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ALL THINGS WEDDINGS
We all enter this business because we have a passion, whether it be for design, planning, lighting, cooking or entertaining. As creative people, money is always last on our list of reasons. However, money is the main ingredient of success. If you can’t pay the bills, it doesn’t matter how amazing your talent is. If the lights are out, no one will ever see it. As part of a discussion about success, the topic of money needs to be … how shall I say it … put on the table. There is nothing wrong about asking for the money and being able to seal a deal, nor about getting what you are worth. All of this is a creative art form in itself and a skill that can be learned. While no one can really tell you how to do it, I think it’s enough that you give yourself “permission” to be a business person and to acknowledge the fact that payment is important. Once you do this, I know from experience that you will be able to find the right way for you to discuss terms, contracts and payment with your clients. Associations like WIPA are a great place to network, but they are also an important link for you and other professionals to talk to each other about the more difficult subjects. At the next WIPA meeting, I encourage you to talk to fellow members about how they charge and how and when they get paid. Learning from one another’s experiences will not only help to make your business stronger, but will help the entire wedding profession advance to the next level.Pauline Parry
WIPA'S JULY EVENTS
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WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
WIPA would like to welcome and thank our newest Members for joining and supporting such a wonderful association, as we continue to expand across the Nation! We would like to highlight what it is that makes them "Wedding Industry Professionals!"
Lori Stephenson
Lola Event Productions
773-942-6172
www.lolaproductions.com
info@lolaproductions.com
From backyards to ballrooms, the "Lola Pros" are experts at creating beautiful, fun, memorable and meaningful weddings that included touches unique to the personalities of our clients. Lola consultants have over 40 years of combined professional experience in weddings and events, and have worked in most of Chicago's finest wedding venues.
Gloria Atherstone
I Do Venues
510-387-9619
www.idovenues.com
info@idovenues.com
I Do Venues is a unique wedding planning company, we are dedicated to providing affordable Day of Coordination, Reception Management and Ceremony Management to the DIY bride who otherwise would not be able to afford the services of a full service wedding coordinator. Our web site offers an inspirational blog that focuses on showcasing SF Venues from an insider perspective.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS AT OUR JUNE MEETING
Written by: Michelle Nowak
Brilliant Studios LA
323.954.2272
michelle@brilliantstudios.la
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| Michelle Nowak Brilliant Studios LA |
L’Ermitage, Beverly Hills Hotel offered one of the best views in the city from their exclusive rooftop location for WIPA at the June 1st meeting. Members and guests, gathered by the pool, enjoyed iced teas and Hors d’oeuvres served by the gracious staff. The inviting, relaxing music, provided by Moondance Mobile Music, set the tone for an afternoon of networking and quality education in high style at this elegant venue.
Di- Lanatta’s Photography captured all the key moments and special details of the day while everyone “flipped” over the fun interactive photo experience provided by Get Flipped. What a great way to return from a long weekend!
Catering Manager Kathleen Stevens and her team truly spoiled us with a delicious lunch and impeccable service for which this Mobile 5-Star and AAA 5-Diamond property is renowned. The crunch of the Grilled Crostini and Balsamic Garbanzo Bean Bruchetta, Pesto Gnocchi and Grilled Radicchio and Chicken Salad was enough to put you in a good mood for the rest of the week! And, to sweeten the conversation, Vanilla Bake Shop served up melt-in-your mouth sweets during the SIG Groups.
BBJ Linen provided bright, sunny, melon and turquoise linens with floral designs by Hala Flowers. The speaker presentation area, designed by Revelry Inc. and Classic Party Rentals, made for a lovely setting for the educational portion of the meeting featuring Mark Ley of Core Business Development.
Mark motivated and engaged us all with his presentation, “Build Your Business with Content Based Marketing”. He provided many interesting and fun examples on creating that emotional connection with potential and current clients through business blogs and other social media tools. Here are some key takeaways...
It is essential to populate your blog and social media sites you use with content that is entertaining or informative; preferably both, that will capture and hold their interest.
- Quality Content Provides Value; Write about what you know, what interests you and what you are passionate about. Be authentic and write the way you speak (using proper grammar and spelling of course). Learn to distinguish the garbage data from quality content for your blog (twitter and other blog feeds) that is both relevant to your target audience and to supplying your blog with information for search engines to find yours (which should be hosted on your own website).
- Quality Content Provides Education; Consider yourself the expert. Sharing stories with a lesson, helpful tips and “how-to’s” are the most important educational value your readers are looking for.
- Quality Content Provides Entertainment; People buy what they’re emotionally connected to. Turn content into context with stories, images and especially video. Sales are done best when wrapping the value in a story that holds emotion. People coming into the situation don’t yet know the value, so it’s up to you to show them the value by building up your content marketing.
With the sheer volume and speed of information on the internet and precious time people have, they choose carefully how to spend it. Grasp their attention by giving valuable and entertaining information and you’re sure to enhance your presence with the posts you write, images, links and updates you share on your blog, facebook, Twitter, You Tube and more.
People are making their decisions on what to follow so choose to share content that defines who you are and what you can offer. And, finally…always end your blog with a question! People can’t resist but to answer!
So what changes can you make today that will put your business in the social media spotlight?
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS
Venue/Catering
L'Ermitage Beverly Hills
Kathleen Stevens
Catering Manager
9291 Burton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310-385-5322
kathleen.stevens@viceroyhotelgroup.com
www.lermitagebh.com
Catering/Desserts
Vanilla Bake Shop
Amy Berman
512 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-458-6644
amy@vanillabakeshop.com
www.vanillabakeshop.com
Rentals
Classic Party Rentals
Gus Galanis
8476 Steller Drive
Culver City, CA 90232
310-202-0011
ggalanis@classicpartyrentals.com
www.classicpartyrentals.com
Photography
Di-Lanatta’s Photography
Tande Di-Lanatta
5439 ½ La Jolla Boulevard
La Jolla, CA 92037
858-456-9303
dilanatta@gmail.com
www.dilanattas.com
Linens
BBJ Linens
Erin O’Donnell
2728 S. La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310-204-0363
dilanatta@gmail.com
www.bbjlinen.com
DJ
Moondance Mobile Music
Jeff Holmes
22782 Costa Bella Drive
Lake Forest, CA 92630
949-598-9486
djmoondance@gmail.com
www.moondancemobilemusic.com
Entertainment
Get Flipped
Helena Pasquarella
Director of Smiles
806 E Almond Avenue
Orange, CA 92866
714-771-1281
helena@getflipped.com
www.getflipped.com
Printing
The Card Lady
Karla Randolph
4250 Verdigris Circle
San Jose, CA 95134
408-964-8183
thecardlady1@yahoo.com
www.designsbythecardlady.com
Florals
Hala Flowers
Nader Elzayat
866 S. Brookhurst Street
Anaheim, CA 92804
714-394-3940
nader@halaflower.com
www.halaflower.com
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR MEMBERS!
If you have an idea or story to share, tell us about it!
WIPA sends out monthly newsletters and your story can be published! Submit a 250-word proposal to Desiree Patterson of Social Creative at desiree@socialcreativellc.com and we will consider your article for upcoming editions.
