Forbes Magazine released a list of the Most Luxurious Honeymoon Destinations in 2005. I know what two words you’re thinking. “Honeymoon budget.” Let me show how you can emulate some of the Most Luxurious Honeymoon Destinations without going over your budget.

Forbes describes each honeymoon destination in detail. Read the summarized descriptions of just five locations and think about what appeals to you most about that honeymoon destination. Then apply it to your upcoming honeymoon. We want you to embark on one of the most important journeys together—we want the both of you to enter your paradise.

Amanjena means “peaceful paradise.” Open-air fountains flank the entrance, which is sheltered by palm and olive trees. The architecture, particularly the rose-colored walls and open-air buildings, was modeled on the Moorish packed-earth buildings that once crowded Marrakech. Reflecting pools and the guests’ pavilions radiate out from the bassin, the central-heated swimming pool.

Recreate your paradise by thinking of what aesthetically pleases the both of you. What types of architecture do you like? Modern, Victorian, Art Deco? Which body of water relaxes you? Oceans, lakes, rivers, and/or pools? What little things can you bring or buy to make your hotel or bed and breakfast a paradise. Candles, chocolate, flowers?

New York can be one of the most romantic cities in the world, but there’s nothing sexier than feeling like you own it. The Four Seasons knows how exhausting a honeymoon can be, which is why packing and unpacking services are offered free of charge. You can call ahead to request to have a romantic selection of CDs and DVDs waiting for you upon arrival.

Does your paradise include being waited on hand and foot? Can’t afford room service or butler? Take turns waiting on each other! You can do this very romantically too, you know.

Does your paradise include your favorite technology? A great honeymoon present for the both of you is buying an iPad, mp3 player, or even upgrading your cell phone into a smart phone. If you have one of these already, bring it along to the honeymoon. These devices can enhance your honeymoon by playing your favorite music and watching your favorite shows after a long day of adventuring, sight-seeing, etc. Just promise you won’t be doing work while you’re on your honeymoon.

Lémuria Resort of Praslin: A three-tiered pool leads down to the ocean, and guests can play tennis, windsurf or kayak, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and mountain biking.

If you both love to keep busy, find your paradise that offers new or favorite activities. Packages are generally affordable. Ask if you substitute certain activities for another if there are some you’re not comfortable. What about there’s one thing you want to do but your partner doesn’t or vice versa? Compromise. Take scuba-diving. Try snorkeling together first and then see if you or your loved one is now willing to try scuba-diving.

What kind of activities are out there?  Compile a list by reflecting on your relationship journey. Think of your favorite dates. Anything you’d want to do again? Think of what you have talked about with one another—your wishes, desires, to-dos. Now is one of the best times because you’ll be acting on your wishes and desires together.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve, a private game reserve, in South Africa takes its name from the Sand River, which winds through it, and you’ll see lions, elephants and hippopotamus all in a day’s work. The best part? You don’t have to give up your creature comforts to see the creatures.

Do animals belong in your paradise? Wherever your honeymoon may be, try to find a local zoo, game reserve, bird sanctuary, aquarium, etc. Going on a road trip or not traveling too far by plane? Why not take your pet(s) with you? Do your research and find pet-friendly airlines and hotels and make sure your vehicle is spacious enough for you newlyweds and your furry friends.

Uma Paro: Yoga, hiking, holistic therapy and trips to annual festivals are just part of the experience at Uma Paro. And the stunning scenery and modern accommodations give you a chance to breathe deeply and connect with each other’s inner Buddhist.

Make your paradise a spiritual journey! If you and your partner share the same spiritual beliefs, why not strengthen your relationship and yourself at your honeymoon? Talk to the head of your place of worship and see if there are any couples’ retreats, religious pilgrimages, anything that the both of you will find rewarding.

Read more Most Luxurious Honeymoon Destinations to see if any other places sparks your and your significant other’s interests, dreams, fantasies. Save this list for future anniversary vacations and/or vow renewals. Any place can be your paradise!

Pictures and Descriptions © Forbes Magazine

Commentary © Bridal Show Producers International

1. Bridal Show Producers International is the only organization which strives to further the interests of the bridal show industry.
2. Since 1996, BSPI has provided our members a forum for improving their shows, obtaining advice, and increasing their profits.
3. Membership in BSPI affords you the opportunity to network with bridal show producers from all over the world and secure opportunities to reach your target market.
4. Associate membership includes the opportunity to promote your business at our annual BSPI conference.
5. Since couples-to-be usually attend one bridal show, they attend the best bridal show out there and it is a BSPI-produced show!
6. Here is one new associate member’s testimony:
   

   Bruce Thiebauth, Bill Bosch of Cash Flow Management, Inc., and Don Freedman

   I have to admit that I was not sure how the whole (BSPI Conference) event would go, but to my surprise it was great.  I got to meet some wonderful people, they were all very nice and friendly, and I even picked up a couple of new clients.  I was not expecting the latter part.  Usually one has to be an associate member for some time prior to picking up clients.  I was more than stunned when I arrived home to find new clients. -Bill Bosch, Cash Flow Management, Inc.

7. Let’s see your business name on the list of current BSPI Associate Members:

Carico International Inc.

Cash Flow Management, Inc.

Wedding University/The Wedding Marketing Blog

ExpoSites

Get Married LLC

Men’s Wearhouse and Moore’s Clothing for Men

MissNowMrs.com

Premier Bride

Royal Prestige

Shoff Darby Companies, Inc.

The Knot

WeddingWire, Inc.

WedSpace.com

Weddzilla

Applicants must give references and subscribe to our Code of Ethics. To apply for membership in BSPI, click here to request a membership application. For more details, please contact our Membership Director, Don Freedman, at Don@33bride.com.

We look forward to having you as a member!

© Bridal Show Producers International

1. Read your venue contract before you sign it. Know what you are being asked to insure and convey those requirements to your insurance agent. If you do not agree with something in the contract, now is the time to negotiate that with the venue.
2. Inspect the venue prior to set-up. Notify in writing the venue management of any damage or unsafe conditions you see prior to occupying the space. You do not want to be responsible for damage you did not cause so put them on notice upfront. This also gives them an opportunity to deal with any unsafe issues or areas.
3. Review & update your exhibitor contract annually. Have this checked annually by your insurance agent. Keep up on trends and issues in the consumer show world and insurance and update the contract to stay current and to protect yourself.
4. Hire subcontractors with insurance. When hiring a decorator, security, and A/V people, it is imperative that they have their own insurance and provide you with a certificate of insurance listing your company as an additional insured.
5. Be aware of how you are hiring talent and protect yourself accordingly.  Where are you getting your models from? Who is insuring them if they get injured      or injure someone else? It is important to have properly signed contracts and waivers if they are to be considered independent contractors. If they are not, then you need to insure them on workers’ compensation.
6. How are  you staffing your bridal show? If you are having people come and work at your show, you are going to be responsible for them unless you are hiring them from an employment agency or they have their own insurance. You can call them independent contractors but from an insurance standpoint unless they have their own business and insurance, they are your employees and you need insurance to cover their injuries.

   

   Safety comes first at every bridal show!

7. Educate your staff. Prior to the show opening, review the show with them. Make sure everyone knows what the schedule is and what their job entails. Review good loss control practices such as seeing a taped cord coming loose to do something about it. Your staff should be told to react to hazards on the show floor by being pro-active not re-active to potential slip/fall/trip hazards.
8. Not purchasing Event Cancellation and Interruption Insurance early enough. Technically when you sign your venue contract or start collecting exhibitor fees, you should insure your show for possible cancellation. Once you start collecting money you would need to refund if the show did not go on. Things happen beyond our control that can affect events. Venues get damaged—think hurricanes, tornadoes, fires & roof collapse from ice & snow.
9. Take the time prior to your bridal show to analyze and seek insurance coverage for special risks. Are you borrowing a collection to be displayed? Are you renting any equipment?  Who is responsible for it? Discussing ahead of time anything “special” that is going on at your show with your insurance agent allows proper time to quote the extra coverage needed. Is the additional cost for insurance worth the added-value the exhibit or exposure will bring to your show?
10. Don’t wait until the last minute! Order your insurance in advance; most venues require 30 days ahead for liability. Be sure to give sufficient time for the insurance agent and insurance company to review and quote your cancellation insurance and      return it to you for review with time to purchase in advance of the show. Please keep in mind the more time you give your insurance professionals the better job they can do on your behalf. Pay close attention to the expiration dates on the insurance quotations.

Content © Allison Steeves, Shoff Darby Companies

Photo credit: stock.xchng

One of the benefits of Bridal Show Producers International membership is attending the annual BSPI Conference. Not only is it the biggest bridal show networking event of the year, here you will learn so much about the bridal show industry from leading bridal show producers and successful wedding vendors.

Andy Ebon presenting “What’s Up with Pinterest?”

Andy is an in-demand marketing and motivational speaker, writer/author, and consultant. With industry experience of 2000 weddings, and three decades of hospitality and wedding marketing, BSPI is honored that Andy presented at the conference.

Andy explained why Pinterest is a great social media website for bridal show producers to start using if you haven’t done so already. Because Pinterest visually engages couples with their wedding-planning, this is one great way to promote your bridal shows and your exhibitors.

First, what is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a virtual pin board of images, videos, and other objects supplemented by description and links.

How do people use Pinterest?

Think of it as the best visual planner social media site available where people:

• Store images of things they dream of having
• Keep their thoughts and ideas organized
• Share their ideas with others
• Get inspiration for their careers or hobbies

As a bridal show producer, how will Pinterest benefit my shows? You should use it because it is tailor-made for brides, vendors, and show producers:

• Idea and image driven: mimics a bride’s inspiration board, in format
• Support your brand: showcase both your show and your exhibitors
• Large target audience: 400k users to 10 million in the last year
• Top two most popular pin board categories: fashion & desserts
• 2/12: Drove more traffic to retailers than LinkedIn, YouTube and Google, combined
• 3/12 Third most active social media site

How do I know if Pinterest is working?

• Customize your Google Analytics
• Pinreach: focuses on bringing insight and analytics. Provides a PinReach score, a numeric representation of a member’s Pinterest influence based on a series of social attributes.
• Pinpuff: aiming to accurately measure Pinterest user’s influence, reach and virality on Pinterest. Assigns a Pinfluence score—a measure of your popularity, influence and reach on Pinterest. It also decides monetary value of your pins & traffic your pins generate.
• Pinvolve: Turns your Facebook news feed into a Pinterest-style news feed essentially converting your Facebook page into a Pinterest pin board.

Thanks, Andy, for your “What’s Up with Pinterest” presentation. Hope to see you again at the next BSPI Conference.

Presented by Andy Ebon, Wedding University – Copyright 2012

The new 2012-2014 Bridal Show Producers International Board of Directors, winner of 2012 Director’s Cup Award, 2012 Spirit Award winners, and 2012 Star Award winners were announced at the BSPI Conference on Saturday, May 5, at the W Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona.

2012-2014 BSPI Board of Directors

Director: Sue Gallardo, Business Network, Sacramento, California
Co-Director: Bill Heaton, Great Bridal Expo Group, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Secretary: Sue Diehl, Visuelle Productions, New London, Wisconsin
Treasurer/Past Director: Bruce Thiebauth, Bridal Fair®, Omaha, Nebraska
Membership Director: Don Freedman, FreedmanAssociates, Greensboro, North Carolina
International Member Relations Director: Brad Buckles, Buckles Group, Inc., Bellevue, Washington
Member Relations Director: Amanda Andrews, Wedding Palace Bridal Show Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Image and Branding Director: Laura DiGirolamo, Forever Bridal Productions, Raleigh, North Carolina
Advertising and PR Director: Ralph Desuse, Kiss The Bride Productions, Pasadena, California
Website Director: Fred Jacob, Jacob Marketing, Inc., Knoxville, Tennessee
Education Director: Tommy Vaughan, Elite Bridal Events LLC, Snellville, Georgia
Supplies and Services Director: Marc Wheeler, Wedding Festivals, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina
Associate Member Director: Jerry Russo, Royal Prestige, Mt. Lake, New Jersey

Bill Heaton with Bruce Thiebauth

The Director’s Cup recognizes the industry’s most outstanding bridal show producers who demonstrate professionalism, character, integrity and performance. The award is the highest and most prestigious recognition given in the bridal show producer industry. The 2012 Director’s Cup winner is Bill Heaton, Great Bridal Expo Group, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

Buzz and Sue Gallardo, Bruce Thiebauth, and Kathie James

The Spirit Award is an award given to members by the current Director to recognize members who give of themselves “above and beyond” to the organization.  This year BSPI honors two winners: Sue & Buzz Gallardo, Business Network, Sacramento, California and Kathie James, The Bridal Group of Companies, Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The Star Awards are bestowed to bridal show productions based on certain advertising categories. The Board of Directors select the categories and these categories and specific criteria may change from year to year. Entries are anonymously judged by a third-party panel to include experts in the respective categories. Here are the 2012 Star Awards Winners.

Best Bridal Promotion Piece: Bridal Spectacular Events Inc., Las Vegas, Nevada

Tommy Vaughan, Debra and Laura Hansen of Bridal Spectacular®, and Brad Buckles

Tommy Vaughan, Brad Buckles, and Matthew Trettel of The Wedding Guys®

Best TV & Advertising: The Wedding Guys®, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Best Exhibitor Marketing Piece: The Wedding Guys®, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Best Social Media: Wedding Festivals, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina

Tommy Vaughan, Marc Wheeler of Wedding Festivals, and Brad Buckles

Tommy Vaughan, Bev Howard & Linda Williams of UK Wedding Shows, Brad Buckles, and Bruce Thiebauth

Best Radio Advertising: UK Wedding Shows, Southport Merseyside, England, UK

Best Fashion Show (Over $12,000): UK Wedding Shows, Southport Merseyside, England, UK

Best Fashion Show (Under $12,000): The Premier Bridal Shows, Ridgeland, Mississippi

Tommy Vaughan, Lynda Jungkind of The Premier Bridal Shows, and Brad Buckles

Congratulations, new board members and honored winners!

© Bridal Show Producers International

There’s even more to a bridal show than you expect! Every bridal show, bridal expo, wedding event has the following:

• Caterers and bakers
• Photographers and videographers
• florists, choreographers, designers, & planners
• DJs & bands
• Reception venues such as hotels, golf courses, banquet halls, etc.
• Travel agents & airline representatives
• Stores that offer gift registries
• AND SO MUCH MORE!

When you are at the bridal show, you will:

• sample cake-tastings
• view wedding fashion shows
• win prizes from vendors
• meet other brides and grooms
• walk away with your wedding, honeymoon, and future home planned!

Do not let this overwhelm you. There are many bridal shows that range in attendance and exhibitors. If you attend national bridal shows, do not be discouraged by the long lines—every exhibitor is worth visiting. If you plan on having your wedding in a smaller city or town, do consider going to the nearest bridal show. Many vendors will travel to your wedding location and you and significant other will have the ultimate wedding experience.

Couples, try to attend bridal shows together to take advantage of the numerous special offers ONLY available at bridal shows. However, if you are pressed for time or the both of you cannot attend the show together; do your research at home together in advance. Each bridal show should release a list of exhibitors that are going to be at that bridal show. Find exhibitors on that list that you want to meet after reviewing their portfolio or ratings online. Pick two or three choices in case your first selection does not work out.

What about life after the wedding? Bridal shows include honeymoon and gift registry vendors. You and your future spouse need to plan the romantic getaway. Speak with travel agents and airline representatives after you visit the wedding vendors’ booths. Travel agents offer great package deals and airline representatives offer credit cards where you can earn free flights. Want that perfect well-furnished home? Consult the stores that offer gift registries. Find out if they offer any additional perks such as discounts on gift registry items that you didn’t receive from your guests.

Overall, to save time and eliminate stress, attend a bridal show! EVERYONE in the bridal show and wedding industry wants you to have the ultimate wedding whatever your budget and preferences may be. So team up with wedding pros you meet at bridal shows. You will not go home disappointed; you will go home with a successfully planned wedding, honeymoon, and future home of your dreams!

Let bridal shows help you walk away with a wedding of a lifetime.

Photo © stock.xchng

Words © Bridal Show Producers International

It all comes down to "Yes, I do."

To succeed in the wedding industry, you need solid strategies for breaking the barriers that keep brides from saying YES to your products and services.

So what gets in your way?

• Your competition?
• Yourself?
• Are you your own worst enemy?
• Do you lack confidence and/or experience?  Are you afraid to promote yourself?
• Do you cut your prices to get the sale?
• Are you intimidated by networking and social marketing?
• Do you create face-to-face opportunities such as attending bridal shows?

Here are some of the ways you can break business barriers.

Network and Find Leads

First, who do you already know in the wedding industry? Friends? Relatives? Wedding business owners you have collaborated with in the past? Strike up a conversation.  See how the both of you can help each other. Next, join local and national wedding associations if you have not already. If there are no associations in your city or state, consider starting one! Be proactive in your association(s) by attending events and contribute any way you can. Lastly, bridal shows are the quintessential wedding networking events—another (major) great reason to participate.

Create Face-to-Face Sales Opportunities

An important motto to remember: sell smarter, not harder. You can overcome roadblocks with face-to-face opportunities. Again, a great way to create these opportunities is exhibiting at bridal shows, bridal expos, wedding events, etc. You’re going to meet many potential clients and nothing succeeds better than eyeball to eyeball.

Turn Your Pitch into a Story

What inspired your wedding business? What makes you continue your wedding business day after day? Why do you love working with brides and grooms?  Create a lasting impression by using your pitch as a story to motivate your prospective clients. Then use your story through all of your social media marketing. Don’t expect negative results or reactions, but be ready for them. Ultimately, you want to build relationships, not just customers.

Write Contracts That Put You in Control

Write your contracts so that you are in control in your business relationships. First, define the relationships between you/your company and the wedding couple. This clarity of definition controls the relationship and removes speculation about what was agreed upon. For more guidance and support, consult an attorney in your area.

Provide excellent service 100% of the time

Be dedicated to service before, during, and AFTER the sale. In this economy the consumer expects a fair price and great service. Your past and current clients will refer your business to their friends, relatives, and coworkers because you provided outstanding service. Word gets around quickly through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs and more. Every social media you are using to promote your business, your clients will use to endorse or criticize your services.

Have a Plan

Plan for next month. Plan for the next six months. Plan for the next wedding season even. Long-term planning gives you and your team a schedule to work with. Incorporate your wedding association events, local bridal shows, and bookings all together. Be constantly on the lookout for more clients but give yourself some breathing space to meet all these future clients.

Grow Your Team and Your Business

When is it time to hire more employees? When do you need to handle the jobs yourself? Take these questions into consideration as you plan the future of your business. When managing your staff, keep everyone on the same page because you cannot break business barriers alone.

You need to do these things to break business barriers.

Great Bridal Expo® ; Great Bridal Expo Group, Inc. Copyright 2012 All Rights Reserved.

Thou Shalt Be Prepared

First, choose the right wedding event. For professional and well-connected experiences, find shows that are headed by experienced promoters, usually members of Bridal Show Producers International (BSPI).

Plan the following details ahead of time. You need to choose the right booth size and choose prizes and gifts for the brides and grooms. Make a budget for the booth design and a budget for staff. Create collateral in advance.

Prepare an emergency bridal show marketing tool-kit:

• business cards
• breath mints
• change of clothes
• safety pins
• duct tape (this is for your display, not you hopefully).

If you need questions answered, talk to your sales representative. They should be willing and able to explain anything you need to prepare for the bridal show. If they can’t or won’t, you’re in the wrong show.

Thou Shalt Prepare Thy Staff

You must educate your staff before the show. Instruct them on how they should represent your business. Their demeanor and appearance is important because the first impression is critical. Rehearse your pitch. Make a schedule ahead of time so your staff knows when to show up. Pencil-in scheduled breaks in case your staff gets overwhelmed or an emergency arises.

If it’s just you, make sure you have water and snacks. Remember to breathe before you speak to your next customer. Don’t worry, if you present yourself and your booth correctly, this show will fly by very fast.

Thou Shalt Proclaim Your Name

Don’t forget to display your business name. Common sense? Yes, but people forget sometimes the simplest detail all too often. Have adequate signage for not just your name but for your promotions, collateral, and samples.

Don't make this mistake at your bridal show!

Thou Shall Not Have a Boring Booth

Simple touches make a big difference. Provide strong visuals. Be creative. Welcome couples into the booth so provide ample (walking) space.

Grab everyone's attention at a bridal show

Thou Shall Not Overwhelm

Even though we say to not have a boring booth, you cannot overwhelm your potential clients. Keep it simple. Don’t unload your business into your booth. You need to create a comfortable environment for the couples to come in and for yourself and staff also. You want to come home at the end of a successful day feeling fantastic, not feeling miserable about your experience because you kept tripping over your own merchandise.

Not only is it about the booth, but about the information you present. The right information is the right amount. So set appointments, don’t sign contracts. Here, you came to the bridal show for clients. Next, have the clients come to you to see your place of business, to see how you operate, to examine more portfolios to ensure they will do business with you.

Thou Shalt Follow Up

Work your lead list the next business day (not the weekend, you and your clients need to relax). Work it again. Call or e-mail them. Tell them to check out your website and blog. Invite them to follow you on Facebook or Twitter. Confirm appointments.

The biggest commandant you shouldn’t break?

Thou shall participate!

According to credible industry sources, over 900,000 brides and grooms will be attending bridal shows over the next year. You cannot afford to miss out on these opportunities!

Look at all those potential clients!

So follow these seven commandments for your next bridal show experience. Not only do bridal shows help you, they create perfect opportunities for your clients: the brides and grooms of today.

 Great Bridal Expo® ; Great Bridal Expo Group, Inc. Copyright 2012 All Rights Reserved.

Bridal Show Producers International is here to help you!

Let’s look at the big picture. Your bridal show dreams come true when your clients’ wedding dreams come true.  Bridal Show Producers International’s blog is now available to help achieve dreams for all producers, exhibitors/vendors, brides, and grooms. Let us help enhance your bridal show experience by offering two important services:

Bridal Show Producers International commits to connecting show producers, exhibitors, and couples together for a successful bridal show experience.

For show producers and exhibitors/vendors

By strengthening the relationship between show producer and exhibitor, you are not only helping each other but you are creating the ultimate wedding experience for brides, grooms, and their guests all over the world. So, let us introduce the person(s) behind the business. Show producers, share your success stories. Offer advice to exhibitors. Tell us who YOU are. Exhibitors, share your favorite bridal show experience. Offer advice to other exhibitors. Tell us who YOU are. Make this blog your networking/marketing tool. This personal approach can secure your current connections and establish new relationships from around the world. Reading other professionals’ experiences is a great source of inspiration and possibly humor.

For brides and grooms

Even though the blog is primarily aimed at wedding professionals, we’re here to help you understand the world of bridal shows, bridal expos, wedding expos, etc. Not only do we inform you of the next bridal show in your area, we want to maximize your bridal show experience and offer couples’ testimonials about their experiences.

Bridal Show Producers International provides a wealth of reliable and current economic, marketing, and wedding information.

For everyone

After we connect you to industry professionals or couples, let’s focus on what is currently happening within the industry. It is our job to inform producers and exhibitors on anything that can help your business whether they would be best social media tools, wedding venue trends, or projected wedding budgets.  Vendors, we will also provide useful exhibiting tips whether you are new or experienced so your bridal show experience is just as great as it is for the couple-to-be. We know how much you like Return On Investment (ROI) tips so be on the look-out for that information as well. Couples-to-be, read the latest wedding industry news and trends at BSPI’s blog. This can inspire you when you are planning your wedding. Above all, attending a bridal show is a wedding-planning rite of passage for couples and for companies who want to showcase their products or service.

Please bookmark or subscribe to BSPI’s blog and stay tuned for beneficial information that connects you to wedding professionals and engaged couples. We will also keep you updated on Bridal Show Producers International’s members, events, and announcements.

©BSPIBridalShows.com