international_wedding_festival

How To Do A Mixed-Gender Wedding Party Like A Champ

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 02:08:15 GMT

How To Do A Mixed-Gender Wedding Party Like A Champ

Mixing up genders in bridal parties has become more normal than ever before. And we couldn’t be more excited! So, if you’re the bride wanting your best guy friend to stand at the altar with you, or you are a groom hoping your sister will stand on your side, now you can. It’s time to plan your wedding, with your rules...how you want it, so it’s perfect for you! But if you need a little help, we got you. Here’s how to do a mixed-gender bridal party the right way.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen age-old traditions no longer apply. Finally! We never understood why the groom wanted his sister in the wedding party; she had to be a bridesmaid and why the bride’s best friend had to be a groomsman. We have seen the wedding industry change over the past several years, and this is one 2021 wedding trend that we absolutely love. It took a long time to get here, and now it’s time to celebrate!

Cheers to Mixing Up Genders In Your Bridal Party

What better way to show your friends how much you care about them than by asking them to be part of your wedding? Having a co-ed bridal party will surely be a blast, but you must remember a few things. First, try not to make all of your events leading up to your wedding be all about the ladies. The same thing goes if your hubby has a Best Lady instead of a Best Man. It’s all about making all of your best friends feel comfortable together. Your “I Do” crew will definitely appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Best Tips On How To Do A Co-Ed Bridal Party Right

When you’re mixing things up at your wedding and pushing age-old traditions to the side, you have to make sure that you do it right. Sure! There will probably be some people who disagree with having gals on the groom’s side and guys on the bride’s side. But if you put some real thought into it and do it right, everyone will love it.

Ditch Old Fashioned Gender Roles

Back in the day, it seemed like every wedding was the same. You always knew what to expect. But now, with each couple putting their own spin on things, every wedding is a unique and unforgettable experience. So, YES! The Best Lady can give a toast to the groom, and your Man-of-Honor can help you get dressed, hold your bouquet, and even bustle your dress.

Avoid Bridal-Specific Terms

If your best guy friend is joining your best gals in your bridal party, try to eliminate using bridal-based terms. Instead, you want to make sure they feel welcome and part of all of the festivities. So, instead of the bridal suite, call it the getting ready room, and the bridal party can be wedding party. Co-Ed wedding parties are entertaining, and you’ll undoubtedly create memories to cherish a lifetime.

Simplify The Style

When you decide to have a gender-neutral wedding party, there’s no need to sway from your original vision for your wedding party’s attire!

If you love the idea of having your tribe in blush pink chiffon gowns? Do it! And have your “man of honor” wear a pink suit or complementary accessories, such as a blush tie and silk pocket square. Are you obsessed with mixing and matching printed gowns? Select a suit for the guys in your party that will stylize well to complement all ladies’ gowns. There are many neutral color suits available and floral print ties that would look fabulous! But you could also go bold and choose a mauve or olive tone. Just select a tone that looks great on him and that they like because you want them to be comfortable and confident in what they are wearing.

The fashion possibilities are endless, and the fun times will seem to never end. But just remember to not stress about it, don’t overthink it. Your wedding party will be amazing. Having a mixed-gender bridal party is the way to go!

What to Wear to a Wedding

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 16:47:20 GMT

You're Invited! What to Wear to a Wedding.

What to Wear to a Wedding?

You’ve officially sent back your RSVP, and you’ve marked your calendar for an upcoming wedding for a friend or family member. Most people’s next question is, “What do I wear?”

Getting dressed for a wedding can be stressful and overwhelming, especially if you don’t know much about acceptable attire. Each wedding has its own accepted dress code, and the formality of each wedding varies, which can make it difficult to know where to start when getting dressed. In this blog, we’ll cover the basics of what to wear to a wedding.

Where to Check for Dress Codes

First things first, check the wedding invitation for details about what to wear (or not wear). The invitation will often have key phrases regarding the dress code such as “white tie” or “black tie optional” which will give you the necessary clues to begin putting an outfit together. We’ll cover the most common types of wedding dress below.

Typical Wedding Dress Codes

1. “White tie”

White tie is the most formal of all wedding dress codes. It’s akin to what you would wear to a state dinner or the Oscars (fancy!). Men should wear a long black jacket with tails, a white pique vest, a bow tie, formal black shoes, and white gloves (if desired). Women should wear a formal, full-length ball gown, glamorous make-up, and dramatic jewelry and hair (if desired).

2. “Black tie”

Black tie is the next most formal of wedding dress codes. It requires that men wear black tuxedos, black bow ties, a cummerbund, and patent leather shoes. Women should wear a chic cocktail dress or a long evening gown. For any questions about appropriate attire (including dress length), feel free to ask the couple, wedding party, or close friends of the couple.

3. “Formal attire” or “black tie optional”

This phrase is often meant to indicate dress slightly less formal than black tie. In general, men can’t go wrong with a tuxedo and women should gravitate toward a gown. If you’re not sure what’s appropriate, lean toward being overdressed rather than underdressed as you can always deformalize your outfit (i.e., taking off a bow tie).

4. “Cocktail attire”

This option is slightly less formal than “formal attire” which means men are not required to wear a tux and women shouldn’t feel obligated to wear a floor-length gown (unless it’s wintertime). Men should consider a suit and tie while women should wear a cocktail dress or dressy suit/jumpsuit.

5. “Beach formal”

If your favorite couple is getting married on the beach, then their wedding invite may read “beach formal.” Men should consider wearing a summer suit with a linen shirt (no tie), linen pants or khakis, and sandals. Women should wear a formal summer sundress at tea or knee-length with flat sandals. Natural hair and makeup are a good route for a beach wedding.

6. “Semi-formal” or “dressy casual”

Even semi-formal still has the word “formal” in it, and dressy casual is still intended to be “dressy.” This is not a license to wear shorts, sneaks, polos, jeans, or t-shirts to anyone’s wedding. You still want to wear something elegant and sophisticated. Men should wear a suit and tie (color depending on the season). Women should wear a cocktail dress or dressy skirt and top.

7. “Casual” or “daytime”

In this category, you can be a lot more flexible. That said, you should still steer clear of jeans, shorts, and tank tops. Men should wear dress pants with a button-down shirt or polo while women should wear a sundress or skirt/pants with a nice blouse. Hair and makeup can be natural.

WHAT TO AVOID

While learning how to dress for a wedding, you should also keep in mind how NOT to dress. Here are some quick rules.

Do NOT wear white. It’s frowned upon for guests to wear any white/cream/ivory variation unless it’s specifically requested by the couple. This color is reserved for the couple.
Do NOT pick a dress that looks like a bridesmaid dress. You’ll spend the entire evening explaining that you’re not a bridesmaid and didn’t intend to look like one.

Do NOT underdress. As noted above, jeans are rarely okay (if ever) okay for a wedding. Always dress up…not down.
Do NOT dress for the club. We know the reception can sometimes feel like a nightclub atmosphere, but that doesn’t mean you should dress like it. Keep it classy!

Final thoughts

Are you currently planning your wedding? Come join the International Wedding Festival to plan with the area’s best providers and get connected with wedding professionals near you. Visit here to learn more information and get your tickets today.

How To Plan A Winter Elopement

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 18:46:53 GMT

Elopements have always been spontaneous, impromptu, and highly romantic ‘on the spur of the moment’ displays of wild love. Nowadays, however, a considerable amount of planning goes into an elopement as you undoubtedly need a great location, suitable attire, an officiant, and probably travel-related bookings in advance. That being said, it can still be an absolute dream; the planning may even make it more memorable! An off-season winter elopement does come with some advantages and some aspects you need to plan a little extra for. We recently asked Yosemite Wedding Officiant about winter elopements in Yosemite and the answer was clear... there is no "bad time" to marry in Yosemite National Park. If winter is calling you for a beautiful, snowy wedding, then Yosemite Weddings are a favorite destination for many engaged couples seeking adventure.

Get Those Travel Plans Right

Do you know how in movies the hero always gets a last-minute flight (not to mention upgrade to first class for free) when he goes running to the airport? Yeah, that doesn’t happen in real life. So even though you’ll be planning this elopement in off-season winter, you’ll still need to make a lot of cold (pun intended), calculated decisions.

For starters get the following pointers checked out when you’re deciding on locations:-

What type of transportation will be needed? And what’s the ease cost?

Does this location host weddings or have access to an officiant? Can you persuade one to travel with you?

The spot you are choosing (it’s better to be quite precise about this), is it near a lot of traffic or crowds? How much serenity can you expect without going really off the beaten track and far away from any amenities?

If you’re opting for a stay at a resort, hotel, or lodge, those definitely need advance bookings. So, along with planning your elopement, you can simultaneously plan the honeymoon too.

Packing Is No Joke

Elopements are rarely considered practical affairs but have you ever been caught in the icy cold or snow without an overcoat? Big Mistake. You’ll need to examine the weather forecast with a keen eye and pack accordingly. Don’t forget a warm dress, fleece stocking, and a bridal sweater, or for a regal touch: a beautiful fur wrap. If you suspect you’ll be outside for quite a long time, don’t forget to pack socks, suitable shoes to change into that aren’t stilettos, hand warmers, gloves, and an extra shawl.

Depending on how cold it will be, you’ll want to adjust your attire accordingly. Sure, it isn’t ideal for wearing earmuffs as a bride, but sometimes you need them.

Pick That Perfect Dress

There are many practical elopement dress options you can go for as long as you make sure the material is a thicker one, but just about anything can be styled with a fur coat, fur wrap, or a beautiful printed shawl. Belted midi dresses, especially ones that aren’t floor length, are fabulous (especially if you may have to do a bit of climbing). Similarly, a lace trim white blazer dress is a gorgeous option that can be paired with thermal tights or pants in extreme conditions.

No matter what you choose to wear to tie the knot at your winter elopement, we know it will turn out dreamy. There’s just something so special about a snowy background that genuinely creates a magical backdrop for any “I Do’s.” So, whether you want to wear a beautiful ballgown, a trendy and sophisticated pantsuit, or a sleek and simple long-sleeve crepe sheath, a winter elopement is an excellent idea.

What to Know About Having a Horse & Carriage at Your Wedding

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 23:00:38 GMT

Many couples (brides especially) envision their wedding entrance on a horse-drawn carriage. This timeless, regal entrance, was once reserved for princes and princesses. The carriages are usually velvet lined, strewn with beautiful flowers and ornate. The team of horses are often groomed to match the wedding with braids and ribbons. While the carriages are eye-catching, we love the beautiful steeds that make this fairytale dream entrance come true.

We asked our friend, Megan Fontes, Owner & Operator of Fontes Carriage whether the horses enjoyed their job. "We get this question a lot. We are bonded with our horses. We know when our horses are not feeling well, when they’re hurt, when they’re happy or excited. We also know our horses like what they do. They like to have a job and they love all the attention that they get from all the people that they meet. Our horses become part of our family and when they tell us they are no longer wanting or able to do carriage work we let them enjoy retirement on our property until they pass away from old age. We work tirelessly with our vet and our farrier to make sure that our horses get the best care possible."

Megan explained that most of their clients have never seen a horse-drawn carriage up close, or in-person, let alone thought of how to plan and prepare for one at their event. With that in mind, we've assembled the top three things to consider when planning for a horse and carriage.

Planning Your Horse & Carriage Route

Horse and carriage operators prepare for your event long before their arrival. There's grooming of course, but other things to consider for a great presence also and the first consideration will be the route. The route will depend on a few factors:

Where they are picking you up & where they are dropping you off
What kind of roads the horses and carriage will travel on (paved, dirt, gravel, etc.)?
Is the route flat, or is there a slope, like a hill?
What will the traffic be like on the route?

If the area has traffic, the operator might request a car drive behind them with their flashers on, or determine an alternate route that has less traffic, or another starting point that would alleviate exposure to traffic. The route distance from pickup to drop off will be a factor for your wedding timeline. A great tool to determine this is Google maps. You will want to switch the directions from point A to point B to "walking" and that will give you a great estimated time to plan your arrival.

Photos, Videos and Other Considerations

Most operators will not permit drones around their horses. Everyone knows that they are amazing pieces of technology that give you a unique way to capture your day and operators understand that, but horses can become agitated to things that they see as a threat. Their nemesis.... a swarm of bees! Drones make a large buzzing sound as they roar about, even the quiet ones. When the horses see what looks to be a very large hornet coming towards them buzzing, they interpret it as a swarm of bees chasing them. For that reason, you should talk with your operator about whether drones are permitted around the horses. Most operators will ask that just before the horses enter that the drones are "grounded" and then are free for take off again when the horses have exited the area.

Typically, after your ceremony you will spend time with your immediate family, close relatives and wedding party for your wedding photos. You will want to get the photos with your horse and carriage at the beginning of the session to relieve the operator from the service hour(s) you have contracted with them. When you are creating your contract with your horse and carriage operator, you will have a start and end time of service. Most operators have packages based on hour(s) of service. Please keep in mind that preparing for even a 10 minute ride for an entrance fit for a queen requires a lot of preparation on the operator's part, including washing, grooming, decorating, polishing, packing, loading, transporting, unloading, hitching, and then changing into attire befitting of your wedding.

A couple, or venue should never be concerned with the horses leaving "gifts" behind. Professional operators use what are called "bun bags" which catch droppings. They are easy to remove, so easy to empty. As for a horse relieving their bladder, there are no bun bags for that ocassion... but the operator will clean any area that the horse left a presence at with a hose. For professional operators, this is not their first rodeo and their goal is to leave any venue as good, if not better, than they found it.

What do we need to provide for the horses on the day of?

Your horse & carriage operator will bring everything the horses need with them. They will bring treats and snacks for the horses, and water for the day. If the weather is really hot, the operator will take the horses to shady spots to cool down here and there and will bring extra water to keep them hydrated.

Finding a Horse & Carriage Operator:

We recommend Fontes Carriage Co, who has provided carriage services for Central Valley weddings for hundreds of couples. Brides and grooms have shared with us how much it meant on their day to have the entrance of their dream.

How to Plan a Wedding at a Wedding Expo, Festival, or Fair

kimberly@lgbtweddings.com (Kimberly Vaughan) — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 14:39:45 GMT

How to Plan a Wedding at a Wedding Expo, Festival, or Fair

Wedding Festivals, wedding shows, and wedding expos are all great places to gain ideas, have the ability to comparison shop, and plan the perfect day in one day as you peruse and sample what local wedding professionals have to offer.

Planning for your presence:

Often, we are asked who should attend a wedding fair. The answer is, you, your fiancé, your mom, sister, bridesmaids, BFF, wedding planner, and/or anyone else who is helping with the planning process, will be in your wedding, or just wants to have fun with you.

This is a very special time for you and your families, so make it super fun! Make it a day! You could either get dressed up, or dress up as a team and head to brunch, grab a few mimosas and then head to the event, or go to the event and then head out for a late lunch, early dinner to have fun afterwards and talk about the design elements and your next planning steps.

Below, are a few tips to make your experience most effective:

Ticket Price

I hate to say it, but the old story rings true... you get what you pay for. When a producer offers a free show, you can bet that not only will there be couples seeking services for their event just like you, but there will also be folks just looking for free goodies, taking up the time that you really need with exhibitors in the hopes that they will win a prize. If you can, head to shows that have a small fee. It weeds through the "prize seekers." Wedding fair entry fees range from $5 - $100 per person but are well worth the cost, especially when you consider your time and gas money driving all over town to compare cost and meet one-on-one with wedding professionals.

If you are going to attend the latest trend of planning events, "wedding planning seminars" or "VIC (very important couple) & VIB (very important bride) Lounges" you can anticipate an entry fee of $50 - $150 per person. Normally they include a appetizers, toasts, and/or a full meal (a champagne brunch, or dinner), seminar speakers on DIY wedding planning, a fashion show, and/or some provide live entertainment. It is typically a more intimate setting, and you gain much more how-to and infinitely more one on one time with providers.

Fashion Shows & Strolling Fashions

Check the producer's website to determine if the producer has planned a fashion show, or is hosting the newest pandemic trend... strolling fashions. If the producer is hosting a fashion show, you will want to get the fashion show schedule, whether you are looking for attire or not. I say this because if you are NOT looking for attire it is the perfect time to gain more dedicated time with providers. Couples flock to the stage during the fashion show creating a perfect opportunity for those who already have their attire to get special attention from providers and ask pertinent questions.

If the producer has planned strolling fashions, get ready for a real treat. Models will surely be walking throughout the room, wearing the latest fashions of the season. Many bridal salon owners head to bridal fashion week in Chicago and return with their favorite designers ready to showcase at wedding expos, fairs and festivals. These bridal show fashion warriors will adorn their favorite models with the newest wedding gown, bridal dress, bridesmaid, mother of the bride dresses and suit styles, fresh off the runway. When strolling fashions are at a show, you get to see the styles up close and personal, take photos with the models and get to know each designer.

Shopping List

Make a list (either yourself, or with the help of your wedding consultant) of the products and services to add to your shopping list. Be sure to write the budgetary allowance for each line item, so that you are prepared to stay within your budget. Having a discussion about budget BEFORE you head to planning events is a good idea, but just keep in mind, once you establish your budget you can always pull money emphasis away from one area to accentuate another area should you find that your vision is changing during the planning process. The savings at these events can be deep, so it is easy to commit to products and services. Having a list will keep you focused and on track.

This is a great time to negotiate. You can ask if they have any "show specials" this is the perfect buzz phrase for can you offer us a better price. It cannot hurt to ask, right? The worst that can happen is they say no, we do not have show specials and then you determine if at the quoted price if it fits your budget or if you need to go back to the drawing board.

Things you should bring to the event:

● A notebook to write answers to questions you ask, get quotes for services, write ideas for thematic decor, etc.

● Your wedding planner or consultant. He/she can assist you in asking the right questions regarding event planning, negotiating packages and terms, and may be able to steer you to the right booths based on their experience to the most reputable providers in the industry.

● Your wedding timeline so that you can check off things that you were able to accomplish at the festival, show or expo.

● Your Cell phone. If your camera has a photo feature, you can snap a few shots of the fashion shows, centerpieces, linens, thematic decor, logos of providers you love, rings, dishes, cakes, lighting, limos, etc... Take pictures of everything you love. You can always narrow things down by comparing pictures and deleting the ones that don't make the cut. Additionally, take photos of any contracts you have signed so you have an immediate copy if they do not have duplicates readily available.

● Pictures of ideas you have found in magazines, Pinterest, or planning sites. You can show providers what you are interested in and gain their opinion and ideas. You might for example show a photo of a floral arrangement to a florist who asks when your wedding date is and points out that a particular flower in the arrangement is an exotic during that time of year and to be prepared for that in cost or recommend an alternate flower that is similar that will keep you in budget. This is what these events are all about... getting answers to questions and finding the perfect provider for your vision.

● Your calendar to schedule consultations to meet after the event. Many times you will gain savings for having met them first at the event. You won't sign a contract for a venue without first visiting it.

● A list of questions to ask each type of provider. Check our website for How to Select particular providers, or questions to ask during the selection process.

● Self addressed labels with your contact information and wedding date will save you A LOT OF TIME at any show. They are handy and a brilliant way to breeze through the tedious task of writing the same information 100 times in a day! Your labels should include your name, address, email address, phone number, and wedding date.

● Bring your check book in case you would like to secure services with a deposit on site.

● Comfortable shoes. If the show is a large event (60 or more vendors) you will want to plan on spending 3 hours visiting with vendors.

● Water! Just in case.

● A friend or attendant. These things are so much more fun with friends. Check with the producer to see if they have a VIP Lounge, VIC Lounge, or VIB Lounge. Many have fun contests for you to enter with your wedding party, such as an I Do Crew, or Wedding Warriors contest. It’s so much fun to make a day out of it.

After the Show

Take your fiancé out for a nice lunch or dinner and talk about what you saw, reflect on providers and discuss your wedding plans. Run through your shopping list and your wedding plans and tally up where you are at and what your next plan is. Revisit your timeline and prioritize your spending and planning efforts based on what you have just seen. Talk about the thematic vision now that you have seen some of the latest trends.

When following up with providers, remind them that you saw them at the event. They have just seen hundreds of couples in a short span of time. They want to give you personal attention and may be having defunct wedding expo memory... give them an opportunity to shine for you by jogging their memory a bit.

Last bit of advice... Just enjoy this process. While you want to be responsible in your spending, this is the most wonderful time of your life together and it should be filled with fun, happy, loving memories. Focus on the love. The rest is just fluff. The cake will be amazing, the flowers will be exceptional, the food devine, but your love for one another is a lifetime experience. Stay true to that and know that your wedding is a reflection of your LOVE for one another, not a measurement of your value or worth so make it wonderful and enjoy it as only you two can. Congratulations! We are so excited that you are here and allowing us to be a part of your planning.

Your Wedding Dress, Your Way

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 15:38:52 GMT

Your Wedding Dress, Your Way

Brides, are you tired of cookie-cutter wedding dress styles? Been to a bridal boutique where everything seems to look the same? Well, today, we have incredible news for you! So, if you’re a bride on the hunt for the perfect wedding dress that fits your own unique style, stay tuned. Maggie Sottero, one of the top wedding dress designers globally, is unveiling its Spring 2022 bridal collection, and it features tons of accessories that allow you to design your own unique wedding day look. So, if you’re looking for a wedding dress that’s a little more you, the Maggie Sottero “Personalize It” options are the way to go.

When it comes to wedding dress shopping, having options to customize or personalize a gown totally to fit your style is a game-changer. Many brides find themselves liking many attributes of a wedding dress style, but it just isn’t perfect. For example, maybe you love the color, silhouette, and embellishments, but it’s strapless, which you hate.

For ages, there weren’t many options for customizing a wedding dress to fit your desired look. Some boutiques may have offered custom work through their alteration department, but that can get costly. And many designers just didn’t provide the service. But in true Maggie Sottero style, she has created a breakthrough program that offers brides many options to totally customize a gown to be perfectly you. Here are a few ways that the Maggie Sottero personalize it options can help you fall in love with the perfect dress.

Restyle Your Summer Bridal Gown For A Fall Wedding Soirée

We know weddings all around the globe have been impacted by COVID-19. Couples have had to postpone, reschedule, cancel or completely change their wedding experience and style. If you’re one of these couples and have had to move your wedding to a different season, don’t worry! You won’t have to buy another wedding dress. Here are some ideas.

Yes, that’s right! You can still love your original wedding dress and make it work for your Fall wedding. You can quickly turn your minimalistic wedding dress into a genuinely whimsical and romantic gown with the Maggie Sottero Eldridge detachable illusion sleeves. The Eldridge sleeves are enchanting wedding dress accessories made from sheer tulle and accented with delicate 3-D tulle flowers. Adding these detachable sleeves will transform your gown into a breathtaking work of art.

Transform 1 Wedding Dress Into 2 Different Looks

Sure, the wedding trend of having two wedding day looks is still popular with many brides. But, we know every bride can’t afford two gowns. And now, with this revolutionary Personalize it program by Maggie Sottero, you don’t have to. So, here are some ideas on how you can create two different wedding dress looks with one dress.

The Akari Jacket

By adding the Akari Jacket by Maggie Sottero to your wedding day look, you transform your gown into a modern and demure look for the ceremony and a fun and festive look for your reception. The Akari Jacket features delicate lace appliques and a jewel neckline. It is available as a cap sleeve jacket or with whimsical bishop sleeves. For this look, all you do is wear the Akari Jacket over your gown, then for the reception, you take it off, and voilà two unique wedding day looks.

For The Boho Lovers

If you love unique details, earthy fabrics, and have a free-spirited personality, you’ll love the Dover detachable fringe armbands. And for an extra dramatic and unexpected element, accessorize your wedding day look with the stunning fringe-edge veil—a totally dreamy, swoon-worthy bridal style.

Channel Your Inner Bridgerton Spirit

If you fell in love with the Renaissance Queen fashion style in the popular NetFlix series, Bridgerton, you can create a similar look for your wedding. The Beverly beaded illusion bishop sleeves will transform your modern wedding gown into a Renaissance fashion statement. And since they are detachable, you can have two wedding dress looks for a minimal cost.

For The True Fashionista

If you’re a true fashionista that loves simple and clean lines but wants to feel like an ethereal princess on your wedding day, the Maggie Sottero Bevan gown and Eldridge accessories are for you! Look at how simple, and elegantly sophisticated the Bevan gown is without the accessories. But she transforms into an absolutely whimsical dream with the Eldridge Bishop sleeves and detachable train with 3D flowers. Two completely different looks, simply incredible.

On your wedding day, it’s important to feel confident in the gown you’re wearing. Your dress should match your style and personality, which is why Maggie Sottero created the “Personalize it” program. Channel your inner fashion designer and use the bridal gown accessories to create the perfect wedding dress for you. The options will vary for each dress and include adding or removing buttons, extended the train, detachable sleeves, jackets and trains, and so much more! The perfect wedding dress is not a dream; you can make it a reality today!

5 Great Tips to Ensure Success at a Wedding Expo, Fair or Festival

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:44:52 GMT

How to gain the most when exhibiting at a wedding expo, fair or festival

You are exhibiting at a wedding fair or festival! Whether you have participated in expos for years, or this is a new form of marketing for your business, you will want to ensure that you are making the most of the experience. Here are the five most important things to do to gain new business and increase your bookings at a wedding expo.

ONE | Are they my next booking? Identify your target market.

The first thing you should do before you head to an event is really consider who your target market is. If your answer to that is someone who is getting married, you may not be honing in enough to recognize who to spend time with to maximize your sales expectations at an event. Typically, these events are only a few hours long and you don’t want to be in a lengthy conversation with someone who is picking your experienced brain and they are not the right fit for your business, while people who are your perfect couple pass by your booth. Ask yourself a few questions to define who your perfect couple are. Are you only looking for couples with a specific budget in your field, because you have higher pricing than most others in your field? Are you a venue that can only speak with couples who are hosting an event that is 100 guests or less because of the size of your space? Is your business seasonal when considering outdoor events, or your location? Is there a couple that 100% matches your style of who you enjoy working with and connecting with and that is who you prefer to work with?

Once you have an idea of who your perfect couple is, start a list of qualifying questions. Many people will say not to lead with qualifying questions, but I disagree. I think of these events as speed dating but for business. I don’t want to waste my limited event time on the wrong couples, just as much as couples don’t want to just talk to someone who will not meet their needs. If I am a venue that does not allow outside catering, I might make that one of my first qualifying questions.

A bit of caution for those who make a couple’s budget their only qualifier… Most couples have no idea what their budget is. They may think that they do, but trust me when I say that they have a much better idea what that number is after the show than they do before the show. Long ago, we registered couples with forms at the entrance and were able to get immediate insight into their data. Typically we would hand one form to a bride and a groom. When asked about budget we would see brides responding with a $30k wedding and her partner responding $5K. It was eye opening how many couples do not have budget discussions prior to heading to the shows. With that said, I have seen couples who have checked the $15k box and in the end spent over $30k on their wedding by the time family members have contributed to this, that or the other.

TWO | Set Expectations: bookings vs. consultations.

It is important for you to consider what your expectations are for the event. Are you heading into the event just hoping for more bookings? What does that look like? Do you envision couples completing forms and giving you their deposit onsite? The reality of wedding shows is that full consultations at shows are counterproductive. Most consultations can last up to 45 minutes for intros, discovery of needs, sharing of work, closing the sale, signing contracts and receiving deposits. I recommend that you refrain from consultations at expos altogether. If you spend 45 minutes with one couple, how many couples did you miss an opportunity to introduce your business to in a room filled with your target market? If you are at a 5 hour show, how many consultations can you do? What is your close rate on consultations? With that formula what number of bookings are you limiting yourself to if your expectation is onsite bookings.

A sound expectation is to set a goal of scheduling consultations, parties, or a follow-up commitment with attendees. Think of these shows as “qualifier events” where you are really sizing up couples and honing in on the ones that you want to work with and setting up time to meet outside of the event to seal the deal.

This will not be true for every business type. I have seen photo booth companies walk off a showroom floor with a dozen new bookings and photographers that have left the building with 30 new clients from one show. Generally speaking, those booths have three reps in there and they move fast, talk fast and take a very low deposit as a show special to entice onsite bookings, then work out the details later. If your business has set packages without a lot of variables and choices this may be a successful approach for your business. If you are a florist or event planner, or a business that has a lot of details to work through before a contract, I would insist on a consultation so that you are not tied up with one couple's needs while countless others walk past your booth.

THREE | Designing your space.

First, I would like to say that bigger isn’t always better, so don’t be intimidated if you don’t have a professionally designed booth with a 20x20, island space setup. You can exhibit in a smaller space and impress potential clients. The most important thing about designing your booth is that it speaks to what you do, who you are and translates into a product or service a couple is looking for at the event.

What you do. When couples come to these events they are usually confused about the planning process, they feel like uneducated consumers who are walking into a type of event they have never been to, to meet with products and services they have typically never purchased and that makes them feel they are at a disadvantage. The best thing you can do for them is to spell it out for them at first glance what it is that you do.

Your booth should immediately tell a couple what you do for a living. It could be a sign, examples of your work or displays that clearly represent that you are a photographer, DJ, venue, etc. If you are not a florist, do not fill your booth with flowers. Anyone who has a florist already will pass you by not realizing that you are anything but a florist.

Who you are. Your space should speak to you personally. What is truly going to sell your business is your brand and for most wedding professionals they ARE their brand. You are the spokesperson, the brand manager and the sales person for your business under most circumstances, so what they see should match what they experience when speaking with you. So, be you! Attract the couples you love to work with by expressing who you are. Connections matter with couples. They want to know that they connect with you as a professional on the most important day of their life. With that said, dress professionally, as you would for their wedding. They way that they see you at a show is how they envision you at their wedding. Be organized and prepared. If you are digging through a messy box looking for a pen because you were unprepared when the event doors opened, that is how they will imagine you at their wedding.

Do they need you? Don’t get discouraged if you see couples passing you. Nine times out of ten they have passed you because they already have their cake, photographer, dj, etc.. but don’t be afraid to ask them if they have already made their selection in your field either. The flip side to that is, are you welcoming them? Is your table pushed back behind you? Are you putting up a barrier between you and them with your table? Are you blocking your booth by standing right in the front like a guard, or are you off to the side to allow couples to come into your space and welcoming them to look at your display or collateral?

FOUR | Plan your post show response BEFORE the event.

What you do before the event is so important. Most producers will provide a leads list after the event. You will also collect your hot leads from your booth to respond to first thing Monday morning. You should plan before the show what you will do with those leads after the event. Here are a few ideas:

· Add them into your drip marketing program if you have one setup.

· Send them a one-off email through an eblast service, such as Constant Contact, or MailChimp.

· Ask the producer if they have an eblast service that they will send on your behalf.

· Mail a postcard to each couple on the list.

· Invite couples to an open house, seminar, or online event.

Have these ready to unleash as soon as your return to your desk after the show. Mailing things out? Have your collateral ready to go and your labels ready for addressing. Sending an email? Craft your email prior to the event and save it as a draft message ready for your hot leads. Hosting a post show event? Have your invites ready to go before you go to the show and hand some out from your booth, then follow up with mailing/emailing reminders after the event. Be as ready as you can possibly be before the show to be as responsive as you can be to your new leads. I think of it as a race. The faster they hear from me, the better chance I have to beat anyone else to the punch.

FIVE | Couples and their Wedding Warriors and have their game face on to plan a wedding. Is your team ready?

Your success will depend on the information that couples receive on the day of the event, as well as after the event. With that said, you will want to ensure that everyone who will be in your booth, answering phone lines, or receiving new customers in your brick and mortar are all on the same page. You will want to have a team meeting to review any new packages, products, features, or services that your business is offering. If you are planning to have a show discount, or participate in a show program like Bridal Bucks, in your booth, be sure that everyone knows the details of the offering. How polished will you look when couples ask a question and all your team members have the answers that matter, stand confidently with the information readily available and are on point with their delivery? This is a good time, as you head out into the limelight in front of a room full of your potential clients, to ensure that your team is well versed, poised and trained for a power-sales day. Have you created new marketing materials, or updated your website? Great! Go over each, and every page with your team so that everyone knows what page to point to, or what collateral to grab from your table to share with couples that will be most meaningful to them. This is your team’s moment to shine and fill your calendar.

In-person, event marketing is one of the best forms of marketing there is. It is front and center, in your face marketing that gives you an opportunity to meet that 1% of any given population that is actually planning a wedding in a very short window of time. Practice makes perfect, so spend some time walking around and observing other booths. As you peruse the show floor, notice the flow of booths, setup, décor, raffles & gifts, displays, etc. This may inspire new ideas for your next presence. Be sure to meet with wedding professionals during the fashion show if the room calms down, or just before the doors open. This is a great time to meet new colleagues and to say hello to familiar faces.

Kimberly Vaughan, Executive Producer
International Wedding Festival

Wedding Expo Evolution - Adapting To COVID-19

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 03:40:26 GMT

Wedding Expo Evolution - Adapting To COVID-19

We are super excited that the world of weddings is getting back on track. And while post-COVID-19 weddings may look different than before, they truly are becoming even more magical than ever. The mystery, the whimsy, the romance, and the experiences that are being designed and woven into today’s wedding tell the love story in an entirely new way. Wedding businesses around the globe have risen to the occasion to come up with creative ways to allow couples to tie the knot even during a pandemic and government-enforced distancing restrictions. And for that we celebrate! If you’re getting back in the swing of things and looking for ways to book more weddings - it’s time to attend a wedding festival! And today, we’re giving you two pretty incredible tips on how to make your wedding expo booth safe for you and your couples.

Touchless Connections At Bridal Shows

There is no doubt that the key to staying safe in our modern-day pandemic is keeping your distance and wearing a mask. So, here are two great ideas on how you can attend an upcoming bridal show or wedding festival while still keeping your distance.

Your Digital Business Card - Popl

Yep! Gone are the days of shaking hands and passing business cards. At least for now anyway. But you still need a way to give your contact details to your prospective couples. As wedding vendors, we all would love to say you could simply have a conversation with a couple and book them on the spot. Or at least have them remember you once they got home without the need to give out business cards.

But the truth is, there is a lot of competition, so you need to be able to give your couple a business card. So, why not give them a digital business card instead of the age-old paper cards. Introducing Popl. It is a revolutionary company that is the next generation of business cards. It’s a small NFC tag that you stick on the back of your phone that allows you to share all your contact details or social platforms. All they have to do is simply tap their NFC-equipped phones to the Popl tag, and Voila! Your contact details will appear on their phone without touching anything. Totally contactless sharing of your business details. It’s a must-have today!

QR Codes

Many thought that QR codes, or Quick Response codes, were a thing of the past, but with the arrival of the Coronavirus, businesses everywhere began using them again. If you’re attending a wedding festival, QR codes are a great way to share your prices, packages, menus, galleries, and even accept payments. All contactless! It’s a great way to share your business without having any physical contact. Not to mention, it shows potential couples that you’re tech-savvy.

We know navigating this pandemic has been tough on the wedding industry. But we sure are glad to see that gatherings and wedding festivals are happening again. Together we will ride this storm, continue to tell love stories, and make beautiful memories that can be celebrated for a lifetime. COVID-19 can cancel a lot of things, but LOVE is not one of them. So, let’s rock the fall 2021 and 2022 wedding seasons and turn them into the best ever!

Three Things to Know while Planning Your Wedding Signage

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 04:48:50 GMT

Three Things to Know while Planning Your Wedding Signage

Online or local?

We are huge fans of Etsy, but we suggest choosing a local vendor for signage. Here's why:

1) Personal connection - we love connecting with our couples via call or meet up - we've even gone on site visits with past couples.

2) Network experience - Most of the planners in this area have worked with us before and can vouch for us – we also are familiar with most of the venues around and can recommend style and sizes that will fit the space best!

3) Sign emergencies - if your Uncle brings his new girlfriend unexpectedly, we can get you a spare placecard asap! Need an extra table number or have a last minute edit to the dinner menu? We've got you.

We love going above and beyond for our couples and can't wait to connect with you!

Website: BetterTogetherCalligraphy.com/hello
Email: BetterTogetherCalligraphy@gmail.com
Phone: (951) 315-7196

Midyear Outlook: More Market Mood Swings

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 05:05:27 GMT

Midyear Outlook: More Market Mood Swings

With the summer in full swing, we’ve closed the book on the first half of 2021. It was a strong start for the economy and the stock market, but the investment landscape is changing as the recovery has transitioned into expansion.

Last week offered a bit of everything for investors, from labor market readings to Federal Reserve minutes to rising uncertainties around COVID variants and their implications for global growth. Stocks logged another solid week, touching new highs. But the headliner was the move in interest rates, which have pulled back notably from their highs earlier this year.

Here’s a look at how the year started and our views on what lies ahead:

Economy: The Rebound Rolls On

H ow It Started:

Employment conditions continue to heal, but the pace of improvement has stalled recently, as shown by last week’s uptick in initial jobless claims. New jobless claims have been cut by more than half since the start of the year but are still more than 80% above pre-pandemic levels.

After falling from 14.8% to 6.1% between April 2020 and April 2021, the unemployment rate has ticked down just slightly in recent months1. This reflects decent job growth but a mismatch between the supply of and demand for workers.

GDP has recovered pandemic losses in record time, with first-half output rising at the fastest clip in 80 years.

How It’s Going: Source: U.S. Department of Labor

We expect the labor market to regain some momentum in the second half. Back-to-school season, expiring extended unemployment benefits and rising wages should impact the labor shortage.

We think job growth should accelerate and the unemployment rate should fall from here. This, combined with elevated household savings, should provide the octane for above-average consumer spending growth, which we believe will power an extended economic expansion.

Quarterly GDP growth rates may have peaked in the first half of the year. But U.S. GDP growth should remain historically strong in the second half, with expectations for roughly 6% growth in the next two quarters. The emergence of COVID variants threatens to delay what we expect to be a period of catch-up for the global economy. But we still anticipate global GDP to accelerate later this year as restriction headwinds begin to fade in Europe. A surprise policy move in China last week to increase monetary stimulus suggests the world’s second-largest economy may also benefit from central bank tailwinds.

Inflation: Not the 1970s but Not Going Away

How It Started: Source: Bloomberg

The markets focused on rising inflation earlier this year, with consumer prices rising at the fastest rate in three decades1.

Inflation has spiked amid a surge in consumer demand that outpaced supply. We saw supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, sharp increases in commodity prices such as lumber, and the base effects of year-on-year comparisons to the depths of the shutdown.

The Fed has maintained its view that this jump in inflation will be temporary, reiterating its commitment to keeping stimulus in place to support an enduring economic rebound.

How It’s Going: Weekly Wrap July 9 Chart 4 Source: Bloomberg

We don’t think inflation is headed back to the runaway levels of the late ‘70s, nor do we think we’ll return to the consumer price regime of the last expansion. In the 2010s, inflation failed to rise to the Fed’s 2% target1.

We do think a good portion of this spike in inflation will prove temporary. The pullback in commodity prices, strong manufacturing activity, global supply chains rebooting, a reopened services sector and the passing of the base effects will, in our view, help rein in inflation. But we expect it to settle in at a higher level moving forward.

Real rates (nominal 10-year rates minus inflation) are still deeply in negative territory, signaling to us that the market is complacent about the prospects of higher-than-expected inflation ahead. We don’t think inflation will be sustained at levels that would require the Fed to quickly tighten the policy screws. But with real rates signaling a sanguine attitude toward lingering inflation pressures, this suggests potential knee-jerk reactions to consumer price readings in the second half.

Interest Rates: Pullback Doesn’t Look Permanent

How It Started: Weekly W rap July 9 Chart 5

Source: Bloomberg, past performance does not guarantee future results.

Interest rates didn’t quite come full circle in the first half, but the moves were noteworthy. After beginning the year below 1% for the first time in history, 10-year yields rose sharply to near 1.75% in March1. Since then, rates have trended lower, including a drop last week that saw yields fall below 1.25%1.

Rising rates in the first quarter were a function of increasing inflation worries and concerns the Fed would have to ratchet down stimulus sooner than expected. The more recent pullback in yields has stemmed from fears the global recovery will be derailed by the ongoing pandemic. News last week that Japan has declared a state of emergency and rising cases of the Delta variant added to the dip in rates.

How It’s Going: Source: Bloomberg, past performance does not guarantee future results.

We don’t think we’ve seen the last of rising rates this year. We don’t anticipate a sharp jump in yields, but we do think longer-term rates will finish the year higher than they are now. U.S. economic growth should remain strong, and we think the global recovery is delayed, not derailed.

We expect the yield curve to steepen as we advance. The Fed is likely to begin laying out a timeline in the coming months for tapering its bond purchases (stimulus) next year. This should release a bit of pressure on longer-term rates, but we doubt the Fed will hike its policy rate until 2023, meaning the yield curve could steepen. Currently, the spread between 10-year rates and 3-month rates is half of where it peaked during the expansions of the last three decades1. Traditionally, equities have performed well during steepening periods.

Even if rates rise from current levels, it should not be lost that yields remain near historic lows. We think there is plenty of room for rates to rise before they begin to undermine the economic expansion or bull market. Further, we think any increase in long-term rates will be more gradual than sharp, which in our view should help prevent dramatic volatility in the fixed-income markets.

Equities: Bull Market Has Legs but Likely to Stumble

How It Started: Source: Bloomberg, past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

U.S. large-cap equities posted a strong start to the year, logging the 10th-best first half in the last 40 years. U.S. small-caps did even better amid historic GDP growth. International equities delivered solid gains (+9% for developed market large-caps and +6% for emerging markets) but trailed due to lagging economic rebounds overseas1.

Volatility remained low, with just two 4% pullbacks. An accommodative Fed, encouraging economic readings and healthy corporate earnings provided a sturdy foundation for sizable upside and limited downside for equities1.

How It’s Going: Source: Bloomberg, past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

We expect equity markets to endure more volatility in the second half than they did in the first. We suspect the prospects of reduced Fed stimulus will be a primary catalyst for bouts of anxiety in the markets. But with plenty of life left in this economic expansion, we believe 5%-10% market pullbacks can be viewed as buying or rebalancing opportunities. Since 1990, U.S. large-cap equities have averaged a total return of 18.1% during the two years preceding the Fed’s initial rate hike1. U.S. equities outperformed bonds by an average of nearly 6% during those periods1.

We think there is still upside, but we expect more modest stock market gains ahead. Since 1980, when the S&P 500 gained 15% or more in the first six months of the calendar year, the second-half return averaged 5.7%1.

Corporate earnings are expected to rise more than 30% in 2021. This should help alleviate current elevated valuations while still supporting stock market gains. Over the past 40 years, periods of accelerating earnings have often seen outperformance from value investments, which are linked to economic momentum. We suspect the market may churn a bit under the surface as we advance, with declines in interest rates and worries over the speed of the economic expansion helping growth and defensive stocks. The pendulum swing back toward optimism will, in our view, favor value and cyclicals.

Source: 1. Bloomberg

5 Reasons Why You Should Attend A Wedding Expo

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 13:26:28 GMT

The perfect day begins with planning.

Planning a wedding will come with tons of excitement but it can also come with stress and anxiety. Knowing that you’re making the right decisions is one way to calm your nerves and reassure you that your wedding will be filled with love, romance, and fun.

One significant way to see that you’re making the right decisions regarding planning your wedding is by hiring the right vendors! That, too, can be a daunting task because you may have your doubts and might find it hard to decide, especially when you have to see them at different locations.

One way to eliminate the stress in hiring wedding vendors is through wedding expos. An event held to showcase all the wedding services there are, even ones you hadn’t realized you needed! Below are five reasons why you need to attend a wedding show while planning your wedding.

● There Will Be Lots Of Exhibitions

With wedding expos, you won’t need to ask vendors for their best products or services. There will be displays of all the offers at their different stands. To make sure that this will help you find what you need, you will want to have a list of the types of vendors you need to see. We say this because you can quickly get distracted with all of the great providers you will see! Different wedding fairs & festivals will have different sizes of rooms and numbers of vendors. Small to mid-size shows will have 30-40 vendors. Large shows can have hundreds of events. Wedding fairs at country clubs, private venues and hotels will be smaller than those held at a convention center, or civic center. Plan on spending a few hours at a show, depending on the size. Most shows will allow you to leave and come back if you want to have a bite to eat and return.

● You Can Get Food Samples

With a wedding expo, you can sample food from different caterers and bakeries. Not all shows have tastings and a lot of that has to do with local regulations about sampling. This can be very helpful if you are still looking for a baker for your cake or a caterer! If tastings are not available, while this may be disappointing, talk with the bakeries and caterers at the event and schedule a private tasting.

● You’ll Get Up To Speed With The Trends

Wedding expos are mainly about the trends in the wedding industry and helping couples get more accessible products and services. Be sure to go with a camera to capture all that catches your eyes. Also, bring your great ideas with you! Have you found ideas and inspirations on Instagram, Pinterest, or planning magazines like Real Weddings? Bring them with you either on your phone or printed to share with wedding professionals the look you are hoping to achieve. They won't be able to go into detail with you at the show, but you will get a sense of their style and what they can create for you by showing them your ideas. To go into details you will want to book a consultation.

● The Runway

The runway is one of the primary reasons it’s termed a wedding expo. You will get to see models on the runway showcasing different designs of wedding outfits, which will enable you to see how well the wedding attire can fit your shape. You may never know what style of gown you may like more until you see it on someone! Some wedding shows will have large production fashion shows at specified times and others will have intimate, runway shows where you can see more detail up close. Another growing trend at shows are strolling models all day long, so you can stop and take in fashions at your leisure, do some more wedding planning and shopping and then relax again to take in more styles and designs throughout the day.

● You Get To Win Prizes And Giveaways

Wedding expos have sponsors and exhibitors who typically raffle off prize items that include wedding dresses, accessories, and even honeymoons. Receive a free bridal veil when you are in line early at the International Wedding Festival.

We do this because we want to make sure you select from only the best. We also help you plan the perfect wedding, that elusive dream wedding that so many couples seek but only few ever find. Get your tickets today, and we promise you’ll plan your dream wedding too!

3 Important Reasons Why You Need A Wedding Planner

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 13:42:19 GMT

The perfect day begins with planning.

Your wedding is a special event and it represents the start of a new life for you and your fiance. So it’s a no-brainer that you need an impeccable level of planning to make it a perfect day! You, and your wedding, need a wedding planner. Why? Because wedding planners are experienced in planning weddings and have mastered the art of paying attention to event detail as well as tying up easy to miss loose ends as you get closer to your big day.

Wedding planners do more than plan your wedding. They serve as confidants and problem solvers. So, before you rule out the option of hiring a wedding planner, consider these 3 reasons why you should hire one!

● A Wedding Planner Helps You With Ideas

It can get exciting learning and dreaming about all of the options for weddings. It can also get frustrating when you have to make tough choices though because sometimes you find yourself juggling ideas, unable to make a decision, or constrained by budget.

Your go-to, experienced guide in all of this is your wedding planner, who will know great resources for your dream wedding, have ingenious ideas about your style and look, and have great means of making your wedding budget stretch! They’re experts at matching personalities with styles and bringing your wedding dreams to life.

● A Wedding Planner Takes The Stress Off Your Shoulders

Without a wedding planner, your vendors would have to always reach out to you for every tiny detail about setup, arrivals, and needs. You would be their point of contact for all the little decisions. With a wedding planner, you can rest assured that everything is being taken care of and that someone capable is standing in on your behalf. It takes the stress away and gives you more time to get enough rest for your big day and enjoy the planning process.

● A Wedding Planner Is An Excellent Manager

With a wedding planner, all you’d need to do is state your budget and your ideas, and they take it up from there. They know how to tailor resources, prioritize tasks and make significant decisions without exceeding your budget. As tempting as it may sound to plan a wedding without a wedding planner, you’d be surprised to know that a wedding planner can save you money in the end.

As an expert in planning weddings, Wedding Planners, event planners and designers are connected with great vendors and can negotiate within your budget. They can also quickly get discounts on services because of their repeat business with wedding professionals.

At the International Wedding Festival, we’re always ready to make your wedding planning process as effortless as possible for you! You will find wedding planners, wedding coordinators, and event designers at the International Wedding Festival.

If you want the best wedding DJs, caterers, bridal boutiques, florists, and more for your wedding, reach out to us. You’ll enjoy the experience more than you’ll believe!

An In-person wedding fair April 18th at Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 14:54:29 GMT

Sacramento County transition to the Red Tier promises relief and excitement for engaged couples planning a Sacramento wedding near and far.

Sacramento, CA. March 16, 2021.

We may have been on lockdown, but this past year has shown us that love is still in the air! Whether a couple is planning a big wedding, or an intimate micro-wedding, the return of live wedding festivals and fairs will offer brides and grooms the opportunity to successfully plan a wedding with local wedding professionals and get answers to their many planning questions.

As Sacramento County is welcomed to the red tier in Governor Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the International Wedding Festival views this as a timely opportunity to safely host a Sacramento Wedding Fair at Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, located downtown.

Couples who wish to meet with wedding professionals in person, will join the Sacramento Wedding Festival April 18th at Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel to meet venues, photographers, bakeries, florists, wedding planners, photo booths and other product and service providers face-to-masked-face.

The pandemic continues to create challenges for live events and the Red Tier imposes certain restrictions, such as a limit of 100 people in the room at any given time at the hotel. Vaughan shares, “We have implemented new ways of doing business and new procedures to host in person events to create a safe, compliant and enjoyable experience for all. Hourly attendance tours, the requirement of masks, wider aisles for social distancing, as well as allowing a specific number of wedding professionals invited to join the event are examples of our efforts to revitalize wedding planning events and the wedding and event industry as a whole. The event is an exclusive opportunity for couples and wedding professionals to plan beautiful weddings in a thoughtfully designed space.”

For couples planning Sacramento destination weddings from afar, or those who wish to plan from the comfort of their home, 15-year wedding show producer, Kimberly Vaughan, founder of International Wedding Festival, created a unique, state-of-the-art virtual platform to accommodate their planning needs. The virtual platform provides the opportunity for brides and grooms to meet with wedding professionals “live” individually, message them and other connective opportunities through social media, video, and downloadable materials.

Using her experience producing hundreds of live wedding shows over the years, Vaughan has created highly interactive events through technology filled with wedding professionals, fashion, guest appearances from wedding celebrities, venue tours, vendor booths and more. Attendees will see their offerings, have one-on-one conversations, and plan their big day as they visit from booth to booth as well as view professional group presentations! Vaughan has assembled the area's favorite and most respected wedding professionals for the upcoming Sacramento Wedding Fair & Festival.

More Vendors/Venues Invited to Participate

Vaughan is dedicated to helping wedding professionals survive and thrive in these challenging times. There is still room for more wedding vendors and venues to participate with their own booth and more details can be found here:

https://www.internationalweddingfestival.com/sacramento--bridal-show

Vendor / Exhibitor Contact Information:

Kimberly Vaughan Executive Producer

kimberly@InternationalWeddingFestival.com

Phone: (209) 966-3890

#OurWeddingWentViral

This tool developed by Vaughan has been created to take some of the guesswork and stress out of the planning process. Couples won't need to make hundreds of calls to check a photographer's availability, or visit every venue they love online to find out they are booked on their date. Pent up demand on the wedding industry can impose challenges for planning couples. Now, couples can enter their wedding date and zip code on the OurWeddingWentViral.com site and see who is available!

EVENT At a Glance:

What: Sacramento Wedding Fair & Festival

Featuring an array of local wedding professionals, fun fashions, venue tours, vendor booths and much more. There is a virtual Exhibit Hall with virtual Vendor booths that couples will be able to visit and shop from, all online, all from home, in addition to an exciting line-up of informative and entertaining presentations in the virtual auditorium.

When: Sunday, April 18th, 2021 from 11 am – 3:30 pm

Where: Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel 1230 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Who Should Attend: Couples, their family members (i.e., Mother and Grandmother of the Bride or Groom) and friends (i.e., bridesmaids, bridegrooms, etc.) living and/or planning a Sacramento wedding

Cost: $15 per person. Tickets can be purchased online

Tickets:

https://www.internationalweddingfestival.com/Sacramento-wedding-fair

Information:

Kimberly Vaughan Executive Producer

kimberly@InternationalWeddingFestival.com

Phone: (209) 966-3890

More Details:

Couples will be able to conveniently ask questions in live one-on-one conversations with wedding professionals in their booth, chat, book consultations and fittings, and see the latest bridal gown and tuxedo trends in the virtual auditorium. Wedding professionals will showcase their products and services on a professional platform built specifically for them including wedding dresses, photographers, tuxedos, stylists, hotels, limos and much more.

International Wedding Festival Executive Producer, Kimberly Vaughan, who has traveled around the country for years doing speaking engagements about top wedding trends, explains, “Nothing can stop true love. Most engagements occur over the holidays and more proposals on Valentine’s Day promise a busy time of year for wedding professionals.. Right now, couples have lots of planning questions and we have wedding professionals who are eager to share their expertise and passion for weddings. The in person and virtual Wedding Festivals are a place where couples can get their questions answered ‘live’ by industry experts, see the latest styles and trends, and we hope that they will find the joy and fun that they should experience when planning a wedding.”

Free Virtual Bay Area Bridal Show on Sunday, March 28th produced by Kimberly Vaughan, a 15-year Wedding Show Veteran Dedicated to Helping Wedding Industry professionals to survive and thrive

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 18:26:57 GMT

Love Is In The Air!

San Francisco, CA. February 2021. Did you know that the majority of wedding proposals are made over the November and December holidays, followed by Valentine’s Day, making the months that follow prime wedding planning months?

We may have been on lockdown, but this past year has shown us that love is still in the air! Whether a couple is planning a big wedding, or a more intimate micro-wedding, there’s an exciting and innovative solution to move plans and dreams ahead safely and virtually.

Adapting to the times and determined to still have a safe and successful event for recently engaged couples, 15-year wedding show producer, Kimberly Vaughan, founder of International Wedding Festival, created a unique, virtual state-of-the-art platform for wedding shows that is now being expanded to cities across the U.S. by leveraging technology in new and innovative ways.

Using her experience producing hundreds of live wedding shows over the years, Vaughan has created highly interactive events filled with wedding professionals, fashion, guest appearances from wedding celebrities, venue tours, vendor booths and more. Attendees will see their offerings, have one-on-one conversations, and plan their big day as they visit from booth to booth as well as view professional group presentations! Vaughan has assembled the Bay area's favorite and most respected wedding professionals for the upcoming Bay Area Bridal Show & Wedding Fair.

Vaughan is also busy planning for live events with a reduced capacity when permitted at the Santa Clara Convention Center, on July 25, 2021 and other select cities and 2021 dates, starting April 18th in Sacramento, California.

More Vendors/Venues Invited to Participate

Vaughan is dedicated to helping wedding professionals survive and thrive in these challenging times. There is still room for more Bay Area wedding vendors and venues to participate with their own booth and more details can be found here:

https://mms.internationalweddingfestival.com/members/evr/reg_event.php?orgcode=MLGB&evid=3515373&_ga=2.261786250.666328707.1611984829-987744993.1608008337

#OurWeddingWentViral

At a Glance:

What: Virtual Bay Area Bridal Show

Featuring an array of Bay Area wedding professionals, fun fashions, guest appearances from wedding celebrities, venue tours, vendor booths and much more. There is a virtual Exhibit Hall with virtual Vendor booths that couples will be able to visit and shop from, all online, all from home, in addition to an exciting line-up of informative and entertaining presentations in the virtual auditorium.

When: Sunday, March 28, 2021 from 11 am – 3 pm

Who Should Attend: Couples, their family members (i.e., Mother and Grandmother of the Bride or Groom) and friends (i.e., bridesmaids, bridegrooms, etc.) living and planning a wedding on the Central Coast, East Bay, Peninsula, San Francisco, South Bay, Tri-Valley and the Wine Country.

Cost: Free for couples to attend, must register online.

Vendor booths are still available for only $200 per booth.

Advance Registration:

https://www.internationalweddingfestival.com/san-francisco

Information:

Kimberly Vaughan Executive Producer

kimberly@InternationalWeddingFestival.com

Phone: (415) 689-1200

More Details:

International Wedding Festival Executive Producer, Kimberly Vaughan, who has traveled around the country for years doing speaking engagements about top wedding trends, explains, “Nothing can stop true love. Many engagements took place over the holidays and more proposals will be enjoyed on Valentine’s Day. Right now, couples have lots of planning questions and we have wedding professionals who are eager to share their expertise and passion for weddings. The Virtual Bridal Shows and Wedding Fairs are a place where couples can get their questions answered ‘live’ by industry experts, see the latest styles and trends, and we hope that they will find the joy and fun that they should experience when planning a wedding.”

Vaughan adds, “We definitely plan to keep our virtual event platform long after live events have resumed. We want our couples and their friends and family to have the option of how they wish to plan their perfect day.... live or virtual!

Vaughan is simultaneously doing a U.S. tour of the Virtual Bridal Show & Wedding Fair with four other events, also on Sunday, March 28, 2021, which includes Austin, Houston, Los Angeles and New York:

https://www.internationalweddingfestival.com/austin

https://www.internationalweddingfestival.com/houston

https://www.internationalweddingfestival.com/los-angeles

https://www.InternationalWeddingFestival.com/New-York

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International Wedding Festival Adds A Bay Area Virtual Wedding Expo

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 14:30:55 GMT

COVID-19 has disrupted wedding plans for thousands of couples, causing date changes, loss of dates altogether and a LOT of confusion. Wedding planning can feel challenging, but adding a global pandemic on top of wedding planning seems unbearable. International Wedding Festival sympathizes with couples and the frustration they are surely feeling.

The International Wedding Festival announced their addition of Virtual Wedding Festivals to create a platform for couples to meet with Bay Area wedding professionals and get their questions answered and their wedding plans well underway! Couples and wedding professionals will meet on the same day, during specified hours (just like a live event) to plan weddings! Couples will register as they normally would, except for one BIG change... Tickets are free for the 2020 virtual shows.

The first VIRTUAL International Wedding Festival will be held in Bay Area on September 27th from 11am - 2:30pm and will be powered by Virtually Events , a California-based Virtual Event Platform.

Kimberly Vaughan, Executive Director of International Wedding Festival shares, " We just want couples to find everything they need, see the latest trends, and meet the professionals that will take their vision and turn it into a reality. We have been meeting virtually with wedding professionals over the last few months to discuss what tools would be most important in a virtual setting. Our wedding pros have expressed that they want to have live conversations with couples during the virtual show, be able to see and interface with couples in real-time as if they were at a live event, share their information, brochures and handouts at the online event, and setup personal, one on one meetings with individual couples. Couples would like to find the right wedding professionals for their wedding, get their many quesitons answered and see the latest trends. I think we have come up with a solution that accomplishes the needs of couples and providers"

Couples will be able to chat, zoom, download information, schedule individual meetings, watch seminars and runway fashion shows. This is a great opportunity for couples to get much of their planning finalized and gain answers to their questions in real time.

International Wedding Festival Announces Partnership with #OurWeddingWentViral

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 07:09:12 GMT

The COVID Wedding Calendar Created to Help Couples Plan their Wedding.

#OurWeddingWentViral has been shared by wedding professionals and couples alike as they race to change wedding dates and providers due to the current pandemic. Thousands of couples have made the decision to move their wedding to 2021 dates. Many have decided to host two dates with their first being a "mini-mony" with guest lists under 25 and the second the big day planned next year.

Changing wedding dates and plans are not easy and come with a monumental amount of stress. Coordinating the calendars of selected busy wedding professionals can be difficult, but add to that the number of 2020 couples who have pushed their dates to 2021, many couples are finding that they need to find new providers to compensate for those wedding professionals who cannot join them on their new date.

#OurWeddingWentViral (www.OurWeddingWentViral.com) provides an answer for couples. They simply enter the category of wedding professionals they are seeking, the zip code where they are planning to marry and their proposed wedding date. The site then lists wedding pro's that are available on that particular date.

International Wedding Festival Exhibitors were happy to learn that their businesses would be included in the #OurWeddingWentViral database, through the partnership between the International Wedding Festival and www.OurWeddingWentViral.com sites.

International Wedding Festival Announces Pay for Lead Service for Wedding Pro's & Engaged Couples

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 20:23:58 GMT

Couples need to connect with wedding pro's for answers through the pandemic and wedding professionals want to be of service during COVID

International Wedding Festival has announced a new online Leads Program that will connect engaged couples, seeking answers to their questions and hoping to solidify services for their #COVIDWEDDING. The Leads Program makes it possible for couples to complete one form for all of their wedding needs, share their wedding date and a few details and submit their query. This information is shared with all of our exhibitors that fall into the categories the couple have indicated that they need and those wedding professionals who are able to fulfill services on that particular day will respond accordingly.

"We are so excited about this new offering! This is a responsive way for couples to gain the information they need from one single form and a great way for wedding professionals who are available on a particular day to respond that they are ready and available. We know that couples are going to have a difficult time finding all of the services they need because so many couples have pushed their dates out, that it taxes the availability of wedding professionals. This will alleviate some of the headache for couples," shares Nicki Rowan, Marketing & Communications Director, International Wedding Festival.

To get started, couples will visit www.InternationalWeddingFestival.com and click the Get Quotes tab to complete the form. There is no cost for couples to request quotes from our exhibitors.

International Wedding Festival Adds A Central Valley Virtual Show

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 20:11:10 GMT

The International Wedding Festival announced their addition of Virtual Wedding Festivals to create a platform for couples to meet with wedding professionals and get their questions answered and their wedding plans well underway! Couples and wedding professionals will meet on the same day, during specified hours (just like a live event) to plan weddings! Couples will register as they normally would, except for one BIG change... Tickets are free for the 2020 virtual shows.

The first VIRTUAL International Wedding Festival will be held in Central Valley on August 9th from 11am - 2pm and will be powered by Virtually Events , a California-based Event Platform.

Wedding Festival Prepares for COVID-19 at Live Events

Thu, 28 May 2020 20:11:09 GMT

COVID-19 CHANGED HOW WE PRODUCE EVENTS FOREVER.

In the wake of COVID-19, the International Wedding Festival has made several changes as we prepare to resume live events in the Central Valley and Bay Area. Our Wedding Fairs have been well attended by hundreds of couples seeking answers to their wedding planning questions. Now, we look at live events in an entirely new way.

Registration

Changes begin before even entering the building. All registration will be 100% online. Couples will purchase tickets online as they have always done. We will no longer "stamp" attendees, and will instead issue tyvek wrist bands to those who have paid for entrance to the event.

Spacing distance will be recognized in the line.

Swag bags will be picked up by attendees without the use of an attendant handing bags to attendees. Wedding veils will be adorned by a family member and no longer by an IWF Registration Attendant.

We require all attendees to wear masks at all times, except when sampling cakes, eating, drinking, or sampling catering services.

Signs will be posted at the entrance that educate people about social distancing, hand washing, sanitizing, and a disclaimer that by entering the facility they hold the building owners, event producer and exhibitors harmless of transmission of airborn illness.

Fashion Shows

In an effort to recognize social distancing guidelines, we will have continuous fashion shows throughout the day, instead of just one fashion show. Stages will be at more eye level and allow for better visualization without close seating.

General Safety

Each of our exhibitors will display hand sanitizer and will encourage the use of cell phones and mobile apps to take photos of literature and ideas, rather than distributing marketing materials.

Santizers will be present at registration.