Archive for July, 2010

Wedding Concierge featured in "International Catering Association" Publication

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
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!

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

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.

iTunes Wedding Essentials Library Expanded

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge is delighted to see some “wedding love” from Apple iTunes Store this month for brides and grooms looking to find that ideal wedding ceremony prelude or last song that compliments your personalities and Wedding Style.

The store has expanded their “Wedding Essentials” Library to include their “Essentials” branded mixes of wedding songs for a wide variety of categories; “Classic Wedding”, “Modern Wedding”, “Country Wedding”, “R&B Wedding” plus all their originals such as “Wedding Ceremony”, Wedding Reception”, etc.

In addition, the “Wedding Essentials” page will lead you to the best choices for all those great romantic wedding related movies we all love, Wedding Podcasts such as “Wedding Podcast Network”, Wedding TV Series on iTunes such as “Say Yes to the Dress” and “My Fair Wedding with David Tutera” PLUS all the Wedding Apps available for iPhones, iPod Touches and iPad too.

A Bride (or a wedding planner) could “essentially” get pretty carried away with this great resource! Have fun exploring:)

Download iTunes: www.apple.com/itunes
Apple Store: www.apple.com

Celebrate today and every day with Love, Life & Style!!
Tracey

The "OG’s"-Beautiful Example of Celebrating a Lifetime of Love

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Yesterday, Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge was watching the Today Show and caught this segment about Barbara and Harry Cooper, also known as “The OG’s (Original Grandparents).”

Barbara (93) and Harry Cooper (98) have been sweethearts since their eyes met on an LA tennis court in 1937 and have been married for 72 years. They are still “Crazy in Love” with one another!

They still kiss (all the time), go out for chocolate sundae dates, to the movies and they have their own website that they began as a way to entertain and educate their grandchildren. Sure enough, that took off to where they are now internet stars being documented by their grand-daughters and they have their own song.

This story, and when I reflect back on my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary a few years ago, it brings home the true meaning of the wedding vows that I am honored to be a part of hearing at my clients’ weddings. They are important words, they mean something. They represent the beginning of sharing a lifetime with another human being built on love, mutual respect for one another (and their loved ones).

The vows you say to one another on your wedding day may seem to come quite easily surrounded by pretty flowers and a great party. But I do encourage you (as your clergy will in your ceremony) to really grasp the meaning of the words you speak to each other as you say them.

Living those vows, through the days, the years and the decades; “through thick and thin, in sickness and in health” and all the other things life throws our way is not easy.

“Cutie & Pop Pop” as Barbara and Harry are called, Ben and Sylvia Weinstock who I had the pleasure to see spin on the dance floor at Engage ’09 Encore, my parents and some of the 29 couples I had the honor of coordinating the renewal of their vows at the Beth Sholom Wedding Gala last month (that event to be blogged soon) know their meaning.

Whether you are celebrating your wedding this week, this year or celebrating your first, 10th, 25th, 50th or 72nd, wedding anniversary, I wish for all of you a lifetime together that is as wonderful and filled with the same passion and love and spirit as this special couple exemplifies.

(And yes, I cried when I watched this).

May you celebrate today and every day with Love, Life & Style!!
Tracey

A few more links for Barbara and Harry: Read a fun interview with them at SHALOM LIFE.com and you can follow them on Facebook too!

Do you have any stories about your parents or grandparents and a long lasting marriage that are inspiring your wedding vows? I would love to hear them. Please leave a comment and say hello.