We get several inquiries every week from students and individuals seeking a career in wedding or event planning. As an experienced educator and teacher leader, I believe education and credentials are two of the biggest keys to success in any career field. There are many groups and instructors out there that claim to give you the keys to the wedding planning kingdom if you will just attend their course or seminar. Unfortunately, many of these people lack the education and credentials themselves to be a professional planner. much less teach a course, and some have very little to no experience in the industry at all.  Given the tough economic times, most of these “instructors” are out to make a quick dollar on unsuspecting people who have wedding planning stars in their eyes and are all too willing to give their money away to learn the ropes. As a result, those attending these courses are left with an incomplete picture regarding how to run a business and often walk away with skewed knowledge of the industry and a worthless certificate of completion.

Before I started down my own wedding planning career path, I spent several months researching and learning all I could about the industry.  I also spent time interviewing and shadowing a diverse group of wedding professionals in order to see the business through their eyes and their individual crafts.  This is a tough industry, one that is focused on one of the most important celebrations in the life of a couple.  Organization and communication are critical skills necessary for navigating the planning process with clients.  You have to be able to juggle many tasks at once and handle issues with tact and grace.  Then there is the entire business side to worry about as well.  Knowing how to write a business plan, file for corporate status, set up an accounting system, write a legally binding contract, establish a workable and affordable start-up marketing plan, and networking are all very important to the success of your endeavor.

Fortunately, there are internationally recognized professional associations and organizations  committed to building the profession through certified instruction and adherence to a professional code of ethics and business practices. One of these organizations is the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants (ACPWC).  I am a proud graduate of the ACPWC program and earned my Professional Wedding Consultant credentials through the ACPWC.

Through training by experienced professionals, continuing education programs and an ongoing industry recognized certification process, ACPWC provides uniformity and accountability thereby ensuring business integrity is maintained and supported well beyond the original training process. ACPWC graduates are prepared to start their own businesses after completing the training and quickly become leaders in their community of wedding and special event professionals. Since its establishment in 1990, the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants (ACPWC) has set the standard for excellence in wedding consulting nationwide offering the only professional training and certification program for wedding consultants registered by the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Courses are offered throughout the year across the country, and one of those courses is coming to the Central Florida area.

The Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront is hosting the next course August 2 – 6.  You can learn more about the course offerings by contacting The Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants at 408.227.2792 or by visiting the website at www.acpwc.com.  A quality, recognized educational program is one of the smartest investments you can make as you embark on a new career.

It has been quite a busy spring and early summer season for the Uniquely Yours team. Now that we have a few weeks before the fall season starts up, we are excited to bring you several new blog posts! We have so many creative ideas, products to share, and of course, beautiful weddings to feature.  But before all of that, I thought it would be nice to introduce you to our new studio space, “The Living Room”.

We have always wanted a creative space in Orlando to meet with clients, and this past April that dream came true as we partnered with a fantastic group of professionals for the opening of “The Living Room”.  Here are few photos of the new space. The space design and decor was done by none other than the super talented Becka of Studio 222 Photography.

Isn’t it sweet? We love it here!

This month we hosted our Summer Open House at the Living Room. It was wonderful having a space to greet and mingle with engaged couples and professionals alike.  We hope you will stop by for a visit soon.  Just give us a call or send an email first as we schedule meetings by appointment.

All Photos Courtesy of Studio 222 Photography

If you have not had a chance to stop by the studio at “The Living Room” for our special Summer Open House, tonight is your last chance.  If you are curious about the types of services planners can offer, have questions regarding your current plans, or just want some advice on various aspects of your wedding then you definitely want to stop by and meet the Uniquely Yours team.  Brides attending the Summer Open House are also eligible for a special promotion that we are offering. We look forward to meeting you tonight from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM so make plans to drop by and say hello.  For more information such as location, directions, and registration click here. See you soon!

We love when our Uniquely Yours clients think outside the proverbial box as it pertains to wedding entertainment. Interactive entertainment features are quite trendy.  Over the last few years, photobooths have been a fun interactive option for wedding guests, and we have seen numerous models from vintage to completely custom themed.  Most include an attendant, a printed keepsake photograph, and some type of guestbook.  None of them, however, have the “coolness” and creative appeal of the newest “photobooth” now available for weddings and special events – PhotoMingle.

PhotoMingle has all the features of a typical photobooth, allowing guests to take photographs and record video messages, but goes beyond the typcial with an interactive display screen that allows guests to write personal messages on their photographs with the touch of a fingertip.  Guests can also manipulate and view the photographs on screen.  The Uniquely Yours team recently had an opportunity to preview the PhotoMingle in action at a local industry event.  It was a huge attraction for all the guests in attendance, and we had a great time testing out the features.

That is Lindsay from AFR Event Furnishings on the far left with the stylish screen “stache”, UY Karry, UY Erinn, & UY Sara.

The professionals at PhotoMingle also offer a guestbook/photobook that features all the personal photos and messages your guests created.  You can see a demonstration video of the PhotoMingle and reserve one for your event by visiting the website at www.photomingle.com. Future plans for the PhotoMingle include connections to Facebook and Twitter as well as an iPhone application.  We look forward to watching our clients and their guests have fun with the PhotoMingle at future weddings and parties!

Photo Source: www.photomingle.com

Uniquely Yours Wedding & Event Specialist is hosting three open house nights this month at our studio in Winter Park. If you are engaged, or know somebody who is, please stop by to ask questions, learn more about our services, get advice, and mingle.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Season Three of Get Married’s popular planning show on WeTV continues with seven new episodes starting on Saturday, July 3rd at 9:30 AM EST.

Show host and Get Married founder Stacie Francombe, spends time with real brides as she guides them through an array of bridal experiences and participates in inspiring challenges with wedding professionals and experts.

The line-up of new episodes unveils the hottest wedding trends and shocking surprises including a customized father-daughter dance song written by singer-songwriter, Edwin McCain.

We are huge fans of the show which offers a balanced blend of trendy, practical, and creative ideas as well as timely advice and tips relevant to today’s modern brides.

Lauren Grove over at Every Last Detail, one of our recommended daily reads for all things wedding, does a great series of weekly tips for brides in the midst of planning their weddings.  Last week’s post focused on how to effectively work with vendors you are considering for your wedding professional team.  It also provided information that you may not have previously considered which will prove to be especially helpful as you schedule and prepare yourself for meetings.

Lauren graciously allowed us to share her post with you here on Wed Lines.

Part of the objective of {ELD} is to educate brides throughout the wedding planning process. So, I thought that sharing some tips about working with wedding vendors would be beneficial to both brides and vendors. No, these aren’t bad things or industry secrets. These tidbits are just things to consider when working with your wedding vendors.

- Go to your meetings prepared. Bring photos, swatches, contracts- whatever you desire really. Have a couple of questions. If you don’t have any clue about what to expect for the meeting, it doesn’t hurt to ask beforehand. If you’re going to an initial consultation, have an idea in your head of what you want your wedding to be like. If you’re at a complete loss, try the {ELD} Style Dictionary for some help. If that’s the case, tell the vendor outright that you haven’t decided on what kind of wedding you want.

- Going along with the previous statement, TALK to your vendors. They can’t read your mind and know what you want. If you don’t have anything specific that you want, tell them so they can give you ideas and suggestions.

-Don’t be afraid to ask your vendors for other referrals. Good vendors working with each other results in a good experience for ALL!

- Your wedding vendors work weekends, of course, as most weddings are on weekends. However, just because they are “working” does not mean that they are sitting at their desks all weekend. They’re out, on location, at weddings, working. Please don’t be worried or mad if an email you send on the weekend or at the end of the week isn’t returned immediately. I know they’re all super awesome at returning emails during the week, but come Thursday or Friday, things can turn into a madhouse preparing for weddings. Please have patience with your vendors if you send emails during “peak days”, and give them time to get back to the office and respond.

- Running late for a meeting or did life just get in the way? Call the vendor and let them know! Wedding vendors don’t have the most normal schedules, and although most of the time they’re very accommodating, more times than not they also have lots of other things on their plate.

- Something else to remember: your wedding vendors’ respective profession is their career and job. They don’t do it “on the side” or as a “hobby”. Meaning it’s their livelihood and how they put food in their family’s mouth, just like your job. Yes, they love what they do and it’s a fun, rewarding job, but they also have to make money. Their prices are what they are because it’s what they live off of.

- Some vendors you have that may be working with family members on the day of your wedding (coordinator, planner, photographer, videographer, DJ) won’t know what their names are unless you specifically tell them. Give them specific names for your bridal party and any family involved. For photos, have a family member act as the “round up person” to get needed family members efficiently.

- And of course- sorry to sound like a broken record- everything is better and easier when you have a wedding planner/coordinator. It’s pretty much unanimously agreed upon by all wedding vendors.

Special thanks goes out to Lauren for graciously sharing this post with our readers.  You can find more planning tips, educate yourself on wedding style by referring to the style dictionary, get inspired by beautiful weddings, and find fantastic products for your day by checking out her blog – Every Last Detail.

So far 2010 has been a year of promising happenings and refreshing change for Uniquely Yours.  Today, we are thrilled to announce an addition to our wedding planning family. Please join us in welcoming Erinn Ryan, newest lead planner for Uniquely Yours Wedding & Event Specialist.  Erinn comes to us having recently graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Event Management. (You know Karry is especially thrilled to have another Gator on the team. Sorry, Sara.)

Photo Credit:  Amanda Young at http://swoonovertheblog.com

Erinn brings both knowledge and breadth of experience to the team. She has immersed herself in the wedding industry while attending school by working as the event supervisor at a Gainesville area wedding venue, as a consultant at a bridal retailer, and as intern then full time assistant at Masterpiece Weddings. Erinn has also been heavily involved in planning and organizing events for various charitable organizations, most notably the National Arthritis Association, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and the international ONE foundation.

Erinn relates to brides on a very personal level as she is also planning her own Central Florida wedding, so she is keenly aware of what brides are experiencing and seeking as they work through the planning process.  We are so excited to have Erinn join our team. She looks forward to working with Uniquely Yours brides to create memorable weddings that are efficiently and impeccably planned and infused with creative, fresh design.  Welcome, Erinn!

Interested in having Erinn plan your wedding or social event? Please contact her at erinn@uywedding.com.

Wondering who took Erinn’s photo… Check out talented photographer Amanda Young  at www.swoonovertheblog.com

Just before the 2009 holidays, we met with the talented photography duo Jason and Sara Martin of Concept Photography. You have seen their gorgeous work featured here on the Wed Lines blog.  We were over the moon when they agreed to photograph our entire team.  The goal was to create some beautiful new headshots and 2010 marketing material images for the company.  We also wanted to include a “real” bride for some fun shots as well.  Beautiful bride and newlywed, Kendra, agreed to join us for our adventure in downtown Orlando.   Special thank you’s  go out to Lee Forrest of Lee Forrest Design for the creatively designed bouquets and Patricia LeJeune  of LeJeune Precision Cosmetics for hair and makeup styling.  Here’s a look at some of our favorites.

Stay tuned for new and big things in the works at Uniquely Yours.

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, recently announced that Uniquely Yours Wedding & Event Specialist has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for wedding planning and design services.

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry.

Uniquely Yours Wedding & Event Specialist is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Uniquely Yours Wedding & Event Specialist is among the very best planning firms within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards.