My apologies to all of you for dropping off the posting bandwagon this week-
Sometimes life happens and we get sucked up in it. No excuses-just an explanation.
Stay tuned for more today/tomorrow and I’ll be back better than ever.
Your humble Wedding Concierge Have a Stylish Day!
Archive for March, 2007
Blog Anemia
Friday, March 30th, 2007Off to the WPPI Photographer’s Convention at Paris, Las Vegas
Monday, March 26th, 2007I am off to attend the tradeshow at the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographer’s International) Annual Convention & Tradeshow. Its at Ballys/Paris, Las Vegas this year.
I’m excited to see all the new and exciting things in wedding photography.
Stay tuned for all the news…Oh and i’ll also include a review of the new Monty Python musical “Spam-A-Lot” at the Wynn, Las Vegas Resort as well!
Have a Stylish day!
Wonderful Grafitti takes wedding personalization "Black Tie"
Friday, March 23rd, 2007The wonderful folks at “Wonderful Graffiti” have now added the “Black Tie” collection to their “Wonderful Wedding Graffiti“ line of products.
The “Black Tie” line is formal elegance and high STYLE for those elegant tuxedoed affairs. It’s a sophisticated way to personalize your wedding (or event) with minimal fuss for your ceremony or reception venue but with a huge visual impact for a very reasonable cost.
The collection includes Easles, glassware decals, waitstaff buttons (makes the servers feel like part of the party), lollipop invitations (very inventive), fabric banners (great for sweetheart table), limousine decals, menus, high quality bathroom towels (nice touch) and much more.
“Wonderful Graffiti is very thin pieces of matte vinyl that look “printed” when applied to most smooth surfaces.Your entire wedding Graffiti design arrives on one sheet of transfer paper. Just tape the transfer paper into place, burnish it down and peel it away. Only the individual letters and graphic elements remain. Wonderful Graffiti removes quickly, and won’t harm underlying surfaces.”-Wonderful Graffiti Website.
Please assure your ceremony and venue coordinators (don’t forget limousine & rental company too) that their walls, dancefloors, rentals, glassware or other surfaces will not be compromised, not to mention that it will make their space look fantastic in pictures too!!
Have a Stylish Weekend!
Great Wedding Video-Having the "Time of Their Life"
Thursday, March 22nd, 2007My wedding coordinator friend Nikki LaPrudhomme of “Special Occasions by Nikki” in LA, posted this wonderful “last dance” video on her blog that she found on YouTube. It shows a couple who choreographed an incredible performance to “Iv’e had the Time of My Life” from the movie “Dirty Dancing”.
You know, that famous dance at the end when Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) says “Nobody puts Baby in a Corner” then proceeds to amaze everyone at Kellerman’s with their sexy show stopper! I was 24 years old and fell in love instantly with Mr. Swayze (who didn’t?) & must have watched that movie and that scene so much I blew through at least 2 copies of the video (blush)!
What a great idea for a last dance and the wedding guests had a blast and got in on the whole ending just like in the movie. It brought a huge smile to my face (and I wasn’t even there) and I’m sure they will remember that very special time in their lives as well and enjoy looking back on that video clip for years to come.
With that said, when you plan special moments like these; ones that will be remembered for the images, the sounds and the words, please remember to make room in your wedding budget for a professional videographer. In this day and age of instant video and the role it plays in bringing us together across the miles, I find it so unusual that I have to “sell” the idea of having a wedding video to couples.
Find a a creative and professional videographer with a style you find best and they will create a truly memorable and personalized wedding movie for you. Many of these “wedding movies” have artistic and production values that are Hollywood standard..these are not your parent’s wedding videos!!
With memories like the one above, it would be a shame to not capture “The Time of Your Life” at your wedding on video. You can find a professional videographer in your area by visiting the WEVA (Wedding & Event Videographer’s Association) website.
Have a Stylish Day!!
Destination Planning Trip Advice Worth Packing!
Tuesday, March 20th, 2007Wendy Dahl of “Dahl Wedding Company” provided an excellent article on “The Bride & Bloom” website about the importance of having a Destination Wedding Planning Trip or what some people call a “Scouting Trip”. Not everyone planning a destination wedding has the luxury of arranging such a thing due to funds or time away from work, but if you are able to work at least one weekend visit to your destination wedding location, it is money & time well invested.
You can read the entire article here so I don’t go into blog post overload, but i’ll use my own words here to sum up and add some of my own comments as well…
Idea Phase-Consider crucial details such as guest list size, season, budget, formality, etc.
Get Organized-Get yourself some binders, plastic sleeves & dividers, create a wedding planning folder on your computer to store photos, emails, menus, contracts, etc.
Research, Research-The world and the web is a mouse click away to discover where you want to go. Visit websites on specific locations you like, visit the travel bureau of countries/states you are interested in to learn more & how your wedding might be affected by weather, culture, etc.
Get Ready for your Planning Trip-Make appointments & prepare questions in advance for the venues/vendors you will be meeting with. Get proper directions to ensure you arrive on time.
The Planning Trip-Schedule meetings in clusters of one location to save travel time. If you are interested in booking, get the paperwork while you are there to save yourself time and/or costly phone calls later or book on the spot if you are ready and sure about your decision.
Of course, the best piece of advice offered by Ms. Dahl and Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge (me), is to hire a local professional wedding planner to assist you with much of the on-site research, planning and legwork. Someone who will guide you to the best and steer you from the worst & help you navigate all the local customs, laws and quircky little details of your destination that can save you from hassles and make every part of your destination wedding planning and wedding a memorable one for all the right reasons.
Some planners, such as myself, do offer consultation only services (in addition to full planning) that can be of great help for those who may simply need some direction with venue/vendor suggestions or a package of 5-10 hours to work with a couple to get crucial details under way before, during & after your planning trip.
And, just like you would research all the venues and vendors in your selected location, make sure to research your selections of wedding planners as well to ensure they are conducting their business in a proper legal, ethical and professional manner.
Have a Stylish Day!
Hotel ZaZa-Please come home with me!
Monday, March 19th, 2007 If there was a hotel that could sum up everything that I love about the experience of staying at a hotel, the Hotel ZaZa in Dallas, TX would be at the top of my list (neck & neck with the Wynn, Las Vegas of course).
This is one place I would not mind getting stranded at for a few days or a week or maybe I should just move in! I must say that if I was a hotel, I would be the Hotel ZaZa.
This luxury, boutique hotel is extravagence, indulgence and every other delicious word I can think of when it comes to describing it. The decor alone is making me swoon!
Hotel ZaZa is known for their “Concept Suites” & their “Magnificent Seven” villa suites that really are the most glamorous and divine rooms I have ever seen. Everyone of them looks like they popped out of the pages of Architectural Digest or Elle Decor. Check out the “Rock Star Suite”!!
The funny thing is, I haven’t even stayed there yet, but oh how I can’t wait to find an excuse to go to Dallas. I will however make sure to check out the newest Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District when I’m there in July!
They do know how to treat their guests and have some incredibly pampering packages for the ladies, the gents and of couse, lovers (whether you have been on your honeymoon for one day or 25 years!) Of course, with romantic surroundings like these, the hotel is a perfect venue for weddings! And yes, if I were getting married (or renewing my vows) in Dallas or Houston, this is where Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge would definately be doing it.
Don’t think Vegas is slouching in the phenomenal suites department though!! Just take a look at The Palms Hotel & Casino Fantasy Suites, The suites at Wynn, Las Vegas, and the Penthouse at the Hard Rock Hotel is off the hook!!
Tracey Invited to join UNLV-TISOH as "Instructor"
Friday, March 16th, 2007 I am so pleased and honored to tell you that yesterday I was invited to become an official “Instructor” with the International School of Hospitality (TISOH) !
I have been a “Guest Faculty” member at the school since 2006 as one of the contributing local industry members in their “Wedding Coordination and Design” Certificate Course and have taught course segments on Vendor Relationships and Cultural Weddings.
As an “Instructor” I look forward to the possibility of being more involved with the course itinerary and exciting new developments for the Wedding Certification Course in the future.
I can’t tell you how excited and proud I am that our city offers a school and a course like this that combines course segments taught by UNLV School of Hospitality professors and local industry professionals. Students receive interns within top resorts and companies in Las Vegas and many go on to retain full employment in our local wedding, catering/conference & Concierge industry
The International School of Hospitality operates its certificate programs in cooperation with the Hospitality Outreach Services Division of UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. Participants who successfully complete the prescribed course of study in their enrolled certificate programs are awarded TISOH/UNLV certificates.
Cool Ideas & Sweet Sendoffs-Grown Up!
Thursday, March 15th, 2007I just love the internet and blogging! It truly is amazing what I found out there in the world!
It’s March and Las Vegas is already enjoying weather in the mid 80′s:)! So I am thinking about all the fun and cool (literally) new twists on candy bars and personalized sweet tables for the warm weather ahead.
As if someone was reading my mind, one of my favorite “great ideas” newsletters I subscribe to drops this in my lap. ICE CREAM TRUCKS FOR GROWN UPS!!
Yes, you heard me!! Tricked out ice cream trucks and vans stocked full of yummy ice creams with grown up tastes that are making their way across the streets of L.A like “Hearts Challenger” , a speciality truck stocked with international ice cream, candy and toys, Hearts Challenger is available for private events and birthday parties in Los Angeles and will soon be headed towards NYC!
The next one is actually based in England and called “Scoops”! You can see more info on them on a blog called “The Cool Hunter”! “Scoop” girls in sassy outfits serve from this adorable hot pink & black van (the black paint is that special blackboard finish you can grafitti on the van!!). They serve real “grown up” ice cream for big kids like vintage marmalade and Turkish Delight in super chic glossy black Chinese takeout boxes with signature wooden spoons.
Although these two companies are not in the Vegas area, doesn’t mean some clever Wedding Consultant and her fabulous event designer friends can’t make it happen!!
But, if an ice cream van or truck just won’t suit your space, some other “cool” ideas for sweet endings and send offs are:
Gelato Cafe in Las Vegas has stores on both the east and west sides of the city and they make the most delicious Italian Gelatos and sorbets in traditional and even ones with liquor!! Say “la Dolce Vita” with a custom Gelato Bar at your event with a Mobile Gelateria. The service includes setup of the gelato bar, staffing, and the unit holds up to 12 different flavors. With the incredible array of flavors & colors, you can customize your gelato bar to your wedding colors!
Finally, ask your caterer if they offer, or could customize, an interactive ice cream station a la Cold Stone Creamery where you could choose 2 or three custom flavors to be mixed with a variety of “mix-ins” like chocolate covered espresso beans, or chunks of macadamia nuts, etc. by chefs as guests “create” their own special desert.
It’s fun, it’s different, it will make you and your guests smile and all these cool ideas will be a very sweet and fond memory long after the reception.
Enjoy and Have a Stylish Day!!
Love for a Lifetime
Saturday, March 3rd, 2007 As a wedding consultant, I am very fortunate to be a part of a very special day in the lives of two people I have known my entire life.
At the heart of every wedding day is a “marriage” between two people, hopefully soulmates, who stand before their family, their friends and often G-d and vow from this day on to love, honor, cherish, respect, comfort, humor and uplift one another for the rest of their lives.
Saying these words are easy on such a beautiful day with all the hope the future will bring. Living these words throughout the days and years and decades, remembering those vows through great years, good years, bad and really bad years is where true love, lasting love and the love for a lifetime can be found.
There are two very special people in my life who I have had the pleasure of knowing my entire life. They knew me before I knew them actually. Everything I am today, is because of their love, support and example of how to live to live a good marriage.
They are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this month. I have been told that after all these years, it has “been worth staying together and yes, we still love each other very much”.
I wish them many more years of good health, good luck, happiness and joy, pleasure in their children and grandchildren. I wish them many more years of honoring and cherishing one another, respecting and comforting one another and uplifting and humoring one another. Mostly I wish them many more years of love.
*I’ll be back in a week from celebrating a very special anniversary in Toronto! I look forward to catching up with you and a new post on the 12th.
Have a Stylish week!