Fab Ad:: Trump Hotel Chicago Wedding

Thanks to the amazing Traci Romano I spotted this really well done hotel wedding ad {these are relatively hard to come by} for Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago.

To see in full click on the image {this was as big as I could make it here on the blog} but the headline is: "YOUR EVER AFTER" and the body copy reads: "From our soaring, modern grand ballroom, to the glittering skyline, to the inventive cuisine and resounding service, let your vows take on a new view."

It is challenging for hotels/resorts/venues to cut through the clutter in wedding advertising and really make an impact.  This ad accomplishes all that and more -- hitting on the key points that are important to a bride when choosing a wedding reception venue in the copy but with a dramatic visual to grab the attention of any reader. With food+beverage packages beginning from $220pp++ they have certainly set the tone for what one might expect at this luxury hotel in the heart of downtown Chicago. Kudos!

Kleinfeld comes to Minnesota

Kleinfeld will leave NYC for the first time in its long and storied history - making its first stop in Minnesota for a trunk show hosted by Fashion Director, Randy Fenoli {who has been featured on this season of "Say Yes to the Dress" }.  

What a special treat for brides-to-be in the midwest - Randy is just the BEST and I have heard great things about the new Alita Graham line designed by Kleinfeld.

We are also thrilled to confirm that Randy will be joining us in a few weeks to attend engage!08::the encore along with an amazing group of luxury wedding professionals from all over the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.  A few spots still remain, so if you are able to join us - plan to!

2008 Caribbean Week: Canada

I am in Toronto where tomorrow I will give a presentation on Destination Weddings as part of the 2008 Caribbean Week for the Caribbean Tourism Organization [CTO] sponsored by The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.  

I have quite the "blog backlog" going on and the hope is that by next week I will be able to resume a more consistent posting schedule.  A girl can dream-right?  Until then, follow along on Twitter because that is being updated a few times per day!

The Wedding Book: Mindy Weiss & Lisbeth Levine

A little while back I was delighted to receive a package in the mail containing Mindy Weiss's new Book "The Wedding Book"  with a note from her co-writer Lisbeth Levine {who is also a contributing writer for InStyle and InStyle Weddings} saying:

"Rebecca - The book was a long time coming, but it's finally seen the light of day! Thanks so much for your help on destination weddings -- your expertise made those sections richer.  By the way, I love your blog -- it's full of great wedding industry info!"  Best - Lisbeth

She then cited a number of places throughout the book that included mentions of our long-time client The Cayman Islands and even a shout out to us in the Acknowledgements section!  Really fun!

I had the pleasure of spending a long weekend with Lisbeth in Grand Cayman a few years ago as I hosted her and a number of other wedding editors for a media trip.  She was working on the book with Mindy at that time - so it just shows how intense the process is to get a book project to market! {It is a mind-blowing, amazingly comprehensive 485-pages!!}

Thank you Lisbeth and congratulations to you and Mindy on an incredible accomplishment - this book is a 'must read' for any bride-to-be!!

HARO: Help a Reporter Out

One of the biggest requests we get at Engaging Concepts from independent wedding professionals is for guidance/assistance with Public Relations efforts. Of course, that is a major reason why we have included a PR panel in the next engage symposium but in the past week I have spent some time evaluating and observing the innovative HARO "Help a Reporter Out" concept by PR guru Peter Shankman.

Based on what I have seen come across my desk a few times each day - I am convinced that it is something worth sharing with industry colleagues as a valuable resource for potential, targeted media exposure. You can read all about it and sign up for FREE by visiting the HARO site - and be sure that you review and understand the ground rules - there are some pretty major consequences if you do not - all of them very fair and understandable.

Basically, once you sign up you will receive an email a few times a day outlining a large variety of news outlets/TV/blogs/freelancers seeking specific interview topics or sources. You can quickly scan these and see if there is anything that may fit your particular business or personal niche and respond as directed.

Certainly worth a test to see if it provides any opportunities - I noticed a number of requests that easily could be fulfilled by readers of this blog and wedding industry colleagues.  

And by the way...check out his explanation of why he offers this totally FREE...it is a perfect example of the Law of Reciprocity -- love it!

If you do sign up -- let me what you think! 

77 Secrets for Greening the Wedding Industry DVD

Susan Southerland of Just Marry! has done it again!  

Fresh of her successful launch of her first DVD for brides "Wedding Planning Secrets" - she has created "77 Secrets for GREENING the wedding industry" specifically for wedding industry professionals.  Available on Amazon and from the Just Marry website and perfectly priced at $29.95 - it is a must addition to any wedding industry pros resource library!

We are looking forward to having Susan join us at engage in October and congratulate her on this latest venture!

MUSE: Wedding Inspiration

Today's inbox included a release about MUSE - a new wedding social networking community for 'like minded' to-be-weds. In their words:

What is Muse? Muse is your source of (Wedding) Inspiration.

The Wedding World is Changing

For your wedding, you need more originality and less replication. You need ideas that are practical and created by real people. You need classy mixed with cool. You need simple, quick and easy. You need one place online that forgets about everyone else and instead focuses on just you and your wedding. You need Muse.

Muse connects you to your wedding who, what, where and how. It's a social community of vibrant people that share wedding experiences.

On Muse you can...

• Find and share different ideas with people similar to you
• Plan every detail for every wedding related function
• Connect and Collaborate with your friends, guests and wedding people

One to watch! Let me know if any of your brides and grooms are using MUSE and what you here back from them...

Blog Find: Beach House Bride

oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh I just got lost in the dreamy blog Beach House Bride from the owners of Tulle - the amazing bridal boutique on Martha's Vineyard {check out their "inspiration lounge" concept - fab}. So lovely and chic!  

Brings back very fond memories of some time spent on the Vineyard back in college - visiting my great friends who spent every summer there working during school...those were the best of times and life seemed so much simpler then! 

Enjoy and happy weekend!

Brides and Grooms: Totally Connected

In the 'strange but true' category and further proof that brides and grooms are eternally connected in every way - offline and on - check out Seattle-based designer Jana Brevick's  Jacked—Cat 5 Compliant Wedding Set: "A wedding set for the unconventional! The female ring has a choice of four opaque colors: turquoise, white, orange or black. The male ring stands tall and dramatically transparent. The world is your technological oyster.” 

 These rings are sold out. Believe it.

Speaking Engagement: Caribbean Travel Conference | Toronto

I am looking forward to speaking at the upcoming Caribbean Travel Conference in Toronto, Canada on September 24, 2008 presented by the Caribbean Travel Organization [CTO] - the Caribbean's official tourism development agency. 

Directed to travel industry professionals, I will address the state of millennial matrimony, the changing face of today’s destination bride and groom, tips on romancing the wedding market, key insights into how couples decide on wedding and honeymoon destinations and tips on leveraging new media to reach these consumers. 

My session is presented by The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, whom we have been providing romance strategy consulting services as part of their professional agency team since early 2004. View my full profile on the official CTO Canada site here and more details on the conference here.

Looking forward to my trip and to making more industry friends in Canada!