Love & Sunshine Destination Wedding Conference. Speaker Spotlight

The Love & Sunshine Destination Wedding conference shines the spotlight on their esteemed speakers. Rick DiCecca; Richard & Julia Markel; 

Rick DiCecca

Rick trained in Commercial Art and Technical Illustration. After graduation, his passion for drawing, painting and sculpture and his natural appreciation for beauty led him to his career as a professional makeup artist.

Rick’s first assignments were in advertising, doing makeup in print and television campaigns for top beauty companies. Rick soon began conducting his own beauty clinics in luxury salons around the country and launched several makeup lines for Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s. Rick continues to collaborate with leading photographers and luxury beauty brands around the world, including his personal appearances that are extraordinarily successful with both clients and the media and as a master teacher helping to educate and train makeup artists in the US and internationally.

Rick holds a Guinness world record with Estee Lauder. Most lipstick applied (303) in 1 hour.

  

Rick has been featured in national and global magazines including Elle (Canada), Glamour (US), Harper’s Bazaar (Malaysia), InStyle (US) and Harper’s Bazaar (US), as well as on national television shows such as The Today Show, The Martha Stewart Show and iVillage Live.

A master of what he calls “real beauty,” Rick is steadfast in his belief that every woman can be beautiful. He’s worked with world-renowned actresses and supermodels-including Joan Smalls, Teresa Palmer, Heidi Klum, Maria Menounos, Cindy Crawford, Iman, Hilary Rhoda, and Liu Wen among others. Rick relishes the most enjoyment from working with “real” women – with real lives, kids and time constraints – making makeup work for them on their own terms, giving them the tools and know-how they need to look beautiful every single day. He’s most proud of his work helping those women battling cancer feel like supermodels in their own right.

Richard & Julia Markel are the founders of the Association for Wedding Professionals Internationals. (AFWPI) The oldest international association that caters to all categories of the wedding industry).  They are also the owners of MarNel Productions, and have produced Bridal Expo – which is service-marked in California.

Being an avid networker, Richard brought bridal show producers from around the country together in 1996 and founded Bridal Show Producers International.  He is a nationally recognized authority on the wedding industry. He was a guest on two of CNBC-TV's business shows,  was interviewed by the New York Times about wedding sites on the internet, interviewed by Time Magazine about the wedding business and assisted People Magazine with their Wedding Special Edition.  

Richard was one of the first to notice the hot wedding date 07/07/07 and bring it to the media's attention. He is currently assisting Cosmopolitan Magazine on a wedding-related article. He was guest speaker at Mobile Beat's 1st national DJ conference and has spoken at conferences in Hong Kong & Singapore. Richard has sponsored and assisted in many national trade shows and a few outside the US.

 Julia  has provided services - and consulting - to wedding professionals for the past 25 years.  She has lived in California most of her life, but grew up in Arkansas, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education.  She received her journalism training at California State University, Sacramento.  She has presented wedding marketing seminars in the U.S. and worldwide for the past 20 years.  She is the author of “More than Just a Pretty Booth: The Complete Guide to Get Bookings from Bridal Shows,” and has written several articles on the same topic

See you at the 

Love & Sunshine Destination Wedding Conference

Sunday, October 20, 2013

The Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, FL

www.LovenSunshine.com 

Make your list, check it twice

On many occasions, brides become overwhelmed, stressed out and panicked, especially if they are planning their wedding themselves. Hiring a wedding planner eases that stress as they know all the guidelines, lists, all the do's & don't a bride may forget. Here are a few tips and guidelines that will ease the tension of planning your wedding. 

So you're engaged. Congratulations,  Purchase a wedding organizer or have a dedicated folder/binder or book. Keep all your notes, even magazine clippings of ideas. You've chosen a date. Always have a backup date especially if you already have a venue in mind. Lots of venues get booked way in advanced. If the date is of a sentimental nature and you're not willing to change it. Have an open mind to try lots of venues. Discuss your budget amongst your fiance and both sets of parents, always know before hand what you are willing to spend that you can know what options you have.

Decide on your wedding party, or at least your maid/matron of honor and how many bridesmaids you'll be having. Ask them in person, then follow up with a nice, Will you be my Bridesmaid card.

Decide on how many guests you're planning on having. Remember how many guests is what generally determines your wedding budget. Create a database of potential guests and start gathering addresses as soon as possible it makes it easier when its time to start sending out invitations.

Choose a theme or color scheme and style of your wedding. "Fun, modern, traditional"; Indoor or Outdoor. Decide if you are having the ceremony and reception at the same location or doing a traditional religious site then off to reception. If your ceremony and reception are different locations, please ensure there is not too long of a distance between them and have directions available for your guests. Choosing an escort car from ceremony site to reception is also an idea.

After deciding on what type of wedding you're having then you can start researching wedding vendors. Photographers; Videographers; Band or DJ; Florists; Officiant; Cake designer; etc.

Start calling venues to make appointments to look over the space. Key questions to ask when researching venues. Do they have a standard wedding package, what is the maximum capacity for sit down dinner or cocktail party. Is there a dedicated room for ceremony, is there a bridal suite. Do you do your own catering, can I bring my own. Will you cut up and serve my wedding cake. Do you have a stage and dance floor. Find out if you can have a copy of their floor plan.

Start looking for your wedding gown well in advance many boutiques require at least 6 months for custom orders. Choose styles for wedding party. Also give your wedding party enough time to purchase their gowns.

Choose save the date cards, invitation and coordinating wedding stationery. Decide if you will be using the same stationer for your programs, menu cards, place cards, thank you cards etc. 

After sending your invitations, and receiving RSVP. Put together your confirmed attendees and finalize your total head-count. Make your seating plan making sure families are seated together. Have elderly guests seated away from dance floors, speakers and younger guests. If your wedding will include children decide if they will sit with their parents or will have a dedicated table or room with an attendant.

Stay tuned for other tips and Idea. Happy Planning 

A well informed guest is a happy guest

Destination weddings are still the biggest trend today. As opposed to 150 or 350 guests in your hometown, you take between 40 - 50 people to a gorgeous destination. Places like the US VI, The United States Virgin Islands is a ideal location. So now a bride gets to have Joy Agness Events design her wedding. With nine different looks to choose from and all customizable and for a fraction of the price. So all the guesswork is taken out for her, with flexibility. We understand that the bride wants to make her own decisions and wants to be able to customize it in each one of these packages. She has the ability them up or dress them down.

 

What I have been able to do is articulate different looks, like each one is it's own personality. Each one speaks to a different bride. From the Fiery hot Bride, to the Sophisticated bride, to the beach bride, to the bride who wants to embrace lots of color and for the bride who wants a dreamy wedding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For destination brides, the planning process is an on-line experience for them, We wish the brides, the planning process to take the time to taste the food and see the venues and be surprised but many brides don't do this. So as a destination Bride, you need to have tremendous confidence that you and your guests will have the experience you hope for, that is important. It is very easy nowadays to fly somewhere.

Weddings don't have to cost a fortune and destination weddings don't have to go to Bora-Bora or an exotic island in the Mediterranean. The whole idea is to take a small group of friends and family to somewhere treasured for a jam packed weekend of fun. Starting with the welcome dinner/lunch. Activities during the day. The Wedding itself and then a brunch the following day. What a way to enjoy and celebrate.

 

For a Bride who is planning a destination wedding. Here are a few things  you might consider to accommodate your guests:

 

Send out your save the dates with a hint of your destination, picture, hotel, address, etc.

 

Then send out your invitations.

 

You can send a confirmation package. This can tell your guests, what to expect, what to wear, how to get there, what time they need to be there, information on the hotel, transportation and other pertinent information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare a welcome package, to go into guest rooms for when they arrive, This can include an itinerary, reminding  them of where they need to be and where they need to be.

 

Find out if any one has special needs or needs a little more attention. It always shows good on your part, that you are considerate and caring.

Bridal Shows & Expo's

Who to attract? Shows work if you do the right show. Anytime you can bring hundred's of potential customers to see you, you will get business. Do not stay behind your table or booth.

Hosting a bridal show is not as easy as everyone thinks. It takes careful planning and countless hours of execution, be mindful that most bridal shows and expo's are trademarked. Research the name you would love to use, so in going forward. You will place yourself in Litigation proceedings or lawsuits. In doing a bridal show and expo. 

Connect with vendors that are like minded. start visiting other bridal shows and events  to get an idea of what to do on your day. Try to get giveaways and discount coupons to give your brides, they always help.

Lots of social media, blogging and advertising are required, remember the Brides today are well educated and they are always looking for deals. Unless you are mentally prepared and ready to face the the music, do not get started. Questions will be asked if you mix and mingle with your crowd, they need that interaction and so do you. Be knowledgeable of what you are doing, an educated customer or client is a good one. 

Elements to your show are, Lighting, Music, Food, Entertainment are features you must have. Choose vendors of whom, you have seen their work, so you would have an idea of what you are having the day of your show. Doing a bridal show is not for the faint of heart or any show for that matter. 

You are not just catering to potential brides, you are also catering to families and bridal parties. Also other potential vendors if you are thinking of having more that one event. Getting the brides is one thing, but you must be different to set yourself apart from the other shows Choose something special to do or have a give-away. Set yourself apart. All they best to anyone who is thinking of doing a Bridal Show or Expo.

Fusing Two cultures in marriage in a Destination Wedding.

There is a new wave in marriages these days, It's called Cultural Infusion. I had the pleasure of being apart of an Indian / African Wedding, hosted in the beautiful Trinidad and Tobago. The venue was beautiful, luscious colors, very vibrant. Gold, White & Yellow. Each side was represented very beautifully. There are a few key factors that is a must to plan a beautiful culturally infused wedding and a few elements in a destination wedding.

Be accommodating to the guests & family. It helps the wedding go smoothly.

Do some research find out more about your significant other's culture.

As one of the activities before the wedding have a Cultural game. Where you can break the ice and have each family find out more about each other in a relaxed setting.

Include a dish or a special treat from both cultures in either your cocktail hour or reception, or have a full tasting menu focusing on each culture, for a lunch or dinner before the wedding.

For a entertaining factor have a dance group showcasing each culture during the reception. Give your DJ music from both cultures or see if you can have Different live bands from both, so each side can be equally entertained.

As many of your guests will normally book an extra 2 days before and after your wedding. Make sure that your guests are occupied with events.

Plan a full schedule for each day, your guests will be at the hotel.

Find someone that is responsible in the crowd or see if your hotel has program's coordinator, to be the go-to person. (Making sure everyone is where they're supposed to be. The areas that are designated for scheduled events. Getting to and from locations if they are leaving the hotel property) 

This takes pressure off the couple, the bridal party, etc.

Photography is a very effective component in a destination wedding, in any wedding. Make sure they capture the special moments, pictorial views of details you would not be able to see. If possible see if you can have photography done for a few hours for some of your guest activities to show a full view of your wedding excursions.

Always remember to give your guests, handwritten thank you notes. It gives a special touch to those who traveled to be with you and your family.

A destination wedding is exciting, vibrant and Joyous. The beauty of a destination wedding is seeing another country or state with family and friends. It could be your childhood or grandparents home; A city or state you have visited before, the couple's dream honeymoon location. Whatever it is that's taking you to your destination, let it be one of peasant memories.

Make everyone feel valuable, a personal touch for friends and family, who could not make it, is a video of your wedding. It's a great present to give to loved ones who couldn't share your special day in person.

Congratulations To Alvin & Sparkle.