This is the Transcript of the #WeddingMarket Chat in Denver on July 2, 2014.

This special #weddingmarket chat was with Denver Wedding Industry Leaders Charles Oster, Debbie Orwat, Cherie Ronning and Kara Delay. The answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different. This event was sponsored by JW Marriot Cherry Creek, My Wedding , Linda Murri Photography and Pink Posey Design.

Join Our Wedding Market Chats For Wedding Professionals Every Wednesday at 10:00PST, 1:00EST, and 6:00GMT (UK time) with the #WeddingMarket Hashmark On Twitter. Learn something new to help your business grow every week. The chats are hosted by Wedding Market editor Julie Albaugh (@juliealbaugh).
Special Guests:

Charles Oster, My Wedding www.mywedding.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debbie Orwat, Save The Date Events www.SaveTheDateEvents.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kara Delay, Love This Day Events www.LoveThisDayEvents.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cherie Ronning, Wedding Network USA, LLC www.WeddingNetworkUSA.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

How did you get involved with the Wedding Industry ?

Kara: I began in the wedding industry with a background in theater (production and performance) and I was working as a cater waiter 10 years ago – I saw an opportunity in the colorado wedding market for progressive designs. I started as a florist 10 years ago and as weddings developed into productions I upped my services. Now it’s full planning + design.

Debbie: After much research on how to combine my love of business with my creative side, I launched my planning business

 

How big is the Colorado Wedding Industry ?

Charles: An incredible industry with incredible potential. In CO alone there will be over $1 BILLION spent on weddings in 2014.

 

Q1: What makes weddings or destination weddings in Denver unique?

Kara: Colorado is perfect blend of destination, adventure, luxe & casual. We have amazing Denver & Mountain Based vendors that mix the best of the coasts with the west.

Charles: While I agree the weather, views and stuff to do is awesome, I believe it is the people that make Denver special!

Debbie: The mountains along with the progressive city of Denver make it a perfect combination for many types of weddings. 300 days of sunshine, gorgeous mountains, endless things to do and see, hundreds of venues to choose from.
Q2: What makes #Denver the ideal location for wedding guests?

Kara: Within four hours of Denver we have the most amazing four season resorts ideal for destination wedding weekends. Ski, hike, bike, kayak, snowshoe, SUP – it’s heaven here.

Charles: Who wouldn’t LOVE to come to CO? Whether you want to chill in Downtown or hike/ski in the mountains, it is never dull.

 

Q3: What are some unique wedding venues in #Denver ?

Kara: Beano’s Cabin, Devils Thumb Ranch, San Sophia Overlook in Telluride, Aspen Wedding Deck – we have magnificent facilities here. Keystone Ranch is a great option for so many budgets & Devil’s Thumb Ranch now has two amazing reception spaces.

Charles: There are so many amazing venues. From mountain resorts like Devil’s Thumb Ranch to modern venues like the Clocktower in Downtown, there is a venue for every taste and style.

Cheri: I personally love The Clock Tower in downtown Denver.

Debbie: Spruce Mountain Guest Ranch, Crooked Willow Farms, Deer Creek Valley Ranch, Blanc, Red Rocks and Sunrise Amphitheatre.

 

Q4: What wedding trends have you seen this year?

Cheri: Hopefully the end of burlap and mason jars! Rustic chic in a vineyard is still gorgeous.

Charles: Upcycling is becoming more popular. Whether it is burlap-wrapped wine bottles or painted milk glass, wedding designers and brides are making fresh statements with vintage pieces.

Debbie: My all time favorite wedding trend – slow motion video booths.

 

Q5: What are some #Denver wedding trends that you don’t see on a national level ?

Kara: Burlap & mason jars will never die here. We certainly rock the cowboy boots & dresses (with so many ranches it makes sense!)

Charles: We see innovative floral design in Denver that we don’t see anywhere else. Pairing non-traditional elements, while perfectly balancing vibrant colors is Denver’s signature.

Debbie: Lots of rustic & wood touches, craft microbrews, mountain-themed weddings.
Q6: Now didn’t Facebook Owner Mark Zuckerberg’s Bride Buy Here Dress in Denver in Secret?

Charles: Yes, she actually purchased it from Little White Dress, one of our favorite bridal boutiques in the MyWedding Family.

 

Q7: What is your favorite #Denver Wedding & Why?

Kara: LOVED Dylan Lauren & Lauren Bush’s Telluride wedding.

Debbie: I love all the ranches that are within an hour from downtown. Guests can still stay in Denver to enjoy the city then spend the wedding day at a ranch.

Q8: How are you using social media for your Biz on a daily & weekly basis?

Kara: Networking and promotion. Facebook and Instagram are fantastic ways to connect with clients.

Cheri: Facebook is a daily process for me, recognizing member accomplishments & sharing photos of their work. Social media is a great opportunity to promote others, encouraging them and building your community.

Charles: We see social media as an opportunity to have a conversation. We are here for wedding pros and brides and provide content targeted at their needs.

Debbie: Facebook & Twitter have been great for us to stay connected with both brides and the vendor community. We use both 3-4 days each week.

 

Q9: Are you still finding way to use Facebook effectively without paying to post?

Kara: It really depends how active the client whose wedding you are featuring is on Facebook.

Cheri: Even with Facebook reach declining, it is very important to maintain an active presence to build our network.

Charles: Yes, it is a common mistake in the industry to focus solely on “friend” counts. We aren’t concerned about our fan count. We only measure if our existing audience is engaged with our content.

Debbie: Yes, by posting more often & using photos we are still getting exposure but it’s not nearly as good as before.

 

Q10: How are brides using @Pinterest to plan their wedding day?

Kara: Every single day. It’s a double edged sword. We want to create unique designs but still incorporate their pins that are trending.

Charles: It is a great source for ideas. Unfortunately, often there is no context on Pinterest. Did a celebrity designer style that table? Does that picture come from a $100,000 wedding? It is a great source for ideas, but it augments the line between what is aspirational and what is actually attainable.

Debbie: What bride ISN’T using Pinterest? Planning & design are so much easier with it.

 

Q11: How are you using @Pinterest to get more traffic to your Website?

Kara: Uploading our own posts to our profile page.

Charles: We post fresh content to Pinterest every 30 minutes every day. We want to make sure that whenever we get fresh content we are sharing it everywhere possible.

Debbie: By posting photos of our own work, we are driving traffic to our website.

 

Q12: What are some ways that you are using Instragram to attract brides?

Kara: We use Instagram to show the day to day of our business (the silliness & travel). It allows the clients to see the real us and hashtags can be fun.

Charles: Instagram is an interesting place for us to connect via visual inspiration. We love finding the most beautiful things and sharing them through Instagram for our bridal audience to enjoy.

Debbie: I take more of a person approach to Instagram so that potential clients can learn more about me if they want.

 

Q13: How are you using technology & Apps with your business?

Kara: We use google drive for everything. Allows vendors & clients to all work with the same info.

Charles: More fun with Concept Films, Same Day Edits, Lokk Backs and Destinations Weddings.

Debbie: Google Drive has been most helpful for us along with Dropbox, SEO monitoring app & our online banking app.

 

Q14: What advice do you have for wedding pros just starting out?

Kara: Be yourself. Take chances & treat EVERYONE the way you want to be treated.

Cheri: Keep your head out of the clouds. Do your research. Get professional advice. Be passionate about the job. Write a simple business plan, set S.M.A.R.T. goals and network with other professionals. Get professional help to write your contract, set up your books and plan a business budget. Set a plan for your retirement at the beginning. Make sure to pay into a retirement fund so you can retire.

Charles: You have to market your offering. It does not matter how great you are if no one knows about you.

 

Q15: How should wedding pros be gaining more leads for their biz?

Kara: Network and assist established vendors. Volunteer, ask someone you admire in the industry if they will be your mentor.

Cheri: Networking is the biggest key! Meet with other wedding pros regularly. Participate in local wedding shows to meet not only potential clients but wedding pros. Consider advertising with a great online company like @myweddingdotcom . Capture your website visitors, have them sign up for a download of content, like a Top 10 Tips http://bit.ly/CCtwtcr7 .

Charles: Mywedding.com of course 🙂 In all seriousness, you must position yourself in front of the best prospects at the right time. Online is King. Up to 90% of Brides are utilizing web to plan their wedding. Networking and referrals are right up there.

Debbie: My favorite would be seo because once you have your business showing up on internet searches, you can get more leads & it doesn’t require a lot of your time.

 

Q16: Are Bridal Shows Worth Going to? How do Make them Effective?

Kara: Depends on your target bride.

Charles: Sure. It is like anything else – you must be willing to work hard and distinguish yourself from everyone else.

 

Q17: Are you seeing a lot of Brides using #Wedding #hashtags on their wedding day?

Kara: Absolutely – the more unique the better. It is instant gratification to see 100 photos the night of your wedding.

Charles: Yes, it is a great way to get “behind-the-scenes” content organized so you can truly see your wedding from the perspective of the guests.

Debbie: I think we will see more use of hashtags in the future, especially with Instagram.

Q18: What nontraditional ways are you or others sharing choices with out of town brides?

Kara: Facetime venue tours, fedexing cake tasting – we do whatever is needed for the bride to feel present . We use Facetime and Skype as well as conference lines to get the entire team involved with final reviews.

Debbie: Google Drive & Pinterest are the most common ways we are sharing choices with out-of-town clients.

 

Q19: What is unique about the Wedding Industry in #Denver ?

Debbie: We have such a fantastic community of creative professionals who support & encourage each other. It’s a joy to be part of it!

 

Q20: What do you want wedding pros & brides to take away from the #WeddingMarket Chat ?

Kara: Know your client and know who you are as a professional. It’s okay to ask for help – celebrate everyones success!

Debbie: Denver is ideal for a destination wedding. Support your fellow vendors. Their success does not hinder your success.

Cheri: I want couples to understand that hiring good professionals is an investment that will pay off for them. I want couples to NOT believe everything they see on TV. Weddings cost money, and everyone is on a budget. Couples need to enjoy the process so that they can enjoy their wedding. That is why we are all here. I want couples to know that everyone here loves what they do. Check out our pro organization @wednetusa. Start a chapter in your city http://bit.ly/WNgetStarted .