The Knot Survey: Latest Insights, Stats and Much More!

The Knot Unveils Annual Real Weddings Survey Results

Largest-of-Its-Kind Survey of 20,000+ Recently Wed Couples Reveals Unparalleled Insight into the Bridal Consumer, from Spending Patterns to Style Preferences

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Knot Inc. (NASDAQ: KNOT), the owners of The Knot Wedding Network (which includes the Internet’s most-trafficked wedding websites and communities TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com,) conducted a massive survey in 2007 to capture detailed feedback on wedding spending, style preferences, event characteristics, and other key information related to the bridal demographic.

The survey, administered by Harris Interactive, is the second annual Real Weddings Survey conducted by The Knot Inc. It polled nearly 22,000 individuals—of mixed ethnicities, income, and education levels—across 50 US states, making it the largest survey of its kind ever.

WEDDING SPENDING:,COUPLES ALLOT BULK OF BUDGET TO RECEPTION, AND COUPLES CONTRIBUTE AS MUCH AS BRIDE’S PARENTS, AND CAKE SPENDING INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY

• $27,882 is the average wedding budget in the US (not including the honeymoon). Including the honeymoon, the average wedding budget in the US is $32,660.
• The bulk of the average wedding budget is dedicated to the reception venue ($12,722, or 45%); followed by the reception band ($4,105 on average, or 15%); and photographer ($2,651 on average, or 9.5% of the total average wedding budget).
• In 2007 vs. 2006, couples spent 35% more on their wedding cake (average $692 vs. $514), 17% more on their reception venue (average $12,722 vs. $10,857), and 18% more on their reception band ($4,105 vs. $3,465).
• The bride’s parents (44%) and the bride and groom (43%) are paying for the majority of weddings.
• The average cost of a wedding gown is $1,317 (NYC brides spent the most at $2,206).
• The average cost of a wedding photographer is $2,651 (Long Island brides spend the most on photography at $4,550).

WEDDING STYLE & TRENDS: SEMIFORMAL WEDDINGS ARE THE RAGE, AND BRIDES ARE HEADING TO ALTAR FASTER

• The average wedding guest list is 153 people, nearly the same as 2006. (Wisconsin brides have the largest weddings, averaging 189 invitees).
• Brides are not prolonging their engagements; the average wedding-planning period is 11 months. New York brides are engaged the longest (13.1 months), while Las Vegas brides have the shortest engagements (9.1 months).
• Weddings are getting less formal: Weddings are split in terms of formality: 66% were characterized as “semi-formal” as compared to 45% in 2006 and 20% are characterized as “formal/black tie, down from 42% in 2006.”
• The average bridal party in 2007 was comprised of 4 bridesmaids and 4 groomsmen.
• The groom is significantly involved in planning: 36% of grooms were ‘very involved’ and 57% of grooms were ‘somewhat involved’
• Reception venues of choice in 2007 were reception halls (29%), hotel (19%), club (yacht, country, etc.) (16%), restaurants (9%), historic mansions (7%), with the remaining 20% going to parks and gardens, museums and cultural centers, private homes, loft and raw spaces, and other reception venues.
• The most important reception venue features were: a great space for dancing (81%), a picturesque backdrop for photos (65%), an outdoor area for cocktails (52%), a breathtaking view (39%), and a waterside location (25%).

DESTINATION WEDDINGS: COUPLES ARE TRAVELING TO TIE THE KNOT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY LEAVING THE COUNTRY

• Destination weddings are more popular: With a destination wedding characterized as “200 or more miles away from where the bride and groom live (including non US locations)” and “at least 80% of guests requiring overnight accommodations” approximately 1 in 10 couples have a destination wedding (8-10%).
• Approximately 25% of destination weddings occur outside the US.
• 20% of couples are traveling at least 200 miles from where they reside to get married.

PHOTOGRAPHY: PHOTOGRAPHY GOES DIGITAL AND COSTS GO UP

• Couples spent 8% more on their photographers in 2007 vs. 2006 ($2,651 vs. $2,466).
• A mix of traditional and photojournalistic photography is what most (71%) couples desire, while 18% chose to place emphasis on candid photos.
• There was a 61% increase in use of digital-only photography at weddings.

MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

Top reception band and music style choices in 2007 were rock-and-roll/Motown (37%) and big band/swing/jazz (21%).

Announcing: engage!08

At long last!  We are thrilled to announce engage!08. The official 'emma-powered' email blast has been sent and we are already overwhelmed at the response!! Hard to believe that we have already signed up participants from coast -to-coast and 3 different countries in just the first few hours.  Wow.

engage!08 is set for Tuesday, June 3rd in Celebration, FL and is designed to be a high-impact wedding business symposium for the luxury wedding professional.  

An intimate event featuring none other than Preston Bailey, Marcy Blum, Susan Moynihan, Liene Stevens, Christine Boulton and of course - me! With special guest, Simon T. Bailey, author of the best selling book "Release Your Brilliance!"

For ALL the details, be sure to:

• Read the official announcement
• Visit the brand new engage08 website
• Check out the new engage08 blog
  

More to follow - but we are really looking forward to meeting many of you for an 'engaging day' of inspiration, idea sharing, networking and more! 

From MediaWeek:: "Here Comes the Bride"

Lots and Lots of wedding business stories in the media lately!  A sure relation to the recession-proof wedding industry and therefore highly desirable target for any business!! Here is a piece from today's issue of MEDIAWEEK with some interesting observations/insights from WE-TV:

Here Comes The Bride: WE courts buyers with data on spend-happy viewers

Anthony Crupi >> acrupi@mediaweek.com 
APRIL 14, 2008 - 

For many women in the 18-49 demo, weddings are pretty much the Oscars and the lunar landing all wrapped up in taffeta and tulle, representing the ne plus ultra of romance and oversized cake. As it prepares to walk down the upfront aisle, WE TV is readying a new research pitch that will give clients fresh insight into the values held by its core viewers and how those beliefs influence their buying habits.

According to findings in a new study conducted on behalf of the network by Frank N. Magid Associates, 49 percent of WE viewers can be characterized as "I Do-ers," a segment that includes women who respond positively to the trappings of matrimony, have an interest in wedding-themed shows and report that they are in the midst of a major lifestyle transition. 

The latter condition refers specifically to what WE defines as "accumulation stages," distinct periods that tend to coincide with increased consumer spending. When a woman gets married, has a baby or buys a home, such milestones are very often commemorated with big-ticket purchases.

As the so-called I Do-ers are avid consumers and more likely to watch WE's bridal-related programming (the network has sprinkled wedding fare throughout its prime-time schedule like so much flung rice), this segment is particularly attractive to WE's advertisers.

"Weddings are a 'life passion' for women, and they respond to them in the same way that men associate with sports," said Kim Martin, executive vp and general manager of WE. "And it's not limited to a participatory interest either. Only 5 percent of women 18-54 get married every year, so the appeal goes beyond just women who are in the middle of the process."

In order to sate the wedding-hungry horde, WE is expanding its bridal lineup with a fifth season of Bridezillas and a third order of Platinum Weddings. (Both series return June 1.) Also on the calendar is Amazing Wedding Cakes, a new six-part series debuting in September.

According to Scott Collins, senior vp, ad sales at WE, I Do-ers are particularly interested in nonendemic categories, a finding that could help broaden the network's client base. 

"I Do-ers are buying gaming systems and MP3 players, which flies in the face of the notion that women aren't interested in gadgets," Collins said. "And while beauty and cosmetics are obviously a good fit for the brand, we're also talking to KFC."

"What I tell the media companies is… show me something that further dimensionalizes your viewers," said Lyle Schwartz, managing partner of research and marketplace analysis, Mediaedge:cia. "This is a great example of the kind of insight we're always looking for." 

Rueters: Weddings Weather Economic Woe

New York weddings weather economic woe

By Claudia Parsons

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investment bank bailouts, home foreclosures and job losses have spread economic gloom through America but in New York, at least, there's one industry still weathering the storm -- high-end weddings. Cake makers, florists, wedding planners and dress-makers at a wedding show this month said brides were still determined to enjoy their big day with almost no expense spared.

While some couples were cutting back on non-essentials, for example having only two bridesmaids instead of four, most vendors at the New York magazine Weddings Showcase in Manhattan said they were yet to see a serious dip in business. "So far I would say compared to last year, this year people seem to be spending just as much," said Amy Salvini-Swanson, co-owner of Greenwich Letterpress, which offers invitations at anywhere from $600 to $1,200 for 100. Her co-owner, Beth Salvini, added: "People still get married during recessions. It's a safe bet, people still need invitations."

Read entire Article Here.

FAB new Site and Blog: Details Details

Check out the GORGEOUS new website and Blog from the CA-based wedding and event planning firm Details Details!  They have also updated their Blog and it is amazing as well. Sets the bar very high for other wedding planning and design professionals...

From Kiplinger: Is The Wedding Industry Recession Proof

Wedding Businesses to Profit from a Rush to the Altar

The sluggish economy isn't about to deter scores of lovebirds from tying the knot this year -- and spending to do it in style.

 

By Laura Kennedy, Researcher-Reporter, the Kiplinger letters

 

April 4, 2008

Wedding bells will ring often this year as will cash registers of wedding planners, caterers, florists, photographers and the many other suppliers of wedding services. Spending on nuptials will reach about $70 billion this year as 2.3 million couples tie the knot, about 100,000 more than last year.

"People tend to get married whether they have the money or not, whether they have a job or not, whether they get a promotion or not," says David Wood, the president of the Association of Bridal Consultants, a nationwide training organization for wedding planners. And many couples and their families are happy to splurge on the big day -- an average wedding costs $27,000, and that doesn't include the honeymoon.

Professional planners play a bigger role in weddings today.Nearly 15% of couples now hire an outside expert to handle details, up from around 8% five years ago. Driving the trend? More and more couples are working professionals getting married at an older age and welcome extra help with the many details. An outsider's assistance can save much wear and tear on brides and grooms and their parents, not to mention more than a few arguments. Event planners who offer some of their services à la carte -- helping with only certain parts of the wedding -- will win more points with cash-strapped brides and grooms.

Newlywed "experiences" are a growing part of the $14 billion gift registry business. Couples are branching out in their registries beyond the traditional kitchen gadgets, inviting their guests to pay for everything from hot-air balloon rides and horseback-riding lessons to their honeymoons.

Also, more couples are looking to create a unique wedding "experience" for family and close friends by taking their events on the road. Resorts and other wedding venues in exotic locales stand to gain the most from the move towards so-called destination weddings. The top choice for such events? Hawaii, according to a 2007 survey by Mintel International Group.

NY Times: "A Bouquet and a Space Heater"

Amid my 'March Madness' I somehow missed this interesting New York Times article on the trend towards wedding bookings spreading throughout the year instead of being so focused on the more 'traditional' seasons of spring, summer and fall.  

I pulled out some interesting excerpts below but you can read the whole piece here.

A Bouquet and a Space Heater

by Kathryn Shattuck for the New York Times

>>"TRYING to analyze the seasonal trends in weddings is a little like trying to gauge how rapidly the polar ice caps are melting. But as temperatures rise, wedding vendors and couples are beginning to look toward that once-frosty patch between November and March with all the optimism once saved for spring."

>>Bookings from November to March at the Foundry have nearly tripled since 2005, said Allison Du Val, the site’s managing director. “People seem to be more willing to wing it,” she said of the winter-month increase. “Some people enjoy the winter, and a lot of people want to avoid a really sticky August.”

>>The Abigail Kirsch Group operates several New York-area party spaces, including one at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, two at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan and one at Stage 6 at the Steiner Studios in Brooklyn. Of the group, only the Botanical Garden saw a rise in winter bookings this year, said Dawn Cimoch, the group’s corporate marketing manager. But all have tripled winter bookings for 2009, she said, adding that she thinks that is because of the confidence inspired by this winter’s temperate turn.

>>There’s less price elasticity on the Manhattan side of the East River, said Marcy Blum, a wedding and party planner. She quoted studies showing that ceremonies cost more or less the same, regardless of the season.

“Tenting an entire space can be prohibitively expensive,” she said. “With the warmer weather, you can just put up a canopy or a marquee or something less all-encompassing and space heaters, and people will be perfectly comfortable.”

>>Off-peak does translate into savings at Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y. Winter weddings in this palatial Long Island estate, which was once owned by the financier Otto Hermann Kahn, have been booking more quickly the last two years — and not because people able to spend $80,000 (average for the site) up to several hundred thousand dollars on a wedding necessarily need to save $15,000 or $20,000.

“The weather has been a lot more cooperative,” said Kelly Melius, president and director of sales and marketing for the estate. Even with snow on the ground and fireplaces roaring, the estate’s outdoor spaces are increasingly being opened up in the winter, she said, recalling a spring-like day in December 2006 when a couple decided to move their vows and reception outside.

“I almost hate to say it,” Ms. Melius said, sighing. “The weather may be bad for the environment, but it’s very good for business.”

I am curious - has anyone else noticed this trend in markets outside of NYC???

Client Focus: Sandals Unveils New Preston Bailey Collections

I blogged about my trip to Jamaica at the end of January with Preston Bailey to shoot his two new collections and conduct on-site training for client Sandals Resorts. I am thrilled to [finally!] be able to showcase a few of the images [taken on location by *hot* photography talent Scarlett Lillian] of the collections.

Keep in mind that this ground-breaking partnership, launched in 2005, was the first time that a celebrity wedding designer like Preston had designed wedding decor that was affordable to any bride and groom.  Starting at only $1,700 these collections have been wildly successful and helped  'raised the bar' on the entire Sandals Resorts WeddingMoon experience.

The two new collections are all designed with fresh flowers and the highest quality linens and accessories.  Of course - they are made complete with wedding cakes designed by the one and only Sylvia Weinstock!!

Introducing the "Sea Mist" collection and the "Caribbean Sunset" collection by Preston Bailey for Sandals and Beaches Resort.

Client Focus: Cayman Islands Campaign

Pleased to showcase the just launched campaign for long-time Engaging Concepts client The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism on both The Knot and WeddingChannel!  This is a custom-designed sitelet that showcases the various destination wedding styles available on each the 3 islands.  It features a highly interactive map along with galleries of various hot spots to marry on each island.  

Brides can also enter to win a honeymoon  [or romantic getaway!] at the gorgeous Westin Casuarina Grand Cayman with airfare provided by Cayman Airways!  

Special thanks to the team at Cayman advertising agency CHOWDER for working on this with us to pull together all of the behind the scenes logistics and of course the design team at The Knot who truly captured the spirit of destination weddings in The Cayman Islands!  We look forward to successful results from this initiative on behalf of our client.

Best of...2008

Well - the new issue of The Knot's Best of 2008 is out!  I have not seen it yet but just read on the fabulous Agnes Lopez's Blog that she was named as an "Editor's Pick" as a best photographer in North Florida!  Congrats Agnes!  Well deserved - we have enjoyed working with her and her amazing images of our Kessler client: Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine.

Will update further once I see the actual magazine but in the meantime, so be sure to let me know if YOU make the list!!!

New Find: The Wedding Chicks

Lots to catch up on here on the Blog!  Just back from a cruise to the Bahamas followed by a quick series of meetings in Grand Cayman last week so digging out...

In the meantime, discovered this super *fun* new Blog via WeddingBee today: The Wedding Chicks: {Sassy Weddings} for Cool Chicks.  Check it out! Love the unique point of view and definite sassy style already!  Good luck to the chicks!

More soon I promise - heading out today to the  super swanky Tavistock Cup golf tournament here in Orlando at the Isleworth Country Club.  Patrick and I are looking forward to seeing Tiger play in person {and arrive at the course via helicopter!}.  Will report back afterwards!

Happy Monday!

The Art of [Client] Engagement

"Engaged customers, according to PeopleMetrics, promote the company or brand, intend to return in the future, go out of their way to do business with the company, and feel passion, even love, for the brand and experience."

We are all about engagement here at Engaging Concepts - at every level - in fact, we have built our business on it!  It seems as if everywhere I turn these days the marketing *buzz* is about creating customer engagement.  Every brand is trying to figure out the best way to 'engage' their customers, guests or clients. 

 

Those of us in the wedding industry have such a unique opportunity to 'engage' our clients because first of all - they are coming to us already engaged [ok, ok - not just in the physical sense but also emotionally!]!!  This major lifestage event is so important to them that they only want to work with companies that excite them and engage them at every turn.  

The payoff?  Passionate Brand Evangelists for your business.  Priceless word-of-mouth exposure. Returning guests, clients or customers for life.

The challenge?  Getting everyone in your organization to not only understand but then buy into the importance of customer engagement. Think of non-wedding industry companies that embody customer and employee engagement and then ways in which you can apply some of those successful principles to your business model.  

Having just gone through an intensive 2 weeks of making the switch from PC to Mac - I am blown away by the unprecedented level of engagement at every possible touch-point by Apple. You could say the same for many others. This is just one of the many topics of discussion we plan to explore in depth at the first ENGAGE!08...would love to hear your thoughts on brands/companies that truly embody "The Art of Engagement" both in wedding-world and outside of it!  Much more to come on this very relevant topic!

Fab Ring shot by The Image is Found [and be sure to RSS their incredible Blog!]

Have You Met Emma Yet?

"email marketing in style" - just how perfect is that tagline for our industry?!?  I have seen a few HTML newsletters appear in my inbox recently that had a great sense of design and flair and when I scrolled to the bottom I noticed they were 'powered by Emma' and immediately clicked on the fun and quirky icon to see what it was all about.  

Sign me up!  In fact, I just did.  For anyone who wants to communicate their message and latest news or products with potential consumers or other industry professionals this is a perfect and very cost-effective option.  It includes custom designed branding and has a flexible account set up that can expand and contract as your needs fluctuate during your different marketing projects and cycles. Plus, I just love the refreshing approach they take - it actually makes me look forward to diving in and creating my next communication piece! Just shows that smart marketing does not take itself too seriously and that infusing *fun* into traditionally formal and staid projects is successful!

Speaking of that - be on the lookout for an exciting announcement very soon regarding the long-awaited ENGAGE!08 -- click here to sign up to receive the Emma-powered breaking news!

"The Smart Planner" Blog

I wanted to share the great new Blog started recently by Liene Stevens of Blue Orchid Designs entitled The Smart Planner: Resources for Professional Wedding Consultants. It is already packed with great tips for wedding industry types and offers a very unique perspective.

Just another great example of how blogs have given a 'voice' to so many talented people allowing us all to benefit from their experience and point-of-view.  Liene emailed me shortly after launching the blog with this introduction:

"As you know, the wedding industry is a multi-billion dollar business, but many people operating wedding businesses don't have the first clue as to how to go about the business side of their work.  They may excel at designing luxurious events, but lack in knowledge of how to set price points or how to go about the basics of customer service.  I know that I have personally been frustrated by the lack of relevant, and up-to-date information on the market specifically for wedding planners.  There are a lot of great resources for photographers and they have made great strides in raising the bar in that area of the industry.  I would love for planners to do the same - to learn how to educate couples as to why consultants are important, to run their businesses in a way that turns a profit and is not merely an expensive hobby, and to operate in an integrous manner.  

In the lifespan of my blog for my wedding planning company, Blue Orchid Designs, I have noticed from the statistics that about half of my daily readership are event planners.  The "teaching posts" I have done have received a great response and I felt it was time to separate the audiences and create a new blog to specifically discuss issues pertaining to running a wedding consulting business."

Be sure to check out both The Smart Planner and Liene's first blog Blue Orchid Designs - 'must reads' for sure!  

Leave it to the gals over at BFF Bridal to do it again!  They have just announced their latest fab "Best in Bridal" event focused on Beauty and Style at the W New York Union Square. Is sure to be amazing - I just love their unique point-of-view, fresh perspective and luxe approach to staging wedding events!!

Making the [HUGE!] switch!!!

Sorry that it has been extra-quiet on the blog this past week.  I have been in computer limbo since last Friday [!!!] as I have been making the big switch over from 20+ years as a PC user to brand, spanking new MacBook Pro! Getting all of my files over has not been an easy task and even managed to confound the Mac "geniuses" but it appears that it is now official [not sure they had ever seen over 13,000 emails in an Inbox before...].  I feel a little like I have been dropped onto another [albeit much 'hipper'] planet but will trust everyone that RAVES about Apple that this too shall pass and I will soon be totally cool and up to speed and back to blogging more regularly! 

Now back to this whole new [bright, shiny]  world...!

Michelle Rago Blogs!

So excited to see the long-awaited launch of the uber talented Michelle Rago's Blog!! Her gorgeous website is updated frequently with some of the most incredible designs [and photography] and I am just truly blown away by her creativity and talent. Each event more spectacular than the last and no two even remotely resemble each other!

I have blogged about Michelle before and just think the world of her work. She is fun, down to earth and a delightful person and I have enjoyed getting to know her better since meeting her at the BFF Bridal event at Henri Bendel in NYC last spring.

Be sure to add this one to your RSS feeds - is sure to be a 'must read' for all!

Welcome to the Blog-sphere Michelle!

"Something Borrowed..."

Congrats to client ADORNBRIDES.com on the launch of their 2008 advertising campaign and brand new website!

The innovative concept of fine jewelry rentals for weddings and other special occasions is catching on as more and more celebrities do so when walking the red carpet. Brides can walk down the aisle in style wearing a necklace that retails for over $42,000, a bracelet that retails for over $11,000 and earrings retailing for over $4,000 for a fraction of the cost! This is one day that settling for the fake stuff is not good enough and ADORN has the answer.

The media has loved this company from day one - with features in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, In Style Weddings and many more. They are also having great success with affiliate programs for high end wedding planners, bridal salon owners and photographers - anyone who might suggest this as a unique and special option to their clients and in return receive a percentage-based referral fee. Again, the win-win-win I love to see in this industry!

They will be launching a fun, new Blog next month and are continuing to add more inventory and REAL wedding images and testimonials - so be sure to check out their site!

Kudos to founder Bert Stouffer and VP of Sales+Marketing Laura Marcusse for their commitment to 'doing it right' and offering a unique service to the wedding industry and of course to 'bling-obsessed' brides-to-be everywhere!!!

Marcy Blogs!

HI-LARIOUS!!!

That is the best and only way I can describe the incomparable Marcy Blum - eventiste extraordinaire. And now the world will get to share in what those of us who know her well have always adored most about Marcy - her brilliant and insanely funny sense of humor!!

Why? Because, Marcy has become a regular blogger on none other than the Huffington Post! That means an amazing 5.7 million 'thought leaders' who visit the site regularly will get a chance to laugh out loud and be inspired by one of the wedding industries most reknowned guru's! [Yes, that is 5.7 million blog readers described as an affluent, educated audience of opinion leaders...for those of you who have yet to start your own blog - you really need to get going - blogs are here to stay!!!].

Check out her first post on Valentine's Day here and be sure to sign up to be notified of future contributions! And for those of you [living under a rock] who are not familiar with Marcy - you can read her latest BIO here.

Marcy and I had a great chance to catch up on this and so much other wedding industry *gossip* [oooops - I meant *news*!] over a wine and a spectacular dinner together at BLT Market the week before last when I was in New York. It was indulgent for the two of us to get to spend so much time together just "us" and, as always, time spent with her just leaves me wanting more, more, more!! Adore her!

In addition to this, she is the top featured "Party Planner" in the current issue of Town&Country Weddings , just finished pulling off Donny Deutsch's 50th Birthday Extravaganza [complete with The Pussy Cat Dolls!], has her own Wikipedia entry and appeared on the TODAY show recently! Marcy has some exciting big plans for the coming year - and I will be sure to share them here as soon as I can! Hugs to her!!

WeddingMapper.com - Explore Globally, Plan Locally

Have you checked out the super cool site: WeddingMapper.com yet? Delight your clients by giving them a *hot* tip they will thank you for - a FREE, interactive and fun Wedding Map that they can easily add to their own wedding websites!

I enjoyed having them as a recent client for a review+assessment project and am thrilled to see the exciting growth and continuing evolution of this promising website!

What is a Wedding Map? A Wedding Mapper wedding map is an interactive and personalized guide to your wedding that shows wedding guests and vendors where and when everything is taking place for the big day and weekend.

They have astounding site traffic and are already getting well over 1,500 couples a week creating personalized wedding maps for their events around the globe! They recently added some fun new DIY templates for additional personalization and to capitalize on this trend. These are really perfect for ANY couple and the guests are raving about them.

Because of their exploding growth, high search engine rankings and coveted 'early' planning-stage visitation, they have recently begun offering affordable vendor listing/advertising packages - starting as low as $9.95 per month. Couples are also starting to use the site as an invaluable planning tool and relying on past WeddingMapper couples who give extensive vendor reviews and recommendations to make their venue and vendor selections.

I highly recommend you spend some time on WeddingMapper to explore maps in your own region and see what brides are doing and saying!

10 Incredible Years!

Impossible to believe that 10 years ago today, *February 21, 1998* I married the most 'outstanding' person in the world for me...Patrick! It has truly been the most incredible ten years of my life - filled with joy and laughter and of course blessed with two special little girls!!!

We all watched our 'wedding movie' tonight together...and it truly stands the test of time! It also really brought home to me that at the end of the day - through the dreaming and wishing and planning and agonizing and stressing about a wedding --- it really is all about the people that come together to celebrate this milestone occasion with you and the memories that they help you to create.

And more than ever, it makes you realize that the many, many details that were once so critically important fade over time...and all that you have left are the images and moments captured on film to help you remember them by. I have always been and will continue to be the biggest proponent of investing in the best professionals you can possibly afford to capture your wedding day...your most cherished memories are in their hands!

We were so very blessed to have had not one but three camera crews on hand for the entire 4-days of our 300+ person destination wedding 'extravaganza' - some of the most respected wedding professionals in the industry: wedding photography guru Andy Marcus of Fred Marcus Photography in NYC, Mitchell Sturat of HQ Productions who blew us away with video and John Unrue who shot over 2,500 black and white-only images on film [and took the image above]!

I feel today the same way I felt 10 years ago - like the luckiest girl in the whole world!!!! Happy Anniversary Sweetie!!!!

Breaking Industry News: Martha Stewart Buys WeddingWire

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Enters Transactions With WeddingWire

MSLO Expands its Weddings Franchise by Taking 40 Percent Stake, Signing Commercial Agreement with Online Wedding Planning Company

NEW YORK, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. NYSE: MSO today announced a series of transactions with WeddingWire (www.weddingwire.com), a localized wedding platform that combines an online marketplace with planning tools and a social community. The deal is part of MSLO's strategy to accelerate its digital footprint and expand its Weddings franchise online and in print. It includes the acquisition of approximately 40 percent of the equity in WeddingWire and a commercial agreement related to software and content licensing and media sales.

WeddingWire was created by a team of entrepreneurs, including two founding members of Blackboard Inc., to provide engaged couples with comprehensive vendor search and easy-to-use online planning and community tools. The platform's SmartMatch(TM) technology allows brides and grooms to find, research, and receive quick price quotes from vendors in their area, saving couples time, energy and money. WeddingWire offers a range of additional applications, including tools for creating a wedding website, managing budgets, guest lists, and seating charts. It also features social networking and user-generated content tools to help couples make better, more informed decisions.

Read Release in its entirety HERE.

Trash the Cake?!

Forget "Trash the Dress..." do I detect an even newer trend in "Trashing the Cake!?!" Check out this wild pic from the amazing Genya Garrett based in Panama City Beach, FL [be sure to check out her totally fun blog!]. I am dying to know the real story behind this and will share details when I get them!!

Speaking to The Knot

I am back from a crazy and intense 2+ weeks out of the office traveling on client business. I have SO much to blog about - and so little time to do it! So, in totally random order, I will just begin!!

I was completely honored to be asked to be the keynote speaker for this year's National Sales Meeting for The Knot + WeddingChannel. Wow. This past Monday I addressed over 140 members of their executive team at Disney's BoardWalk Resort. The topic was "Creating a Consultative Selling Approach" and was based on my experiences as a wedding industry consultant for the past 6 1/2 years in addition to my view from the client-side of the business for the past 17 years! It was an amazing morning and I was totally energized by the entire group.

It was wonderful to get an email later that afternoon from the incredible Carley Roney [who surprised me by giving my introduction to the team] :

"Can I tell you again what a rock star you are? David was really floored and he is not an easy one to impress and all of our people say you are the best speaker we've ever had. I can't thank you enough. So inspiring!"

I just love the energy in a room of wedding-industry professionals - it is unlike any other audience. Wedding industry speaking engagements are becoming an increasingly bigger part of the Engaging Concepts 'mix' and that is thrilling. To be able to share my unique experiences and point-of-view gained by working in so many facets of this special 'wedding world' with so many of the best and brightest minds in the industry is truly the perfect intersection of my passions. I am looking forward to exploring opportunities to further this aspect of the business in the coming year - so stay tuned!

Thanks again to Carley Roney, David Liu and the wonderful Lisa Aballo for pulling it all together - it was such an honor and pleasure to address their dedicated team of professionals - cannot wait to see what 2008 will bring for The Knot - these wedding brand innovators and undisputed market leaders!!