• Kristy
  
• Katie
  

• April 2011
• March 2011
• June 2010
• March 2010
• February 2010
• January 2010
• December 2009
• October 2009
• September 2009
• August 2009
• June 2009
• May 2009
• April 2009
• February 2009

• Last Call for 2011-2012 Mogul Opportunity
• Top 5 Reasons You Should Join the Grace & Luxury Live Simulcast
• Client, Susan Southerland, Announced as Official Planner for Universal Orlando Resort
• “Unveiled” on the search for first class vendors
• For couples looking for beauty and adventure…look no further.

Jeffrey Stoner Video
Kim Nodurft
The Wedding Summit

April 21, 2011 at 10:11 am

Last month, I traveled to Las Vegas to be a part of the Grace & Luxury conference part of Rockstar Wedding Planner. I’ve been to a plethora of event industry conferences, but nothing compares to the experience of this one (and, that means it made a BIG IMPRESSION). First, I have seen it transform the lives of wedding vendors across North America into the best person they can be and provide guidance and encouragement to make their personal and business dreams become reality. It’s more than about trying to outdo everyone so you come out on top, it’s about recognizing your own individual talents and goals and then creating a strategy that fits YOU so you can live the best life for YOU.

Introduced at the conference was the Rockstar Wedding Planner Mogul opportunity. This is an intense one year mastermind program led by Ciara Daykin in which we provide ANY and ALL branding needed to achieve your goals. If you are just starting out and want to do things strategically right from the start, or, if you have been in business for a while and know it’s time to make things happen that are HUGE, this is the perfect opportunity.

Included is your brand concept, logo redesign, business card design, WEBSITE!, marketing campaign, customized photo shoot, magazine ad layout, e-brochure, and personalized sales WOWs in addition to 1:1 coaching with Ciara Daykin - someone whom I admire and receive consistent inspiration from myself.

For more information on what the Mogul tier includes and pricing, click here Rockstar Wedding Planner Community of Innovators

Applications are being accepted until April 29 for the 2011-2012 Mastermind year. This is your chance of a lifetime.

March 16, 2011 at 9:50 am

The Rockstar Wedding Planner LIVE Grace and Luxury conference gets under way Monday, March 21st and will provide three straight days of amazing content that will change your wedding planning business. Katie and I were a part of the conference for the first time last year and were blown away. It was life changing for so many who attended and we loved the inspiration and motivation received from it - it was priceless.

This year, we are honored to be invited back again! You can learn more about the content and additional speakers here:

http://www.rockstarweddingplanner.com/live/

The bad news is, the live event in Las Vegas is now sold out.

The GOOD news is that there is a new and very innovative option you can take advantage of to see every last minute of the Grace and Luxury content live, at home, on your own computer via the Grace and Luxury live simulcast.

To help you decide if attending the live simulcast is the right choice for you, we have provided the top 5 reasons we think this is going to be an over-the-top amazing opportunity for you and your wedding business.

1. No money or time stress to attend the event. The simulcast tickets are only $197 and you get to watch the event from your home or office. So, no need to spend lots of money, or take lots of time to travel to Las Vegas for the three day event.

2. No missed content, you see it all live. The beautiful part of the simulcast technology is that you get to see all of the Grace and Luxury content live. You won’t miss a thing.

3. You can watch it again. If you can’t attend all of the sessions live you get almost immediate access to the recordings, as well as access to the recordings for 30 days after the event. Watch or re-watch each session when it fits into your schedule.

4. Exclusive virtual community. While attending the simulcast you will have access to an online community of other wedding planners to network with, bounce ideas off of, and ask questions. You will also have your very own community coach who will take your voice from the virtual chat room to the live event by asking your questions, and sharing your take-aways with the speakers and live attendees.

5. Experience a new innovation for your own business. Ciara and her team will be modeling the use of live simulcast technology for you to experience. As you attend the event start to think about how you can use this technology as a new revenue stream in your own planning business.

If you are worried that the simulcast may be too technically challenging, don’t worry, the process is simple. All you need to do is:

1. Register at this link http://tinyurl.com/rswpsimulcast and join the live simulcast community.

2. You will receive a community email explaining all the details of attending the live simulcast.

3. On March 21st turn your computer on, go to the url you received after registering, type in the password, and you are set to watch the event live.

We would love you to join us and be a part of this ground breaking virtual experience.

Hope to see you there,

Kristy

March 14, 2011 at 12:59 pm

Over the past few years, I have had the honor of working with Celebrity Wedding Planner, Susan Southerland of Just Marry!, to develop her brand strategy. We are now thrilled to announce that she has just been awarded the opportunity of exclusive wedding planner for weddings taking place at Universal Orlando Resort.

Here is the official press release:

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT PARTNERS WITH RENOWNED WEDDINGS EXPERT SUSAN SOUTHERLAND

Say “I Do” to a Perfect Wedding at Universal Orlando

Orlando, FL (February 28, 2011) – Every bride and groom wants a unique and memorable wedding day, with every detail planned to perfection. With award-winning catering, an experienced events team – and now the partnership and creativity of weddings expert Susan Southerland, Universal Orlando Resort has everything needed to create an extraordinary wedding.

Southerland is one of the world’s top destination wedding planners and the national weddings expert for Perfect Wedding Guide. She and her team of planners will work alongside Universal Orlando’s weddings event team, helping couples arrange all aspects of their wedding, from the attire, colors, guest list and budget for the big weekend to the planning and location of the honeymoon. Southerland has executed thousands of wedding ceremonies all over the world, some of which have been featured on Style Network’s “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” and TLC’s “A Wedding Story.”

“Susan’s success in creating unique and special memories for couples is known industry-wide, so we are thrilled to announce the partnership,” says Universal Orlando’s Director of Events Management Lisa Jacobson. “Susan’s expertise combined with the creativity and professionalism of our weddings team is a perfect fit.”

Southerland is president of Just Marry! Inc., a full service wedding planning company based in Orlando, and is also the author of an entertaining blog, “The Susan Southerland Secret” on Perfect Wedding Guide.com that features advice, ideas and photos. She has been recognized as one of only 30 wedding planners worldwide deemed an “A-List Planner” by Destination Weddings and Honeymoons.

“I am honored to be joining the Universal Orlando Weddings team,” says Southerland. “The variety of venues and services available plus the amazing culinary and events planning teams will thrill and delight couples and I’m excited to get started.”

Having a dedicated wedding planner is just one of many elements included in Universal Orlando’s extraordinary wedding packages, which feature world-class culinary and decorative options, as well as many unique wedding locations around the resort. For more information and to view wedding package details, visit UniversalOrlandoWeddings.com or call 1-888-331-9108.

June 1, 2010 at 10:19 am

VENDOR INFORMATION CONFERENCE CALL:
Thursday, June 3
12:30pm EST
(888) 379-9287
participant code: 951215

If you are a wedding vendor that is interested in breaking into a new market, going national, or taking your positioning to the next level, this may be the perfect event for you to showcase your talents.

On October 22 - 23, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain will be producing a one of a kind bridal event concentrating on introducing the best wedding vendors from around the country to the luxury bride. Featuring a weekend escape for brides around the country, this event is dedicated to emotionally engage both brides and vendors. As a brand new property, they are reaching out to vendors nationally who would be interested in not only showcasing their talents at this event, but producing weddings at their hotel in the future.

Here’s a peek at who you’ll be amongst: Just announced is our luxury bridal dress designer for this show is Ines Di Santo. Bringing dresses hot off the runway just two days prior to Unveiled, she will be featured along with Executive Chef Clayton Van Hooijdonk and CORE Executive Chef, Joel Harrington. Previous productions have included celebrity dress designer, Austin Scarlett from Project Runway. Check out one of our past events www.stonervideo.com/downtheaisle2

The production has just been announced nationally to vendors and is now open for partnership opportunities. If you would like to showcase your design, photography, floral, rental, videography, planning, etc. talents to brides across the country at a property that is more than spectacular, join us on our call this week to learn more about the overall production and opportunities that could be perfect for you to gain stellar exposure.

Want to find out how to be a part of this event? We’ll be going through an in-depth overview of the production and ways to be a part of it this Thursday.

VENDOR CONFERENCE CALL:
Thursday, June 3
12:30pm EST
(888) 379-9287
participant code: 951215

Here’s a few pictures from our last production:

March 4, 2010 at 9:06 am

Nestled among the beautifully raw terrain just outside of Tuscon, the brand new Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain has just announced their specialty wedding offerings - and they are outstanding.

For couples looking for a natural and adventurous way to celebrate one of the most memorable days of their lives, this property deserves a serious look.

Check out these creative packages where couples can get married by a cowboy minister, hike with their guests along the Lower Javelina and Wild Burro Trails, walk down the aisle to music from a Native American flutist, or mountain bike into the Sonoran dessert where their ceremony and light reception take place in one of the most picturesque locations in the world:

Mountain Bike Vows
Western Horseback Ceremony
Hiking Adventure Nuptials
Four-Wheel Wedding Adventure
Wedding Rodeo

These unique adventures paired with the legendary Ritz-Carlton service is bound to create a wedding experience like no other. Here are a few pictures from this phenomenal property.

February 18, 2010 at 12:41 pm

It’s bridal show season and I wanted to share a unique bridal event happening in Orlando, FL on March 6-7. From the partnership of Just Marry! and the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress comes their Weekend Wedding Retreat.

This weekend is dedicated to inspiring engaged couples and guiding them through their planning process. I love how this will be an intimate weekend with plenty of 1:1 time for couples and vendors. With an exclusive vendor for each vendor category, couples will receive everything from:

- personalized planning advice from the National Wedding Expert of Perfect Wedding Guide and owner of Just Marry, Susan Southerland
- luxury accommodations, complimentary spa services, personalized dinner service, and breakfast in bed from the Hyatt Grand Cypress
- Exclusive photo shoot with celebrity photographer, Frances Marron
- Hands on workshop learning to design and create your own centerpieces
- MUCH MORE inclusive of lessons with a mixologist, tuxedo fittings, and first dance lessons

For $249 this is a fun and personalized experience for couples!

January 20, 2010 at 11:10 am

Katie and I are so excited to announce our partnership with event choreographer and founder of Rockstar Wedding Planner, Ciara Daykin! Ciara has taken her business into six figures in an extremely short amount of time and shares her guidance of how to get there with other wedding planners. In addition, Couture Consulting’s branding solutions will be included in each program offered at Rockstar Wedding Planner LIVE! We are truly honored!

Her upcoming workshop, Rockstar Wedding Planner LIVE is an intensive 3 day seminar to learn Ciara’s NEW Star Power System. Held in San Diego March 15 - 17, Couture Consulting will be featured as Katie and I will begin to take you on a step by step process in creating (or recreating) a powerful and meaningful brand in your sea of competitors. http://www.rockstarweddingplanner.com/live/

A fabulous bonus…Ciara is offering a FREE ticket to Rockstar Wedding Planner LIVE (a $997 value) if you register for her “6 Figure Wedding Planner System”. Ciara is giving a sneek peek of this system TONIGHT! Wednesday, January 20 at 8:00pm EST. Sign up at http://www.rockstarweddingplanner.com/11strategies/ and she’ll share tips on her most successful strategies that took her to the top!

December 17, 2009 at 12:05 pm

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is if Couture Consulting is a public relations company. Although we work directly with PR companies to provide them a unique brand concept to run with for each wedding vendor, we look to PR experts to make our concepts visible in the media stream. One of our go-to public relation agents is Audrey Strong, whom I closely worked with at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver and is now a free lance public relations agent. Within weeks of meeting her, I had holiday expert segments on two television stations and my name was coming up on nearly every business newspaper/blog in the Denver area. She recently wrote a post for our blog that we found thought provoking and wanted to share.

It’s tough out there now and getting tougher in the bridal and catering business. The Internet, bloggers, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, IPhone apps are making more and more noise, distracting us increasingly and constantly, pulling your potential clients away from traditional media sources. Attention spans are shorter. The economy means that bridal publications including Modern Bride were folded, leaving fewer publications that are even tougher for obtaining editorial coverage. So, the question is what do you do now?

It can be easier than you think. After working with Kristy and Katie in developing a strong brand concept, what’s one cost-effective solution to expose your new brand to potential clients? Public relations.

When Kristy and I worked together within The Ritz-Carlton organization, she was the Director of Catering and I was Director of Public Relations. We understood the symbiotic nature of these two areas of expertise, knowing that one can drive the other and vice versa. Pushing outbound media relations, in a mix of traditional and social/emerging media yielded sales leads for her department, and her identification of a unique approach to catering provided me with terrific pitches to go out to media, including television, radio, the Web and eventually, helping us team up during the development of Chenell and Jimenez.

Did you know if you can find just one strong differentiator in your business and brand (which Kristy and Katie define for businesses), a strong public relations practitioner can help build the brand, enhance it and secure editorial coverage that would cost you literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in ad buys? I single-handledly garnered more than $3 million dollars in ad equivalency and exposure for The Ritz-Carlton, Denver in exactly one year. It can be done.

In a business sector as bridal, the intimacy and emotional connection of your clients and potential clients to your brand is paramount. Public relations are the way to forge that connection and provide a “feel” for your business and your story to a client, to draw them in organically and drive your sales. Multimedia approaches ad layers to the mix, video and audio can personalize your staff, your story, your products and what you offer that is truly different.

I’d love to explain more about how a healthy, affordable blend of traditional and social media can help your business reach its goals. Strong PR & Multimedia can be reached at audreystrong2009@yahoo.com or by calling (720) 231-6097.

-Audrey Strong, PR Agent

October 8, 2009 at 4:36 pm

About a year ago I received a call from the Executive Chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Denver, Andres Jimenez. Surprised, I listened to him tell me about his dream of writing a book. A goal of so many chefs, Andres chose to take a slightly different path and asked me if I would join him in this endeavor as co-author from the inspirational event lifestyle side.

Though we consistently banter like brother and sister throughout our work, I highly respect and admire Andres’ talent. As many times as I go to him with outrageous ideas, he never lets me down and continues to prove that together, we can pull off the impossible. As one may imagine, I am honored by this invitation and thrilled to be working on such an unparalleled project.

Since then, we have created our company, “Chenell & Jimenez.” Our concept - to create genuine luxury from simple inspirations.

More to come over the next few weeks as we reveal “genuine luxury” throughout our new blog site. But for now, here’s a sneek peak!

Special thanks to our “People Promoter”, PR agent Audrey Strong, our “Image Inspirationist”, Photographer Kim Nodurft, our Production Assistant, Ana and our Food Stylist, Scott.

September 4, 2009 at 3:04 pm

From the moment I met her, I knew she would be one of the most dynamic and creative people I would work with. Fortunately, I now have the exciting honor to introduce Couture Consulting’s newest wedding business consultant, Katie Hess!

Loved by the industry and brides alike, Katie’s knowledge of branding and weddings is world class. She has a knack for building engaging relationships, uncovering vendor’s true identities, and creating unique brands that set vendors apart from each other.

Katie is highly regarded in the Colorado and Florida wedding industry and her background with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has provided her brand training bar none. Most recently, Katie opened The Ritz-Carlton, Denver with me as a Catering Sales Manager and Coordinator. Her crucial role at this luxury property included high profile weddings, industry showcases, and the stellar “Down the Aisle” bridal event featuring Austin Scarlett, lead designer for Kenneth Pool and designer from BRAVO’s Project Runway, Season 1.

I am overjoyed at Katie joining the Couture Consulting team and congratulate her on her recent client bookings! One could only be so lucky to have the opportunity to work with her!