Archive for February, 2009

Las Vegas Welcomes CaterSource & Event Solutions 2009

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009


What do you get when you combine thousands of people; chefs, catering professionals, event planners, designers, entertainers, decor suppliers and more and bring them to Las Vegas?


You get an amazing 4 day event filled with education, inspiration and fun called CaterSource/Event Solutions 2009″. It’s sponsored by National Association of Catering Executives (NACE), of which I am a member, Event Solutions and Catersource Magazines.

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge will be attending this conference this week. I’ll be out of the office Sunday through Wednesday learning new ideas to better my business and planning, creative skills, getting inspired by professionals from all aspects of the catering and event planning business. On the trade show floor, I’ll be seeing amazing new ideas in decor, tasting and experiencing great new food and beverage products and presentation ideas, checking out cool new event rentals, lighting and more and attending some cool events to see how it all amazingly comes together.

Oh, and meeting tons of other incredibly talented, creative and dedicated wedding, food and catering & event professionals from around the country and beyond; sharing stories, ideas and more.

Very lucky to have this opportunity on annual basis here in Las Vegas to attend for another year.

So excited to bring back more great ideas for all of you. Have a great week!

Las Vegas Wedding Concierge Featured Again as Las Vegas Wedding Expert in Luxury "Your Wedding Day Magazine"

Friday, February 20th, 2009

Your Wedding Day Magazine, Spring 2009 Issue

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is so delighted to tell you that I am quoted as the featured Las Vegas Wedding Expert in a fabulous “Destinations” article in one of my absolute favorite luxury wedding magazines, “Your Wedding Day”!

The Spring 2009 issue has truly outdone itself and proves that you can improve on perfection. Kudos!

Our fabulous city was given the right and proper credit due as a “luxury wedding destination” in their “Destination” segment right along with Oahu, Hawaii, Riviera Maya for starters.

“Take in a fabulous show”, as I am credited as saying, at Beatle’s LOVE at The Mirage, have a swank, sexy and cosmopolitan wedding at the chic Red Rock Resort on the west side of town and shop in Style at Wynn Las Vegas are among some of the hot picks the article says to experience.

This stunning publication, based in Santa Barbara, California, is a true style setter showcasing the most fashion forward and cutting edge designs in gowns, decor and more by the country’s most sought after wedding professionals and venues. The photography and creative design just makes you want to linger a little longer on each and every page.

I am honored to count myself among their carefully selected roster of “YWD Preferred Resources” of wedding and event professionals in California, in Las Vegas and across the country.

Thanks to Harmony Walton (also owner of the Bridal Bar) for including me in this great article and showing off the sexy, savvy, “shiny” (like that one) and stylish Las Vegas that I love to brides looking for an amazing and memorable wedding weekend.

Speaking of weekends, hope yours is a Stylish one too!

"Bedazzle My Bonbons": Delicious, Dazzling, Memorable Wedding Idea!

Thursday, February 19th, 2009


Images: Bedazzle My Bonbons.com

Bring on the Glitter & Bedazzle my Bonbons!

Gorgeous, delicious (they really are & my hips don’t lie), dazzling gourmet chocolate truffles that really make a statement are another fabulous find I wanted to share with you to notch up your wedding style in Style!!

“You eat the entire ball, glitter and all” as they say on their website.

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge LOVES them. THESE ARE SOOOO VEGAS, BABY!

Great thing about these really delicious high quality bon bons is that they make a great Style impact by glamming up your reception dessert presentation or a signature drink (as these images show) or as a final glittering send off with your guests at a very reasonable cost!

Check them out! With so many fun colors to choose from you can have a great time customizing to your color palette. I LOVE the bedazzled chocolate lollipops too!

I think these would be so much fun at a holiday wedding-and have a “Bedazzling Bon Bon Chocolate Christmas Tree” where guests would enjoy picking the jeweled ornament-like chocolates off the tree. Haven’t figured out yet how to hang them…but I will!

I remember the reaction of all in attendance at an ISES Las Vegas event held here last March where I saw them the first time and we all had so much fun with them (including making pink sparkly lip gloss from the coating). I saw them again at The Special Event Show again this year.

But, point is, if you can bring elements into your wedding that evoke positive memories for you and your guests a YEAR later, then you definitely will have planned and invested well in a successful event.

"LA Photo Party" Photo Booth-Great Entertainment & Memories at Your Wedding!

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009


From LA Photo Party.com

I am all about having fun at weddings and parties and finding ideas for you that will delight your guests, make your celebration a memorable one and provide great memories too.

When Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge attend The Special Event Show last month, I found the LA Photo Party Booth and instantly fell in love with their “photo booth without walls” concept.

I love their tag line, “bringing happiness to the people – one supersized photo booth photo at a time”.

The whole setup is very clean and modern and looks just like a studio setup. With a white only background, it lets the subjects shine. Without the walls, 10 friends at a time can get into the action and have a blast dressing up with all kinds of fun accessories.

The camera can take a picture every 5 seconds so you get that real energy and feel of being in a photo studio. It’s so much fun, adds an extra dimension of photographic memories in addition to your wedding photography.

They print the best shot of your “session” right on the spot on high quality photo paper and they look fantastic. Custom photo frames are available as upgrade to enhance the print “favor” your guests will get.

Bravo TV has used this LA Photo Party at one of their events as are tons of other big name companies, but this is DEFINITELY something I would love to see YOU enjoy at your wedding.

The cost is competitive with the traditional photo booths that have an attendant and there are different packages based on number of prints and additional service and accessory upgrades that can enhance the experience even more. It’s not inexpensive, but I strongly believe the value of an amazing interactive idea like this photo booth pays for itself where you and your guests can make some great memories.

You want to make sure you also work with both your band or DJ and your photographer! Let them know so they can prepared and fine tune their performance and their coverage of the event when additional entertainment or specialized photography like this is involved. You still want your guests dancing and while also having fun at the booth and enjoying every element of the party. Photographers will want to know because then they can focus more on documenting you and your guests as opposed to posed reception shots. Your wedding consultant ,entertainment company and photographer all will assist you in planning to ensure this is done effectively so both get the attention they deserve and you get the full value and credit for being so innovative!

So, do you think you and your guests would love this idea as much as I do? Let me know!

"Vegas Deluxe Blog" Reports on Vegas Valentine’s with the Rich & Famous!

Monday, February 16th, 2009
Vegas knows romance and we know how to do it right…in CELEBRITY STYLE!

Robin Leach, of Mr. “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” fame, who writes one of Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge’s favorite Vegas lifestyle blogs, Vegas Deluxe, about all the fabulous celebrities and luxe lifestyle of parties, shopping and shmoozing here, had a great entry on February 13th about Valentine’s Day, the Hollywood/Vegas Way!

Check it out Robin’s star studded Vegas Valentine post here and enjoy all the photos (these were all found on Vegas Deluxe Blog) and the great romantic gossip that Robin has to share!)

What a Fabulous Proposal Idea!
Valentine’s Day at The Ritz Carlton, Lake Las Vegas
Photo: Ritz Carlton
Heart Melting Chocolate. Love the presentation!
Photo: MGM Mirage
Perfect Treat for Valentine’s & Newlyweds
A Sexy, Romantic Bath at The Ritz Carlton | Photo: Ritz Carlton

Weddings on Film-All You Need is Love, Actually

Saturday, February 14th, 2009


One of Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge’s favorite cinematic wedding scenes is from the 2003 movie “Love, Actually”. starring Hugh Grant and Keira Knightly. I smile every time I watch this scene (I do love the whole movie too) & thought it would be perfect to share with you on Valentine’s Day!

Ceremonies are meant to be reverent, yes, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t interject some of your own style in to them and have some fun to surprise and delight your guests.

You may not always be able to work in the choir, lead singer, instruments and exceptionally cool, “with it” priest, but you can choose music that is unconventional or take traditional songs and make them modern, like entering to an electronic version of the “Wedding March” a la Jimmy Hendrix.

No matter what other ingredients you use to make your own wedding cinematic moments, remember that “All You Need is Love” is the most important:)

Happy Valentines Day-Get the Message?!

Saturday, February 14th, 2009

Photo originally uploaded on Flickr by “Acordova”
This is based on Current Marketing Campaign for Dentyne Gum

Happy Valentine’s Day…

From Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge in fabulous Las Vegas Nevada. LOVE is definitely in the air today in “The Wedding Capital of the World”!

I hope that all of you, my very dear “diary” readers who have shown me and my blog such love and support by coming to visit, commenting, etc plus all of my friends and new colleagues in the wedding and events industry, have a wonderful and happy “hearts day” today!

And, as much as I REALLY LOVE all the amazing Social Media and connections I’ve made online lately, I’m going to take a cue from the message from the latest Dentyne Gum marketing campaign which I think is so smart & clever.

I’m going to “Power Down, Pucker Up and Make Some Face Time” with the love of my life, my real-time, real-life Valentine, Mr. Moore:)! I encourage you to share “the Original Instant Message”, a kiss or ?, with the real life, off-line Valentine(s) in your life. Don’t forget to give your Mom, your dad, brother, sister and friends some “Face Time” if you are lucky enough to have them close by.

And Brides and Grooms: Whatever stage of planning you are in, but especially those of you now immersed in the online wedding universe of website, blogs, chat rooms, Face books, and twittering; put the mouse down, turn the computer off and celebrate love for love’s sake with your guy for the day. Actually try and make a point of having a “Valentine’s Day” break regularly during the planning. It’s good for you:)

If you are on or Near the Strip in Vegas this weekend here are a few Vegas Valentine’s “Face Time” ideas….
  • Enjoy a Romantic Gondola Ride at The Venetian Resort.
  • “All You Really Need is LOVE” at the “BeatlesLove” show by “Cirque de Soleil” at Mirage.
  • Head over to the Bellagio Resort to indulge in many heart’s delights from the beautiful Conservatory to sharing a divine dessert crepe or hand made chocolate at Jean-Phillipe Pattiserie. Marvel at the chocolate fountain. Then, stop by the Fontana Bar, enjoy some great music and get a first class seat to view the romantic Bellagio Fountains (still one of my most favorite things to see in Las Vegas).
  • A very sexy, intimate and seductive evening of dining and entertainment at Cat House in the LUXOR
  • Serious “Face Time” gets underway at sexy, sultry nightclubs like TAO, TRYST, XS, PURE Tabu LAX and Noir Bar
  • Stay in Order Room Service (don’t forget the bubbly & chocolate dipped strawberries), and catch some romantic comedies on TV.
Wishing you all LOTS OF LOVE AND LUCK this February 14th.
Tracey X0

All You Need is Love, Cupcake!

Friday, February 13th, 2009

Oh does Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge LOVE these!

Just in time for Valentine’s day, Retro Bakery in Las Vegas gets in the holiday spirit.

Available with 24 hours notice at Retro Bakery OR in the case from Feb. 11-14 (at no extra charge during those days)!

Now that is what I call “Sweet Lovin’”!

I need to take a trip up to Retro Bakery for one of these and also because I just love their “classic Vegas retro” style of their website and the store. Plus, they are fun to follow on Twitter!

If that wasn’t great enough they have all these great “Memory Lane” cupcakes like “Cookies & Cream” cupcakes and breakfast varieties like a “Coffee & Doughnut” cupcakes that is a glazed vanilla cake doughnut with a dollop of coffee cream icing. Come on now, who could not get their frown turned upside down with one of those?

Yes, they make custom cupcakes for showers, weddings and more! I found all kinds of goodie images on their Flickr site (the link is on their site as well as to their Face book page, etc.)

Retro Bakery is located at 7785 N. Durango Dr. #130, Las Vegas, NV 89131 | Phone: 702-586-3740

Seeking Your Help for a Better Blog/Website Experience

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge’s friend and fellow wedding planner, Emilie Duncan of Emillie Duncan Events in Ohio has put together a short questionnaire about what attracts you, as a reader, to our websites and/or blogs. Is it the content, the images? We want to know the answers so we can better serve your interests and needs for getting the information you seek in researching quality wedding professionals for your event.

I am looking forward to hearing the results of this survey and encourage you to take part. I am currently in the stages of redesigning and upgrading my blog and these results may certainly help in guiding me in creating the best and most productive site experience when you visit the new blog and my website.

So, thank you in advance for your participation and please do let your friends know about this to help get a healthy amount of quality feedback.

Tracey

*****************************

I promise, this will only take a minute of your time! If you wouldn’t mind, please click on the link below and answer 9 quick, easy questions about different design aspects of wedding vendor’s websites.

Wedding Vendor Website Survey

We won’t record anything about you other than what state or country you are from - we don’t even ask for your email address so no spam or anything like that.

You will likely see this link on lots of other blogs and sites - this survey is being shared all over the blog-o-sphere so please take the survey only once.

If you have additional comments on the subject, please feel free to email me with those and I will share them with the other wedding vendors who are participating! We can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

(If you are a wedding vendor and would like to participate, just copy this post to your blog and email the link to emilie {@} emilieduncan {.} com - I will send you the results once we have closed the survey in March)

Qualified & Quality Wedding Consultants Don’t Come CHEAP

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

My friend Andy Ebon of The Wedding Marketing Blog, one of my must-reads on my blog list, posted an entry recently about a “Simple Defense Against Price Cutters”.


It’s a great article but it was this part that made the most impact on me. Andy writes…

“My friend, Robbie Schlosser (Magnolia Jazz Band) reminded me of an old strategy used by barbershops against their price slashing competition.

Robbie recalled a barbershop sign-“Haircut $5?, and next door another shop advertised “We fix $5 haircuts”.

And then, “With haircuts, one gets a second chance. With weddings, there is no ‘do-over.’ And with some categories of wedding services, the risk of failure is simply not worth the money ’saved.”

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge can tell you right here, right now, that Wedding Consultants fall into this category! The risk you take when working with a cheap price-cutter IS going to prove to be a “penny wise, pound foolish” experience.

Generally, someone who is “cheap”, not “inexpensive” or “affordable” but CHEAP is for a reason. And whether it’s because they are sacrificing on either quality of product or service, do you really want to take the chance that it will be your wedding that is sacrificed. No? I didn’t think so!

A Wedding Consultant wih a quality business is one that, at minimum, has (or works for one that has) a valid business license and liability insurance. They posses and maintain an inventory of the proper tools to plan and direct a wedding (like keeping a stocked wedding emergency kit). In addition to skills in budget planning, logistics, etc., they took some education program to learn and comprehend the procedures and nuances of event planning and current trends and administer that advice to you to help you plan a successful event. They also understand how to direct a smoothly run wedding and handle things calmly and graciously under fire.

All these things require some investment in time and money. And yes, you will pay more for it!

I can’t tell you how many times I have read horror stories of brides on various blogs that were the sorry result of choosing a cheap, newly married and sudden “Expert Day of Coordinator” they just “totally bonded with” on the “insert wedding website message board name here.” So much money wasted by going for the CHEAP “buddy”. Where was that buddy for you when you really needed them? It is heartbreaking to read these and worse, to hear them trying to rationalize their hurt.

If they had researched just a bit more to find the most highly qualified planner in a price range they could afford (even a well trained associate that works for a much more experienced planner) they would have learned ways to get even better value and style in their wedding for their budget, piece of mind that a professional is handling their event and a quality of service experience and you can’ get that CHEAP my friends.

Don’t be “penny wise and pound foolish”. In this economy, your dollars are more precious than ever so ensure that you spend them WISELY with a professional who will get it right the first time!