Your Wedding Planning Business: Bridal Shows

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Are you wondering if it's worth it to exhibit at a bridal show? I would love to tell you "YES! YOU SHOULD TOTALLY DO IT!" But the truth of the matter is, each bridal show is different and so is each market. For example, here in Los Angeles, there are more bridal shows than I can count on one hand! If I am overwhelmed, imagine how brides must feel. I have exhibited in the past with very little luck and I have had times where I did well. The main difference for me was the actual show and who their target market was. There are shows who do a great job marketing the bride that is perfect for you and there are shows who don't. AND I will also say that there are brides that simply don't go to shows. I have had vendors tell me that the brides they work with generally don't go to bridal shows.

DO YOUR RESEARCH
I wish I could answer this question for you with certainty, but honestly I can't. My best advice to you is to talk to other wedding planners that target the type of bride you want to target. You will need to talk to someone who has more than one real experience exhibiting at the particular show you are considering and who can tell you their true experience and whether they met the types of brides they wanted to meet. Also, visit a show before exhibiting. I ALWAYS head out to shows to tour the floor, check out the flow of the event, determine the energy and layout, get a feel for the types of vendors that exhibit and people watch the brides. YES I DO THIS! I'm spending my hard earned money. Therefore, I want to be sure the experience will be beneficial to me and my business. There is no point in exhibiting at a show that offers very little ROI and which targets brides that are not a match for my services.

BUDGET FOR YOUR BOOTH
Paying for your booth is only half of the battle. If you want to get a bride's attention, you have to do something to glam up your booth a bit. When I exhibit at a show, I tend to spend just as much on designing my booth as I do for the booth itself. You also need marketing collateral and signage.  I generally take the time to plan my design just as I would for a photo shoot or any other event I design. You want to show brides what your brand represents.

FACE TIME
Today's bride is very savvy. She has a Smartphone in hand; gathers her information from blogs, tweets, Facebook and podcasts; and of course she consults with her friends who were recently married.  To top it off, she is navigating through uncertain economic times, which sometimes makes concrete wedding planning a bit problematic. It is imperative to meet brides face to face so they have a chance to get to know you and connect with you.

FOLLOW UP
Bridal shows are an opportunity to do just that. If you go into a bridal show expecting to book brides on the spot, you will leave completely deflated. That's not to say it's impossible. On the contrary, but please be aware that it is more likely that she will not book on the spot and will instead continue to explore the bridal show and meet other vendors. Because this is usually how she goes about things, it is important to make a positive impression and then follow up with her afterwards. She may completely forget your name when her day is done. It is YOUR job to get back to her and remind her how you met and listen to her needs.

Regardless, bridal shows are an excellent way to network with other amazing vendors! As we speak, I am working on an amazing book, "Be the Wedding Planner You've Always Wanted To Be: Bridal Shows". This book will help wedding planners exhibit at bridal shows with success! You will:

• Learn how to find the right show for your business
• Obtain ways to reach brides BEFORE the show
• Set goals that will help you get the clients you want
• How to properly set up a marketing plan beforehand
• Look like an experienced and confident wedding planner
• Design an attractive booth that will grab the bride's attention
• Learn how to keep the lines of communication open after the show

How do you get your copy? By registering to Backstage Bridal Pro Academy 2012! Each and every student will walk away with their very own copy of "Be the Wedding Planner You've Always Wanted To Be: Bridal Shows"! The information contained in this book accompanied by the incredible education we are offering is part of the promise Lisa and I have made to help YOU be the wedding planner you have always dreamed of being! 

So what are you waiting for? $350 reserves your seat at Backstage Bridal Pro Academy and guarantees that you will receive "Be the Wedding Planner You've Always Wanted To Be: Bridal Shows" as well as many other tools we will provide you so that your business is positioned for the greatest level success! SEE YOU THERE!

Making A Vacation Out Of It!

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When Lisa and I opened registration, we never thought in a million years that husbands would be interested in joining their wives at Backstage Bridal Pro Academy. But they are! We are so excited to see the husbands coming out to spend time with their beautiful spouses at the incredible and amazing Pelican Hill Resort!

Coming to Southern California, regardless of the reason, is truly a reason to take a vacation. SoCal is a huge place with an awesome number of vacation spots, attractions, beaches and a boatload of Hollywood wanna be's!

In this post I want to highlight a few places that may interest you. I'll touch on the major attractions that tourists tend to know about and a few perfect "hidden" gems that those of us who live here have come to love and appreciate.

DISCOUNT ON THEME PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS
Even as a California resident, it's a rare opportunity to get a major discount on admission to Disneyland Parks, but you enjoy some savings when you pair it with admissions to other attractions. Check out Southern California City Pass and the Go Los Angeles Card if you plan on visiting more than one theme park or attraction.

DISNEYLAND RESORT
As I mentioned before, Disneyland is about a 25 minute drive from the Pelican Hill Resort. But did you know there are TWO theme parks to choose from, Disneyland and California Adventure? Not only that, but you can also enjoy Downtown Disney where you can find shops and dining options. This is not to say Disneyland Resort is the mega-city with it's own freeway system that you will find in Orlando because it is literally steps from the outside world, but you will still get lost in the magic of Disney once you enter the resort. And hey, us Californians are mighty proud of it!

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The advantage to being so close to the outside world is that you can stamp your hand for re-entry and leave the resort to dine at any number of restaurants that surround the resort or at Downtown Disney. There is also a Picnic Area just outside of the ticketing entrance where you can rent big lockers for the day at about $12. My family and I always choose this option. We store sandwiches, salads, chips, fruit, fresh veggies, candy and beverages in the locker and dine at one of the many picnic tables that they offer, saving us a ton of money on food. Heck, we have even gone as far as bringing BBQ chicken and potato salad prepared at home! YUM!

Of course, you want to ride! So I strongly encourage getting a FASTPASS. It's like making a reservation for a ride. You show up at the assigned time and you are whisked right on past the long lines and onto the ride! There is no other way to enjoy Disneyland, I promise. It's the difference between waiting 5-20 minutes for a ride or joining the masses waiting sometimes over 2 hours! My family especially enjoys Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and Captain EO, the 3-D adventure featuring Michael Jackson.

KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Let's face it, most people don't think of Knott's Berry Farm when they think of theme parks in Southern California, but it is actually America's very first theme park! It is also home to Snoopy and Woodstock. But don't let the age of the theme park and the cute Peanuts characters fool you. Whereas Disneyland is fun and brings out the kid in you, it doesn't offer much in the way of thrills. If you are looking for screams and thrill rides, Knott's is your place. It is literally 5-minutes down the street from Disneyland. It is home to one of the longest and tallest wooden roller coaster's in the world, GhostRider AND the world's tallest, most radical thrill adventures, Supreme Scream. Admittedly, I have NEVER ridden either because I am a chicken but my kids run for these rides every single time!

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As far as price goes, it is a great deal more reasonable than Disneyland, especially if you print your tickets at home ahead of time. And to sweeten the deal, you can get in for under $30 after 4pm. Being that classes end at Backstage Bridal Pro Academy a little early a few nights, you can totally plan to spend your evening checking out Knott's for this amazing price. Most nights the theme park is open until 10pm throughout the summer months. Double check park hours HERE.

As far as places to eat are concerned, I never miss an opportunity to eat at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant where I also snag a slice of boysenberry pie and take home a jar of her delicious boysenberry jam. Mmm mmm good!

The Real Side of O.C.
Perhaps you watch Real Housewives of Orange County or The O.C. but I am here to tell you that locals watch those shows and think, "This is NOT how it is here! Hollywood strikes again!" Yes, there are people who live like the people on those shows but it is NOT representative of the majority of the population there. Maybe 2%. . . MAYBE! I say this to warn you that if you are coming to the O.C. with the expectation that you will be whisked into a world of superficial, botox injections and a nip and tuck community who spends and lives as if money were coming out of their ears, think again.

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Surfing is a big part of beach life in the O.C. and there is no better place to enjoy watching it than Huntington Beach's Surf City.  Huntington Beach boasts the longest stretch of uninterrupted beachfront on the West coast, over 8 miles to be exact. It's perfect for barefoot strolls and late night bonfires. You can also learn to build a sandcastle or take a lesson or two in surfing!

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Both Laguna Beach and Newport Beach offer excursions to do a bit of whale and dolphin watching. In addition, you can rent a bike, do a little kayaking or even explore the hiking trails.

As a guest at Pelican Hill Resort, you can take advantage of the free shuttle service to Crystal Cove Beach. Situated just below the bluff, there are tidepools and three beach areas to explore: Reef Point (with access to to two coves), Pelican Point (with a 3.25-mile trail), and Los Trancos (which offers access to a historic district with 1930's style houses). Just off shore is a 1,140 acre underwater park, a wonderland for snorkelers and scuba divers. No need to take your beach towel, water or sunscreen. Pelican Hill will provide that for you! AND to up the ante of a pampered luxurious experience, they will even set up a chair and umbrella so you can relax in style!

Explore the Mission San Juan Capistrano. A historic landmark and museum, the Mission San Juan Capistrano is the birthplace for Orange County. Pay a visit to Nixon's Library and Birthplace. Or catch a game at the Anaheim Angels stadium! There is a lot to do and explore in Orange County!

EXTENDED STAY AT PELICAN HILL RESORT
Pelican Hill is offering a special rate of $355 per night to each student who wishes to extend their stay. If you are interested in adding a night or two, please contact Lisa and I at seeyou@bbproacademy.com and we will assist you in making that happen!


Not registered yet? What in the world are you waiting for! We are still offering payment plans to interested students. Get set up on our payment plans today. An initial payment of $350 is all that is needed to get you started! Click HERE to register today!

'Tis the Season for Engagements!

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Based on recent estimates it is predicted that 1/3 of all engagements for the entire year will take place over the holiday season. That amounts to nearly one million couples! The reason for this is that the holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, present an abundance of opportunities for memorable proposals to take place. Wannabe husbands will get down on bended knee and pledge their love. November and December account for 26 percent of marriage proposals, according to a survey of 1,131 brides sponsored by the Fairchild Bridal Group. 

I considered a post about how we can best consider ways to market to these newly engaged couples or one on how to put your best foot forward in bridal shows that are coming up but I tossed that idea out the window.

Why? Because it means nothing if you haven't implemented your own Rules Of Engagement for your wedding planning business. Attracting clients, retaining them and building loyalty to your brand image are all very important goals for every business no matter how small or big. For small wedding planning boutiques, achieving these goals is a little more challenging because it does not have the financial resources that a big business has to attain the same.

Therefore, today I will share 7 Rules of Engagement that  any wedding planning firm can use to attract brides, keep them interested and more importantly gain their loyalty. The good news is these rules are simple to apply and won't cost you an arm or leg.


PERSONALIZATION
Customization is "in". There is nothing more alluring than the prestige of having a service tailored just for you. There will always be those that prefer things that are part of a standard package of services, but there is also a large section of people who want something different and are willing to pay for it. The possibilities of what you can offer are endless. The only thing standing in your way are the limitations of your own imagination.


INVOLVEMENT
Or the "I want you to feel special" mindset. I don't know about you, but I personally love dealing with stores and services providers that go out of their way to help me and make me feel special. It might mean offering to take my coat, provide me a place for my handbag, serve me a glass of chilled water or even prepare a lovely cup of tea or coffee. These type of things make me feel special and cared for on a very basic level. The time your clients spend with you should be the best time they could have in terms of service and treatment. People remember how you make them feel. It's up to you to make sure they walk away feeling like a queen.


VALUE VS. PRICE
Ask yourself, "What is it that I am really giving people? Why should a bride contract me instead of some other wedding planner?"


In the battle for market share, many wedding planners get caught up in price wars. They fail to realize that people prefer value for money and don't really mind paying the price if they get value for the price. And don't get it twisted. Value doesn't mean bargain. In this business, value means quality and attention to details. What is your value? What makes you different? 


If you say, "I'm different because unlike Planner XYZ, I actually really love weddings." I have to hurt your feelings because sweetie, every single one of us love weddings. That does not make you different. It makes you just like all the other white sheep in the stall. But the sheep who decides to stop baa-baa-baaing and stands up on the railing and gets crunk to Get Low by Lil Jon, might just catch the eye of the perfect client for her! BE UNIQUELY YOU!


ONLINE PRESENCE
Yeah yeah yeah, you are on Facebook and Twitter and you have a blog. But are you engaging people? There is that word engage in engagement season. You can't expect the newly engaged to be the least bit interested in you if you aren't engaging in meaningful conversation. I am not talking about telling people "Hey look at what I blogged about today!" "Check out this amazing Vera Wang dress!" "Do you like the inspiration board I created?" If that is all you are doing, you have just jumped back off the fence after your crunk session and joined the sheep that are baaing away!


Having a meaningful conversation on Twitter, Facebook and your blog costs you absolutely nothing but time! It's convenient, simple and provides almost instantaneous public visibility for your business.


PROMISING AND DELIVERING
Reliability is really high on the list of most people when they are looking for someone they will appreciate doing business with. If you promise to do something, you had better do it when you say or you will very quickly lose your credibility and your chances for getting referrals will be reduced significantly, if not lost altogether. The client's wedding is not about you, boo. It's about them and they are spending good money on your services when they don't have to. Remember that. Communicate, deliver and keep your word. It is a must.


FREEBIES
Everyone appreciates a freebie. I am not at all suggesting that you undervalue yourself or give your services away for a little of nothing.  This freebie should be something that ideally creates value for your clients.  Put on your thinking caps and come up with something really special and unique that won't affect your bottom line but is appreciated by your clients. Client relationship building is not always about great offers, sales and discounts. Very often clients won't mind paying more if you are polite, welcoming, listen to their ideas and needs and deliver what you promise to deliver.

Use these 7 Rules of Engagement to keep your brides happy and increase your chances of being referred over and over again.

Want more great business strategies to increase your chances of running and sustaining a successful wedding planning business? Attend Backstage Bridal Pro Academy and learn from the Guru of Creative Business Strategy, Sean Low! Formerly the President of Preston Bailey Enterprises, Sean has incredible business acumen and provides thought provoking commentary on the state of creative businesses relative to the current trends, peer pressure and economic climate we all face daily. His blog is a MUST READ! Lisa and I so honored to bring him to sunny Southern California so that he may spend time helping you infuse his proven business strategy into your wedding planning business!

Don't delay! Register TODAY! This is THE BEST investment you can make this year for your wedding planning business. We can't wait to see you there!

What's Included at Backstage Bridal Pro Academy?

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Some of you may be thinking, "Gee, I would really LOVE to attend Backstage Bridal Pro Academy, but after paying my registration, I still have to pay for my room and meals. I just don't know how I can pull it off."

Did you know Backstage Bridal Pro Academy is nearly all-inclusive? That's right! I say nearly because you will have to get to Southern California, arrange your own transportation to Pelican Hill Resort and take care of your own evening meals.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

FLIGHTS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Arriving in SoCal is fairly easy. Not to mention you have the option of flying into on eof three different airports, allowing you to shop around for the best fare out there from your city. Pelican Hill Resort is located in Orange County (the O.C. baby!) between the exclusive communities of Laguna Beach and Newport Beach with just a 15 minute drive from Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, a 30 minute drive from Long Beach Airport and a 45 minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport. 

GROUND TRANSPORTATION
Pelican Hill Resort does not offer shuttle service. There are plenty of options for ground transportation, from renting a car to taxis or you can reserve a shuttle:

From Los Angeles International Airport: Shuttle To LAX
From Long Beach Airport: Primetime Shuttle Long Beach
From Orange County Airport: Primetime Shuttle Orange County


Should you choose to rent a car, your Bungalow offers you free parking spaces just outside of your front door. Complimentary valet parking is also available to all guests, as are chauffeured golf carts to take you from your bungalows to your classroom, the pool, the beach and even to Fashion Island, should you want to do a little shopping.


EVENING MEALS
Lisa and I talked about this in depth and we decided not to include evening meals in your package because there are so many amazing places to explore outside of the resort that you may want to venture out. For example, did you know Downtown Disney is only about a 25 minute drive from the resort? There you can enjoy a wonderful dinner at House of Blues, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen or Catal Restaurant. Also nearby is the Anaheim Garden Walk, where you can do a little shopping and/or dine at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, McCormick and Schmick's Grille and P.F. Chang's.

WHAT IS INCLUDED!

+ Luxury Bungalow Accommodations {up to 2 people per room for 4 nights}

+ 15 powerful courses taught by wedding professional experts

+ A beautiful personalized Academy tote bag

+ A handcrafted and personalized Academy notebook and pen

+ Speaker presentation materials, worksheets and checklists on USB flash drive

+ An amazing Sunday night Welcome Cocktail Party with live entertainers

+ All you can eat breakfast Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

+ Monday BBQ lunch

+ Tuesday signature Academy lunch

+ Wednesday boxed lunch

+ FREE shuttle service to Fashion Island and Crystal Cove Beach

+ Incredible networking opportunities & lots of NEW friends

+ Access to Pelican Hill's state of the art Fitness Center and Spa, where you can enjoy general use of the spa, including the sauna, jacuzzi, aromatherapy steam rooms, as well as additional spa services (services are fee-based and not included with the general use of the spa)

+ Swimming and sunbathing

+ Celebratory Graduation Party with live concert performances

+ Access to the exclusive Backstage Bridal Pro Academy online forum and resource center

+ And much more!

 In addition to the above, we have some really amazing surprises in store for you. This is NOT a conference! This is an educational experience unlike any you have ever seen. You don't want to miss this. Register TODAY!

Can't wait to see you there!