MWEP’s First Meet-ups

Michigan Wedding & Event Professionals’ First Networking Meet-ups were a huge success! Both the East & West Groups had a great turn out and even better feedback. I couldn’t be happier that this little group has turned into such a beneficial and fun resource for Michigan Weddings Pros. Aletha reported that she had a wonderful group of 19 West-siders show up and on the East, we had 20.

If you were able to attend, please send me any feedback you may have. I want to keep this group as fun and entertaining as possible, so anything thoughts or concerns you may have will help us out a ton! If you were not able to attend, why not? It is easy to join, and free to stay. Just send us an email with your information and you are in!

The next MWEP Meetings will be scheduled soon and I will be sure to post the information here, in an email and on my Facebook page. A huge Thank You goes out to everyone who was able to attend. This is a really great group of people and I can’t wait to see where MWEP takes us.

Side Note: I will be updating our member page today. Please support MWEP by visiting their sites!

MWEP Member Spotlight #4 {Sadie Rose Events}

Please give a very warm welcome to Amber Hodge, owner of Sadie Rose Events. She is fairly new to the industry and I am really excited to introduce her to you all. (If you haven’t had the joy of meeting her yet!) Welcome to the group, Amber!

1.)    How long have you been planning & coordinating weddings/events? I planned my own wedding in 2004, and have planned and coordinated multiple weddings here and there as more of a hobby for friends and family in between then and now.

 

2.)    What made you decide to start Sadie Rose Events?

I have always had two “career” goals in my life, one is to write a book, and the other is to start my own business. After getting a Bachelor’s degree in Housing and Environmental Design, and working in the design industry for a few years, I decided I wasn’t passionate about decorating and did not want to do it as a career. I searched my soul and racked my brain and it just clicked that event planning would fit me perfectly! I am obsessed with organization, and I still have the opportunity to use my design skills and creativity to plan unforgettable events!

 

3.)    What is the meaning behind the name, Sadie Rose Events? I have a 1 1/2 year old daughter named Regan Rose and my husband and I are expecting our second little girl in January (who we will be naming Sadie). I wanted a business name that was meaningful to me, and what could be more meaningful than the names of my two little girls…hence the name Sadie Rose Events.

 

4.)    Where do you find inspiration and motivation? My inspiration and motivation mostly comes from my husband and daughters. My husband is so supportive of my goals and dreams, and that makes me even more excited to be able to take on this endeavor and accomplish one of my life long goals of starting and running my own business. Also, I love to create, and plan and see all of my hard work come to life! It is very fulfilling.

 

5.)    What is your favorite part of what you do?

My favorite part of event planning is to be able to share in the excitement of the bride and groom and know that I am helping them plan a party of a lifetime.  I love seeing the finished result of all of the time put into planning a great event. 

 

6.)    What is your least favorite part of what you do?

My least favorite part of what I do is having to be gone mostly on the weekends when my family is home… but I love what I do, and they support me 100%.

 

7.)    When you were young, what did you want to be when you grow up? An architect. I planned on going to architectural school all the way until my senior year of college… funny how plans change…

 

8.)    Favorite TV show from 1992?

Well…I was 11 years old then, and I think I was obsessed with “Full House” at the time… it was a great show!

 

9.)    What has been the best wedding related experience you have had so far? I am currently working on a wedding where the bride would like a “whimsical” garden party theme. I am having so much fun coming up with decorations and elements to make this wedding fun but still elegant.

 

10.) Favorite Book?

This may sound a little morbid, but my favorite book is “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” by Harold S. Kushner. It’s an older book, but it really helps me live my life to the fullest when I can accept that all human beings are going to die at one point and it’s really ok, it’s just a part of life. It helps me keep my mind and life focused on the important things.

 

11.) One thing on your “To Do” list that you are NOT looking forward to? One thing I am NOT looking forward to is childbirth. I just want to skip the hard stuff and hold my sweet little baby Most good things come with a price tag though right?!

 

12.) Why did you decide to join MWEP?

I want to grow my business and get to know others in this industry who I can gain wisdom from and hopefully make some lifelong friends! I think it is a great opportunity and something that is essential to running a successful business.

 

Making The Most Of It

As I have said many times, I started MWEP as a way to network with other wedding & events pros in Michigan and we are only as good as those other members. So what now? I thought I would share three ways to make the best of this group. These will be beneficial for our first meetings and especially useful if you have never been involved in a networking group before.

1. Turn up as often as possible. People have short memories; if you’re not there, connections will be made elsewhere. Networking is all about building relationships; the 3 key steps to any long-term relationships are (a) getting to know people (b) getting them to like you and (c) building trust. If you just ‘pop in’ every so often it’s bound to take a long time to get to (c). We will have three to four meetings per year. That isn’t a lot of time to really get to know someone, so make the impact early and often!

2. Remember, the people in the group may not be your immediate target audience.  However, they will all know 200+ others. Everybody is somebody’s somebody. Think WIDE not narrow. The more people we bring into the group, the wider this audience gets.

3. Make the most of the time you have. Take notes, ask questions, come with ideas for topics. It will  make the whole process that much easier and more than likely, your question will be something that someone else forgot to ask. Also, get everyone’s contact information for follow up questions and just general conversations.

Have you been involved in networking groups before? If so, what were some of the key ways you were able to benefit? Please share your comments with us!

Advertising Strategies & The Wedding Biz

Advertising can be the most difficult aspect of your business, if you let it be! There are so many different things to consider when contemplating where to spend your advertising dollars. The marvelous Liene of The Smart Planner, has posted a great articleon her blog all about the advertising debacle. Definitely worth checking out.

What types of advertising are you doing in 2009? Will there be a difference from 2008? We’d love for you to share your ideas. Please leave us a comment!

Save The Date {December 2nd}

Now that the wedding season has finally slowed down, it is time for all of us wedding pros to have a little fun! Michigan Wedding & Event Professionals is having our very first meet up. So, come on out and enjoy some cocktails, delicious food and good company. Joining MWEP is abolutely free. What do you have to loose? This is a simple way to network your heart out while meeting other people who are just like you. If you are from the East side of the state, the details are above. All of you West siders will be having your meet up the very same day and the details are on Pearls Events blog.

I am definitely looking forward to getting to know those of you that I haven’t met yet and seeing those of you that I already have. Please RSVP with your name, company name and email address if you are planning to attend. MWEPNetwork@gmail.com. Thanks! I will see all of you soon.

Save The Date {December 2nd} Part 2

If you’ve been itching to network with Michigan event professionals, please save the date for the first Michigan Wedding + Event Professionals meeting. If you are coming from the West side of Michigan, the details are above, and if you’re on the East side of the state, please contact Amanda at mwepnetwork@gmail.com for details about her event on December 2nd as well.

I have reserved the cool little loft space at NAYA for our first meeting, and Adam is excited to show off the venue. This is an open invite to anyone interested in joining (for free, no obligations!) Michigan Wedding + Event Professionals. Please RSVP to mwepnetwork@gmail.com with your name, business name and website information if you’re not already a member. And if you are already a member, just an email saying “Heck, yes, I’m going to be there” will suffice.

I’m looking forward to this opportunity to get to know others in the industry that I haven’t had the pleasure of working with. Save the date for Tuesday, December 2nd at 7pm.

[small print :: since this is a free group, you will be responsible for your own food + drink purchases, if you chose to enjoy NAYA's offerings.]

Stolen from Pearl Events Blog.

MWEP Member Spotlight #3 {Ksenija Savic}

Please give a great big welcome to the oh-so-fabulous and ridiculously gorgeous, Ksenija Savic. Ksenija is the owner of Ksenjia Savic Photography, a wonderful fine art photography & make up artistry company based out of Birmingham, but travels all over the world. If you haven’t had the chance to check out her blog, do it now! It is beautiful, just like her photos.

Ksenija Savic::Ksenija Savic Photography

 

1.)    How long have you been photographing wedding?

 a)  i have been photographing weddings for about 8 years now! gosh, time flies.

 

2.)    What else, besides weddings, do you love to photograph?

 a)  i truly love to photograph ‘life’ in general — be it a big event, a person, a family, an animal, or the way the trees are moving that day…. i have always had this great passion for capturing life in all it’s wondrous   forms.

 

3.)    Where do you find inspiration and motivation?

 a)  i would have to say that first & foremost, from within myself. i really love to get to know my clients so that i can capture them for who they are — so ultimately, they inspire me, as well. truly, ‘passion.life.love’ all inspire & motivate me daily.

 

4.)    What is your favorite part of what you do?

 a)  i love sooo many aspects of my job, because there really are about 25 different hats that i wear on a daily basis. if i had to pick a most favorite part though, i think it would have to be when i am shooting & interacting with whomever my subject may be!

 

5.)    What is your least favorite part of what you do?

 a)  i really had to think about this one. i would have to say the business part that involves the accounting, taxes, bookkeeping, etc. — which is why i hire fantastic people who are talented in those areas to help me out!

 

6.)    When you were young, what did you want to be when you “grew up”?

 a)  i always teetered between being a vet who owned a ranch & farm with many rescued animals, a successful artist who owned a studio & traveled the world, an actress, or a psychologist because i love people.

 

7.)    Three favorite 80s songs?

 a)   well, i do LOVE music so much & the 80’s were such a great time period of SO many classics, so this was super hard to narrow down. if i go all the way back to my youth, i have to say ‘Eternal Flame’ by the Bangles, ‘In Your Eyes’ by Peter Gabriel & of course, ‘Girls Just Want to have Fun’ by Cyndi Lauper. however, i also love, love ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, ‘Red Red Wine’ by UB40 and ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ by the Proclaimers just to name a few!

 

8.)    How did you get into the makeup side of your business?

 a)  i have been an artist my entire life, so when it came to ‘painting faces’ it was really just an extension of that!  however, it wasn’t until i was in college taking black & white photographs of my models and not liking the outcome due to the poor make-up. i then dove into learning what ingredients were in different make-up products & how those ingredients reflect on film. it is amazing how integral the connection is between good make-up & photography. i feel incredibly blessed that i am able to do both. the best part of it all is that both allow me to work & connect with people… and make them feel good! how amazing is that?!

 

9.)    Which came first, makeup or photos?

 a)  photography definitely came first. just like i have had a pencil, crayon, pastel, paint brush, etc. in one hand, my camera was always in the other… or near by!

 

10.) One thing on your “To Do” list that you are NOT looking forward to?

   a) if you are referring to my “To Do” list from my Bucket List of ‘to do’s before i kick the bucket’ i would have to say ‘run a marathon.’ although i am a super active person who loves to exercise, i am not so sure how enjoyable of an experience that will be when it happens! as for my current daily never-ending ‘To Do’ list, there really isn’t one specific thing that i am not looking forward to… more worried about how there is never enough time in the day to get it all done!

 

11.) Favorite board game?

   a) i do love the all-time classic game of Pictionary. i had a mild obsession with Cranium, as well. of most recent, i would have to say Loaded Questions. very fun to play with a group of good friends.

Last Call: Business Card Exchange

This is the last call for the business card exchange. If you haven’t sent your business cards and promotional materials in yet, please send them to me ASAP. I will need them by the weekend, so as long as you send them out by Wednesday morning, I should get them just in time! Please include 15-20 cards and a self addressed and DOUBLE stamped envelope.

If you need the mailing address & information, please email me and I will forward it all to you.

Member Spotlight #2 {Amanda Freeman}

Thanks for writing up an interview, Aletha! I would have felt silly writing one for myself! Here I am, your MWEP State Advisor, Amanda Freeman from Bliss Weddings located in Southeast Michigan. Please check out our blog for updated information and entertainment!

Amanda Freeman :: Bliss Weddings & MWEP State Advisor

1. What made you start MWEP? I am learning that the best thing a business owner can do for themselves and their business is network. The strongest bonds you can build will be that between you & your clients and you & the professionals you work with. There are so many talented people in Michigan and I am lucky to be surrounded by many of them on a daily basis. We have a few groups & clubs located in our great state, but so many of them have strict guidelines and rules and often come with costly dues and charges. MWEP was started as a fun alternative to these pricier options, but with the intent to keep networking entertaining and exciting, which is what networking should be!

2. How long have you been in business with Bliss Weddings? I started a few years ago as an intern. It was an unpaid internship, but developed into a coordinating position and soon ownership! It has been an amazing ride and I am excited to see where my future and our clients take us!

3. What is your background and experience in weddings? My love for weddings started years ago when I helped with the wedding of my cousin. I loved helping the family put up decorations, helping the bride with her bustle, hearing the beautiful vows and watching the first kiss. I was hooked! I started helping friends and family with their events and took part in many school sponsored activities. Eventually, my Aunt asked me to help plan her wedding and coordinate the day’s events. The process of coordinating was very intense, but in a good way. I have always loved planning and when I mixed that with weddings/events, I knew I had struck gold! I love what I do and wouldn’t change it for the world!

4. What is your favorite thing about planning/coordinating weddings? There are so many special details that I adore, but the biggest would have to be working with my clients. I get to see every emotion and experience every little bit of the roller coaster planning process. Seeing it all come together in the end and hearing the praise of my clients is probably the best feeling in the world. When a bride comes to you and tells you that she couldn’t have done it without you… there is nothing like it! I also love the emotion of the wedding day. With the vows, the first kiss, the special dances and catching those private moments, when the clients look into eachother’s eyes as if no one else is in the room….. those moments are priceless!

 

5. What is your least favorite part? I will have to agree that working every weekend during the summer can be hard. While a wedding day is a rewarding and exciting experience, it is hard to miss all of the special parties and BBQs and beautiful weather!

6. If you could plan anyone’s wedding (celebrity, non-celeb, past, present, etc.) who would you chose and why? This is a hard one! Can I pick two?

• I would love to plan either of my sisters’ weddings. I have two younger sisters, and I am not in a hurry for them to get married, I would love for them to experience the perfect wedding day. Just a special day, created just for them. Filled with personality and a combination of love and admiration. It would be a great opportunity!
• If I could go back in time, I would plan the wedding of Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier III. How amazing would that have been? She is the epitome of style and grace. No pun intended.

7. What is your favorite component of the wedding (photography, flowers, cake, vows, paper products….etc.) I am obsessed with weddings. Period. I love every little detail that goes into a wedding day! My latest obsession is paper products. There are so many options and styles, colors and designs that you can chose! I get all giddy when I see pretty paper.

 

 

8. Tell us five fun or strange facts about yourself:

• I always crave candy. Any kind… chocolate, gummy, mints, anything! I also crave Starbucks on a daily basis.
• I used to bartend & work in a daycare, both dealt with crying and vomit. Haha!
• I originally went to school for Psychology at Western Michigan University. Go Broncos!
• It is my dream to become fluent in Sign Language. (I am working on it.)
• I have a Pomeranian, named Cooper, and two cats, named Sonny & Tyson. All rescued and named after boxers. Did I mention I love boxing?

9. What is your favorite coffee drink? I LOVE coffee. When I go to Starbucks, I order a Grande-nonfat-peppermint mocha or a chai latte.

 

10. What is your favorite color to wear? My tastes change every season, but right now I am loving greens, greys, and neutrals with a punch of color.

Why I love being a wedding pro in Michigan!

MWEP Member Spotlight #1 {Pearls Events}

Say “Hello” to Aletha, the fabulous owner of Pearls Events, a wedding & event planning company and your MWEP West Michigan Advisor! She is based out of the Grand Rapids area and will be taking care of majority of the MWEP business on the west side of the state. Aletha is a very avid poster on her very own blog, so please check it out! Thanks for being a part of MWEP, Aletha!

Aletha Vandermass :: Pearls Events

 

List 5 things that people should know about you.

a. I enjoy meeting new people

b. I take my blog quite seriously

c. I love driving a stick shift

d. I cannot get in bed without washing my face

e. I was the face on the cover of my high school yearbook, senior year. Seriously. It’s hilarious.

 

What is your favorite part about being a wedding planner?

The vendors. I love having a vast network of other event professionals that I can consult with, refer to and meet with. Since I work solo, it’s great having colleagues that enjoy grabbing lunch, drinks, or just chatting via email about work. For the most part, everyone LOVES chatting about weddings–something I’m passionate about!

 

What is your least favorite part about being a wedding planner?

Those gorgeous Saturdays from where I have to leave the house, and my husband is relaxing after our breakfast together. That is hard work!

 

Who did you look up to when you were a kid?

I always wanted to follow in the steps of my mother and be a fashion buyer. I thought I wanted to own my own clothing store, however, with the economy the way it was, I finally realized that was not a great idea.

 

What was your favorite 80s television show?

I loved (and still do!) The Cosby Show. 

 

What exactly does your company provide?

I am an event planner. I provide event planning and day-of-coordination for weddings, and other special events.

 

How did you get into the business?

Banquet serving was my first peek into weddings. I moved to college and majored in marketing, with a minor in fashion. I always had a thing for bridal, however, didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I did my senior internship with a bridal designer in Chicago, and when I graduated, took a marketing job in the publishing industry. I learned a lot of marketing and special events execution, but was missing the wedding world. I finally took a leap of faith and started Pearls Events after encouragement from my husband in 2007.

 

Where is your favorite place to travel?

I have been visiting Palm Springs, CA since I was five years old. My grandparents have had a condo there since the early 80’s, and I visit them every opportunity I get. It’s full of retro architecture, neat shops with vintage finds, great clothes at boutiques and you can’t beat the weather in February. I love going to the flea markets, bumming around San Diego and heading to Tijuana for the day. It’s a great place and I cannot wait to take my husband there soon.

 

What is your #1 piece of advice for anyone in a wedding profession?

Make friends with everyone–you can never know too many people. 

 

Favorite color to wear?

Although I look washed out in neutrals, I buy a lot of black. However, this year I’ve been wearing a lot of navy blue. I like to mix it up, though. I’m one of those girls who buy quality over quantity and my clothes have to last for years, because I’m a picky shopper.