TPC Golf Club was the host for the January meeting of the Las Vegas Wedding Network.

A diverse panel of Las Vegas wedding professionals shared their personal and company perspective, as well as giving various reactions to the views of each other.

From the venue perspective, there was emphasis on “lead time” from vendors for any special needs. “No surprises, please…” Carrie Key  (Dragonridge Country Club) made it clear that, in the absence of a wedding planner, the venue has the lead responsibility in assimilating the various elements from photo, video, entertainers, as well as pre-event professionals, such as floral designers, bakers, and decorators.

She went on to note that when it comes to execution, the emcee (usually the DJ) is the point-person. Carrie goes so far as to have a duplicate timeline at the DJ console, so that any member of her staff can refer to it, if needed.

The other keywords for the discussion were: flexibility, cooperation and communication. Timelines tend to be guidelines, and need to be adjusted as an event unfolds. And the best timeline is one that is made to be reasonable, in advance, such that all ceremonial elements, meal service, and dancing can occur, smoothly, within the total time available.

Kevin Cordova’s DJ’s To You provided outstanding uplighting, surrounding the room, and created a beautifully crafted truss-lighting array, focused on the panelist table.

Moderator (not pictured) was Ricky Gulati (Memory Lane Videography). Panelists are (from left to right) Gordon Becker (Bear’s Best), Christie McCoy (CLM Weddings & Events), Jon Sanchez (Memory Lane Videography), Carrie Key (Dragonridge Country Club), Adam Frazier (Artistic Imaging), Natasha Chornesky (The Write Shot), and Kevin Cordova (Dj’s To You).

Jacqueline Johnston (Scheme Events) was responsible for planning this highly successful meetings.

Photo credit: “Orange Soda Photography”

Las Vegas’ most popular bridal show, The Bridal Spectacular,  is now only weeks away and excitement is mounting!  Local designers, Randi Garret of Naakiti Floral, Teresa Stewart-Meli of Enchanted Florist and Christy McCoy of CLM Weddings are working hard on their designs for Inspiration Avenue. Inspiration Avenue is very popular with the brides as a place they can walk through and get inspired for their wedding day designs. Tablescapes from various florists and venues are also featured in the opening of this special area and we are still accepting entries for this area.

The Grand Entrance is again being designed by Soondis Hamika of Jovani Linens and will be accented with unique furniture pieces from FWR Rentals.

Tickets are now available online and sales are surging as we head into the final weeks before the show.

Whether you are a destination bride, a local traditional bride or a vendor who wants to meet the brides, you will want to be at this incredible event on January 21 & 22. You have never seen a bridal show like this before! The Bridal Spectacular at Cashman Center.

The new issue of “Spectacular Bride” will also be seen for the first time as every bride receives a complimentary copy at the show!

On Monday night, there was a meeting of the Las Vegas Wedding Network.

At the end of the gathering, people were continuing to chat and exchange business cards. A woman approached me and the gentlemen I was speaking with, to introduce herself.

She work for Jason’s Deli, an outstanding business that does a lot of catering for businesses. Jason’s, it turns out, has made the decision to go after less-formal rehearsal dinners and other social events connected with weddings, but not the reception, itself.

It struck me as quite smart. The calculation is that a significant number of people may opt out of a fancy and expensive rehearsal dinner at a restaurant. Instead, they’ll elect to have it a nice home (theirs or a family member) and enjoy stacks of pastrami, brisket, potato salad, pickles and the works.

Someone at Jason’s Deli is thinking, aggressively, and is going after new business. They don’t need to reinvent the company or add another division to make this happen. It’s still simply drop-off catering.

What are you, or what can you be doing to expand your opportunities? Don’t just hunker down. Spend a little time thinking creatively.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

On Saturday, August 21, 2010, Bridal Spectacular producer Debra Hansen walked the aisles of the bridal show to distribute the Dazzle Awards for the best-of-the-best displays at Bridal Spectacular’s vendor booths. Voted the top ten percent by their fellow Bridal Spectacular exhibitors, the following Las Vegas wedding professionals won this season’s Dazzle Awards, 2010 Exhibitor’s Choice Best Booth: AFR Event Furnishings, Aliante Station Casino and Hotel, Canyon Gate Country Club, CLM Weddings and Events, Enchanted Florist, A French Bouquet,  Jovani Linens and Floral Design,  JW Marriott, Marisha Floral and Event Design Company, Naakiti Floral Designs, Red Rock Country Club, RSVP Party Rentals, Santa Fe Station Hotel and Casino, Siena Golf Club, Springs Preserve Weddings by Wolfgang Puck Catering with DJ Harry “O”, and The Secret Garden.

Feel free to browse the photos below to see these award-winning displays and their excited exhibitors. Also, brides, consider using wedding professionals, like these vendors and others you can find through Bridal Spectacular, as you continue your Las Vegas wedding planning.

The Board of Directors of the Las Vegas Wedding Network are happy to announce this months new members as well as report on how excited we are with the work our new committee members are doing. LVWN is continuing to grow and serve the wedding industry community at large.

New Members:

Lyn Saculles of Brian Saculles Photography

Elen V Marsh of Elegant Wedding Dance

Henri Sagalow of Henri Sagalow Photography

Pastor Pete of Elegant Vegas Weddings

Yamilet of LV Custom Cakes

LVWN Committee Members as of April 2010

Education & Programs:

Andy Ebon: The Wedding University, Board Member and Committee Head

Faith Chapin of Faithfully Yours

Michelle Parsons of Tuxedo Junction

Jacqueline Johnston of Memory Lane Video

Membership:

Debra Hansen of Bridal Spectacular, Board Member

Ricky Gulati of Memory Lane Video- Committee Head

Todd Herod of Shutter Booth

Mike Briggs of Good Vibrations

Hospitality & Registration:

Sue Gestring of Bridal Spectacular Events, Inc.:  Committee Head

Mary Ann Reilly of Wildflower Linens

Cymbra Frazier of Artistic Imaging

Madelyn R. Nitzkin of Madelyn R Studios

Doris Lofton of DAL Weddings & Events

Sponsorships & Raffles:

Monica Morgan of VegasVows.com - Board Member and Committee Head

Gabriel Ortiz of All Events DJ

For those of you who expressed interest in being on a committee at the May meeting, we appreciate your desire to serve and will be looking to add new people to commitees in November. Our next committee meeting will be in June.