look, your tastes, your personality or your preferences.  Your wedding day is the day to embrace and express who you are.  

Be bold.  Defy tradition.  

Unless you’re traditional.  And in that case, be as traditional as you want to be and don’t let anyone talk you out of it.  

It’s your turn to be queen for a day, take advantage of that.  If you’re lucky, you won’t have a second chance to have the perfect wedding.

Back in the Saddle

Well, I haven’t blogged in ages.  Since October, actually.  Things have been busy.  

In November, the Arc of New Mexico hosted the National Convention of the Arc of the United States.  I was lucky enough to be the event coordinator for all of the local host events. 

In December, my boyfriend, Sean, and I went to Vegas for a getaway – during the ridiculouly bad weather.  Much to my surprise, Sean proposed.  I, of course, said yes.  I’ve spent the last six weeks planning my July wedding.  I have no doubt that my own bride-based adventures will provide plenty of blog fodder, so stay tuned!

Wedding Tip #2 – Vendor Business Cards

Many wedding vendors will want to put their business cards on your guests’ tables during the reception.

Decide whether or not you want this to happen at your wedding and be sure to pass on your wishes to your wedding coordinator and vendors.

Wedding Tip #1 – Cake Flowers

If you are considering using real flowers on your wedding cake, remember that not all flowers are nontoxic.

While organically grown carnations, gardenias, honeysuckle, jasmine, lavender, lilacs, marigolds, pansies, primroses, roses, violets and a few other flowers are edible, many are not.

Please beware that neither your baker nor your florist stick toxic flowers into your cake.

Liz & Aaron’s Wedding

This Saturday, Liz Willard married Aaron Robertson in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Prairie Star.  The backdrop was the Sandia Mountains rising like the Titanic from the Albuquerque’s Rio Grande Valley.  Since Aaron is a classical musician, the ceremony was accompanied by the lush music of a string quartet.  There were two ringbearers, one eight years old and one two years old.  The two year old didn’t exactly make it down the aisle, but certainly provided some comic relief when he threw himself on the ground to eat his bribery cookie.

After the ceremony, guests proceeded to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and wine while the bride and groom had their photographs taken as the sun set.  The reception took place in this gorgeous tent:

Liz and Aaron’s colors were soft pink and moss green.  Their choice of tent decor reflected their style of simple elegance.  At each place setting was the guest favor of a coffee mug customized with Liz & Aaron’s name, a bass clef and their wedding date.  There couldn’t have been a more suitable favor as the bride is the manager of Napoli Coffee and the groom plays the double bass and is one of the sons of Robertson & Sons.

Instead of a guestbook that would only be partially filled with guests names and little else, Liz and Aaron chose to have a “treasure box” for guests to leave their hopes, wishes, memories or thoughts.  The couple will leave their treasure box untouched until their first anniversary.

The cake, made by Unique Cakes by Karyn, went as fast as it could be cut.  I’m not even sure the bridal party had any before seconds were being had.

Altogether, this was one of the most beautiful weddings I have had the privilege to work on.

Thanks for choosing Savoir-Faire Events, Liz and Aaron!

Photo anxiety

In about an hour and a half I will be going to a photo shoot for an NMWP co-op ad in Perfect Wedding Guide.  Needless to say, I’m running around the house in my underthings like a crazy woman trying to figure out what to wear.  What product to use in my hair.  How much – or how little – make-up I should put on.  And this is for a photo that will be – at most – 2 inches big.  I can only imagine how my clients feel on their one-and-only special day.

So, how do you combat the pre-photo stress of your engagement, bridal or wedding photos?  The first thing to keep you from this kind of stress-out is confidence in your photographer.  Be sure that your photographer knows exactly what you expect from them.  And be sure that you are clear about what you can expect from your photographer.  Will they be touching up any blemishes?  Will they be enhancing any colors?  Will they be adding any artistic treatments?

Next, choose your wardrobe in advance of your photo day.  If it is your bridal or wedding photo shoot, you pretty much already know what to wear.  If it is your engagement wedding shoot, wear something timeless that expresses who you are as a person. Remember that most fashion “trends” go the way of bell-bottoms and mood rings.  And while you don’t have to be matchy-matchy with your fiance, be sure that if you’re wearing a summery dress and strappy kitten-heeled sandals that he is not wearing his wedding tux.

Hair and make-up?  Always always always do a dry run of your hair and make-up.  If you are styling yourself, practice fixing your hair and make-up more than once – timing this preparation would be a good idea, too.  If someone else is styling you, you will want to make a dry run appointment with enough time to correct any disparities between your vision and your friend’s/professional’s creation.

And remember that when you are done with wardrobe, hair and make-up, you still want to look like yourself.  The woman your fiance fell in love with in the first place – just maybe a bit sparklier.

-Bentley

Welcome

I have just returned from the Wedding Merchants Business Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.  There were many fascinating sessions about what the 21st bride is looking for.  Connection and communication were mentioned over and over.  To meet this need, Savoir-Faire Events has begun a blog.  So… welcome and I hope to see you back here often.

Bentley Clark, Owner, Savoir-Faire Events