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!!

Wedding Concierge featured in "International Catering Association" Publication

Cover of the Summer, 2010 Issue of ICA "CommuniCATER"

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is delighted to share my featured article that appears in the "CommuniCATER" newsletter for the ICA (International Caterers Association).

The article is titled "Caterer & Wedding Planning Planner Partnerships:: Creating a Winning Recipe for Success".

You can read the article in PDF format here.

I am also very excited to follow this piece of great news up with the announcement that I will be speaking, along with some of my WIPA (Wedding Industry Professional Association) colleagues at the Catersource, 2011 conference in Las Vegas, on this very topic. Check out the conference website for the "sneak peek" information they have to date and make sure to book mark and see what's new as the show draws near.

I hope you enjoy the article and please feel free to leave any questions or comments for me here on the blog. If you have any suggestions for what you want to hear in the presentation, I would love to hear those too.

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

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.

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!