Free Wedding Photography Seminar for Couples-Local Photographers Offer Tips for the Ideal "Photo Finish"!

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierges' fabulous photographer friends, Artistic Imaging and Write Shot are hosting an informational seminar for couples to give you the 411 on what you need to know about making informed and confident decisions about your wedding photography.

See the Press Release Below...

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION A BRIDE FACES IS WHO TO MARRY.THE SECOND IS HOW TO HIRE THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER TO DOCUMENT HER WEDDING

Experts offer free workshop educates brides about wedding photography 37/60 The Wedding Photography Workshop for Brides, offers 37 serious recommendations in 60 minutes, guaranteed to help brides:

• Save money
• Save time
• Maximize their wedding photography experience, regardless of their budget.

Las Vegas wedding photography studios Artistic Imaging and WriteShot have partnered to develop this educational workshop to all brides, many of whom feel overwhelmed by the myriad of wedding photography options available.

“There will be no sales pitch, at all. This is purely an opportunity for brides to learn and get answers to their questions, regardless of their budget,” says Adam Frasier, Artistic Imaging. According to Natasha Chornesky, millennium brides are smart and regardless of their budget, they’re looking to learn as much as they can about maximizing value before they commit to any particular wedding vendor, especially photographers.

Las Vegas has many talented wedding photographers. 37/60 is designed to benefit all brides, regardless of whom they eventually hire as their wedding photographer.

“We’re reaching out to empower brides with real information, so each one can make decisions that best suit her distinct needs,” says Chornesky, WriteShot.

The Saturday workshop is scheduled for August 28th, from 10‐11 am and is limited to 10 participants. Though it is free registration is required. Call (702) 465-5700
for more information on location and other details.

About Artistic Imaging and WriteShot
Artistic Imaging’s Owner/Photographer Adam Frasier has been a professional wedding photographer for over 7 years. Frazier is the Founding President of the Las Vegas chapter of Wish Upon a Wedding.

WriteShot’s Owner/Photographer Chris Cozzone has been a professional photojournalist and wedding photographer for over 20 years. Natasha Chornesky Owner/Photographer has been shooting professionally for four years. Chornesky is the Founding Vice‐President of Las Vegas' Wish Upon a Wedding.

For Love or Money? Plan Properly to Opt for Former!

Image found at GetMarried.com

I don't care too much for money, 'cause money can't by me Love"-The Beatles!!

But money does make your celebration of Love and Marriage possible so it is important to make sure your budget is in shape (from the very beginning) and all your money matters pertaining to the wedding day BEFORE the wedding day. Your wedding day is the time to be indulging in the love of your friends, family, enjoying being pampered as you look forward to that very special moment of saying your vows with your future husband and then basking in LOVE, LIFE and FUN and having a great time.
Your wedding day is not the day to be worrying about whether your florist or DJ or venue or caterer is paid. On top of that, it is perfectly acceptable and appreciated for you to show your sincere appreciation for your wedding professionals who put their LOVE of their craft into your wedding day and offer them a gratuity or (tip) for service that you feel went above and beyond.

Please note that "gratuity" is not considered the same as "service charge" (which is a percentage, generally anywhere from 19%-23% in Las Vegas, of the catering bill for food, beverage and labor like additional bartenders or personal chef attendants at food stations). But do you really need to be flaunting money or bills (or even be concerned about it) on your wedding day? Do you need to be concerned that your beautiful bridal clutch is full of envelopes or your new husband's tuxedo's pocket is bulging from a wallet stuffed with bills. Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge thinks not. That is neither attractive or secure.
My wedding photographer/wedding journalist friends and colleagues from Write Shot blogged about this exact topic recently and they were kind enough to include some of my tips (pun intended) about tipping wedding professionals on your wedding day.

• Recommendation 1: Pre-pay all your vendors fully at least 15 days prior the wedding. That way, checks and credit card payments can clear their accounts prior to your wedding.

• Recommendation 2: Calculate and distribute cash tips ahead of time for creative partners. Place cash tips in sealed envelopes with each recipient’s name clearly printed on the front. Give these envelopes to your planner or your maid of honor to distribute on your wedding day.

*I love these luxury, customized thank-you gratuity notes created by Mimio Papers with wedding planner Mary Dann. Presenting your wedding pros in this way truly shows graciousness and appreciation with STYLE!

• Recommendation 3: Confused about tipping? Creative partners (these are professionals, not "vendors") who own the business do not necessarily have to be tipped on the wedding day. Their assistants and associates should be. If you would like to tip a creative partner who owns the business, send a gift and thank you note, post-wedding. Always include a personal testimonial sharing how much you appreciate what that person did for you.

Also, please do ask your wedding planner (or your caterer or venue) about the accepted amount to tip wedding creative partners whether your wedding is in your home town or ESPECIALLY if you are planning a destination wedding celebration. Every city and every country has different tipping customs and expectations.

Finally, don't forget to allow to budget for the extra tips for those valets, the bell men/women who help you with your bags, your gown, all your favors and wedding personal items and get them up to your room and to your venue safely. Here is a general tipping guide from Vegas.com while you are visiting us be it for your wedding, a friends or just because it's VEGAS!

You can read the entire blog post here. Thank you Natasha & Chris!!
Do you have any questions about tipping, gratuities regarding a Las Vegas wedding? Feel free to comment and ask your question right here on the blog.

Colin Cowie Launches A La Carte Floral & Decor Line-LUCKY US!

Photo Courtesy of Colin Cowie Flowers (from BizBash.com)

Photo Courtesy of Colin Cowie Flowers (from Weddings Unveiled)

Photo Courtesy of Colin Cowie Flowers (from Weddings Unveiled)

Colin Cowie, one of Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge's favorite wedding & lifestyle heros, style trend setters and planner to countless celebrities like Oprah, has announced a new extension of his lifestyle brand to now include his brand new floral and decor services, called Colin Cowie Flowers. 

That man is amazing with all he does. I love watching him in the morning on Get Married TV.

Colin Cowie Flowers is going to set brides and wedding/event planner's hearts (mine included) aflutter by offering his gorgeous flowers and iconic style and decor designs a la carte without having to hire Colin Cowie Lifestyle to plan the event. This is to appeal to stylish couples with smaller budgets (most are smaller than the budgets Colin works with I'm sure). 

Ok, have you picked yourself up off the floor yet?:)! Can you imagine your wedding having the potential to look like some of the amazing wedding images in his Colin Cowie Wedding Chic: 1,001 Ideas for Every Moment of Your Celebration or Colin Cowie's Extraordinary Weddings: From a Glimmer of an Idea to a Legendary Event books? WOW! All it takes now is one call to your wedding planner here in Las Vegas and one little dialing finger for me to make your floral wedding come true a la Colin Cowie Style. LOVE IT!

According to an article on Biz Bash Magazine, CCF services begin at $10,000.00 and can include table rentals and other decor elements. While that is nothing to sneeze at, it is not unrealistic for a wedding strong on floral and decor to have a budget starting at this price range. 

I hope YOU will be the first one  Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is looking forward (A LOT) to collaborating on my first event with Colin Cowie Flowers to bring Your Wedding Style to life. Let's create a truly FABULOUS Las Vegas Wedding with STYLE! 

I am accepting clients for late 2009 and 2010. 

More information and images can be found at another one of my favorite blogs "Weddings Unveiled" .

Destination Weddings Bust Recession Myth-Las Vegas Still Attracting Stylish Brides & Grooms!

Las Vegas Strip at Night | Image by LorenzFoto

Picture of Cover of Current Issue of 

Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Magazine on sale now.

Although the way that they are being planned is evolving, Destination Weddings are alive & well despite the sagging economy according to a new article and survey from Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine. 

According to survey results, Las Vegas is still considered one of the most attractive wedding destinations only behind Florida for US destinations and edging out Hawaii who has been knocked off the #1 spot.  

USA and Caribbean and other destinations "closer to home" are more attractive right now to couples compared to overseas like Europe, Tahiti, Fiji, etc.  

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is, of course, very happy to hear that Destination Weddings are still thriving & certainly wants to invite all couples to consider Las Vegas as an ideal destination for your celebration. 

We have fabulous weather 350 days of the year, gorgeous resorts & venues, fabulous shopping, we are a dining, nightlife and entertainment mecca and with the wealth of talented event professionals and resources, can fulfill your wedding vision and dreams come true & beyond. 

The guest lists are a bit smaller but the budgets are a little bigger, suggesting that couples are treating themselves and carefully considering their guest list so they can have a high quality destination wedding celebration experience across the board and with those who mean the most to them and want to travel with and be with. 

Las Vegas has so many interesting venues; beautiful restaurants with private venues, club spaces not used during the day, country clubs, hotel suites and other unique spaces on and off the strip that are perfect for these smaller, intimate affairs.  

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge LOVES planning small, intimate weddings such as these and can help you create your Destination Las Vegas Wedding with style...Your Style. I am accepting late 2009 and 2010 bookings now.

Fabulous Rental Furniture Can Make Your Wedding a "Fete Accomplie"

(c) 2009 Your Wedding Day.com, Cheriefoto

(c) 2009 Your Wedding Day.com, Cheriefoto

Rental furniture for weddings to create intimate lounge environments that help make your guests feel comfortable, relaxed and add an extra layer of wow to your event is no longer a "trend", it's definitely here to stay. That is "a good thing" as Ms. Martha would say. 

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge could not agree more. And one of my absolute favorite companies in the event furnishing rental business these days is Fete Accomplie Events based in the Los Angeles, CA area. 

Fete Accomplie's line of luxury furnishings created just for events encompasses so many adjectives with all the different styles of furniture and accessories they offer it would be a very long list, but sophisticated, opulent, glamorous, sexy, stylish (you knew I was going to say that) are just some of the ones that come to mind. 

Add some of these pieces to your wedding and you will definitely make a statement. The images above are from the fabulous Spring 2009 Your Wedding Day Magazine wedding showcase at the Ebell Club, Los Angeles that I attended recently. 

These two rooms, that I spent the most time in, were furnished with furniture from Fete Accomplie Events.

The phenomenal Marie Antoinette Gone Modern dining room, designed and coordinated by my good friend Jeannie Ward, the Wedding Jeannie, really utilized their "High Style" furniture collection. It was absolutely the most stunningly beautiful space to walk into and I am so proud of my friend! I also got to meet 

For a different look, the "Deco Square Banquettes" provided modern touch of Hollywood Glamour in the Disco Room where everyone partied the night away. 

Furniture is an excellent investment in your wedding reception budget and not as costly as you think. A few well placed pieces will make any room feel like you are welcoming your guests into "your place for a special moment in time". 

You must check out the entire 3 part review of this amazing wedding industry event on the Ebell, LA's blog written by the fabulous Catering Director, Melissa Allen (who is a Vegas native by the way) AND I invite you to visit the Fete Accomplie website to see their amazing Product Showcase (I want it ALL...for my house) and Event Gallery that I know will inspire you. 

It certainly has inspired me and I think I want to live in their warehouse! It is truly a Tracey "Happy Place"!

The Economy & Your Wedding-FOCUS on What is Important!

I wanted to share with you a post I wrote a while back but feel the message needs to be rejuvinated. I look forward to your feedback. And so without further ado...

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

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge knows these are very crazy times right now and a lot of you are wondering how life is going to look trying to deal with all the challenges ahead as we all navigate our way through this economic downturn.

It’s hard enough figuring out how to balance your household budget; never mind adding the costs of planning a wedding on top of that.

I get it! I really do! And while I am a realist, I am also an optimist who is going to focus (and help you do the same) on the positive opportunities, lessons and tips for planning and budgeting for your wedding during these challenging times.

Wedding celebrations are and should be a bright spot in our lives amongst all the other things that are getting us down because G-d knows we all need a reason to come together to focus on what is important in our lives; the people that we love and who love us and trying to build a better life and future for ourselves and our kids.

 So here is my first piece of advice and these are the key words...

“focus on what is important”!

Right now is the perfect opportunity to let you really evaluate (if you are just starting to plan) or reevaluate what your priorities are and what ideals and values you hold most dear when it comes to celebrating your wedding. Everything you do and what and how you spend those very hard earned and precious dollars should be an extension of these priorities and ideals.

In the detailed questionnaires I give all my new clients, I ask them to consider the following…

·         Provide three words that describe how you want your wedding to be remembered by you and your guests?

·         Provide three elements of your wedding that you will absolutely NOT compromise on.

No matter what your budget is, think about these carefully, write them down and refer to them often to help guide you and keep you “focused on what’s important”, put your positive energy, your money and your time (all valuable commodities) throughout the months ahead.

And please do remember to also focus on what is truly MOST IMPORTANT; the loving relationship that you and your fiance have that is the foundation and the reason for having this wedding celebration. That is PRIORITY #1!

This is good planning advice in any economic climate but even more important when your pocketbook is tighter.

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge would love to hear from you on this subject. Please comment here and let me know what important elements you are focusing on for your wedding, challenges, ideas…whatever you want to share.  We can all use every bit of inspiration and advice there is from all of you.

Stay positive, stay focused and have a Stylish Day!

Chameleon Chair Love-10 Fabulous Looks!

Chameleon Chair Love

Orginally uploaded by Tracey Kumer-Moore

Speaking of Top 10's...

Here are 10 fabulous looks that had Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge just drooling at the recent Catersource & Event Solutions Conference and Tradeshow, 2009 in Las Vegas.

The latest in haute chair rental couture for your wedding. They don't call these chairs Chameleon Chairs for nothing you know.

I just love the belted rosettes and skirts, feathers and leathers (3rd down on the right was a purse!!) that are reflective of current fashion and home trends.

Of course, the one just makes my heart flutter is that Monet inspired "LillyBelle" (4th row, L) sleeve from Wildflower Linen. It is just too beautiful.

I know what your thinking and some are certainly priced at points that may be above your budget for a room full. However, you could use a more basic Chameleon Chair for your reception guest tables and treat yourselves to the over the top indulgence at your sweetheart. They come in bar height too, so adding just a few well placed "lookers" at the bar will make for a very swank spot all night!

This way, you can have achieve the wedding style and look you want, including a little extra eye candy that will make a statement worth the investment.

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

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. 

Qualified & Quality Wedding Consultants Don't Come CHEAP

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!