Featured Wedding: Tameca and Chandra | 10.10.10

Image by: Write Shot

Dear Tameca and Chandra,

I am pleased and honored to feature your beautiful "Celebration of Love and Life" on my blog.

From the moment I first spoke with both of you, I admired your story, your style (in every sense of the word), passion for life, your relationship with your families and friends and dedication to your community. Most of all, I admired, and still do, your love for each other.

As you look at these photos, I hope you remember with a smile, as I do, the highlights of your day.

There are so many moments that I recall that touched me. I have only room to list a few here, including . . .

Hanging with the two of you and your dearest friends in your surprise Wynn, Las Vegas Tower Suites (so cool!) and watching you transform into beautiful brides. Tameca, your first hesitant "mermaid" steps in your gown and Chandra, how you radiated confidence in your suit and complimented Tameca so well.

Experiencing your ceremony; the candlelight, the warmth and the poetry you selected that so encapsulates your relationship.

Watching you both on the dance floor surrounded by the love of your family and friends, having the time of your lives and enjoying the sweetness of the day. Oh, sweetness!! Did I mention ALL all the amazing desserts and 2 cakes including, your Vegas Vegan masterpiece?;)

I wish you both a lifetime together filled with good health and good fortune so you can keep doing the good you do for others, with lots of laughter, lots of joy and most of all....LOTS OF LOVE!

With Love,
Tracey

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge wishes to thank the Creative Wedding Team for all your talent, creativity and dedication and making this experience so wonderful for Tameca and Chandra.

• Ceremony Venue and Ceremony Decor: Wynn Wedding Salons, Jalan Arnold, Wedding Consultant
• Reception Venue: Maggiano's Little Italy Restaurant at Fashion Show Mall, Marc Scott
• Photography: Write Shot, Natasha Chornesky and Chris Cozzone
• Reception Decor and Custom Paper Elements: CCS Designer Events, Courtney Smith
• Entertainment: DJ Spontaneous ("aka" Jermaine Jennings) from Atlanta; All Night Long for rentals.
• Wedding Cakes: Creations Bakery, Suzie Johnson & Vegan Cake from Red Velvet Cafe
• Couture Drink Garnishments: Dress the Drink, Cindy McClure.

Celebrate Today and Everyday with Love, Life and Style!!

Newly Revamped Aisle Dash Blog Features Las Vegas Top 10 by Wedding Concierge!

Image by Chelsea Nicole Photography

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge wants to let you know that there is more great wedding blog news out there for brides with the re-launch of the all new and improved Aisle Dash" Blog. "Aisle Dash" is the official wedding blog of AOL.

The Aisle Dash makeover is complete and is looking rather chic and fantastic with it's new look. It's clean and fresh and very easy to read and navigate and has so much great advice right up front and accessible.

One of their features on their new blog is a "Top 10 Reasons to get Married in...." as part of their Planning & Etiquette and Destination Wedding Content.

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge was honored to be asked to write this feature for Las Vegas and it appears as the inaugural l article for this feature on the launch of the blog. I am so honored and thank you Aisle Dash for the opportunity to be included!

If you don't already know why Las Vegas is consistently rated one of the most popular wedding destinations in the country (and world), well read my article here for my Top 10!

And while you are at it, browse around the Aisle Dash Blog and let them know how you like it.

Disclosure: Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge received no compensation for this article from Aisle Dash or AOL or the companies mentioned in this article.

Celebrate Your Day with Love, Life & Style!

Wedding Concierge Makes Top 25 A-List of Destination Wedding Planners

Jan/February 2010 Issue Cover

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine has announced their new Top 25 "A-List" of planners and I am just bursting to share the news...

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge has made the A-List!!!

I am thrilled to be amongst some VERY IMPRESSIVE COMPANY of planners within the USA and beyond including Sasha Souza from Napa, CA, Beth Helmstetter from Burbank, CA & my friend Kelly McWilliams, in Cape Coral, FL.The list includes planners in Costa Rica, Cayman Island...even in Thailand!

This honor is especially sweet as it is strictly editorial and no monetary or in-kind compensation or advertising on my part was involved; just recognition from my industry peers and I could not be prouder.

I have had the pleasure to be involved with Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine in the past, providing editorial content with respect to my specialty of Destination Las Vegas Weddings, and appearing in their 2009 Annual Worldwide Guide Issue, "Destination Weddings Made Easy" article.

"The A-List of Top 25 Planners" will be featured in the upcoming print issue of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine on your local news stands on February 23, 2010 or you can purchase and download a digital version.

Thank you once again to everyone at DW&H for recognizing me. I will continue my passion of working with wonderful couples across the USA and around the world planning romantic, memorable and "Stylish Celebrations of Love & Life" and do your magazine proud.

Celebrate Your Day with Love, Life & Style!

Wedding Concierge & 2008 Clients Highlighted in Canada's National Post Wedding Story

Image found at www.thetorontoist.com

Stacey & Aaron: Image by J&J Photography

Stacey & Aaron's Wynn, Las Vegas Ceremony-Image by J&J Photography

I am delighted to share that Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is in the news again!

I am always so honored and delighted to be contacted by the press to share my love of weddings and particularly Las Vegas weddings.

It would seem I have become somewhat of an ambassador for Destination Las Vegas Weddings to some of the wedding media. It's a title, whether official or not, that I am proud to hold as I truly love my adopted city of Las Vegas and creating memorable & Stylish Celebrations of Love & Life here!

As many of you may know already and for those who don't, I am a Hamilton, Ontario, Canada native. I grew up and lived in Hamilton & Toronto until I moved to Las Vegas in 2000 to marry the Love of my Life (at Treasure Island-our sentimental hotel) and open my wedding consultancy firm, Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge.

So what makes this piece of news so special to me is both my wonderful clients, Stacey & Aaron, who married at Wynn, Las Vegas Wedding Salon in 2008 and I are highlighted in an article in a special wedding feature for the Weekend Post section of Canada's National Post newspaper. The Weekend Post is printed in every newspaper across Canada in the Canada.com media network.

It was somewhat serendipitous that the reporter found my blog, called me and found out I was from Canada too. Stacey & Aaron are such a fun, stylish couple.

It was a total joy to plan and produce their beautiful wedding celebration with many great memories.
I am thrilled they had this opportunity to tell the rest of Canada (and beyond) about their Las Vegas wedding experience and how they chose to celebrate it with LOVE, LIFE & great STYLE!!

Thanks you two for being a part of this!

Celebrate Your Day with Love, Life & Style!

Elizabeth & Andy Get Married

Photography by John Michael Cooper, Altf.com

It's hard to believe that after 15 months of planning, the big day is finally here for Elizabeth & Andy. 

They will be celebrating their oh-so-stylish & fabulous Las Vegas wedding at the beautiful Four Seasons, Las Vegas resort; truly one of my favorite hotels in Las Vegas for planning a wedding and just visiting. 

Elizabeth & Andy live in Las Vegas but it's a "Destination Wedding" for many of their family and friends. So yesterday evening they brought everyone from the strip to their home by Earth Limos (they are "Green" & run on Bio Fuel) for a casual, fun rehearsal dinner by the pool. Their two adorable pugs didn't want to miss out on ALL the weekend fun. 

Lots of fun, personal touches today and a night of love, fun and celebration. 

Congratulations Elizabeth & Andy! it's been such a pleasure and honor being a part of your lives. Mazal Tov & "to 120" (years)" as we like to say. 

You two have DEFINITELY hit THE JACKPOT!!

Love,

T.

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.

Wedding Concierge Goes Green for WIPA in the OC!!

Ceremony setup at Italian Wedding Rotunda by the ocean, Pelican Hill Resort

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge  is in Newport Beach, California right now enjoying the beautiful weather, the ocean and a gorgeous morning. 

I am in town to attend the May 6th meeting of   WIPA, (Wedding Industry Professionals Association)  being held at the luxurious 5 diamond Resort at Pelican Hill.

I could not think of  a more beautiful and natural setting, against the majestic Pacific Ocean backdrop, to focus on the topic of "Green Weddings" for this event. I am looking forward to this program as we will not only learn about how to plan environmentally sustainable and socially conscious events but how high end venues, resorts and wedding professionals are helping couples marry their wedding vision and their wish to incorporate "green" ideas and elements into a great, personal wedding style.

I look forward to sharing what I learn and pictures as well. 

I will be back in Las Vegas on Thursday. Have a fabulous & Stylish Day!!

Wedding Concierge Article (by Tracey) Featured on Style Me Pretty!!

Image by Ashley Bartoletti

Image by Chelsea Nicole

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is over-the-moon excited to tell you that a feature story I wrote about Las Vegas Wedding Style, titled "Your Vegas Wedding Style is Showing" (a little play on a past Las Vegas marketing campaign) is featured on the Little Black Book Blog of Style Me Pretty.com. Style Me Pretty is considered one of the top wedding blogs on the internet as a go-to source for "Style Obsessed Brides" as their tag-line states.

The article I wrote also features two of my favorite, fabulous, female Las Vegas photographic artists; Chelsea Nicole and Ashley Bartoletti. 

I wrote the article as an interview asking 5 questions about what sets Las Vegas apart with the "Style" of weddings we do here, what we love about shooting/planning weddings off and on the strip and it includes some of the fabulous work of Ashley & Chelsea so you can get an idea of all the variety of venues, ambience and styles that we have available in this great city. 

From beautiful mountains and lake views to the energy of the strip; the article is made up of the answers to these questions from both Ashley and Chelsea and from my perspective as a wedding planner. 

Sincere thanks to Style Me Pretty and to Eddye!! I am so proud and honored that you have been so generous to publish my article (I hope you will see more of me in print in the future). 

I hope that you enjoy the article and the beautiful images. It's being blogged in 2 or 3 parts I believe. 

Please do let us know what you think by not only commenting on the article at Style Me Pretty, but I know that Chelsea and Ashley will be thrilled to hear your comments on their blogs. I most certainly would appreciate your feedback here as well:).

Visit Chelsea Nicole's Blog

Visit Ashley Bartoletti's Blog

Enjoy!

M Resort: A New Place to Stay & Play & Get Married!

Exterior of Resort

Villaggio Del Sole Pool

All images from Vegas.com

Las Vegas is celebrating the opening tonight of our newest resort, "M Resort", located on the very south end of the Las Vegas strip. The wrapping comes off tonight at 10:00 PM, with fireworks too, for the grand reveal. 

It's sophisticated and sleek with glass and wood and has that unique Las Vegas/desert inspired retro-modern decor and vibe but the interiors look warm and welcoming to all visitors. 

I'm loving the high-tech rooms (with LCD TV's and iPod docking stations) and especially that oh so cool Villaggio Del Sole Pool and Entertainment Piazza.  (which I can see as an amazing event location for poolside wedding receptions. Wonder if that's an option? 

From the looks of their meeting and ballrooms, they have some great space for both local and Destination Las Vegas couples looking for a very contemporary styled event in a south-strip location that will satisfy all your needs; cool location, modern amenities, and a well priced destination EVERYONE can feel comfortable staying at.

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge can't wait to visit and enjoy everything this new resort has to offer as both a lucky Las Vegas local and as a Wedding and Event Planner. I look forward to the opportunity to plan some great celebrations there. I am look forward to having it join my "Favorite Las Vegas Places & Spaces" list. Do visit their website to see if this new resort is just your style to celebrate your wedding!

Welcome to the neighborhood "M Resort" and, as we say in Vegas...GOOD LUCK:)!

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

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!

The Marriage of President Obama & the USA

Image: Carolyn Cole, LA Times

There was a young and good looking couple and family, a processional involving the couples own family "party" and the other "family", a "Best Man" and "Matron of Honor", a ceremony including vows with an officiant, blessings, and one very, VERY large guest list!

There were luncheons, formal portraits, chauffered transportation, the ultimate venue for a ceremony, a multitude of receptions, decor, flowers, lighting, rentals, food, drinks, speeches, kissing, handshakes, hugs and best wishes for a bright future. 

And then the couple's highly anticipated moment at their "ball". With the "groom" in an elegant tuxedo and his first lady in a stunning white, off the shoulder gown by designer Jason Wu and the spotlight on them, they made magic as they danced their first official "first couple" dance.

It will now forever be "their song"; "At Last", the Etta James romantic classic performed by the incredibly talented Beyonce Knowles who played the legendary jazz diva in the film Cadillac Records. It was such a perfect choice that honored their African-American heritage and spoke volumes about how they and many of their billions of friends felt on this day. 

Sounds like a pretty fabulous wedding, doesn't it?

Damon Winter, NY Times

Many of the elements of the January 20th, 2009 Presidential Inauguration of the 44th President of the USA, Barack Obama and his "First Lady", Michelle Obama, did seem orchestrated like a wedded union; the culmination of the great love affair between now President Obama and the people of the USA. It may not have had a 7 layer wedding cake but it did have about 50 layers of every kind of security you could imagine.

I bet, taking the dance floor, they probably did feel some of that wedding magic from 16 years ago.

10 Inuaugural Balls representing different regions and reasons and they toasted and twirled at each one of them. Phew! The "first couple" toasted their appreciation to their guests for their support and love through the years throughout the long night and now..."At Last", the big day is over. 

I don't know how long the happy marriage and the "honeymoon" will last between Mr. Obama and the American people but I have a pretty strong hunch that YOUR honeymoon with the "first man" in your life will stretch much longer. I hope you still feel like you are on your honeymoon on your 4th, 8th, 25th....

The Obamas may be starting their honeymoon in frigid national capital, Washington, DC but Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge thinks a wedding and a "Honeymoon in Vegas" is a much warmer and appealing destination. Since Las Vegas IS the "Wedding Capital of the World" you are always lucky in love in this exciting city and, who knows, you may even get your own unexpected personal stimulus package while you are here!

So, happy planning and cheers to no term limits on celebrating many happy anniversaries and occasions!

Photo: Lorenz Foto