Eventology 2010 Contest Winner

It was amazing and heartwarming to read all the wonderful comments for the contest. Please believe me when I say that I never knew that I would be doing this. This being planning a wedding business conference that has been embraced and well received by so many. God is good.

Eventology wedding business conference has become my little baby. I truly strive for it to have stellar content that wedding professionals can actually use. I want everyone that attends to have an awesome time and feel "at home" with each other. We can act snobby and pretentious some other time. . . =)

At any rate, I would like to announce the contest winner! This winner will win 1/2 off the registration fees for E10 (as we are so affectionately called). Drum roll, please. . .

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

55 

Timestamp: 2009-12-01 05:28:06 UTC

Comment #55 was was made by Deniesha Joseph of Wedded Luxe blog! She said:

Deniesha Joseph said...

I've been planning to attend eventology 2010 since the eventology 2009. Last year I couldn't attend because I was laid off from my 9-5 job but I told myself that no matter what I'm going to the next one. I want to take my business to the next level and I know I will learn so much from the great panel and the wonderful industry professionals that will be attending. Attending this conference is the boost I need for my knowledge and my confidence. I'm going to eventology to be inpiried and empowered!!

Congratulations, Deniesha!

I have another surprise. Instead of only one winner, I am going to select TWO winners!! Second drum roll, please. . .

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

27 

Timestamp: 2009-12-01 05:40:23 UTC

Congratulations goes to our 27th commenter who had this to share with us:

Dinika for Divine DEsign Weddings said...

Knowledge is power! I am attending Eventology 2010 to acquire knowledge on how to make the most out of my business while working smarter, not harder. I'm also looking forward to networking with other Event Professionals. Hey, you can never have too many friends in this industry right?! Absolutely not!

See ya'll there!
BE BLESSED

Dinika Ellison from Divine Design Weddings will be in the house in April! Ladies, to claim your prize, you must email me at hello{at}eventologyconference{dot} com by midnight on Wednesday, December 2, 2009. I look forward to meeting you both at the conference!

What's All the Shouting About?!

Eventology 2010 registration opens tomorrow, that's what!

Yes--you heard it right: Early Bird registration opens for Eventology 2010 that will be held in Indianapolis. The special rate for early registration is $380 and after the clock strikes midnight on Christmas, this special rate will disappear. Don't get caught up in the sell out!

Click {HERE} to register or visit www.eventology2010.eventbrite.com.
Click {HERE} to reserve hotel accommodations at the Omni Severin Hotel.

Be sure to visit the website for more information about this dynamic conference. Hope to see you in April!

You Can Get 1/2 Off Your Registration. . .

. . .if you are the lucky one!

We are hosting a contest where one lucky reader can get 1/2 off his or her registration fees for Eventology 2010. It's really so simple: all you have to do is leave a comment on the blog by November 30th at midnight. Tell us why your are coming to Eventology and what you are expecting to learn from the conference. On December 1, we will pick a random winner and that person is entitled to 1/2 off the fees. This is a $190 value!

So you don't know what Eventology about?

Eventology: The Science of Running a Successful Wedding Business.

Eventology is an intimate, collaborative and intensive business conference designed especially for wedding professionals brought to you by K Sherrie+Company Planning Atelier. This conference will bring you real-life, applicable marketing and business information to use to enhance your wedding business. As more and more educational and networking opportunities become available to wedding professionals, please know that we are committed to produce a conference that is in-depth, engaging, educational and a great time! You will definitely leave Eventology energized about your business and with real tools to help you move on to the next level.

Learn the science behind running a successful wedding business, as the reality is if you're not running a profitable business, it's just one big expensive hobby. We're packing more valuable information into this next conference! The following topics will be presented by five dynamic and cutting edge, international wedding professionals at this unique conference:

• Building Your Team: From Interns to Associates by Lara Casey
• Priced to Sell! Cultivating Your Service Offerings by Saundra Hadley
• The Art of Wedding Design: Innovative Designs and Trends by Sasha Souza
• Geek is Chic: Tech Tools for Your Wedding Business by Terrica Skaggs
• Brand Success! Brand Building and Brand Strategy by Harmony Walton

This is an educational and networking opportunity not to be missed! The highly successful and renowned speakers will be sharing their expertise and know-how on creating and cultivating a prosperous wedding business. Anyone can learn from these dynamic, super-successful women and Eventology 2010 is open to all wedding professionals.

When: April 19-20, 2010
Where: Indianapolis, Indiana at the Omni Severin Hotel

We look forward to reading your posts!

{Fireside Chats} Introducing Ali Phillips

We are so excited that Ali Phillips of Engaging Events by Ali will be joining us again next year in Indianapolis. What she will be doing you will have to come and see! Ali has been featured in several magazines as well as television shows. She took sometime out to answer our fireside chat!

What is your favorite time of day for a wedding?

While most of the weddings I do are afternoon ceremonies with evening receptions I LOVE luncheon weddings and had two this year. When I was a bride, I was married in the morning and had a luncheon reception and loved that everyone was happy, dancing and hugging by 3:30pm in the afternoon.

Where is your favorite place for a destination wedding?

The Cayman Islands. All the vendors, hotels and restaurants are so accommodating and easy to work with. I have always wanted to do one on a mountain top in the rockies though….may have to add to my goals for 2010 list.

What is the smartest piece of business advice you were ever given?

My Dad always said you don’t get the sale unless you ask for it!

What advice would you offer to new comers of the industry?

Write a business plan. Network, attend conferences, read. Become a sponge.

What was the one class that helped you the most in your career?

The class of life. Making mistakes and strides in life and learning from them has been my best classroom.

What advice would you give to newlyweds for a happy marriage?

To laugh often. To have FUN! To plan a wonderful vacation for just the two of you to reconnect at least once a year.

What was or would be your first dance song at your wedding?

It was “How Sweet It is” the James Taylor version. Jon twirled me around a lot and I got a bit dizzy.

What trends do you expect to see in weddings?

I get asked this a lot. It is funny because trends come and go and color schemes come and go. I tell the client they should do what they want, whether they want to be trendy or not and own it.

Who in your life is your role model and why?

My mother and father. They are very different and so important in molding who I have become.

What is your favorite industry book or magazine?

Martha Stewart Weddings and also Special Event Magazine. And I also love all the Biz Bash magazines of all the cities.

What are your favorite color schemes?

I am open to all color schemes but what I LOVE right now is the color yellow. But I also love black and white and one other POP of color (whether it is hot pink, cool blue or even bright yellow). And it now looks like green is going to be HOT after seeing the tweets from the runways at NYC Bridal Fashion week.

Do you have a favorite venue for weddings and receptions and if so what are they?

I love the variety of locations in Chicago and that there is a venue for every couple. I am not sure I could pick a favorite.

Describe the perfect wedding cake in your opinion.

That is tastes good (perhaps Carrot cake or Red Velvet), something rich and fun.

How do you feel about the smashing of cake in the face at receptions?

I try and explain to my grooms that it may not be the best idea at a wedding when their new wife is all pretty and has spent money and hair and makeup. I always make sure there is a fork and a plate on the cake table with their cake knife and server and a napkin.

How did you know this is what you wanted to do in life?

I wanted to do something that played to my strengths (personal relationships, project/logistics management, and the quest for things to go smoothly), just so happens being a wedding consultant you need all these things!

What brings you the most joy in life?

I love spending time with my husband on the days I don’t work. I love to take dog walks with our dog on the lake. I love to spend time with my family and friends. And I LOVE to travel. I am planning my next adventure on the flight or drive home from the current adventure I am on.

Can't wait to see you in Indy Ali!!

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{Fireside Chats} Introducing Linnyette Richardson Hall

I hope everyone had a chance to read about all of the fabulous speakers that will be at Eventology 2010. We have other great things in store. Linnyette Richardson Hall will be conducting our welcome speech. Here is your chance to meet the infamous Diva from Who's Wedding is it Anyway.

Linnyette took time to answer our invading questions...

What is your favorite time of day for a wedding?

I absolutely love early morning weddings! There is something about the sunrise, the dawn of a new day, the sight of glistening dewdrops on flowers that just speaks to me in volumes about the newness of love. The fact that I also LOVE brunch is a mere sidebar :)


Where is your favorite place for a destination wedding?

Hmm....a personal favorite is the islands of Turks and Caicos. I’ve vacationed there with my family and fell in love with the natural, almost unspoiled beauty of the place. The beaches are incredible, the people are friendly and the water is so crystalline blue. The food? OMG - nothing like freshly caught seafood, expertly prepared for your tastebuds to savor - the island cuisine was simply off the hook!


What is the smartest piece of business advice you were ever given?

“Work Smart, Not Hard”. It may seem cliche’, but it’s the honest-to-God’s truth. So many of us are out there getting our proverbial “hustle” on, that we fail to realize and understand that while we may indeed be “working”...we’re not working smart. We overextend ourselves, we burn the candle at both ends and the result is an unhappy soul. Yeah - your bank account may look fat, but you are severely anorexic in the true happiness department. The person who gave me that advice kept the solution very simple : know your boundaries and limits. When you understand what you are capable of honestly taking on, your business will thrive.


What advice would you offer to new comers of the industry?

Get educated and network! This is a fairly new genre, so there are so many ways to learn the craft. But you HAVE to learn it - it’s not an automatic “gimme”. There isn’t a textbook way to learn how to run a successful wedding business, so you’ve got to get in the trenches and take advantage of as many educational opportunities as possible. From classes, workshops, conferences, conventions, online seminars - there’s no good reason for anyone to be lacking in this area.

Part two of this scenario is the value I see in good, consistent networking. There’s an old saying that rings so true in our industry “No man is an island, no man stands alone”. You can’t run in this business WITHOUT making salient contacts..it’s simply not doable. Meeting, interfacing and sharing with like-minded colleagues is your best bet to making a successful start. What you know is good - who you know is better.


What was the one class that helped you the most in your career?

I’d have to harken back to my days at the University of Maryland and say ALL of my Sociology classes. While that is what I have my degree in, who knew that all of the lectures on how society as a whole “ticks” would become an invaluable part of how I deal with people and run my business? Society and it’s mores, morals, traditions and values make up a great deal of what we do as planners. I give a big “shout out” to all of my professors who truly ingrained those concepts into me!!!


What advice would you give to newlyweds for a happy marriage?

First
LOVE each other unconditionally. Your partner is not perfect and neither are you. So accept them with all of their quirks, inconsistencies, foibles, oddities...(insert your favorite verb/adjective, etc.). All of THOSE things make up the person you love..it’s a part of their emotional DNA.

Second:
Learn to talk TO each other - not AT each other. Simply put - you cannot have a meaningful conversation with anyone if you are consistently shouting, screaming or otherwise engaging in obnoxious, uncontrolled dialogue. If you don’t know the art of conversation - seek help and learn together. There are plenty of amazing couple’s counselors and resources that can help you fine tune this vitally important part of a successful marriage.

Third:
Know when to admit that you are wrong. Yes - that may be a hard thing to do, but you are not going to be in the right all of the time. A mature person knows when to say “I was wrong”..they also know how to ask for forgiveness and to move forward with making things right.


Finally - say “I LOVE YOU” every dang day. Don’t let one day end without you shouting, whispering or murmuring those words to your beloved. Life is short and it’s not promised to us. If you love them - tell them. You have no idea what the impact of hearing those three words can do for your spouse - it can take them from sad to joyous in no time flat. It also keeps you and the basic reason for your relationship front and center at all times......


What was or would be your first dance song at your wedding?

If I were to ever jump the broom again - I can assure you that the song would be “Soul Mate” by Michael Franks and these lyrics say it all for me:

Look for a soul mate Someone whose love will go the distance Stop collecting only temporary hearts Just find a soul mate And then let go of your resistance You'll live happy ever after from the start You need a soul mate Before your house of cards collapses Whose devotion is like a candle in the night Locate a soul mate To help you navigate the rapids That rise up along the river of your life...

To me, the first dance speaks volumes about your particular love and the journey you’ve come through and are heading towards. Make it relevant and make it special.


What trends do you expect to see in weddings?

I hope to see couples continue the positive trend of making their weddings look and feel like their relationship and lives together. Personalization is SUCH a good thing...it stops the cookie-cutter feel of an event and makes your guests feel immersed in your love. Which is how this should go anyway, right?


Who in your life is your role model and why?

Ah...this is an easy one :) My Nana - without a doubt!!! She is an amazing woman who has come through so much in her lifetime, but has managed to find joy in every aspect. My Nana raised me and my sister, so I watched her single-handedly take care of two small girls, an aging mother and a sick husband - on her own. My grandfather died and left her as widow when she was still fairly young, but she soldiered on. I have learned my work ethic from her - she was famous for getting out there and getting the job done!!!

I get a bit of my sass from her too - oh, she can take you down a notch :) But she also instilled in me how to be firm, yet gracious and ladylike at the same time. Her favorite saying to me is “Baby - you attract more flies with honey than you do vinegar”. Oh.....that is so true!

Now that she is battling a terminal illness, I take so much pride and honor in taking care of her, the way she took of me so many years ago.......

What is your favorite industry book or magazine?

Architectural Digest and Food & Wine magazines. The Digest - simply because I can look at what trends are happening globally with interior design. Keeping my finger on that pulse is excellent for spotting new ideas to bring to the wedding and event planning table. Food & Wine magazine, well...simply put, I’m a “foodie”. That love of great cuisine is a talent and formidable skill I bring to each of my events. ½ of a wedding budget goes towards food and beverage, so I make sure that all of my clients have memorable, tasty gastronomical experiences that will last them a lifetime. No one ever leaves one of my weddings complaining about the food!!!!

What are your favorite color schemes?

I admit it - I like color hues and palettes that go “boom”! I’m currently enamored of chocolate and eggplant...there is something so daggone SEXY about that combination. It’s rich, it’s luxe and seeing it all pulled together may make you wanna reach out - and touch somebody :)


Do you have a favorite venue for weddings and receptions and if so what are they?

Give me a private residence, mansion or other non “wedding factory” environment any day! I like places where I can go in and highlight otherwise unnoticed features. I like homes and mansions because of the way you can add a couple’s personality in with a few simple touches..I also like the fact that you are the ONLY ones on property because running into 5 other brides in the restroom is so NOT my idea of fun!


Describe the perfect wedding cake in your opinion.

Looks great, tastes amazing and none left over!


How do you feel about the smashing of cake in the face at receptions?

HATE IT. So uber-juvenile. I’m gonna be pissed if you smash that lovely sugary confection all over the MAC makeup it took my artist some serious time to get on my face.


How did you know this is what you wanted to do in life?

I didn’t - really. I’ve just always had this knack for making stuff beautiful and planning it to the nines. Even in my prior incarnations in the business world, I was always the one doing the parties, pulling events together, in addition to the other responsibilities I held. I’ve been doing this kind of thing for as long as I can remember - even as far back as the little “parties” I’d host for the neighborhood kids back in the day. The Good Humor ice cream truck was my friend and red Kool-Aid was my ally. Hey - all the kids wanted to come and hang on my front porch, because I was always having a party.

Little did I know that the young “hostess with the mostest” would develop the love of a good party into the thriving enterprise I have today.......


What brings you the most joy in life?

Knowing that what I do brings happiness to others on such a special occasion. While the money is important (I’m not gonna lie about that!), I get such a KICK out of seeing all of those happy, smiling faces at an event, truly enjoying what I’ve pulled together for them.

Part two of this answer are my kids - I’ve got an amazing son and daughter who have literally grown up with an entrepreneurial mother. They’ve seen me grow this business and they understand from first-hand experience, the value of hard work. I could not have given them a better life experience than this one......

Thanks Linnyette! Can't wait to see you in 2010.

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{Fireside Chats} Introducing Harmony Walton

Today we bring you our very last speaker for Eventology 2010. Harmony Walton is not only the founder of the Bridal Bar, she is also the driving force behind many brands to date in the wedding industry. Harmony took a few moments to share some of her wonderful views on weddings:


What is your favorite time of day for a wedding?

My favorite time of the day for a wedding is late afternoon. I used to love sunset but I’ve become a bit more practical and I love a wedding that allows for photos of the bride and groom at sunset, after the ceremony. I’m traditional and like the couple not to see one another before the ceremony but still have time for fabulous photos with some natural daylight left.


Where is your favorite place for a destination wedding?

Humm…that’s a tough one because I love so many places for so many different reasons. If you want a beach ceremony, I love the Caribbean - Virgin Gorda (a place a little less travelled to). If old world romance is more fitting for the event, then Italy, Italy, Italy! Rome for a big city, Capri for an island, and one of the villas in a small town outside of Rome for an out of the way affair.


What is the smartest piece of business advice you were ever given?

Take every step as if you are walking towards your exit strategy for the end of your career. If you don’t know what that is, figure it out and walk accordingly towards that path. All decisions should prepare you for bigger decisions and starting from the ground up is the only way to get to those big opportunities.


What advice would you offer to new comers of the industry?

Be original, the market is saturated so find a way to offer something completely different and completely you. Whether that’s an entirely new service or a new spin on a popular product, create a space for yourself in a space where no one else stands. On the flip side of that coin, don’t be an island either. Set out to be different while soaking up the lessons of others. Don’t enter the field with an ego that says you know it all, because none of us do. Success can come that much quicker if you have the support or knowledge of others before you – both from the good and the bad. So surround yourself with people who will allow you to learn and be the best version of yourself.


What was the one class that helped you the most in your career?

I went to UCLA and oddly enough the courses weren’t career driven so not many directly supported my career. However, going to school in LA I had the luxury of a great college job, working for Dustin Hoffman. The work experience I received from him, his family, and his company while I was in college helped me tremendously and gave me that entrepreneurial bug to do my own thing.


What advice would you give to newlyweds for a happy marriage?

I haven’t been married so I’m not qualified to say! If I had to observe from the outside, I’d have to remind people to be open with one another to avoid future resentment. Be honest and stop looking for the next best thing! Don’t take what you’ve got in front of you for granted.


What was or would be your first dance song at your wedding?

Depends on the husband. I would hope it will be something personal and meaningful to us, and not necessarily a traditional wedding song. Who knows, maybe even a Jimmy Buffett song!


What trends do you expect to see in weddings?

I think we will continue to see the destination wedding market boom and that those events will take place in more and more unusual places. Creating a vacation and a cultural experience out of a wedding is priority now – values are changing and it’s less about the cake as it is the culture and the people. So finding far off places or nearby but off the beatin’ path places that provide a richer yet more simplified experience is where couples will go. From Portugal to Palm Springs, the trend is to go away from the trend of the big hotel or the tourist destination.


Who in your life is your role model and why?

I have a lot of role models, I’m very blessed. But my dad is certainly one of them. He’s brilliant in business, incredibly respected by his peers, at the top of his game and his clients count him as a friend. As a child, I watched him take charge of his career and do it with class, sophistication, respect and a lot of success. He has achieved the “build and sell” model at the highest level and he did it with integrity and as a straight shooter. But at the same time, he always found a way for family to be first and that balance and ability to function at such a high level is something I aspire to. He taught me the tools that make me good at what I do, from watching him at a young age to getting his advice today.


What is your favorite industry book or magazine?

I don’t read wedding industry books; I think reading too much on your subject stunts your creativity. But I enjoy reading industry books covering the industry of business. Blue Ocean Strategy (a Sean Low recommendation) is one of my favorites for its methodology and message.


What are your favorite color schemes?

I am a sucker for jewel tones, though not for every event. Purples, plums, fuchsias, burnt magenta and teals are colors I love, especially as we head into fall. But in the wedding market I do feel that there is a time and place for every color.

Do you have a favorite venue for weddings and receptions and if so what are they?

I love the Hummingbird Nest Ranch just outside of Los Angeles for a fantastic ceremony and reception site. You can wed there, party there, and even sleep there. The privacy, quality of experience and detail on the property is just incredible.


Describe the perfect wedding cake in your opinion.

Lots of chocolate! Not a lot of design, just sweet and simple with that home baked taste.


How do you feel about the smashing of cake in the face at receptions?

Depends on the couple but why not if both parties are up for it! I just may not be one of them…


How did you know this is what you wanted to do in life?

I didn’t know this was what I wanted to do when I set out to do it. I knew I loved the wedding industry though hadn’t found a service or talent that I excelled at. But as soon as I started The Bridal Bar, I knew I was hooked. I loved the family it created and the process of helping others’ businesses grow, watching their successes and getting to be a part of that. It’s a little like coaching a sports team that wins a big game; that’s a great feeling no matter how many games you play.


What brings you the most joy in life?

I love, love, love to travel and I love, love, love my family. Time spent with family and time spent abroad is what I cherish most.

Thanks for stopping by today Harmony.

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{Fireside Chats} Introducing Terrica Skaggs

Today we are chatting with the infamous Terrica Skaggs of Cocktail&Details, I-Wed and Chic Wedding Geek. Some of you may have remembered Terrica's outstanding presentation at Eventology 2009. We cannot wait to see what goodies she brings back to the table in 2010.

What is your business and where are you located?

I am located in the Golden Isles—where we have four beautiful islands nestled off the coast of Georgia: St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Sea Island and Little St. Simons Island.


How long have you been in the business?

Five and a half years.


How did you know this is what you wanted to do in life?

In contrast with where my career was headed, I knew I wanted to do something that left a positive and memorable impact on someone’s life. There is no better place in time than when a couple professes their love for one another and become their own new family.


What do you want clients/vendors to know most about your services?

Our services are diverse, just like our clients. We’re fun, we’re traditional, we’re ostentatious, we’re demure. We constant evolve to meet the needs of our brides and truly believe in the art of teamwork. As professionals, we’re one unit that works together to make sure our client’s day is remarkable.


What was the one class in college that has helped you most in your career?

I don’t think I could name just one! There were so many—Contract Law, Information Technology, Business Management, and Sociology.


What is the smartest piece of business advice you were ever given?

Keep it real and keep it moving.


What advice would you offer to new comers of the industry?

Keep it real and keep it moving. And be fabulous :)


Who in your life is your role model and why?

This may sound cheesy, but my mom. So much of my “business street smarts” have come from learning from her—she’s a savvy woman and could make a way out of no way. She’s unbreakable, smart, and strong. I owe so much to her on so many levels.


What is your favorite industry book or magazine?

Ouch. Just one? So not fair. I really did (and do) love the Style Your Dream Wedding book by Susie Coelho. That was a fabulous book put out that did exactly what the title described—helped brides style their dream wedding. There were so many ideas that can be scaled or amped up to appeal to any event vision or budget.


If you were to have a destination wedding, where would it be?

Stuck between Paris and Fiji. Ask me tomorrow.


What is your favorite time of day for a wedding?

Hmmm. As a planner or a guest? As a planner, naturally a morning wedding :) But for overall effect and fabulousness—give me the night anytime, baby.


What advice would you give to newlyweds for a happy marriage?

Keep it real and keep it moving. Just kidding! But that could apply here too. Never go to bed angry—keep unhappy, negative and jealous people out of your business and marriage, and most importantly whatever you did to get your spouse, you must do to keep them. That is all.


What is the best color palette you’ve ever seen/used for a wedding?

Aruba Blue, Orange Popsicle, and Virtual Pink (all pantone colors)


What was or would be your first dance song at your wedding?

I think it was Jaheim’s Forever.


Describe the perfect wedding cake.

Completely reflective of the event vision—so this could be inclusive of color, florals, height, varying tastes, etc. Perfect is relative, and this of course is dependent upon the client.


Cake smashing: yay or nay?

Hell no.

Thanks for stopping by today Terrica.

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