I Just read this article ~ (link is below) was posted quite some time ago, but am reminded everyday of this ongoing issue. How terrible to call it a battle, but when you have put in the back breaking time and effort, I think you have a right to stand up and tell others "WTH do you think you're doing!!!!"
I understand that this is a profession that will never stop growing, and I thank God for that. But the up and coming need to realize that they need to show some respect and smart business sense OF THE PROFESSION!! Trying to lower the standard and our worth is going to get you burried. Willingness to put in the time & effort with an open mind and learn that this business is not a big party, but real work, to stand the test of time.
I'm amazed by the creative talent that is surrounding us and seriously hope that this industry will continue to grow creatively and possitively. There is so much room for growth and the with the help of all the creative geniuses out there, who wouldn't want to be part of it? I see so many facets that just weren't there 20 years ago. Yay! It's only made my job more meaningful and more fun! Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a playground full of fabrics and lights and feathers and flowers. And it's cool.
I am still excited everyday that I am a part of the wedding and event industry and feel blessed. I get giddy before an event like I can't help but to laugh and sing!!! We build such close relationships with our clients that when it's over, my heart hurts that I won't be #1 on thier speed dial. I love when a new idea is being worked out and you can see the excitement in a bride's eyes with a look of "can we really do that?" I love when a Father dances with "his" little girl and isn't afraid to break down and SOB! Or when you get so close to a family that you automatically have Sunday supper on your calendar for the next year.
So, to everyone new to the industry, the absolute best of luck to you all ~ seriously. But please respect the position you're in and never, never think you know it all. Learn something new from each event. Take the time to learn a caterer's job, a rental companies job, a florist job. It's tough, and if you don't know how they function, you're gonna have a pretty hard time with that itinerary of yours!!!
Newbie "Wedding Planners" Plague the Professionals
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday Things We Love
Ok, so it's Tuesday, but it was a very busy weekend and we did work on Monday, which was a holiday, so I'm sure you can forgive us!!!
Sunday was a true celebration ~ 90 fabulous years! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! And it was celebrated in true Italian style. The vendor team on this event was none other than the amazing Mary Araujo, (TVS), Slates Restaurant, Stems at the Palatine, Walker-Lewis, The Linen Shoppe & The Pantages Company.
Enjoy the photos and try not to get too hungry!!!
Slates Restaurant really rocked this event! Great job on the complete design Mary!!!
Sunday was a true celebration ~ 90 fabulous years! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! And it was celebrated in true Italian style. The vendor team on this event was none other than the amazing Mary Araujo, (TVS), Slates Restaurant, Stems at the Palatine, Walker-Lewis, The Linen Shoppe & The Pantages Company.
Enjoy the photos and try not to get too hungry!!!
What a view!!!
Seating for 92 please!
What a table!
Uber fun Kids Table!
Flowers & Fruit!
Don't forget the wine!
YUM! Antipasta station!
Italian Breadsticks
Slates Restaurants Pastry Chef nailed the Italian dessert station.
Refreshing on a hot summer day!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday ~ Things We Love
We LOVE destination weddings!!
After months of searching for just the right look and environment for one of our 2011 brides, we've finally got it! We'll have to save the location for a bit later, but we couldn't be happier for our bride and for the fact that we have this opportunity to work at such an amazing venue!
Somehow there's always a however involved....... We were surprised to learn of the challenges finding lodging for the family, guests and vendors involved for this event. While the venue actually offers guest rooms, they are limited in quantity, leaving us in search of off-site, close in proximity, practical and affordable lodging accommodations. Our search took us from such extremes to pulling in and out of parking lots shaking our heads saying "no no no way" instantly to jaw dropping, posh surroundings potentially unaffordable to many attending. Persistance paid off and we were able to map and chart a range of lodging selections for all attending.
Lesson to be learned ~ When selecting destination venues, refere to thier preferred and suggested vendor list BUT inspect each with care YOURSELF! Several of the preferred vendors were unexceptable by our standards and any standards in general. Weddings are a milestone in life and when choosing a destination venue, the comforts of all attending must be taken into consideration. The Velvet Society takes pride in our standard practice of research, research, research! We highly suggest the same to all.
Happy Travels!
After months of searching for just the right look and environment for one of our 2011 brides, we've finally got it! We'll have to save the location for a bit later, but we couldn't be happier for our bride and for the fact that we have this opportunity to work at such an amazing venue!
Somehow there's always a however involved....... We were surprised to learn of the challenges finding lodging for the family, guests and vendors involved for this event. While the venue actually offers guest rooms, they are limited in quantity, leaving us in search of off-site, close in proximity, practical and affordable lodging accommodations. Our search took us from such extremes to pulling in and out of parking lots shaking our heads saying "no no no way" instantly to jaw dropping, posh surroundings potentially unaffordable to many attending. Persistance paid off and we were able to map and chart a range of lodging selections for all attending.
Lesson to be learned ~ When selecting destination venues, refere to thier preferred and suggested vendor list BUT inspect each with care YOURSELF! Several of the preferred vendors were unexceptable by our standards and any standards in general. Weddings are a milestone in life and when choosing a destination venue, the comforts of all attending must be taken into consideration. The Velvet Society takes pride in our standard practice of research, research, research! We highly suggest the same to all.
Happy Travels!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Rockstars vs Rock Solid Professionals
There are so many wedding and event blogs out there these days that one can certainly become 1) obsessed, 2) a wedding planner in a day or 3) very confused and overwhelmed.
I've also noticed a huge trend in wedding vendors who are wanting it all. Really, should a florist take 13 weddings in a single day? Should a caterer take on 7 weddings in a single day? What kind of staff is that going to give the client? And the overall product? Quality??? I realize that we all have to make a living and support our families ~ but it shouldn't be at the cost of bad business. Excel in what you do best and give each client the attention and quality that they deserve.
I read this article yesturday and thought I'd share. Check it out if you have a minute ~
Rockstars vs Rock Solid Professionals
Have a great day!
XOXO ~
I've also noticed a huge trend in wedding vendors who are wanting it all. Really, should a florist take 13 weddings in a single day? Should a caterer take on 7 weddings in a single day? What kind of staff is that going to give the client? And the overall product? Quality??? I realize that we all have to make a living and support our families ~ but it shouldn't be at the cost of bad business. Excel in what you do best and give each client the attention and quality that they deserve.
I read this article yesturday and thought I'd share. Check it out if you have a minute ~
Rockstars vs Rock Solid Professionals
Have a great day!
XOXO ~
Monday, August 23, 2010
Awwwww!
"Dear Mary and Shelli,
Just wanted to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU once again for EVERYTHING you did to make Rachel and Phillip's wedding reception run so smoothly. We so appreciated your attention to detail throughout the process, for everything was perfect! Thank you also for ALWAYS being so accommodating whenever we had a question, problem or just needed you to run and get something. It has been a pleasure to work with the two of you and I know that Rachel, Mimi and I will miss the meetings and other interactions we have had with you over the last few months as we planned and organized the wedding. I look forward to seeing both of you at other functions and events in the future.
Thank you again for your part in making Rachel's dream wedding come true.
Fondly,
Cathy
PS. The educator in me listed your names in alphabetical order, but I really see the two of you as one whole that has been split to efficiently run your business, so really your names should be merged into some configuration. It is amazing to watch the two of you work together as a team; there really is no head and body, just one unit! How admirable."
Ok, we don't usually boast, but we love getting letters like this! Some who have ever questioned why is there 2 of you, can't just 1 of you do it? ~ well, yes, we can individually hold our own and have done so for over 20 years. However, the power of 2 is AMAZING!!!!
Just wanted to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU once again for EVERYTHING you did to make Rachel and Phillip's wedding reception run so smoothly. We so appreciated your attention to detail throughout the process, for everything was perfect! Thank you also for ALWAYS being so accommodating whenever we had a question, problem or just needed you to run and get something. It has been a pleasure to work with the two of you and I know that Rachel, Mimi and I will miss the meetings and other interactions we have had with you over the last few months as we planned and organized the wedding. I look forward to seeing both of you at other functions and events in the future.
Thank you again for your part in making Rachel's dream wedding come true.
Fondly,
Cathy
PS. The educator in me listed your names in alphabetical order, but I really see the two of you as one whole that has been split to efficiently run your business, so really your names should be merged into some configuration. It is amazing to watch the two of you work together as a team; there really is no head and body, just one unit! How admirable."
Ok, we don't usually boast, but we love getting letters like this! Some who have ever questioned why is there 2 of you, can't just 1 of you do it? ~ well, yes, we can individually hold our own and have done so for over 20 years. However, the power of 2 is AMAZING!!!!
Monday Things We Love
Well, I guess I just have to say that we LOVE amazing events!!!! We had the pleasure of working Rachel & Phillips Wedding over the weekend and what an event it was! A guest list of 600, a complete transformation of the Exhibit Hall and amazing vendors to create with made it truely fantastic! A big shout out to Janice and staff at Town & Country party Rentals, Vinnie & Morgan from Media Solutions, Inc., Gentile's Flower Basket, Laura at Sweet Dreams, DJ Ellis at La Bella Vita Photography, Todd from AMS Entertainment, Alan & Patty of McLane Video, and Sonya from SMG (Exhibit Hall), Pardini's Catering, Lanny at the Linen Shoppe with Jonathan Pantages ~ an exceptional team of vendors all working together to create a perfect event!
Rachel is such a sweetheart and we wanted so much for everything to be perfect for her. I'm pretty sure it was as close as possible! I was lucky enough to spend a few hours with her on Friday during production chatting as she dug in and helped out a bit! It was really fun! I usually don't reccomend that a bride is present during production ~ it's a mess!!, and you always have to test a few things out, move things this way and that, adjust here and there. Most brides don't understand that or would totally freak if they saw what went on when you're hanging chandaliers ~ but Rachel enjoyed every minute and I LOVED that she was there seeing it all come together.
We've been fortunate enough to have worked with several family members of Rachel's over the past few years, so we knew that this event was going to be an adventure ~ an excellent adventure! Seeing her family is always so fun because they are always happy to be together and enjoy eachothers company and, of course, to celebrate the union of marriage. Ok, Who's next???
Pictures coming soon! The truely talented, DJ Ellis from La Bella Vita will have images available soon and you better believe we will be posting them!!! I'll post the pictures that we took ~ although no comparison to what DJ will have ~ so you can have an idea of the transformation!!
xoxo ~
Monday, July 19, 2010
Monday's Things We Love!
WE LOVE VACATION!!!! Really LOVE! But as all good things must come to an end, we are back to work, and trying get up to date with so many new projects in front of us.
On the 2nd day of my vacation, we received the news we had been waiting for what seemed like FOREVER to get. After a nice and long drawn out corporate process of RFP's, proposals, interviews, negotiations and waiting ~ we were offered the UCSF Fresno Center for Medical Research & Education fundraiser event for 2011! Big YAY for the Velvet girls! We are now rolling with the concept ideas and putting things together so that others can see our vision for this fantastic event. We'll keep you updated along the journey ~ I know it will be an interesting one, and I can't wait to dig into this event and make it happen! So today's Monday Lov'n has to go out to Karin & Cynthia at UCSF who have showed your faith in us and given us the fantastic opportunity! The Velvet Society will be presenting Valley Visions 2011 ~ May 21, 2011 ~ SAVE THE DATE!!!! We'll want to see all of you there!
Hope you all have a fantastic Monday ~ xoxo
On the 2nd day of my vacation, we received the news we had been waiting for what seemed like FOREVER to get. After a nice and long drawn out corporate process of RFP's, proposals, interviews, negotiations and waiting ~ we were offered the UCSF Fresno Center for Medical Research & Education fundraiser event for 2011! Big YAY for the Velvet girls! We are now rolling with the concept ideas and putting things together so that others can see our vision for this fantastic event. We'll keep you updated along the journey ~ I know it will be an interesting one, and I can't wait to dig into this event and make it happen! So today's Monday Lov'n has to go out to Karin & Cynthia at UCSF who have showed your faith in us and given us the fantastic opportunity! The Velvet Society will be presenting Valley Visions 2011 ~ May 21, 2011 ~ SAVE THE DATE!!!! We'll want to see all of you there!
Hope you all have a fantastic Monday ~ xoxo
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