MEDICINE HAT, ALBERTA–(Marketwire -03/06/12)- Weddingstar, one of the world’s leading designers, manufactures and retailers of wedding accessories, has announced a partnership with Preston Bailey, the international wedding and event design icon. Mr. Bailey will design an exclusive collection of wedding reception tabletop accessories. The Preston Bailey Tabletop Collection is expected to appear worldwide at retail in Fall 2012.

Weddingstar will manufacture and distribute the Preston Bailey Tabletop Collection to national, regional and specialty retailers around the world with particular concentration in the U.S., Canada, UK, Russia and Australia. An anticipated 3,000 retail outlets will offer the Preston Bailey Tabletop Collection. Direct-to-consumer sales will be available at www.weddingstar.com.

The initial three-year agreement is a first for both entities. It marks the first occasion that Weddingstar has invited an internationally-recognized event designer to create a signature line of products, and it is also the first time that Preston Bailey has used his artistic vision to create tabletop accessories for world-wide retail distribution. Together, Weddingstar and Mr. Bailey intend to transform the wedding planning experience for brides around the world.

“Our partnership with Preston Bailey will help brides create a Preston Bailey experience for their reception with tabletop accents that are as distinctive and as memorable as is every bride’s wedding,” says Rick Brink, President of Weddingstar. The initial launch will include reception table items such as vases, candleholders, candelabras, place card holders and chair treatments. Not all of the durable materials and production finishes have been chosen at this time. Additional design details, as well as a few select pieces from the collection, will be unveiled prior to the official launch.

Preston Bailey’s one-of-a-kind wedding creations are legendary and he is renowned for transforming generic spaces into spectacular, theatrical experiences. Mr. Bailey’s partnership with Weddingstar will be a multi-tiered product introduction and will give brides the incredible opportunity to select decorative wedding items designed by Preston and augmented with instructions. At long last, everyone can add The Preston Touch™ to their wedding decor.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Weddingstar, a company I have long admired for their impressive selection of quality wedding products and accessories,” says Preston Bailey. “This is a wonderful opportunity to inspire couples and offer practical, accessible solutions. Every bride deserves to have her dream wedding, and we want to help.”

About Preston Bailey and Preston Bailey Designs

Preston Bailey is recognized as the premiere event designer and taste maker and has more than 30 years of wedding and event experience under the auspices of his namesake company, Preston Bailey Designs. He is best known for his ability to completely transform generic (sometimes no more than a shell) spaces, into opulent, theatrical environments, translating his clients’ fantasies into awe-inspiring reality. His one-of-kind events have attracted such notable individual clients as Donna Karan, Jennifer Hudson, Matt Lauer, Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers, Uma Thurman, Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Catherine Zeta-Jones as well as members of several royal families. In August 2010, Preston partnered with Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute to create the first-of-its-kind online course, which was later adopted by over 2,000 academic institutions. Preston Bailey’s Signature Wedding & Event Design certification program offers students the opportunity to learn the step-by-step process and techniques utilized by this industry pioneer. As a follow-up, Preston launched a Floral Design Course series in February 2012.

As an author, Preston has written five bestselling books: Design for Entertaining, Fantasy Weddings, Inspirations, Celebrations and Flowers, which was published by Rizzoli in September 2011 and is already in its second printing. Headquartered in New York City, Preston Bailey Designs is a privately-held company and maintains international offices in Indonesia and the Middle East.

For more information please visithttp://www.prestonbailey.com. Follow Preston Bailey on Facebook and Twitter.

About Weddingstar Inc.

Weddingstar is one of the world’s leading designers, manufactures and retailers of wedding favors and accessories and is dedicated to providing quality service to brides around the globe - with shipping into over 70 countries and distribution points in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, and Russia. With over 3,000 product offerings, Weddingstar’s ever-expanding selection of bridal products includes wedding accessories, wedding centerpieces, wedding cake toppers and personalized napkins. Eighty percent of their products feature exclusive designs inspired by Weddingstar’s talented design team and design partners. With almost 30 years of experience in the wedding industry, and having received numerous business awards, Weddingstar has earned a reputation as the source for ‘Putting the Wow into Weddings.’ For more information please visit www.weddingstar.com.

Legal Sales Tools for Event Professionals

By Cho Phillips

In general, the wedding and event industry is dedicated to providing extraordinary celebrations and creating lifelong memories. During these special occasions clients and industry professionals are commonly overwhelmed in the planning and execution of an event. As a result, many legal pitfalls are potentially lurking for unsuspecting event professionals.

Routinely, wedding and event planners fall into a pattern of discussing and providing services before a written contract is executed. Although it can be a challenge, a priority should be placed on finding a comfortable balance between friendly business and responsible planning. Of course, no one wants to be the person pointing out all the possible things that may go wrong on a bride’s big day. This type of pessimism may suggest that the company has had past problems dealing with customers or are only concerned with securing their payment. However, to avoid having clients turned off by this process event professionals should express to a client how and why it is beneficial for each party to openly discuss otherwise gloomy subjects before event preparations begin. You may find that thoughtful disclosure on tough topics tends to show qualified experience and mature professionalism. These qualities will help relieve any client apprehension towards finalizing an agreement. Thus, a core balance between competing business concerns ought to be where the parties arrive when an agreement is finally implemented.

Similarly, document transparency is paramount to the satisfaction of any costumer experience. Typically, event professionals new to the industry will utilize cost-efficient generic internet templates. In contrast, seasoned industry leaders more often than not, will hire an attorney to finalize each separate agreement. Regardless, of where you are in your career, what is essential is client participation during contracting. In other words, give the client a chance to participate in defining the main provisions of the contract. What you may discover, is that after this process the client’s trust in your business will skyrocket. For that reason, when the day comes, clients will be able to fully indulge in their moment, without the worry of any unwelcomed surprises.

Tips for professionals:

Preparation is everything. Any attorney will tell you that a legal contract cannot be created until the goals and wishes of the parties are defined. Therefore, be prepared to sit down at length with each potential client and meaningfully flesh-out their objectives. If an event professional has properly prepared, then the negotiation over contract details should be reasonably pleasant.

Furthermore, event professionals need to research and understand any potential liability exposure they may have regarding a specific project. Some of these risks are associated with breach of contract claims, employer/employee tort liability or intellectual property infringement. If hiring an attorney is not in the budget, there are plenty of resources an event professional can use to help them get legally educated. These include plainly-explained legal supplements and free legal aid.

Last piece of advice, do not informally negotiate product and service contracts. Generally, this practice can be attributed to the initial “wooing” of the client. Although our industry may at times demand a gentle touch, all event professionals should enter into well-defined written contracts with each client. Some important considerations to contemplate include the rights and duties of each party in relation to payment terms, the modification of service dates, and any foreseeable changes to event details. The reason for formal contracts is because to many ill-defined handshake deals reached in good faith have ended in costly litigation. More importantly, it only takes one contentious misunderstanding not in writing to irreparably harm your business reputation in the community. As a result, once a well-defined contract has been signed a legally protected event professional may begin work on a client’s project.

Legal Disclaimer: Information contained in this article is for general guidance. Accordingly, the information is provided with the understanding that the authors and publishers are not herein engaged in rendering legal or other professional advice and services. As such, it should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed attorney or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a licensed attorney.

Photo  Sources;

Client meeting - http://www.weddingpresentsstore.com/wedding-contracts

Legal contract - http://www.designaglow.com/store/storefront.php

The Science Behind Planning Celebrations
By Cho Phillips

When you sit down to plan a dream wedding or other social or business event, your goal is to create an experience guests will talk about long after the party is over. From the thoughtfulness put into the logistics of travel and accommodations, to the details and ingredients placed on the dining table, every aspect of a gathering creates the overall event experience.

Because an experience is what we perceive through our senses, the most memorable celebrations are the ones that entertain all five senses. For example, through sight we are delighted by décor, colors, and lighting. Smells from the kitchen awaken our anticipation of tasting savory foods and delicious desserts. Our sense of touch is intrigued by the choice of fabrics, flowers, and table décor. And listening to music offers entertainment and a sense of nostalgia.

At Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute (LWPI), Preston Bailey’s students learn the fundamentals of event planning and design by addressing the event experience by using the formula A6™ along with the five senses. This combination of identifying the architecture of an event and layering it with an appreciation for the five senses is what leaves a lasting impression with guests and clients long after the celebration is over. The A6™ formula identifies all areas of the event experience from beginning to end. The A6™ of an event represents Anticipation, Arrival, Atmosphere, Appetite, Amusement and Appreciation.

1.Anticipation
Anticipation is created once the word gets out that a celebration is in the works. Anticipation is accomplished through invitations, announcements, and the general buzz about what is being celebrated. For example, a formal invitation is a subtle way to communicate a black-tie event.

2.Arrival
A well-planned arrival is as simple as a thoughtfully placed sign or emailed instructions to an event location. Also, don’t fall short of anticipation when guests actually arrive! Have someone assigned to greet them to make everyone feel welcome.

3.Atmosphere
Event atmosphere includes everything that surrounds guests. When designing a celebration, it is the atmosphere that engages and entertains our senses. From the moment a guest enters the celebration, the design of the atmosphere adds to the event experience.

4.Appetite
The appetite of guests is an opportunity to bring cultural and visual elements into the event design, which helps create a specific mood and energy. In many cultures and traditions, food is a major focus of social gatherings and plays an important role in giving an event its character and distinction.

5.Amusement
Amusement is an important part of the event experience. From the dance floor and music to games and traditions, most celebrations include the element of entertainment.

6.Appreciation
Appreciation is part of the event experience because guests should always feel appreciated for coming to celebrate. Appreciation is commonly represented with a favor at the end of the event or a thank-you gift basket placed in guests’ hotel rooms.

Cho Phillips is the founder of Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute
http://www.theWeddingPlanningInstitute.com

Photo Credit:
Anticipation:http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com/2011/05/classic-black-white-calligraphy-wedding-invitations/
Arrivalhttp://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/photo/240765
Atmospherehttp://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/picture/259118
Appetitehttp://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/photo/269687
Amusement:http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/photo/285152
Appreciation: http://greenweddingshoes.com/real-wedding-dana-scotts-sweet-oregon-wedding/

Oh, how we love etsy! And handmade items! And wedding details! Afterall, it’s the details that can really set a wedding apart. We have fall on our minds these days so we decided to see what kind of fall wedding items etsy designers have available. Here are some of our favorites! Do you have any favorite etsy finds to share?

1. Harvest Maple Fall Wedding Boutonniere 2. Fall Wedding Bouquet Hair Comb Set 3. Fall Wedding Crocheted White Shrug/Bolero 4. Fall Wedding Hair Clip 5. Fall Wedding Flowergirl Dress 6. Fall Flowergirl Hair Wreath

Become A Certified Wedding and Event Planner Today!

7. Fall Wedding Gold Twisted Necklace 8. Fall Wedding Mason Jar Lanterns 9. Fall Wedding Marshmallow Pop Favors 10. Plantable Paper Fall Wedding Favors Kit 11. Fall Wedding Pumpkin Flowergirl Basket 12. Fall Bridal Shoe Clips

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13. Fall Wedding Custom Wedding Directional Arrow Sign 14. Fall Wedding Signature Tree Guestbook Alternative 15. Fall Wedding Oak Leaf Wine Charms 16. Autumn Wedding Cone Favors 17. Autumn Wedding Russet Cork Garland 18. Autumn Wedding Invitations

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The journey to your future begins with the first step. Did you know that LWPI now offers one-day seminars around the country for those looking to speed up the learning process and get started right away as a certified wedding and event planner?

Seminar instructors help students meet all assignment requirements, create project presentations, and prepare for the industry CWEP Exam. Seminar students receive access to LWPI’s online student center, which includes the student library, community, and resources for six months after the one-day seminar. Each LWPI student also works with a trained and certified wedding and event planning mentor who guides them through the certification process and assists with students’ internship experiences.

Life is busy, and starting a new career takes time. Find a seminar location near you, and get started today on your path toward becoming a certified wedding and event planner!

Click here to enroll for CWEP Seminar with Online and Mentor
Click here to enroll for CWEP Online Only with Mentor
Click Here for the CWEP College Classroom Schedule
Click to enroll in Preston Bailey’s Signature Wedding and Event Design Course
Click to Enroll in LWPI’s Green Weddings Course
Coming Soon! Preston Bailey’s Series of Floral Design Courses

CWEP Tuition will vary based on enrollment options such as online, seminar, college classroom, etc.

Saying thank you to wedding guests is one of the most important things for couples to do, and it’s made a lot easier when a little creativity is involved! Here are some of our favorite thank-you card ideas. Do you have any to share?

Photo Courtesy of Louisa Marion Photography of Minneapolis

Photo Courtesy of Three Blondes and a Camera of Maryland

Photo Courtesy of Ben Godkin Photography of Austin, Texas

Photo Courtesy of Chantel Marie of Salt Lake City, Utah

Photo Card Courtesy of Zazzle

We’ll be the first to admit that these are ideas we’ve never seen in person. Fake wedding cakes? Rental wedding cakes? That being said, we can see the need for these in many bridal situations. Wedding cakes can be very expensive, and some couples just don’t see a reason to spend so much of their budget on dessert. Chances are, however, that they still want cake-cutting photos even if they want to forgo a traditional cake! What to do, then? Here are a couple of nontraditional and unexpected ideas that certified wedding and event planners can work with. Brilliant or bonkers? You be the judge.

Fake the Cake, of California

Fake Wedding Cakes. How many times have you been served a piece of wedding cake that tasted, well, just not so good. Fake wedding cakes solve that problem. They can be gorgeous - filled with details and flowers and everything that wedding cakes are known for. Fake wedding cakes are gorgeous in photos, too, and they’re less likely to get ruined on their trip to the venue. There’s just one thing: You can’t eat them! If you have a friend willing to decorate your cake for free this is a good option. They save time by using styrofoam, and you save money by skipping the bakery. But what about your guests? They get a slice of sugary perfection - straight from a sheet cake hidden in the venue’s kitchen.

Rental Wedding Cakes. Don’t have a friend with handy decorating skills? No problem. There are companies with fake wedding cakes to rent. That’s right. You get to choose a cake that matches your theme. They set it up for you at your reception, where your friends and family ooh and ahh over it. Then it’s whisked away (your guests, once again, get a piece of sheet cake), and the rental cake is off to amaze the guests at another bride’s wedding. You can’t get more budget-friendly than this!

So what do you think? Is the wedding cake a disposable part of the overall wedding budget? Have you ever seen these options where you live? We think they’re a smart option, if done right.

Today’s post comes from Sally Lorensen Conant, who is also known as the Gown Care Lady. Be sure to visit her website, the Association of Gown Preservation Specialists, too. Having this kind of information available to potential bridal clients is a good idea for certified wedding and event planners. Plus, contacting this type of business expands your vendor contact base. Sally says:

Make getting dressed in your wedding gown, from head to toe, go smoothly on your wedding day. Most bridal shops press and stuff your wedding gown to prevent wrinkling, but here are some tips about what to do once you take your bridal gown home.

1. Take your bridal gown out of the garment bag if the bag is plastic and hang your bridal gown where it will be safe from children or pets. Wrap it in a clean sheet to protect it from light and dust.

2. Make a list of everything you will need the day of the wedding–including things for emergencies. Look here for ways to treat spills on your wedding gown the day of the wedding. If you are dressing in your wedding gown away from home, double-check your list before you leave the house.

3. Several days before the wedding, look over your wedding gown and wedding accessories and make sure everything is ready to wear. Hang your veil near the shower to smooth any wrinkles or let a Specialist help you. Visit here to read about free pressing for your wedding gown from a Specialist.

4. Wear your shoes around the house so you will be comfortable the day of the wedding. You might even rub the soles against a sidewalk or other rough surface to make them less slippery.

5. Arrange for someone (two “someones” are even better) without a fresh manicure or dark polish to help you dress in your wedding gown. Or hire a professional dresser who will take responsibility for your bridal gown all day and make sure you are dressed perfectly in a bridal gown that is not creased or wrinkled and is bustled properly.

6. Make sure you know how to bustle your wedding gown and show whoever is helping you dress how to do it, too. Pin five or six safety pins to the underside of your wedding gown. They will not show, and you will be glad they are handy if your bustle loops break.

7. Allow plenty of time to get dressed in your wedding gown. Allow even more time if it is raining.

8. Worth repeating–allow plenty of time to get dressed in your wedding gown. Allow even more time if it is raining.

9. Most important, remember to relax and enjoy every minute of your special day because your wedding day will go buy all too quickly!

Photo Collage Courtesy of Shafonne Myers

So you have finally gotten through the tons of planning and have arrived at the altar. You have exchanged vows, and you are just about to lock lips and the question is running through your mind: “How are we going to do our first kiss?”

The first kiss is meant to be the first time that you and your fiancé show the world and your guests that you are officially husband and wife. It is a cherished moment that you don’t want tainted with a gratuitous open-mouthed, tongue-quenched, make-out session. Yes, I have seen them and yes, they are totally and utterly disgusting.

You definitely what to keep it nice, sensual and sophisticated. So I always recommend discussing how you both want the kiss to go and then practice it. You both will feel so much more comfortable on your big day in front of all your guests if you have practiced it. Trust me it will be FUN!

Be sure to visit Shafonne’s website, read her new plus-size bride blog, follow her on Twitter, and read more about her in this LWPI Instructor Spotlight.

Last month we shared with you some tips on planning a green wedding. This month, Kate Harrison, the author of The Green Bride Guide, shares with us the second of a two-part series on easy, eco-friendly wedding ideas. You can find more great ideas at Kate’s website, and if you’re interested in becoming a Green Wedding Planner sign up for her class through LWPI. It’s a great way to add a special niche to your wedding- and event-planning business!

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Anne Designs

6. Meaningful Favors: How will your guests remember your day? It can be hard to come up with a small gift to give to over a hundred guests that will be a meaningful token of your appreciation, and a fitting reminder of your day. More often than not, guests leave a wedding with a tiny trinket that eventually gets thrown in the trash. Consider instead something that your guests will be happy to see every day as they remember your special day. Plantable items, like seeds and tree saplings, are growing in popularity as wedding favors, especially because of the wonderful symbolism they provide: They grow and blossom, just like your love.

Edibles make perfect eco-friendly favors, too. Chocolates are a popular option, but if you’re looking for something a bit different, you still have choices. You could create a candy station and allow your guests to fill a kraft bag with their favorites. Perhaps there is a local specialty in your area that would be a delicious reminder of your wedding day, like a tiny bottle of maple syrup for a Vermont wedding, or a miniature bottle of wine for a vineyard celebration.

7. Choose to Reuse: Much of the wastefulness of weddings comes from the multitude of single-use items that are associated with them. Clothing, décor pieces, and even leftover food can find a use beyond the trash can if you plan ahead. When you consider bridal-party attire, think with future use in mind. The men can purchase new suits that they’ll wear again and again, or coordinate their looks with formalwear they already own. If tuxedos are a must, rentals are the best option since most men do not have a need for a tuxedo in their personal wardrobe. Women’s attire can be a little trickier, but matching gowns in one color are the hardest type to reuse. Instead, bridesmaids and children in the wedding party can be given a color palette from which to choose something they already own, or to purchase something they will wear again.

The bride herself can consider refashioning a family or vintage gown, or buying a once-worn gown on a site like smartbrideboutique.com. If her heart is set on a new gown, she can consider reselling or donating it afterward. Bridal shoes are also typically a one-time wear. Like gowns, these can be bought once-worn and then resold after, or the bride can choose shoes in a color besides white that she is more likely to wear again.

Leftover food and flowers can also find another use after the wedding, but these details require advance arrangements. Contact local hospitals or nursing homes ahead of time to see if your flowers can brighten up their patients’ days after your wedding. Arrange to donate your leftover food to a shelter or soup kitchen so none of it goes to waste. Even décor pieces can be repurposed or reused. Sites like recycledbride.com and brideshare.net allow couples to share or resell décor pieces so they don’t become once-used items.

8. Eat Your Décor: Favors aren’t the only wedding item that can be edible! In-season apples in a variety of hues make bright, beautiful additions to your table décor. Add a name tag to a ripe orange or a juicy peach, and voila! You’ve created edible place cards. Fruits, vegetables, and even herbs offer a rainbow of options to add color to your ceremony and reception décor. You can even work edible elements into your floral arrangements. Once the wedding is over, put these edible décor pieces on the menu for your farewell brunch the next day, or arrange to donate them.

9. Use the Season: Seasonal food and flowers are eco-friendly options, to be sure, but you can take “seasonal” even further by using it to inspire all of your décor choices. Chances are, you’ve chosen to have your wedding in a certain season to capitalize on the colors and elements associated with it, so all you have to do is look around. A June wedding, for example, is the perfect time to choose berry hues. Take your out of town relatives berry-picking as a fun and festive activity before the wedding, and hand those freshly picked strawberries over to your baker to decorate your cake. Gather a group of friends to make berry jam, and then gift your guests with the sweet treat in jelly jars that they can reuse at their homes. Baskets full of deep purple and brilliant red berries make a striking presentation and a delicious addition to your dessert table. You can use these ideas with any season’s bounty: think of orange and green gourds and gold and red leaves in the fall or deep green pine boughs accented with bright holly berries in the winter. Be creative with what’s available in your season, and be sure to coordinate your décor ideas with your florist.

10. Give Back: Part of being environmentally aware is giving back. There are so many ways to recognize causes in which you believe on your wedding day. You can include important charities by creating a charity registry, through which guests are invited to donate in lieu of more traditional wedding gifts. You can also make a donation in honor of your guests instead of giving individual wedding favors.

A number of organizations allow brides to donate their dresses after the wedding. This is a great option for a bride who prefers a new dress for her wedding day; the charity resells the gown and uses the money for their cause. Brides Against Breast Cancer and the Bridal Garden are two such charities. Operation Fairy Dust collects bridesmaid gowns and then redistributes them to young girls who cannot afford gowns for proms or formal dances.

One final eco-friendly option is offsetting the carbon impact of your wedding. You can use a carbon calculator like the one available at www.greenbrideguide.com to determine your wedding’s impact, and then purchase carbon credits through an organization like Brighter Planet.

Whether you choose just a few of these options or try to incorporate all of them, every choice makes a difference. You can make your green wedding more personalized, share your values with your guests, and likely save money, too.