Richmond Bridal Buzz-Premier Bride and Richmond Weddings

Eric Cunningham of Choice Entertainment speaking with with brides and grooms at Meet the DJ Night.

Being involved with Meet the DJ Night for several years now, I couldn’t think of a better way to pick your dj.  Not only that, it is a great way for the brides and grooms to see exactly how their reception is going to play out.  I love how the models with the latest wedding dress styles and menswear come out and do the first dances, they actually do a cake cutting, and there is even a bouquet toss at the end.

Dresses by Tiffany's Bridal

The goal for Meet the DJ Night  is to create a realistic wedding reception atmosphere with all of the elements you might see at any given reception.  And thanks to our partners, the experience we create includes a beautiful ballroom with food and drinks, a gorgeous wedding cake to sample, flowers for the wedding party models, lighting and decor.

The guests will get to see each of our 14 DJ’s perform a different MC function that they might see at any given wedding reception.  Choice Entertainments wants their couples to get ideas on different ways to do things for their weddings while they are checking out the personalities and MC skills of the various DJ’s.  It doesn’t take long for folks to pick out their favorites.  And after this “Mock” wedding reception, the DJ’s are positioned around the room so couples can have an interview with the ones they like best.  This is where they get to ask questions and get a feel for the personality, experience level and overall fit for any prospective DJ’s. Most of the couples who come out decide to go with a Choice DJ.  They walk away feeling very confident that they know exactly what they will be getting on wedding day, and they like and trust the DJ who they are hiring.  It’s an awesome way to pick a DJ!!

Next Meet the DJ Night

Tuesday July 12, 2011

6:30 until 8:30PM

(Registration begins at 6:30PM)

THE PLACE AT INNSBROOK

Please RSVP by 06.13.11 to Attend

(Brides, Grooms, Parents and Friends Welcome!!)

804.788.4603

Did we mention that ALL attendees will be entered into a drawing for $250 off the regular price of a Choice Entertainment DJ??!!!!!!!!

www.choiceentertainment.com

First and foremost, I would like to start off by thanking The Westin Richmond and Arik Cullen for an amazing afternoon and congratulate them on being Westin’s “Hotel of the Year” for  North America in 2010 to add to all of their many accomplishments.  I love the fact that they are a “pet friendly” hotel.  Can I bring Lance, Joey, and Gus next time Arik?

Premier Bride has the new “DIFY” attitude.  We want to Do It For You!!  We facebook, twitter, have a beautiful website that is very attractive to brides, a blog, an operations manager,  magazine and a staff that wants to help your business grow.

I am so excited about our next event “Wag & Swag“.  Wag and Swag is a great event for folks in the industry benefiting Fetch-A-Cure being put together by Premier Bride and www.mcbrideevents.com“>McBride Events.  There will be more info to come in the next couple of days about this event and all the wedding professionals that will be helping out with it.  In the words of PaperFreckles who is designing all of the printed materials for this event “an event that looks to be stellar”.  This year the event will be held at the VMFA on May 1st, so if you haven’t seen Picasso yet, the artwork will still be there!  For tickets you can go to wagandswag.eventbrite.com.  Also, for more information on Fetch A Cure you can visit their website.

Please don’t forget to send us any information you would like us to blog, tweet, or facebook!  Remember let us DIFY!

Thanks everyone for coming and please join us for our next Power Lunch that will be held in June.

Also, we did draw a name for a free ticket to Wag & Swag and the winner is………..Elexis Bishop from The Green Flamingo!!  Congratulations Elexis!

Thanks Quarterman Photography for the great photos.

Throughout the wedding planning process, you are bound to hear it. Friends, neighbors, the people behind you in the grocery line, gushing. This, they proclaim, will be the happiest day of your life!

Not so fast.….

We here at Historic Mankin Mansion aim to give brides the very best day possible- from the moment they step onto the grounds until they dash off on their getaway.  At the same time, we’ve learned the importance of managing expectations in order to really enjoy what we’re sure is bound to be one of the happiest days of your life.

Very simply put, life happens. Sometimes it rains and sometimes the ring bearer won’t stand still. Other times, you’re faced with extra last minute guests and you’re short five napkins. Our suggestion? Just take it all in stride.

Your wedding day, will no doubt, be one of the most memorable days of your life.  To give yourself the expectation that it’s going to be perfect? That’s just asking for trouble.  Give yourself a series of realistic expectations so you’re guaranteed to look back on your wedding day and smile.

Not sure how to get started? Here are a few tips we like to give our brides:

1.     Set priorities. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again- pick your top priorities for the Big Day and promise yourself if other details don’t go exactly according to plan, then you’ll still be found smiling at the end of the day.

2. Go with the flow. When a bride steps out from behind the Mansion to walk down the aisle, we encourage them to remember that it’s time to just let everything unfold. If they’ve hired tried and true professionals to make sure their day goes off without a hitch, then it’s time to take faith in this and just enjoy it.

3.    Hire Professionals. If anything, commit to hiring seasoned professionals with a guaranteed track record. There is nothing wrong with setting the bar high, as long as you surround yourselves with an outstanding wedding team.  Experts in their field are your best bet for a flawless event.

Wedding planning can be challenging enough without the added expectations. Do us, and your well being, a favor- and give yourself a break.

Paula and Martin Ramirez are the proprietors of Historic Mankin Mansion, a wedding resort and bed and breakfast just minutes from Downtown Richmond.  Photo by Quarterman Photography

The Premier Bride Power luncheon is for anyone involved in the wedding industry in the Greater Richmond area.  If you are new to the Richmond Wedding industry it’s a great way to meet others in the bridal business.  It’s a round table type setting where we have a topic and a speaker, however, the discussion is open to the group.  It is  conveniently located each time at The Westin Richmond on Broad Street just off Interstate 64 at Reynolds Crossings.  The Westin will cater a delicious buffet style lunch and there will be time to network as well.  We hope you will leave feeling productive and revitalized.  You can even stay after and work the rest of the day there if you want!!  The Power Lunch will hold strict to it’s time schedule however, so the people that do need to get back to work in a timely fashion can do so.

TOPIC

Effectively connect with brides in a way no other system has made possible!

$12.00 per person

lunch catered by The Westin Richmond

limited seating available

RSVP to:   stephanie.s@premierbride.com

Ross and Sarah are long times employees of The Place at Innsbrook,  Sarah started as a dishwasher and Ross as a waiter.  Even though Ross and Sarah grew up on the same street they never met until they both worked at The Place.  After working together for a few years, he finally asked  her on their first date to the movies on September 23,2004 which resulted in them getting married exactly two years later on Sept 23, 2006.  When it was time to plan  the wedding, they were lucky because of all the relationships that they had made from their many years of working at The Place.  Their easiest decision was finding their caterer, The Place.  Little did they know that one day they would be the owners of the company that catered their own wedding!!!

The Place has been hosting special events in The Shoppes of Innsbrook since 1995!
They offer a full-service venue committed to making your event flawless.  They provide all food and beverage, set up and clean up, china, glassware, silverware and staff.  The Place at Innsbrook features beautiful rooms, an outdoor patio with waterfalls, excellent cuisine and services with the convenience of hotels and shopping within walking distance. The Ballroom, The Salons or the Patio and Garden are a perfect setting for a Richmond Wedding.  The Place at Innsbrook can show you how pleasant and stress-free it can be to plan the most important event of your life! Whether you are planning a Ceremony, Reception, Rehearsal Dinner, Bridal Luncheon or Engagement Party, their beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces can accommodate up to 600 guests reception style and 300 guests for a seated event. You can always expect exceptional service and outstanding cuisine prepared by their creative chefs.

For more information about The Place at Innsbrook you can go to their website at www.theplaceatinnsbrook.com