Here we are 608 days post Pandemic shut down. Hawaii stopped in time on March 25, 2020. For professional eventiers, this was the catalyst that either shot them like a cannonball into another direction, or lit a raging fire that refused to die. I felt real, mind numbing, deafening, painful depression, for the first time in my life. Therapy is always a good idea,
but I am a stubborn soul and basically R E F U S E D to give give up. With no choice but to meet our present need (ie. debt), I spent an insane amount of time researching, experimenting and working my a** off to make what we have BETTER, a still small voice kept saying "you already have what you need" TYJ. WHAT I POSESSED DETERMINATION TENACITY PURPOSE SKILL INVENTORY WHAT I WAS LACKING FOCUS Because I was paying attention to everything but my business FUNDS Yah sure, we took advantage of the PPP, PPP2 and the EIDL. Who are we kidding.... DIRECTION Where do I start? Taking a step back to honestly audit my business was the first step. John and I spent many late nights talking about what we "wished" our business would look like if we could "live our best life" We wanted to be AUTHENTIC Not to be moved to act/change because its what others needed/wanted. Being authentic means you don't have to compromise your worth, your vision or desire for your business to stay in business Solution: Do it our way, in a good way. It might not be what everyone wants, but it WILL be right for the right client We wanted to offer something DIFFERENT Unfortunately different is short lived and anything successful will be repeated. We chose the be the success, that others followed Solution: Don't look backwards, because we're not there We wanted to HAVE REACH Not just to be reached by the public, but to reach our ideal client But advertising is expensive. Solution: Up our promotion game and really put ourselves out there with honest information We wanted to be VALUED We were the first to do that and now it's being marketed as someone else's design. Well Sh**! Solution: Don't compromise our integrity to "get the business. Clients will see us" We wanted to be HAPPY Such a simple concept, yet so ridiculously difficult to achieve in this business Solution: If we are not representing our true self in our business, we will be chasing the proverbial carrot for the rest of our lives. Time to do what we love, not just act like we love what they want. Maybe you're not quite there. Business is very personal, it's not just a way to make money. Preventing business burn out is simply doing what you love, not pretending to love what you do. Re-invent yourself and your business regularly. Attract the right people and happiness will follow. I'm happy today And I love my clients
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What goes IN to your event is what you get out of it.
Event service providers are springing up everywhere these days. How do you know what or who is right for you? This is where doing your due diligence is key. It IS a lot of work but you'll be thankful you did it. Anyone can look good on paper (regardless of the atrocious spelling and deplorable grammar...sorry a pet peeve of mine), their reviews can even be glowing, but are they prepared and armed with a good plan, insured against mishaps or even seasoned enough to be a good source of knowledge? -How long have they been in business? This should not be the deciding factor, as there are some vendors who are the epitome of professionalism and have only just opened their doors. While the other side of the pendulum is a polar opposite. -Insured? This IS the deal breaker. You'll want to be certain the business you use, is insured, but even more importantly is their staff or sub-contractors insured? Putting up lights is not just a plug and play responsibility. YOU could be faced with a major liability if something goes wrong. Most venues don't permit uninsured vendors on site. To discover the day of your event that you have hired an uninsured vendor, and they won't be given access to your site is already too late to do anything about it. -Familiar with venues? Knowing the power need and areas that require special attention or preparation, is vital to the health of your event. It's not in your best interest to hire a vendor with a just wing it attitude. -Are they educated/experienced? There is more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak. While traditional education means going to school, there are other ways of learning and perfecting a trade. Pay close attention to the continuing efforts of the vendor.
Any business who's been around long enough, has had their fair share of bad reviews. In my best Abe Lincoln voice "You can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time". THEN there is the time when a business really DID mess up. YES it happens to the best...ALL of them. No single business is immune. The question here, would be how did they handle it. Ask the tough questions, your event (although kind of cliche) is a once in a lifetime event. You don't have the luxury of lessons learned. Paying close attention from the get go will help you find and TRUST the right professionals for you. Because no one can say it better than Country Living Magazine
10 Things Wedding Guests Absolutely Hate Favors
Our momma's and momma's friends all had them. We fondly remember opening the sweet little treats, as if they were our own personal gifts. The trend seems to be making a comeback in the form of homemade and organic. This translates into costly. "Gifting" your guests, is not just an added expense, it is an added chore. Don't get us wrong, we ADORE favors, done tastefully and of course if the budget allows. Unnecessary Decor How many candles and little trinkets do you really need on the tables to make it really pretty and uniquely yours? Surprisingly not as much as you're told... or should I say...up sold? RSVP Cards Include a phone number, email or evite. Designate someone from your bridal party or your planner to receive the electronic rsvps and calls. The paper trail is not necessarily worth the additional cost. Especially since we have all this technology at our fingertips. Save The Dates Ditto on the evites for this one. Menus A nice touch in lieu, would be to have the chef give you a quick table side presentation on his wonderful meal. It's interactive and may cost you a lot less than the printed pretties. If you DO have the means to add this to your wedding collection Programs Let it flow! Personally, I don't like programs. Your guests could become anxious with with expectation if something is out of order or not on time. You could become a slave to a script that almost never goes off without a hitch. Rehearsal Lunch/Dinner Sure you need practice, we understand. A big hoopla is not the way to go. Spend the money on your big day. Your wedding party and compulsory staff need be present. Keep it informal. Hit a trendy sandwich shop and go Dutch. Even if you want to pay for everyone, it still won't cost you as much as another event. Venue Get the right size space. Don't go big and then struggle to make it intimate. Sure you LOVE that one location and have always dreamed of having your wedding there, but with a smaller guest list it will put a strain on the budget and force you to add decor items and details you wouldn't need with the right size venue Signature Drinks His and Her special cocktails are the rage. A good chocolate martini is not only expensive but doesn't go a long way. I'm salivating just thinking about it! If I were at your wedding, you could pay me over $200 to drink up all that Godiva chocolate, multiply that by 50-60 people. Ouch. Small Cake-Big Dessert Table Not so new idea, great savings. With a smaller cake you can opt for a prettier design without the price tag. Your caterer usually has a dessert selection your guests will love. Cupcakes are also a nice alternative to cake slices. Perfectionist or Control Freak?If you are planning your own wedding, you just might be a perfectionist. Striving for perfection is a commendable virtue, but, when does your quest for perfection cross the line into a control issue?
The down side of being a perfectionist, while planning your wedding:
That being said, hiring a planner who is also a perfectionist, might just be your saving grace! Call us for our insiders recommendations for planners that we think is your perfect fit. Imagine the horror... a vendor calls to cancel just two weeks away, because she's over booked her weekend? Yes, it HAS happened. We are on an ISLAND?!!! .... What now? Panic is a viable option.
It goes without saying that this could be disastrous! Not so. Hawaii is home to some of the world's most beautiful and fragrant flowers and fillers. A good local floral designer can turn your catastrophe into something unexpectedly beautiful. In the midst if an unraveling plan you find what you're really made of. This also might be time to consider silks. You can still get the desired look but without the urgency of overnight shipping and out of stock messages.
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