Is your bride a lover of all that glitters?  Does she want something bang on trend and wants to make a statement?  Does she have the funds to pull it off?

Well then…She might be interested in the new collection from Tiffany & Co.

I think only Tiffany & Co. could pull off this stunning collection from The Great Gatsby.  The pieces are absolutely gorgeous! I have always been fascinated by the 1920′s era.  The glitz the glam, the parties, and the passion of it all.

Be prepared to sit back and drool a little

The Great Gatsby Collection Savoy Headpiece is priced at $220,000 CDN

The Great Gatsby Collection Yellow Diamond Daisy Brooch $55,000 CDN

The Great Gatsby Collection Diamond Flower Ring $962,500 CDN

The Great Gatsby Collection Chandelier Earrings $300,000 CDN

The Great Gatsby Collection Aquamarine Necklace $200,000 CDN

The Great Gatsby Collection Seed Pearl Bracelet $190,000 CDN

When Danielle and I attend Engage!13 at the stunning Biltmore Estates in June, the Gala will be a Gatsby inspired theme.  I wonder if Tiffany & Co. would be interested in loaning me a piece or two for the evening? A girl’s gotta put it out to the universe, right? LOL

Palace Resorts has everything you need for an authentic Indian wedding. Whatever you envision for your destination wedding, our WPIC certified wedding planners can bring it to life with endless options to customize your ceremony and ensure your wishes, traditions and needs are fulfilled. Whether you seek authentic menu options, a choice of breathtaking venues, mehndi and henna artists or a mandap for your wedding stage, we’ll work closely with you to make sure every detail reflects your culture. We have accommodated weddings of all kinds and cultures in the past.  Now we have put together an Indian Wedding package you can offer to your brides and grooms.

They say the more the merrier, and that’s definitely true at Palace Resorts. Celebrating one of the most important days in someone’s life is an occasion to be shared with loved ones. Guests of the bride and groom can take advantage of attractive incentives when booking a group with us, as we are pleased to offer room credits that can be applied toward upgrades, event functions and more. One of the most requested features is already included in our Indian weddings—unlimited functions, so there’s no need to worry about accommodating an event or last-minute changes.

Of course, Indian weddings at Palace Resorts also include everything we’re famous for: beautiful wedding ceremonies, all-inclusive amenities, exceptional benefits and more, all at rates that are surprisingly accessible.

With extensive experience planning weddings for couples of every culture and background, we are able to bring the same dedication to excellence and attention to detail in our Indian weddings. Find out more about our Indian weddings by visiting our site at www.palaceresorts.com/weddings.

WPIC Palace Wedding Team 2012

Since we are Palace Resorts this week, it seems only fitting that we feature them on the Blog this week!

We have been to Palace Resorts twice to WPIC-train their wonderful on-site Wedding Coordinators, once in 2010 and again in 2012.  Here is what they had to say:

Weddings at Palace Resorts have been approved by the elated smiles of countless brides, grooms and their families over the years, but did you know our weddings have also been approved by a higher authority? The team of wedding planners at Palace Resorts had the privilege of training with the experts at WPIC, and it was quite an experience! Our wedding planners appreciated the opportunity to get the best training available and look forward to working with WPIC in the future to continually ensure the highest standards of quality and service.

We’re always looking for ways to improve our offerings and provide the most dedicated and professional service possible. The rigorous training process of WPIC helps us to maintain the excellence in destination weddings for which Palace Resorts is famous.

“The WPIC learning experience is such a valuable program for us, it keeps us up-to-date on everything we need to know in the constantly evolving world of destination weddings,” said one Palace Resorts wedding planner. “Besides the training, we also have access to more information online, so I always have somewhere to turn. Having these great resources available really helps when it comes to turning dream weddings into realities.”

Check out their resorts and wedding offerings at www.palaceresorts.com

WPIC/Palace Class of 2010

As Wedding Planners, we should always know what is new and fun in the wedding world, so we can suggest it to our clients.  It is so rare to find ways for the groom to personalize his look on the wedding day, I thought I would share something with all of you.  (For more ideas, see a prior post about personalizing the wedding for the groom.)

The Knot Theory Fashion House has some amazing innovative ideas for neckties and bowties.

The 16-way bow tie

Embroidered or colored Windsor Knot tie cuffs. Grooms can have their wedding logo, initials, date, anything they want embroidered on the cuff.

The Mustache bow tie

The Duel tie

The Origami bow tie

To shop for these and more looks, visit www.knotheory.com

You spend months and months assisting your clients with planning the Big Day only to have it tainted by something you didn’t consider – security.  Planning for wedding security is not an arduous task and can mean the difference between the day running smooth or it turning out to be a disaster. When considering Wedding security, there are four areas to focus on.

Room Security:
When broken down, Room Security consists of having security personnel present during the entire function. Security personnel can be either plain clothed or fully uniformed. It can be one guard or multiple guards. It simply comes down to assessing the number of guests vs. your clients’ budget. A simple rule of thumb is 1 guard per every 50 – 75 guests. The basic function of Room Security is to provide surveillance from the time the guests arrive through to departure. Typically Room Security personnel do not mingle with the guests. Their predominant function is to keep a watchful eye as the event unfolds.

Guest / Concierge Security:
Although this can be an extension of the Room Security, Guest/Concierge Security can take on a more active role. Their duties may include; mingling with the guests, providing information and direction, ushering throughout the event and escorting the guests’ to their vehicles when it is over. Your client may choose to have Guest/Concierge Security personify a presence (in full uniform) or act inconspicuous (suit or suit jacket).

Gift Security:
Gift security is simply the secure method of ensuring that the gifts, proceeds, cards and donations are protected. The most effective way of doing this is to utilize a safe. The safe should be large enough so that an intruder (and occasionally a guest) does not walk away with it. The safe should have a depository feature that permits envelopes and donations to be dropped through a rotary slot on the top, as well as a combination/key chamber below that allows for later access. The safe should be large enough to securely house all of the envelopes from the event.

Armoured Car Services:
Gaining in popularity, this is a more specialized service that can work in conjunction with Gift Security.  An armoured car company can pick up the safe or wedding proceeds at the end of the evening, store them overnight (or longer) and deliver them to a pre-determined location at a point in the future. The armoured car company can also offer storage while your clients go on their honeymoon, keeping the donations and proceeds safe while they are away.

Ideally, the safety of a wedding is a top priority and is often overlooked. Choosing one or more of these levels of security can certainly ensure that your clients’ day unfolds without any issues.

INKAS® offers a variety of Wedding Security Packages including all of the services mentioned above and can customize services to your needs.  Please contact Debbie (416) 744-3322 ext. 262 or  Debbie.k@inkas.ca for more details.

Photo by NikkoPhotography.com

There is a great saying:

“If you think hiring a Professional is expensive, wait until you hire an Amateur.”
-Red Adair

We can speak for days about the cost of NOT hiring a trained, certified wedding planner, but today let’s talk about what it actually costs to hire a wedding planner.

The average cost of wedding services varies a little across this great country of ours due to demand, experience, and the cost of running a business in the area the wedding planner is operating in.  Some wedding planners have to buy permits for each area they work in, others do not.  Some areas have much higher marketing costs, while others have minimal marketing costs, so here is a guideline to show what average costs are.

Remember:  Prices will be higher depending on the level of experience of the wedding coordinator and the level of complexity of the wedding.

Average cost of hiring a Wedding Planner across Canada:

CONSULTING

Description of Service: Consulting is for couples who need help getting started or who have hit a road-block in their wedding planning. Consulting can be a one-time meeting or an on-going service.  A normal session takes 2 hours and includes a telephone consultation prior to meeting in person.

Cost:

• Cities: $150 for the first hour, $50-100 each additional hour.
• Towns: $100 for first hour $50 each additional hour.

MONTH-OF COORDINATION SERVICES

Description of Service: This is the most common service of a wedding planner.  This service is for those who have planned everything themselves and need someone to help finalize the details and coordinate the actual wedding day for them.  Without a professional wedding planner handling all the details, who will make sure everything you planned actually happens?

Cost:

• Vancouver, BC $1500+
• Edmonton, AB $800-1500+
• Red Deer, AB & surrounding areas  $600-1000+
• Calgary, AB $800-1500+
• Sakatoon, SK $600-1000+
• Regina, SK $600-1000+
• Winnipeg, MB $600-1000+
• Waterloo, ON $600-1000+
• Toronto, ON $800-1500+
• Niagara, ON $800-1500+
• Montreal, QC $800-1500+
• Moncton, NB $600-1000+
• Charlottetown, PE $600-1000+
• Halifax, NS $600-1000+
• St. John’s, NL $600-1000+

**BEWARE of people charging less than these prices!  They are undercutting the industry and it is usually due to a lack of experience or training.

FULL CORDINATION

Description of Service: This service is for couples who would like a wedding coordinator working with them throughout the entire wedding planning process.

Cost:

• 10-15% of your total wedding budget is the average cost of a wedding planner.
• They may charge using the percentage model or they may charge a flat fee.  Flat fees for Full Coordination are $2500-5500, based on area and experience.
• If you require the design services of your wedding coordinator, you will also be charged a “Design Fee” as well.

BEWARE of people charging less than these prices!  They are undercutting the industry and it is usually due to a lack of experience or training.  There have been many scams recently where “professionals” have offered rock-bottom pricing in order to secure clients and then closed up shop before the clients’ weddings, taking their money with them.

When someone asks me, “Where is your favourite place in the world?”, I immediately say, South Florida.  So when BizBash has their yearly conference in Ft. Lauderdale, you can bet Danielle and I are there!

This year they shook it up a little bit and had two unique tracks to choose from.  We chose the “Event Innovation” track.  Every year there is also a really great trade-show, with tons of relevant vendors, showing off their goods along with many samples. Linen companies, caterers, rental companies, DJ’s, etc.

The opening party was at a super sweet venue, Off the Hookah Lounge.  Caterers with awesome samples, open bar, belly dancers, street dancers, a band and shisha sessions with about 25 different types of flavours to choose from;  Key Lime, Cake Batter, Strawberry, Margarita, just to name a few were strategically placed around the venue on tables, at the bars and in lounge areas.

Tracey Manailescu at BizBash Ft. Lauderdale opening party.

As you can see from the photo above, attending these events can be tough, but someone’s gotta do it

As usual,  we ran into WPIC Alumni from Bahamas.  This year it was, Lesley Pinder, of Treisia Eventz  (The last time we saw her was in October in Las Vegas, at Wedding MBA.)

I loved this display by Luxe Event Rentals!

Live Art by Julie (Salvador Live!)

Photo by: BrightRoom Body Painting model is from Chad Everett of Event Wow Factor, she is dishing out Lamb Cupcakes from Aaron’s Catering.

Patron Tequila had a make-your- own Margarita station, and this giant wall for tequila tasting (chocolate infused, coffee infused, agave dark, etc.).

Photo by: BrightRoom

Photo by: BrightRoom

We also had an opportunity to get headshots done by BrightRoom at a booth. Which is a great option for people who need new ones!

These are ours…

Our track had 10 speakers give a speedy delivery on topics relevant to weddings or events. There were some great presenters, but a few that I wish had more time to deliver more detailed seminars.

Half time at the Orange Bowl

A panel on Media Secrets

People always ask us, why do you attend so many conferences?  Well, each one has a different perspective, great for sourcing new trends, finding inspiration and staying current in the industry. We represent our WPIC Alumni, and there are 4200 of them…  Conferences are so important for networking, and learning.  That is why even the Government of Canada recognizes their value, and lets you write-off two each year!

*All photos are taken by Tracey Manailescu unless otherwise stated.