Finding Community

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About a month or so ago, I was talking to a vendor friend about a local group that met once a month with the goal to help one another with their businesses. As usual, I was skeptical. Right now in the wedding industry, there are vendors who will actually go through high lengths to bring their competition down. For example, some vendors type terrible reviews on their competitor's review page on event review sites to ruin their chances at booking couples. Sounds like it's straight out of a movie right?! But this is happening every where and unfortunately small, flourishing businesses end up taking major hits because of these shenanigans. Small businesses also take a hit because "big box or big name" companies within the industry have a monopoly on certain venues and locations throughout the USA.

Needless to say, I was interested to see what it was all about. The group's name is called Tuesday's Together and it is part of a national group called The Rising Tide Society. Their belief is that instead of competing against one another, we should all help each other and grow as a community. 

After our first Tuesday's Together meeting and interacting with the community online through Facebook, I couldn't be any more positive that this was one of the best decisions we have ever made as a business and as people. As Stationary vendors, we don't really get to interact with other event or wedding vendors for a specific client. We may reach out to the photographer of a client's event to hopefully get some shots of our product or even a wedding planner to make connections. Otherwise, we are all by ourselves. 

(Come on...tell me you didn't sing the lyric!! You forced me to do this.)

Now that you get the picture, let's get back to the point of my post. We all desperately need community. Whether it is with people from work, home, school, you name it. We are not meant to live alone. Like it says in Proverbs 27:17, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." We are meant to live in community and I'm glad we found one that we can turn to when we have happy, sad or challenging moments in our business. Even if it means using Periscope to include us at a meeting because we can't make it.

 
Tuesday's Together Group for August! 

Tuesday's Together Group for August! 

 

Until next time!

As September Rolls In...

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As September rolls in, I'm really looking forward to getting out some awesome new designs. We are also excited to be participating in the Thalatta Estate Bridal Expo on Sunday, September 27th. Some of you may remember that our first Bridal show was at Thalatta Estate, where we met some of the best clients we could have ever asked for. :D We can't wait to go again and meet some more fabulous couples and vendors. Come stop by and say "Hi". We promise not to hug you, unless requested. Being outside in Miami weather for a few hours will leave us feeling a little sweaty, but its worth it. LoL

I also started reading a book by Lara Casey called Make It Happen. There has been (and still will be) so much change in the next few months for Only One Mark, Inc. and Gus and I personally. Good and sad (if that makes sense). I have reached the point where you just need an encouraging push to take a step into the unknown. I feel like we are right on the dotted line before some great changes and I can taste it. With that being said, I'm freaking out a little over it. I am definitely someone that has anxiety over change and the unknown. It might be as bad as my fear of the Halloween section at most stores...but we don't have to talk about that at the moment. For right now, just keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I hope to have some great news to share soon. :) Back to the book, I will definitely let you know what I think of it once I finish. So far, I'm liking it.

Make It Happen by Lara Casey

Make It Happen by Lara Casey

I'm also jumping onto a Calligraphy Bootcamp with Boxwood Avenue! I'm really excited because although I can "sketch" pretty calligraphy on chalkboards and such, I definitely don't consider myself to be a calligraphist. And did I forget to mention that it is completely FREE? Wish me luck as I make time to sit and learn this art method!

Keep up with us on Social Media to keep up to date with all of our day to day moments and sneak peaks of our gorgeous, custom designs. 

Until Next Time!

Modern High Tea with a Vintage, Travel Twist

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The most feminine theme for a party I would ever think of is that of a tea party. I'm not sure if you did as a little girl, but I remember being taken to multiple tea parties while in elementary school. One would sip the tea with their pinkies in the air and taste little sandwiches and treats prepared by the owner of the tea parlor.

Now as an adult, I've seen a huge influx of Bridal Showers themed with having a Tea Party in mind. Almost a "Bridal Tea" if you will. Actually, I've had the pleasure in designing some gorgeous stationary for one recently. Take a look at how awesome a this theme can be when you mix a bit of Vintage and Modern touches to a travel infused tea party!!

The Entrance Table not only had small, vintage touches, but it had personal touches including the celebrated couple's story and the Bridal Tea Invitation (which was a surprise to the Bride).

In order to ensure that guests would wait until the celebrated Bride-To-Be's arrival to feast on the yummy sandwiches and treats, a sheer curtain was placed in front of the buffet.

What Bridal Shower wouldn't be complete with a banner proclaiming the Bride's transition from "Miss" to "Mrs". 

Place Cards with the name of each dish will help guests decipher what they are dining on and make the line for the buffet move quicker.

Adding framed quotes treats guests to special details that make the event look even more fabulous.

The Bride-to-Be's table should have the most attention to detail. After all, she is the one we are celebrating!! ;)

Thanking your guests for attending your special event is a must.

What truly inspired this suite's design was a push to have something special and extremely detailed. We know Jane loved her Bridal Tea as much as we loved helping make every detail count.

Our Lovely Bride-to-Be, Jane

Our Lovely Bride-to-Be, Jane

Special thanks to Carina Bergouignan who supplied the awesome detail shots for Jane's Travel Bridal Tea.

Personal Wedding Email: Do It!

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I've been noticing recently that there has been a growing trend where couples are doing something that I think is absolutely worth the effort. They are creating an email specifically for their wedding. There are so many pros to this movement that I just had to throw in my two cents about the topic. 

Here is why I think it is a great idea to have an email designated for your wedding:

1. Vendors will immediately be able to recognize your email.

Although your personal or work email may have your name in it, sometimes it can get really confusing to find your email when it has nothing to do with your first or last name (yes, I'm talking to all you AOL/AIM early 2000's users that thought it would be cute to have a name like toohott4u@blank.com).

Tip: You can include your date in your email so that vendors know immediately whether they are available for your date or not. It also keeps us on task for any deadlines we may have with you.

2. Everything can be found in one place.

As it is, you probably have a large amount of emails from friends, family, coworkers, stores, and clubs you want to keep up with on any news or sales that you desperately have to take advantage of ;). However, when it comes to wedding planning, you really need to keep tabs on each conversation you have. Whether it be with a vendor, bridesmaid, venue, or guest, you will want to have record of every message that is sent in or out of your inbox. It will help save time when you are desperately searching your inbox for that contract you had to send the florist a month ago. ;)

Tip: You could actually take it a step further and create folders for each of your vendors and store all emails pertaining to them in one SPECIFIC place.

3. Conserves clutter from your main/work email once your event has passed. 

Let's face it. After your wedding, you may not want to keep receiving emails from those wedding websites giving you tips and ideas for the wedding you already had. You can choose to shut off completely or ignore it until you need the information for the next big event. 

4. IT'S FREE

All you need in the email name is your names (celebrated couple) and possibly your date. Nowadays it is very simple to sign up for an email. Not one of them will ask you for payment no matter how ridiculous your name or reason for having it sounds. 

Tip: Gmail and Outlook are my favorite email providers. Why? Because they allow for customized signatures that includes photos or links. They display them very nicely and carries over to most email providers (unless the vendor or person has a strict email server that only allows text emails).

And that tip leads me to an even BIGGER TIP!!

Include your image at the bottom of your signature with your date.

As a vendor, I see and meet multiple couples within the same day. Unless we had a really great conversation, I'm might not instantaneously remember what you look like or if you were the bride that wanted the Coral and Mint color combination instead of the Gold and Navy combo when I speak to you after a bridal expo or show. We are human. Adding a photo to your signature will not only remind us of whom we are speaking to, but also familiarize us with whom we are working for. Seriously!! 

Also if you have a wedding website, link it in your signature as well. Its fun to get to know a little about you before I meet you so we have stuff to relate to other than what type of design you want for your invitations. Oh and for extra points, add your hashtag for the event (if you already have one) to the bottom of your email as well. This way, if a vendor posts up an image of anything they have created for your big day, they can tag you. :) 

Now that I've given my two cents, what do you think? Are you using a personalized email? How is it working for you?