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

Wedding Concierge in LA April 5-7

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, CA

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is off to Los Angeles today through Wednesday to attend an industry meeting for my wedding association, WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association).

This month, our meeting will feature the lovely, talented and WISE wedding planner and author, Mary Dann who will talk about staying balanced in life and work while operating your wedding business.

Mary's book, "Wedding Wisdom" is a great read for wedding professionals and brides alike and is filled with great advice from Mary who has over 18 years of wedding planning experience as well as 10 years of marriage counseling experience as well.

Our meeting this month is being held at the grand Langham Huntingon,Pasadena. I have never been to this hotel but I am looking forward to it. It looks like a stunning property.

What's even more exciting that Chef Michael Voltaggio, winner of "Top Chef, Las Vegas", and Chef de Cuisine at Langhams, will be cooking our luncheon. I LOVE "Top Chef" and watched every episode this past season so I am really anticipating the chef's offerings to taste what the judges raved about.

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge returns back to Vegas on Thursday.

Celebrate Your Day with Love, Life & Style!

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 at Grand Del Mar, San Diego for Wedding Event March 4th.

The Beautiful Grand Del Mar Resort in San Diego, CA

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge will be out of the office on March 4th to attend a wedding industry event at the beautiful new Grand Del Mar Resort in sunny San Diego, CA. 

The event is being sponsored by my wedding association, WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association) which is the first not-for-profit trade association for the wedding professional consultant and professional. I'm proud to be a Founding Member of the organization. 

The Grand Del Mar, in just a short time has gained an excellent reputation for it's elegance, luxury and service, amenities and is a very desired location for hosting wedding ceremonies and locations with their own chapel and unique spaces to hold an incredible, memorable celebration. I'm looking forward to the visit and the event. 

I will be back in Las Vegas on Thursday, March 5th. 

Wide Awake in "Napa" Feb. 3 for WIPA Event!

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is headed to Napa, CA today for a wedding industry event put on by WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association), the first non-profit trade association specifically for the wedding industry. I am proud to be a "Founding Member of WIPA". 

Through my affiliation with this amazing organization, I have met so many incredibly talented and wonderful people over the last few months, including just last week at The Special Event Show in San Diego, where WIPA had it's first real introduction as a new association to the greater special events world. 

Another perk is that I have been enjoying some pretty great day trips to California including my first trip to Napa which I am so excited for. I just wish I had time to stay longer.

Our host for this meeting will be the lovely Brooke Baglietto from one of the finest resorts in the Napa/Sonoma area, the Carneros Inn. 

The topic is "Protecting Your Creativity" and in the world of Special Events, this is a big deal! 

Ok, I'll tell you why. Because our reputations and futures of our businesses are based on our ideas and creativity and success of our events which you see in images. When someone takes those images, or writes copy or professes to have been involved in an event they were not without giving credit to the planner, designer, florist, or photographer or writer, that is plagiarism - stealing, plain and simple. 

It should matter to you because that reflects a lack of integrity, good judgement and...a lack of real creativity. Those are pretty important traits that should be in a wedding consultant or any wedding professional! If they can't be honest enough to respect their fellow wedding professionals (whether they know them or not), how can you trust they will ever have your best interests at heart?

If they are unimaginative and lack the inquisitiveness to do their own research and create their own ideas, how creative can they be for you to help you bring forth your ideas for your wedding?

Wedding Concierge Headed to The Special Event in San Diego

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is headed to San Diego Monday for The Special Event Show, 2009!

I will be out of the office the entire week of January 26-Jan 30th. I'll be back to office hours on February 2nd. I'll be checking & responding to email & voicemail on a limited base due to the busy schedule conferences entail.

This show, is THE event conference for event professionals in the events industry and includes people who are the best of the best (and learning to be) and features education, trade show and showcasing events on the best & brightest new ideas, trends and style setters in the industry. 

This will be my third "Special Event Show". The first two I attended (Las Vegas & LA), I took part in an amazing volunteer program called "Hands on Hundred" that offered a break on education costs in exchange for helping out with events. It was an amazing experience and highly recommend it but I am excited to attend as a full attendee this year.

The show is partnered and associated with leading professional organizations in the Special Events Industry such as ISES (International Special Events Society), NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) and WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association). I am proud to be a member of all 3.

This show encompasses EVERY kind of event from Weddings to Bar Mitzvahs, Corporate to Festivals and even people who plan Inaugural Balls!

Of course, Weddings will be well represented with educational sessions on new trends in weddings and a fabulous Wedding Luncheon that always is a big hit. This year it will feature the founders & owners  of The Knot at the Hard Rock Hotel, San Diego.

In addition to the Wedding Luncheon, I will also be attending The NACE Welcome Event representing my fabulous Las Vegas Chapter as Secretary of our 2009 Board of Directors. This year the Welcome Event will be a fun beach party style event that is literally a display of the best food in San Diego co-sponsored by my friends from San Diego NACE.

You will also find me Thursday morning volunteering at the WIPA booth (#218) on the Trade Show floor and probably visiting with my NACE friends at the NACE booth (#525) as well, so please make sure to stop by and say "hello".

I look forward to seeing all my friends in the industry; those I have known for years, those who I have "met" online & seeing you in person and meeting new ones. I can't wait to absorb it all come home inspired and full of Event "Verve" ready to share with you many exciting things. 

I will also try to provide some updates from the show as well when possible.

Have a great week!

Wedding Professionals at WIPA Show of 2009 Wedding Trends

Photography by Henshall Photography, Los Angeles

On January 7th, I had the opportunity to visit Los Angeles for the inaugural 2009 meeting for WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association) of which I am a "Founding Member".

Kicking the year off and the day, was a discussion of top wedding trends featuring America's "sassiest" lifestyle guru, Steve Kemble! 

The event was held at RRivreWorks which, for a wedding planner/designer or bride is BETTER THAN DISNEYLAND! RRivreworks is owned by the amazing RRivre Davies, an event designer who's work you have seen in major bridal magazines from The Bride & Bloom to Your Wedding Day Magazine and more. 

The decor and furniture rentals like his incredible chandeliers, in what is really a large warehouse, created a pallet for room after gorgeous room of wedding decor and table top vignettes courtesy of other top wedding design trend setting companies like Chameleon Chairs & Wildflower Linens. 

And the food was as much a prime time player with delectable offerings from one of the top Catering & Event companies in the country, Good Gracious Events was completely merchandised and styled as part of the entire decor it was situated in.  The candy bar, hosted by Epicurean Umbrella up on a fabulous white bar with white shelving hutch behind it, was chock full of the best new & classic sugar fixes everyone just gobbled up.

Which is a great tip Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge can pass on to you. Your food is such an important part of the reception being 45-50% of your entire budget. With so so much variety to choose from in the way of your food and beverage these days, styling your food displays; especially with stationary food displays and interactive stations and bars for cocktail hour or receptions, ensure to work with your caterer, floral designer, event designer and rental specialist so that your wedding style is represented in this area as well. 

Interesting presentation and service of food compared to those utilitarian buffet warmers will make a definite impact for your guests and your photos and video!

Enjoy the photo gallery of all the fabulous food, decor, florals and lighting. 

As the first not for profit wedding association in the country, "WIPA members set the standard for our industry, working creatively and ethically to produce weddings with panache-*from WIPA Website.

Las Vegas Wedding Concierge Joins WIPA-First Non-Profit Wedding Association!

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is very excited to announce I am now a Founding Member of "WIPA",

the "Wedding Industry Professional Association".

"Wedding Industry Professionals Association (WIPA) is the first national non-profit association established specifically for the wedding industry. Its purpose is to promote the wedding industry, to educate the public in the value of employing qualified wedding specialists, to set and monitor high standards of performance for our Members, and to provide Members with opportunities to advance their professional growth.  WIPA is a professional organization that is run by its Members, who understand what it takes to effectively produce a wedding, and membership is open to all types of wedding-related businesses (planners, service providers, vendors and venues).

WIPA’s mission is provide the industry a forum where we can rely on our members to teach, challenge, and encourage each other to continue our path of innovation, while still keeping our code of ethics in the forefront of our business practices, thereby bringing the best possible product to our client and each other." From WIPA Website & Membership Brochure.

Membership will be considered in WIPA for those with 3 or more years of Industry Experience which is a little different than most other Wedding Associations and the opportunities for an industry wide standardized exam and professional certification are also the goals of WIPA.  

I am very excited to have been invited to join WIPA as a Founding Member and look forward to the exciting and important things this association and our members will contribute to the betterment of our Industry for ourselves, our clients and those that are new to the industry as well. 

Visit www.WIPAUSA.org to view the wedding industry leaders who have created WIPA and an email for getting more information if you are interested in membership while the site is being created. I am looking forward to my industry colleagues, who for many years have discussed amongst us the possibility of an organization like this getting off the ground, joining me in this association. 

Have a Stylish Day!