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!

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 ~

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!!!!

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 ~