17 Feb 10 Planning Weddings and Commitment Ceremonies on a Cruise Ship
Much like planning meetings and corporate events on cruise ships, planning onboard weddings, commitment ceremonies and vow renewal ceremonies can actually be easier and more cost-effective than their land-based counterparts. Whether your clients opt for a very affordable one- or two-night cruise, or a luxurious two-week cruise for both their nuptials and their honeymoon, cruise ship weddings are sure to be a memorable, fun event for all who attend.
When couples choose a cruise, they no longer have to worry about entertaining out-of-town guests during their entire stay, whether or not there will be enough alcohol at the bar during their reception and whether or not the DJ will show up. They will have the benefit of onboard entertainment, meals and some drinks throughout the cruise being included in the price, utilizing the music and bar services available through the cruise line and having the option of hanging out with their guests or hiding away on their own in the days before and after the ceremony.
As the wedding planner, you will enjoy a simple, convenient planning experience working with a cruise line that is sure to have substantial experience in having weddings onboard. Between your professional services and their well-established protocols, planning your clients’ onboard wedding or ceremony will be a breeze.
Tags: Alcohol, Commitment Ceremonies, Counterparts, Couples, Cruise Line, Cruise Ship Weddings, Cruise Ships, Cruise Weddings, Drinks, Fun Event, Honeymoon Cruise, Night Cruise, Nuptials, Planning Weddings, Professional Services, Protocols, Substantial Experience, Town Guests, Vow Renewal Ceremonies, Wedding Planner
15 Feb 10 Should You Add Wedding Planning to Your Event Planning Business?
Some meeting and event planners focus solely on working for corporate clients, some have found a niche in planning SMERF events and some focus primarily on more personal occasions, such as weddings, commitment ceremonies, anniversaries and retirement parties. While there are some planners who attempt be a Jack or Jill of all trades and provide every type of event planning service to every type of client, most find that specializing in a particular area is the best way to make a name for themselves and make their jobs easier. This is what is recommended by most professionals and is what works best for most meeting and event planners.
So, when is it a good idea to add wedding planning to your menu of services if you are not specifically a wedding planner? There are some occasions when going against the logic of sticking to a limited selection of events is a good idea. For example, when planners are first starting out in the field of event planning, they may be happy to take on any event that comes their way. In these beginning stages, this also allows for the opportunity to see how you feel about planning weddings and to determine if this might be the right fit for you and your future as a planner.
WEDDINGS AT SEA
Something else to consider is planning weddings at sea. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruise lines are reporting a huge jump in cruise weddings – up to 60% during the last decade. It’s no wonder – cruise ship weddings make planning easy and offer an unforgettable wedding destination and honeymoon in one. The ceremony takes place while the ship is in port, either onboard or at a romantic setting ashore – and the celebration continues as family and friends enjoy the fabulous dining and entertainment options onboard their ship.
But, even seasoned planners who have never planned a wedding may suddenly have one of their best corporate clients ask them if they could plan their daughter’s wedding. If you have the time and think that you can do a good job planning the event, this would be one of those times when stepping outside of your normal event range might be in order.
Tags: Anniversaries, Clia, Commitment Ceremonies, Corporate Clients, Cruise Lines International, Cruise Ship Weddings, Cruise Weddings, Entertainment Options, Event Planners, Event Planning, Family And Friends, Jill Of All Trades, Last Decade, Meeting Planners, Niche, Personal Occasions, Planning Service, Retirement Parties, Wedding Destination, Wedding Planner
28 Sep 09 Wedding Planning on a Budget
Planning a wedding for a down to earth couple can be a real joy. It may be their first trip to the altar or one (or both!) of them may have skipped down the aisle multiple times. In either case, they want a simple, meaningful ceremony and prefer to spend the bulk of their budget on the honeymoon rather than cake toppers and ice sculptures.
What suggestions can you make for people on a budget? A honeymoon is a special event and the happy couple deserves to relax and enjoy their trip and each other.
Encourage them to stay in the country or go no further than a neighboring country, especially if they are located close to the border. If they have their hearts set on an island honeymoon, suggest the Florida Keys or Catalina Island. Look into the Golden Isles off the Georgia and Alabama coastline for cozy bed and breakfast inns.
Have they considered registering for their honeymoon with a travel agency? They could request a donation to the honeymoon in lieu of wedding gifts. Neither the giver nor the couple ever has to worry about returning the gift for something they really wanted.
Another bonus is turning one of those honeymoon photographs into a special thank you card. Instead of “wish you were here”, they can send a heartfelt “thank you for sending us.”
Tags: Bed And Breakfast Inns, Cake Toppers, Catalina Island, Coastline, Cozy Bed, Earth Couple, First Trip, Florida Keys, Golden Isles, Happy Couple, Honeymoon Travel, Ice Sculptures, Island Honeymoon, Meaningful Ceremony, Multiple Times, Planning A Wedding, Real Joy, Travel Agency, Wedding Gifts, Wedding Planning
03 Aug 09 Fourth Quarter Play Strategies–Weddings
The last post was about vacations for the wealthy and borderline affluent. However, there is one play that almost all families will make in their lifetimes, and that is the wedding plan.
The wedding changed drastically the day the economy crashed in November of 2008. Many people who normally spend money into five digits were scaling back to short-and-sweet. Overheard at a restaurant: “Then it’s settled. We’ll offer them a down payment on a house if they will elope.” (more…)
Tags: Airplane, Building Relationships, Celebrations, Digits, Divorce, Fourth Quarter, Frugality, Great Relationship, Happy Marriage, Human Beings, Last Decade, Lavish Wedding, Lifetimes, Pat On The Back, Speculation, Spending Habits, Unnecessary Expenses, Vacations, Wedding Plan, Weddings
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