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ALL THINGS WEDDINGS
For the past two years myself and my team at Good Gracious! Events have been working all the angles of marketing with social networking, being out there and extending our selves and our time to be as noticeable as possible. I know we have not been the only ones working hard like this. I see all of my colleagues and WIPA friends doing the same. And still, I think we’d all agree, the results aren’t anything like what they would have been had we been working this hard and this smart in any other economy. So, let’s plan our action. How can we – the wedding industry – be even more proactive in 2011? We know that our clients are savvy. They are on the internet, they are reading blogs and magazines, they are even bloggers themselves and as such influence leaders. They know a lot, but there is a difference between reading about being in battle and actually spending time in the trenches. There is just no substitute for experience. Our job is to convey this message and get not just in sync with our clients but perhaps a little ahead of them. My first thought is to approach a bride not as “a” planner or “a” caterer, but to bring a team to the table. Think about it. A Colin Cowie wedding is just that because he is the star; the front man for a fantastic team. And the client comes to him for that RIGHT team together. My bold proposal is that we all start thinking like stars! I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do believe this is the beginning of a long, juicy conversation that will continue when WIPA’s next speaker, Andy Ebon, consultant and owner/operator of The Wedding Market Network, takes the stage at Napa’s Meadowood Resort on February 8. His topic? Getting Down to Business. Let’s talk about it. Then let’s do it! Here’s to a successful 2011!Pauline Parry
WIPA'S FEBRUARY MEETING
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FACEBOOK FOR WEDDING PROFESSIONALSTuesday, February 8, 2011
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Driving Directions Guest Accommodations: MENU: Second Course PROGRAM: Some key takeaways include: How developing your personal relationships through Facebook can benefit your business. ••• What makes for effective and ineffective status updates. ••• Drawing the line between your business and personal presence. ••• How to build business relationships with just a couple degrees of separation will rapidly give you huge presence and reach. •••• Understanding and implementing the different tools for business presence, including: Personal Pages, Business Pages (mini-websites), Groups, and Facebook Advertising.
Andy Ebon is publisher of The-Wedding-Marketing-Blog-dot-COM. From 1972 to 1996, Andy was a noted member of the DJ Entertainment Industry, operating two mobile DJ services in San Francisco: Music Man and Designer Music. His two companies served clients in over 2000 weddings. His work with Designer Music earned him recognition as San Francisco Small Business Owner of the Year. Today, Andy is an in-demand public speaker, writer, and consultant. In 2009 and 2010, Andy traveled across North America and the Caribbean, making more than 100 presentations to wedding industry groups on marketing, social media, and internet communications. He has published an eBook, 99 Marketing Tips and 10 Things You Should Never Do. He released a 3-hour seminar on DVD: Building A Social Media Strategy. And, he is a co-author to the first two books in the Power of the Platform Series: contributing chapters on Blogging and Social Media. His current wedding industry involvement includes Board of Director positions with BSPI (Bridal Show Producers International) and Wish Upon A Wedding. Andy will present his most-asked-for seminars, Facebook for Wedding Professionals. He will cover the rapidly changing landscape of Facebook, and how to best use it for your business. REGISTRATION INFORMATION Non-Member Fees are: Members Fees are: A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS Venue/Catering Linens Florals Rentals Classic Party Rentals Entertainment Photography Menu Design and Printing A/V Video Creations by Martha Thank you to our co-chairs for this event: Dina Balatti, Bella Celebrations & Isabelle Adams, Bonjour Isabelle |
WELCOME 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!"
Tara Kendig
Live Nation
251 Rhode Island St
Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-776-7042
livenation.com/specialevents
tarakendig@livenation.com
From the stunning Nob Hill Masonic Center to the legendary Fillmore to the intimate Cobb’s and Punchline Comedy Clubs, Live Nation’s San Francisco venues accommodate groups from 30 to 3,000 offering ideal spaces for rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions and so much more!
Ava Freiermuth
Pleasanton Marriott
11950 Dublin Canyon Road
Pleasanton, CA 94588
925-847-7566
Marriottpleasanton.com
afreiermuth@pyramidhotelgroup.com
Marriott Pleasanton is a full service, newly renovated hotel in the heart of the Tri-Valley. For wonderful social events and weddings the Marriott Pleasanton is an extraordinary choice to plan the perfect special occasion. We have a newly renovated 3,200 square foot ballroom that can accommodate up to 250 people.
WEDDING INDUSTRY & TRADESHOW NEWS
Written by: Joyce Scardina Becker, CMP
Events of Distinction
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| Joyce Scardina-Becker, CMP WIPA Founding Sponsor and First President |
WIPA Member Joann Roth-Oseary, owner of Someone’s in the Kitchen, is starting 2011 with locomotive speed! Someone’s in the Kitchen has been named a Finalist for a 2011 ACE (Achievement in Catering Excellence) Award by Catersource Magazine, and they have been nominated for 4 Gala Awards by Special Events Magazine. In her spare time, Joann is donating her expertise to the SEARCH Foundation Board of Directors as its Chairwoman; she is an Education Foundation Board Director for the International Caterers Association; and last but not least, Joann has been nominated for a Women In Business Award by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal.
Sharon Jansen, WIPA’s Advisor and one of our first Founding Sponsors, has announced that she is retiring and closing her business, Special Event Business Advisors. The magnitude and value of Sharon’s numerous contributions to WIPA cannot be overstated. Without her brilliant guidance, strong business relationships and unselfish investment of time, WIPA simply would not have come into being. On behalf of all WIPA members, thank you so much Sharon, for all of your wisdom and support!! We wish you a most joyful retirement!
WIPA and SE have joined forces to offer you a FREE personal subscription to Special Events Magazine - Subscribe Today!
Special Events Magazine is a resource for event professionals who design and produce special events (including social, corporate and public events) in hotels, resorts, banquet facilities and other venues. Each issue provides design and menu inspiration, practical tips on solving problems when producing events, sources for great products and services, sales-building strategies, and business management tips--all to help make our readers creative, productive and profitable professionals.
Reserve your FREE subscription today!
Introducing Your 2011 WIPA Board of Directors
Officers:
President – Pauline Parry, Good Gracious! Events
Vice President – Sharon Dexmier, Napa Valley Linens
Secretary – Vanessa Rockafellow, Cachet Wedding Designs
Treasurer – Mandy Scott, Mandy Scott Flowers
Immediate Past President – Joyce Scardina Becker, Events of DistinctionDirectors:
Certification – Carol Rosen, Party Designs by Carol
Chapter Formation – Bill Pry, BBJ Linen
Communications – Jan Bohn, Margaret’s Cleaners
Education – Liese Gardner, Mecca Communications
Marketing – Wendy Dahl, Dahl Wedding Company
Membership – Alicia Slater, Global Gourmet Catering
Programs – Anseth Richards, Creative Occasions / Bridal Bar
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Catersource and Event Solutions’ co-located educational conferences offer you more than 200 sessions, demos, contests and events geared toward the professional caterer and event planner. You will be immersed in the most creative ideas, best business practices, inspirational events and networking opportunities in the industry. We have some fabulous speakers presenting this year at Catersource & Event Solutions: Therese Cole-Hubbs, Pauline Parry, Chef Molly Kruger, Tracey Kumer-Moore, JWIC, Carol Rosen, CSEP, Liese Gardner, Joyce Scardina Becker, CMP, Leighsa Montrose, AIFD, and Rebecca Grinnals. WIPA Leadership Advisory Board Member Marcy Blum will also be sharing her wisdom at Event Solutions. |
| Rates: Catersource Conference & Tradeshow |
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Catersource WIPA Education Track: Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
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| Rates: EVENT SOLUTIONS IDEA FACTORY |
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Event Solutions WIPA Education Track: Sunday: This session will focus on identifying the core value proposition of a creative business. Once the “core” is identified, Sean will discuss how to translate it into the creative business’ marketing strategy, pricing methodology, customer service and corporate structure. He will lay the foundation by describing how most creative businesses operate today, and where your business sits. He will then identify some of the opportunities for change that might be available to you given advances in communication and technology. DELIVERABLES:
Is There Room for a Wedding Planner AND Wedding There’s a lot of confusion in Weddingville as to the different niches within the wedding industry. It is important that everyone on the bride’s team knows their roles and how they can work together to best get to the big day. Hear from a wedding pro about the various approaches that each planner can take to meet the demands of a specific wedding. Explore where you fit or where you can grow your business best in this expanding market. DELIVERABLES:
Monday: The session explores how event designers find their inspiration and how to be open to finding new ideas. We will review several examples that inspired creative ideas (did you know you could find inspiration just by going to restaurants?) and how to make these ideas profitable. Handouts will include lists of possible places to find inspiration AND how to turn it into something you can use. The session will incorporate playful photos as well as ask attendees how they would find ideas in the materials presented. This will be a group experience. Come prepared to learn and share! DELIVERABLES:
1.25 CMP credit hoursTuesday: DELIVERABLES:
Xperience Room: Over the years, wedding planners have had to adapt to selling to many different people including the mother of the bride, father of the groom, bridesmaids, and everyone else but the kitchen sink. This will be a fun and informative class on how wedding consultants can best adapt to this new sales cycle and sell their services and benefits to everyone in ONE meeting. DELIVERABLES:
Register before January 24, 2011 for the lowest rates on the most complete catering and events education in the industry. Visit our websites www.catersource.com and www.es-ideafactory.com for more information and to register. For questions please call 800.932.3632 or email mikeroman@catersource.com. |
LIMITED TIME OFFER! - NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT
In honor of the tradeshow season WIPA is extending a special discounted rate for becoming a member! Save $50.00 (processing fee will be waived) when you sign up! Application and annual dues must be submitted. And approval is dependent on required documentation. This offer is good from Monday, January 24th through Monday, March 7th at 2:00PM. If you have any questions, please contact our Director of Membership, Alicia Slater, alicia@ggcatering.com.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL WIPA MEETING OF WIPA MEMBERS
In a Conference Call to Be Held On Thursday, February 3, 2011, 10:00am PST Please join:
Pauline Parry, Founding Sponsor and President
Joyce Scardina Becker, CMP, Founding Sponsor and Immediate Past President and the Incoming Board of Directors
- Learn what has been accomplished so far
- Hear the exciting plans for WIPA over the next year
- Find out what the committees are doing behind the scenes
Items to be presented to the Members for action are:
Approval of election results for 2011 Board
President - Pauline Parry, Good Gracious! Events
Vice President - Sharon Dexmier, Napa Valley Linens
Secretary - Vanessa Rockafellow, Cachet Wedding Designs
Treasurer - Mandy Scott, Mandy Scott Flowers
Director of Certification - Carol Rosen, Party Designs by Carol
Director of Communications - Jan Bohn, Margaret's Cleaners
Director of Education - Liese Gardner, Mecca Communications
Director of Membership - Alicia Slater, Global Gourmet Catering
Director of Programs - Anseth Richards, Creative Occasions / Bridal Bar
Bill Pry, Wendy Dahl and Therese Cole-Hubbs were previously elected to 2-year terms, and therefore they will continue in 2011 as Director of Chapter Formation, Director of Marketing and Director of Professional Development, respectively.
If you have any questions to be addressed, please submit by January 29th to pauline@goodgraciousevents.com This meeting will be held via conference call. We look forward to having you there!
DATE: Thursday, February 3, 2011 TIME: 10:00am PST CALL: 712-432-0600 Access Code: 433631#
NOTE: As a WIPA Member, you have the right to request a copy of the year-end financial report when it is reconciled. Please contact Treasurer, Mandy Scott, at mandy@mandyscott.com or 415-441-3758.
WIPA'S 2011 MEETING SCHEDULE
Written by: Tracey Kumer-Moore
WIPA 2010 Director of Education
Tweet: @LVWedConcierge
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| Tracey Kumer-Moore WIPA Director of Education |
January is “The Special Event” in Phoenix where WIPA will be sponsoring the Wedding track with many members featured as speakers and two WIPA tabletop displays at the Wedding Luncheon and Gallery, where WIPA also has a table reserved for members. California Event Planner Sasha Souza is the keynote speaker at this event.
February 8th is our first 2011 meeting in Northern California at Meadowood Napa Valley featuring Andy Ebon of the Wedding Marketing Network. Andy gets social (media that is) with “Face Book for Wedding Professionals”. Andy has successfully coached and guided wedding industry vendors and creative partners in both the actual adoption of social media strategies and the development of best practices and ethical guidelines that provide a solid framework for results-oriented New Media strategies.
Join WIPA on February, 27-March 3, 2011 in Las Vegas for CATERSOURCE/EVENT SOLUTIONS. Not to be missed are the ideas, education and inspiration provided in both the educational and networking opportunities of these “sister” events. Taking place at Las Vegas’ just-opened Cosmopolitan Hotel, which was designed by acclaimed architects and designers Friedmutter Group and Arquitectonica, energy for these two events will be off the charts.
March 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, Richard Aaron of BizBash joins WIPA at Vibiana in Los Angeles. Currently the president of BizBash, Richard, whose nickname is THE King of Edutainment, was recently named MPI’s International Planner of the Year and Event Solution’s Visionary. Richard, whose accolades number too many to list, will speak and entertain questions for WIPA attendees at Vibiana, an enchanting recently-renovated Los Angeles venue known not only for its intimate spaces, but also for its knowledge in and incorporation of sustainable event strategies and healthy, hearty organic menus.
Richard will deliver keen insights into the latest forces in cultural engagement that will be shaping creative strategies for meetings and events in 2010. Richard will also spice up this session with the latest BiZBash discoveries in design, lighting, and themes to help you create the most memorable catered event experiences direct from the pages of BizBash. Creative partners in the wedding industry will love the way Richard brings to life large-scale event elements in ways that are easily incorporated in more intimate events. Join WIPA and discover the top-thought leadership concepts in this session that separates the fads and trends for planners.
Katy Carrier, founder of Carrier and Associates, a law firm for the creative business, speaks about and answers attendees questions on a wide range of legal issues surrounding business owners and social media ethics and weddings. This April 5th meeting takes place in San Diego at Maderas Golf Club. Recently, Katy’s work, Avoiding Defamation, Slander and Libel, was shared by hundreds of event professionals through her blog and twitter. The topic both struck a chord with event professionals and provided insight that had to date not yet been provided in a public forum. Prepare for this session by bringing your toughest legal questions relating to drafting client contracts, blogging compliance, and intellectual property ownership/disputes. Katy will guide our discussion of these topics and others that pertain to event industry professionals.
Read Katy’s Avoiding Defamation, Slander and Libel here: http://thelawforcreatives.com/2011/01/06/avoiding-defamation-slander-libel/
On May 3, 2011, David Hauser of Grasshopper.com, will present “Entrepreneurship: Identifying a Need in your market; having the guts to fulfill and having the guts to be different.” David is one of the youngest people ever to be named to Inc’s List of 500 Fastest-Growing Private companies in America. He has been featured on CNN and in publications including the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Entrepreneur and others.
Having launched more than five successful start-ups by the age of 27, David’s passion lies in empowering entrepreneurs to succeed. If you’ve identified a need in your market and you know you can fulfill it, David will empower you to do so. If you’re not an entrepreneur, because you’re scared to make the leap, David will address your fears. If you’re an entrepreneur and you are struggling to stand out in the crowd, David will show you how. If you’re thinking about re-branding, David's insights will save you time, money and frustration. If you’re an entrepreneur and you think you know what your core values are, David will challenge you to think again. If you’re small and your budget is small, David will demonstrate how bigger budget doesn’t translate to greater awareness. You’ll walk away from David with concrete ideas of how to get people talking about what it is YOU do.
The Education Committee wants to hear from you!
Please fill out post-meeting survey forms and tell us what kind of speakers and educational content matters to you or you would be excited to see and hear. You don’t have to wait a whole month though. You are always welcome to contact us directly by email at info@wipausa.org or visit and comment on our Face book page at www.Facebook.com/WIPA_USA.
Upcoming Meeting Dates
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 – Vibiana, Los Angeles
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 – Maderas Golf Club, San Diego
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 – Bently Reserve, San Francisco
Tuesday, June 7, 2011– Crevier Classic Cars, Costa Mesa
Thursday, July 7, 2011 – Church Estates, Los Angeles
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 – Ralston Hall, Belmont
Thursday, September 8, 2011 – Palm Event Center, Livermore
September TBA, Southern California, Joint ISES/WIPA meeting
Tuesday, October 4, 2011– Beaulieu Garden, Rutherford
Tuesday, November 1, 2011– Southern California, TBA
SEND US YOUR HOT TOPICS!
WIPA, we need your input to tell us what you and your colleagues are discussing so we can bring it to the forefront at WIPA meetings and address it together as WIPA professionals. You matter, your feedback matters so we can educate our wedding industry, other event professionals, and most importantly, educate brides and the media as to what we have to say in accordance with our vision and mission and core values! We can't wait to hear from you! Please email your "Hot Topic Ideas to your Education Director, Tracey Kumer Moore at Tracey@LVWeddingConcierge.com".
