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Last week I had the immense pleasure and honor to be a speaker at the first annual Inspire Smart Success Experience in Riviera Cancun, Mexico – and had the time of my life meeting, learning from and educating a diverse and talented group of wedding business pros of every level. Oh, and drinking copious margaritas. And mojitos. And basking on the beach. And dancing by the pool. And periodic tequila shots. Y’know, all the things that make a trip to the Caribbean… well, a trip to the Caribbean. That is, if you like to party. And oh… I likes to party.
(you should know that I am a WHORE for all-inclusive resorts after our honeymoon at Dreams Los Cabos. You give a broke-ass like me permission to eat and drink as much as I want, including room service an a mini bar? I might never leave. And I will gain like 20 pounds. Yeah, that happened.)
I can safely say that it was the most fun Hunter and I have ever had at a wedding industry event. It was impeccably planned, designed and executed by Stacie, Rachel and her team, and the people it attracted were some of the most outgoing and genuine I’ve had the chance to meet in this business. Such a bad-ass crew. Stacie definitely attracted an amazing crew of attendees and speakers! I miss them all already.
Inspire Smart Success was created by the incomparable Stacie Francombe (former founder and CEO of GetMarried Media) as a full service entrepreneurship mentoring concept. From a quarterly magazine to regional conferences to one-on-one mentorship and beyond, Stacie is building an empire focused on helping people develop and grow their businesses to their fullest potential. She’s done several city-specific mini-conferences this year and wrapped it up with a 4-day experience in the most gorgeous of gorgeous settings at the Now Sapphire Resort on the sparkling gulf of mexico.
From the minute we arrived, we were blown away by the attention to detail and level of service. And our room… well, I’ll let the photo speak for itself.
Champagne. Waiting for us. In the room. (I am also a whore for champagne)
Walking out of our room, this was 20 steps down the path:
It’s a bar. ON THE BEACH. I mean, come on. (everyone, wave at Fresh Hubby!)
Friday night was the Blanca Beach party. After drinking margaritas all day, then champagne while getting ready for the night, then switching to beer and sake for Japanese dinner with our FABULOUS and fun friends Robert Evans and Mike Colón, then back to margaritas at the event, I was left looking something like this:
Hot mess.
That’s Bernadette from 14 Stories behind me, hamming it up. She was one of my favorite new friends from the trip – what a hoot! And yes, that’s me on my bag. Because I’m awesome. And vain. or both. Anyway, the point is, I went to bed early that night. Like a boss.
I’ll have more to share about the rest of the conference, the sessions and events, but for now… check out this incredible teaser video by the pimps over at Epic Motion – they really captured the essence of the week… so take a look!
I don’t know what magic genie I must have conjured with my various wanton longings for a beachy, margarita-laden getaway… but as if by magic, I was invited to come speak at the Inspire Smart Success Experience in Riviera Maya, Mexico next month (along with a whole crew of tremendously inspiring colleagues)!
I get totally giddy whenever I look at that list of speakers. So many industry heroes of mine… I keep pinching myself that I get to be included in such a stellar line-up of pros. AND IN MEXICO, YO, at the gorgeous Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun Resort! Y’all know how much I love me a margarita. Chalking this up as reason #3,798 that mine is the coolest job in the world.
ISSE Mexico is an event designed to help entrepreneurs in the wedding industry learn, connect, and recharge – so they can return home ready to rocket their business to the next level. Sessions over the 4 days will include:
Branding
Entrepreneurship
Social Media
Getting Published
Getting on TV
What you Need to Know BEFORE spending your $ on Advertising
Photography 101 & 102
Wedding Planning 101 & 102
Blogging 101 & 102
Goal Setting & Selling your Value
Balancing Motherhood and Work-Life Balance
Technology ‘Stuff’ You Must Know
Inspirational and Stress Release on the Beach
Special Private Session for ISS Mentoring Members
And MUCH MORE
The event is almost sold out, but if you’re a wedding pro with a yen to learn how to advance your career while treating yourself to a glorious getaway, come join the party and sign up today! I’d love to see you there!
Last summer, we met the fabulous Jorge Perez at the Wedgwood blogger event, and I fell in love, immediately. He’s bubbly and vivacious and funny and stylish, with a cuban spunk and a contagious passion for entertaining… he is a total force to be reckoned with when touting the virtues of the quality and history behind the china and crystal for which Wedgwood, Waterford and Royal Doulton are known.
See the cheese and crackers down there? (mmm, cheese and crackers…..) He put them in a butter dish and it’s cover. Bonus use!
Before hearing his presentation, I was definitely had an Armisen-doing-Joy-Behar-on-The-View type of perspective on china and crystal. You know….
I had dismissed it was old-fashioned and didn’t know much about it… but by the end of the day, Jorge had me fully converted and wishing we had known this before we registered. My favorite part of his presentation displayed all sorts of outside-the-box, alternative uses for their pieces, and I thought, as outside-the-box, creative brides… you all would love it too. So I begged him for a video to share, and he hooked me up!
At around the 3:13 part he gets to the multi-purpose goodness, but check out all of his tips on entertaining and learn a thing or two about fine bone china and crystal while you’re at it! And mostly, enjoy Jorge’s fabulousness.
Oh, he also designed a line of simply stunning wedding gowns, which you can find in stores all over the US: Jorge Perez de la Habana. Gorgeous stuff.
How many of you are including fine bone china and crystal in your registry? Do you have any unique uses for your entertaining gear?
Whenever I had heard of Disney Weddings. I always imagined it was a wedding in which someone was attempting to chase the childish thrills of their youth. Surely a Disney Wedding was only for someone who still loved the idea of Mickey Mouse greeting guests at the chapel. Boy Was I Wrong! We had the honor of being invited to Disney Weddings 20th Anniversary and while there we had all of our preconceptions dashed. Disney is not about re-creating magical memories of your youth, its about making new ones. No matter your age, no matter your desires, Disney has the rare ability to to make that dream come true.
Before heading into the wedding pavilion we were met by tables and tables of colorful candy. It was buffet of beautiful cavity conjurers.
Comment if you find me in this pic. (Hint: I can’t see you)
We enjoyed a glass of champagne as we made a whole bunch of new friends! The ladies rocked bridal ears as I was pimping the mousy but manly top hat. I have to say that Mickey’s got style.
The Disney flare really started to show when we were greeted by our “hosts” of the evening. Two bundles of energy burst out of the crowd and started hollering about how happy they were that Dana and I had arrived. I am great with faces but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how I knew these two. But they seemed so affable, entertaining and warm AND they knew my name. I later realized they were a couple of the hundreds of performers you can have be a part of your Disney Wedding. Today we were treated to Franck from Father of the Bride, and Sona from the Incredibles. But how did they know my name?!
These two were so smooth, I didn’t realize they were reading my name tag. (DOH!)
We then headed into the wedding pavilion and were greeted by our real host Disney Wedding’s Development Director Korri McFann. She told us a little about Disney’s newest weddings and honeymoons location in Hawaii. In the immortal words of Liz Lemon, “I want to go to there!”
We all drooled a bit and then she introduced us to a former couple who had the pleasure of being married at Disney World one year ago. And… wait for it… Were having a surprise wedding vow renewal AND WE WE’RE THE GUESTS! Dang, it was like an Oprah moment up in there.
And get ready for another Oprah moment cause here comes Disney’s Celebrity Expert (and tv reality star) DAVID TUTERA! David has designed several wedding themes and styles that couples can choose from, or be inspired by, when planning their Disney Wedding. But enough talk, lets get this re-wedding on the road…
Everyone knows the best way to start a wedding is with the wedding party and… wait wha…. are those… PROFESSIONAL DANCERS dancing down the aisle! Wow, that’s a cool idea. And they were just warming up the crowd because they raced back up the aisle to reveal…
Our blushing bride! There was a sense of fun in the room the entire time and boy could you see it on our bride’s face when she appeared.
She met her groom under the grand arch of the pavilion with the famous Disney Castle in the background. They exchanged vows and the crowd cheered. And to turn it up a notch…
They exited to daytime fireworks! My mom always said when it was sunny but raining, it’s “a monkeys wedding”. So when it’s sunny and there are fireworks you know it’s a Disney Wedding.
Our couple left the pavilion and was greated by their magical Cinderella chariot.
A Cinderella carriage pulled by tiny horses!
And they were off! A magical chariot surely must take them somewhere amazing…
Italy?!?! Well almost, we were whisked away to the world of Epcot. Little did I know the celebration had just begun.
With a lakeside dinner we had a view of the entire world. If felt as if we were in the heart of Venice but with Mexico, Germany and Epcot Center on the horizon. The party was in full swing and with all this world travel the two of us were thirsty…
I really did not think it could get more, awe inspiring, romantic and just plain fun. But Disney had one more trick up their sleeve. A front row seat to one of the most amazing firework displays I have ever seen!
Our amazing friends at Disney Weddings enjoy their job almost as much as we enjoy being their guests.
You might say, “Hunter, that looks awesome but there is no way that that kind of luxury can be Broke-Ass.” Well, Disney Weddings start at $10,000. Since the national average is way over twice that, your dreams becoming a reality suddenly became a little more realistic.
Thanks again to the entire Disney Weddings cast! The enthusiasm, kindness and hospitality you showed us was contagious to everyone we met and everything we did. We can’t wait to come back!
Who wants to meet me? Like, in person, and stuff? Well, if you’re in SoCal… I’ve got 2 great ways to get closer to my broke-ass lovin’ coming right up!
Come see me speak about getting the most bang for your buck while planning your wedding, at the Wedding Salon Bootcamp on March 1st, at Hansen’s Cakes in Los Angeles! There’s a ton of great resources and goodies available, thanks to all those folks listed on the invite above, and more! But the best part is…. with discount code BABC, your 2 tickets are FREE!
Can’t make it on the 1st, or live too far in the OC to make the trip? Fear not… ‘cuz just one short week later, I’ll be tearing up The Wedding Pantry with some bad-ass DIY brilliance… in Bringing the Broke-Ass: Favors with Flava!
What’s better than saving some money and getting your craft on with me? Well, considering that I’m about as crafty as a one-handed monkey… it should be pretty darn entertaining. But, I have picked a few “idiot-proof” projects (by necessity, natch) and I just know you (and your guests) are going to love them… whether you use them for wedding or shower favors, bridesmaid gifts, or just broke-ass birthday prezzies for your friends. Hey, why not? Who says you have to be getting married to get your tasty craft on? Pas moi, yo! Register here.
Seriously, if you’re in the area for either event… please come say hi! I’ll surely be to be hellza nervous. I also can’t guarantee I won’t have a drink beforehand, so I’ll definitely be extra-friendly. I mean, let’s be real. Come meeeeeeet meeeeeeeeee!
Oh, and one more shameless plug while I have you here. Last week, I was named one of the Top Ten Social Media Influencers in the Wedding Industry by WedBiz Journal. Seated alongside major monoliths of wedding idolotry… here I am picking the spinach from between my teeth in complete, grateful, awe.
I mean, what?!? Me? Who started this blog in a sheer fit of frustration and desperation, gumption and moxie, as a real bride… just like you? I am simply amazed.
Thanks to all of you who follow my journey and keep me company each day on twitter and facebook – your support is what keeps me motivated to keep growing and improving and evolving, and I am so grateful to all my friends (old and new, and not yet met) in this crazy business! And if you’re not already following my twitter or liking us on facebook, isn’t today a good day to start?
Palm Springs is one of those magical places. A place that draws sun worshipers young and old to the middle of the desert. And this Halloween we couldn’t resist her siren song. Wait, was that a siren song, or just the booty-shaking beats of The Flash Dance bouncing through the desert plains? Yup. Our hugely talented friend Michael Antonia, aka The Human Jukebox threw a Halloween party with our other immensely talented friends, event planners Bash Please. The location was the cooler than cool Ace Hotel, and when we got a call from the ghost of Frank Sinatra saying that was where he was spending his Halloween, we knew we had to be there. As old blue eyes used to say, “ROOOOAD TRIP!” (I’m pretty sure he never said that.)
Here is a pic of our host:
OK that’s not our host I just wanted to shamelessly put a picture of my dog in a batman costume on the site. SUE ME! (please don’t sue me) OK lets get serious. Serious about partying that is…
Normally, the Ace is just hip sunbathers galore:
But this halloween some crazy characters came out to play… (and you may know some of them). Thanks Smilebooth for these fun pics:
In conjunction with national sponsors Get Married Media, the Association of Bridal Consultants, and Green Wedding Shoes, Wish Upon a Wedding Southern California is proud to announce that their first ever Blissful Wishes Ball will be held at Ebell Club Los Angeles on November 4, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Tickets for the gala are now on sale and can be purchased on The Blissful Wishes Ball webpage for $95 or tables of eight for $650. These signature events, which are open to the public, will happen in 12 cities across the nation and include dinner, dancing, cocktails, entertainment and auctions… so be sure to check out when your local event is scheduled and get involved!
In addition to purchasing tickets, Wish Upon a Wedding is currently looking for wedding industry professionals to sponsor the event or donate services for live and online auctions. To donate a product or service, visit the auction site and click on Donate an Item, to participate as an online auction sponsor or contact your local chapter for live auction donations.
On October 1, 2010, Wish Upon a Wedding will begin auctioning off hundreds of products and services, in 46 cities throughout the country, to help couples create the perfect wedding or event, all at incredible prices. Bidding will be open until November 30, 2010.
Event and auction proceeds will help raise crucial funding needed to grant wedding wishes for couples facing terminal illness and other serious life-altering circumstances. Please help us spread the word!
About Wish Upon a Wedding: Wish Upon a Wedding (WUW) was founded in San Francisco, CA in January 2010 and is America’s only wedding wish granting organization, providing weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illness and serious life-altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation. Chapters are active in Northern California, South Florida, Orlando, New York, Chicago, The Carolinas, St. Louis, Colorado, DC-area, Portland, Houston, Atlanta, Ohio and Las Vegas. Future chapters will be located in the Philadelphia area, Indianapolis, New Jersey, New Orleans, Dallas, Minnesota, Dallas, Massachusetts, Nashville, Michigan and Arizona.
We just got back from having a blast at the wedding of our cake line partners and dear friends Leslie and Earl. You’ll have to check in with Holly of Cakes and Kisses for all the great pictures, but here’s a sneak peak from my humble iphone…
Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Frostings!
Aren’t they a lovely couple
Leslie and Earl spend most of their days creating fantastic deserts at glamorous weddings, so it was important to them that the day was a no fuss zone. It was strictly about food, folks, and fun and that it most certainly was!
We started the reception off with Redheaded Step Child Shots! Now this is my kind of wedding!
Here’s to the happy couple!
Great peeps enjoying a great Sunday afternoon
It was such a nice and relaxing afternoon. When the Fantasy Frosting folks throw a party you know there is only going to be one tough decision…
I had performance anxiety dreams three nights in a row last week. And this, from a gal who has two degrees in acting and countless years of experience onstage.
But yet I still find myself all wumbly in my jumbles, because this Monday July 19th, Hunter and I will be taking a different kind of stage…. sans character, sans director, sans costumes and curtain. We’ll be (gasp) playing ourselves, and speaking at the Association of Bridal Consultants (Greater LA region) meeting! Eeep!
Click for the full invitation
In all seriousness, I’m more excited than nervous. It’s going to be really cool! We’re working up a presentation on Blogging, Branding & Balance that will be super fun and bring a surprisingly unique and interesting approach to some old topics. We’re even integrating some of our acting school lessons into the workshop, but translating them into practical business applications!
The best part is that the event is at The Bungalow Club, where we had our wedding… so its a familiar space where I know I can count on a killer mojito to lend a li’l liquid courage my way. Hey Hey!
Tickets are $35 for ABC members, and $45 for the general public, and you can register here. The food is delish, the atmosphere is sexytimes, and the drinks are straight up addictive. Come on out and play with us!
…and if you can’t make it, wish us luck! We’ll let ya know how it goes
