Change in Format

As you all know, I have been busy getting Winsome Events up and running full speed. As a result, my "free time" is limited and as such I won't be able to post hear nearly as often as I might like to (for there are tons of interesting things going on with Mark and I!). I discussed at some point in the past that I might eventually give up on my trying to write everything here in third person story format and today's the day that I've decided to do it. :) It's so much easier to write from first person perspective than it is to write from third person and it's a bit more personal so welcome to the new and improved format. :)

As I am writing this, Mark is attending to his last three clinic entrance exams. I decided to stay here at the school (I had to rush over with his lab jacket without which he would have not been able to take the test!) since he expected that he'd be finished in an hour or less. I am in no way dressed in a manner that makes me want to be in public, but sometimes necessity requires that we let our prissy inhibitions go and save our mate! At any rate, hopefully Mark will bounce back into the Student Services lounge soon. If not, at least I have blogging to keep me occupied.

There are so many things going on with me and the business lately. I met with a really great photographer (I think I mentioned this) his week and she generously offered to provide as many pictures as I'd like for my website. We love Lucie - have a look at her website at www.luciexyz.com. We plan to take her up on her offer, but we're hoping that a majority of the pictures will actually come from friends. So many of you had beautiful weddings and we'd love to share a little bit of your day with the world. Of course we will give your photographer credit. If you'd like to part of our weddings on parade showcase, please email me. :)

Speaking of the website, my designer is working hard to have something up and running by tomorrow. I'm excited! It will incorporate the design scheme that you had a taste of a few posts ago. As soon as it's up and running, I'll be sure to let you all know. We wanted to have at least something in the interim to let brides that meet me at the bridal show on Saturday and Sunday see.

Ah the bridal show....it's coming along. I finished printing a ton of entry forms today. I'm hopeful that I won't be printing tons of them on Saturday evening. :) I plan to stop by Longs today to get a few picture frames that I saw and really liked, although, I just remembered that Bed Bath and Beyond has fabulous frames as do places like Macy's and the like so I'm going to go check those out to help with drawing attention to my little space.

I am fearful that my business cards may not arrive on time. I am surely hopeful that this is not the case, but if so, I at least have 2500 brochures with my contact information that will be finished tomorrow evening. I also have a thousand of those cool little magnets that have a business card on them to hand out. to some of the people. They were kind of an accidental purchase, but they'll be useful in the long run, I'm sure! I am not getting to use the nice business cards that I had made this time around due to issues with printing. I'm not sure what happened, but no one was printing out a nice product. It was very distressing to say the least. Lucie, the dear photographer that we adore, has an excellent printer who she's going to refer me to.

In more bridal show news, I am scheduled to exhibit at another at the Hilton in Pleasanton on August 6. I'm hopeful that this one will be a little less hectic in the preparation phase, but perhaps not. At least I won't have to find table decorations, make brochures or anything of that sort. I just have to have them printed and that is pretty easy. Did I mention that my brochures will be pink? :) My biggest challenge will again be the business cards. I'm hoping they won't be too much of a challenge, though.

I will be the only consultant at this particular bridal faire and I will be one of the first people that brides see. This is good in some ways and not so good in others, perhaps. They'll see me first before their minds have been clouded by countless photographers, caterers and the like, but they'll soon have their minds clouded and will forget all about me! I plan to offer a drawing of some sort (perhaps another bride's emergency kit like I'm doing at the current fair) to encourage them to sign up for my newsletter so that I can remind them of me and what I have to offer them. Then again, I'm a pretty memorable consultant (and the only one at this show). With any luck the layout will be such that they see me on their way out, too....so perhaps being first and last will be a benefit. :)

In other non-bridal show news, I am planning to sign up with a Business Network International group this next week. I attended one of their meetings yesterday and really enjoyed the exuberance of the group. They are all engery-filled fun people. This particular group has several people who are an excellent match for my wedding consulting business including a hair and make-up artist, a florist, and even another party planner who specializes in upscale non-wedding events.

Finally, I will be on a national radio show tomorrow afternoon/evening (depending on where you are in the country). If you've heard of me speak of Startup Nation (Is! You still need to tell me your community name so I can introduce you there!), that is the show I'll be on. If not, it's great for those of us who are starting our own business ventures. I would highly recommend you check out startupnation.com. At any rate, I've been invited to give an elevator pitch - a one minute opportunity (while you're on an elevator of course) to create buzz about your business in the hopes of obtaining outside funding. I'm very excited about this opportunity and have the perfect pitch...I just need to memorize it! They have a podcast of their latest show on their website every week so I'll be sure to let you know where to find it and listen to me pitch "the boys" and get some feedback on my content and style. I'm excited about the opportunity to gain some national exposure for my planning services - especially the newlywed financial planning services which I am trademarking. Wish me luck!

Hmmm...Mark's still not back yet and I've run out of things to say (amazing, I know!). So, we'll call this good for today and go see if there are any emails that I need to attend to. Hope you're all doing well and keeping as cool as possible.