This is the Transcript of the #WeddingMarketChat on June 13th, 2012 with Special Guests Celebrity Cake Designer Jay Qualls, Celebrity Wedding Planner Angela Proffitt and Vincent Dreffs Director of Catering Operations at Gaylord Opryland. The answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different. Photo Above by Divineimages.net
Special Guests:
Vincent Dreffs, Gaylord Opryland
Vincent Dreffs is the director of catering operations at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, where he oversees all catering and private dining sales processes, as well as, banquet operations, culinary operations and stewarding operations within the convention center. More than 900 STARS (employees) fall within his circle of responsibility, and he directs enterprises that serve more than 3 million guests annually. Dreffs is an active member of the Directors of Catering Council, a Gaylord Hotels’ committee that allows products and processes to be standardized across the brand. He has been successful in generating new revenue through menu formulation, check averages and maintaining a keen sense of industry trends through successful market and competitive analysis. It is Dreffs’ passion for food and beverage, combined with his creative skills and dedication to the profession, that has held his attention in a field that constantly changes and moves—a field where no two days are the same. Dreffs joined the Gaylord family in 1995 as a banquet captain in the hotel before moving to the lead captain on the General Jackson Showboat and later to the assistant director of catering for the hotel. He attended Ferris State Universityin Big Rapids, Michigan, where he studied Food Service Management. He later studied Business Administration at Eastern Michigan University. Vincent is also the current President of the Nashville Chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives. When he is not working, he loves using his creativity in baking and gardening, and he enjoys taking in the world-famous live entertainment scene MusicCity has to offer. http://www.Gaylordopryland.com/weddings
Angela Young Proffitt, Elegant Weddings & Events by AP
Realizing her skills and talents are best utilized in logistics and communication, Angela’s company, Elegant Weddings by Angela and Events by AP, offers a full service wedding and event planning team that is experienced, detail oriented and exceptionally organized. Her unique and incomparable approach extends beyond the highest level of creativity and she prides herself on managing each innovative personal detail to allow you to enjoy your engagement while adhering to privacy requests. Known for her calm demeanor and flexible nature, she specializes in travel and destination weddings allowing her to utilize her strengths in creating a “one of a kind” experience in lands far away. Her travel resume has carried her to breathtaking places. Just to name a few, she has traveled to St. Lucia, Hawaii, Dominican Republic, Antigua, Cabo San Lucas, Playa Mujeres, Playa Del Carmen, all the way to New York city, the coast of Florida and to the foothills of North Carolina. So whether it’s a destination wedding on a tropical island or a Derby themed wedding at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Angela’s sense of personalized vision and educational guidance creates incomparable events for any occasion.
Angela’s highly touted work can be seen in such global publications as Art of Celebrations, Grace Ormonde’s Wedding Style Magazine, Elegant Bride, People Magazine, Us Weekly, Enchanted Brides, In Focus, Style Me Pretty, and Country Weekly, just to name a few. Alongside acknowledgements in world-class magazines, Angela has also served on the board of TWESA, and has won such accolades as Best Wedding Planner in Nashville, along with voted Best Investment, Personality, Coordination, and Can’t Live Without.
http://www.angelaproffitt.com/about/my-story
Jay Qualls, Celebrity Cake Designer
Jay decorated his first cake on April 25th, 1992 for his daughter’s first birthday party and fell in love with cake decorating from that day. His passion for delicious and beautiful cakes grew into a full time successful company known as Maples Wedding Cakes and most recently Jay Qualls Holding, LLC and inventor of Jay Qualls Fondant Fabric.
He has designed wedding cakes and special occasion cakes for country music celebrity artists like Martina McBride, Jo Dee Massina, Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton. He was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings past winter 15th Anniversary issue. Less that 10 designers have been invited to collaborate with Martha Stewart Weddings in the history of the magazine.
Join Our Wedding Market Chats For Wedding Professionals Every Wednesday at 10:00PST, 1:00EST, and 6:00GMT (UK time) with the #WeddingMarketChat Hashmark On Twitter. Learn something new to help your business grow every week. The chats are hosted by Wedding Market editor Julie Albaugh (@juliealbaugh).
Q1: How did you get involved with the @WeddingIndustry ?
Vincent Dreffs : I was asked to orchestrate a wedding on a ski slope in Southeastern Lower Michigan. All the details of a wedding on skis
Angela Proffitt: By Accident-Background Psychology, Planning for 10 years now, doing destination weddings, educating and loving life!
Q2: What makes destination weddings in Nashville unique?
Vincent Dreffs: Southern Charm, Historical Attractions, Live Music Venues, Diverse Cultures,
Temperate Climate, Ease of Airport, CVB/Citywide Concierge. Nashville is within 500 miles of 90% of the U.S. Population; centrally located for most. The feeling of “We are glad you are here!”
Angela Proffitt: Southern Charm, Music Industry, Location, New Convention Center coming with city focus, locals so nice! Nashville is easy to get to by air or car; it’s a safe town, lots of history and enjoyable music to please everyone!
Jay Qualls: Popular attractions for guests in town for a wedding. Including @TheRyman or @FristCenter. Something for everyone. @NashvilleTenn is diverse. Guests enjoy music,history,art,some of the most amazing restaurants around ie @LovelessCafe
Q3: @VDreffs What does @GaylordOpryland offer for a Wedding?
Vincent Dreffs: The world’s longest aisle; from suite to ceremony location is a great experience for brides. Everyone throws a compliment and steps aside. With 11 acres under glass, the well-manicured atriums provide an outdoor setting without any of the weather risks. It’s always 70 degrees.
Angela Profitt: @GaylordOpryland offers beautiful setting http://pic.twitter.com/xGrcX3Fo . @GaylordOpryland Delta Pavilion Ceremony http://pic.twitter.com/xBAAcIpt . @GaylordOpryland Lots to offer, outdoor indoors! http://pic.twitter.com/wxbV3ZUK
Gaylord Hotels: See pics from #WeddingMarketChat @GaylordOpryland and more #wedding pics on @GaylordHotels pinterest board:http://pinterest.com/gaylordhotels/beautiful-weddings/
Q4: @VDreffs How many different wedding locations does@GaylordOpryland offer?
Vincent Dreffs: 7 ceremony locations and 5 ballrooms inside the hotel, 2 at Gaylord Springs Golf Links, The General Jackson Showboat and Music City Queen.
Q5: How far in advance should a bride plan a wedding in Nashville? What is the smallest amount of time?
Jay Qualls: @EventsbyAp & myself have put together a destination wedding together in 8 days! So,there ya have it. Brides should plan at least a year to book her venue and 6 to 9 months out to book her vendors.
Angela Proffitt: @GaylordOpryland Planned & Executed in 7 days; not ideal, but we can make it happen! 6-8 months is ideal and doesn’t rush the process to much; can do less, but less time to make decisions. @GaylordOpryland Created in 30 days http://pic.twitter.com/iSkGdJGE
Vincent Dreffs: 8 months is about the average time spent planning a wedding. Of course, a balcony wedding can be done in an hour.
Q6: What is the price range a couple will pay for a wedding in Nashville?
Vincent Dreffs: The variables to this are vast. The # of guests, time of day and day of week can significantly impact the cost. Nashville is capable of accommodating all budgets that have matching expectations.
Angela Proffitt: Depends on venue, # of guests totally dictates overall budget, overall style and priorities; $ is spent 2 create lasting memories. @GaylordOpryland #weddingmarketchat #nash Budget depends on guest count-Large http://pic.twitter.com/LhcukB4I . @GaylordOpryland Budget depends on guest count-Intimate #weddingmarketchat #nash http://pic.twitter.com/q9T9DSRt .
Q7: @JayQualls What are some of the trends in wedding cakes this year?
Jay Qualls: I’m still deciding!I try to capture the essence of the couples style reflecting who they are in each cake I design. Accommodate your client by being a creative vendor, don’t “box” them into the traditional.
Angela Proffitt: @jayqualls new & fun cake ideas: hanging cakes, heart surgeon cake & action figure cakes, brooches still in! Amazing cake with brooches @jayqualls http://pic.twitter.com/Jd9yCMRO . @jayqualls FUN Action character cake. @jayqualls hanging cake; so different and out of the box.
Q8: Angela Profitt: What wedding trends do you see this year in Nashville & Nationally?
Angela Profitt: Beautiful dessert table created @GaylordOpryland for 1st wedding since Nashville’s flood http://pic.twitter.com/3io5XPru . Cupcake towers with dessert bars http://pic.twitter.com/t7G7vvMt . I create events 2 reflect each couples personality individually as a couple; its a Unique experience. http://pic.twitter.com/G03YiUkk
Candy of guest tables, dessert bar, still very in!
Q9: Vincent Dreffs: What are some of the latest trends in catering?
Vincent Dreffs: says trends in catering @GaylordOpryland are more guest-forward, reminiscent of the bride and groom. Food is more than a necessity. It is an experience!
Q10: What are some of the most unique wedding venue locations in Nashville ?
Angela Proffitt: Belle Meade Plantation, Pinnacle, Oz, Houston Station, Gaylord Opryland, Country Music Hall of Fame, Cheekwood
#WeddingMarketChat Question: @GaylordOpryland – What is the easiest way for vendors (photogs) to get on your vendor list?
Gaylord Opryland: Feel free to contact our Gaylord Opryland’s Weddings Team at 615-458-5363. Vendor lists are archaic. The couple needs to believe in the vendor they hire.
Vincent Dreffs: Vendor lists are great; just a phone call. Be sure and be ready to answer the question, “are you returning the favor?”
#WeddingMarketChat Question: How do each of you uniquely use social media to promote your business and connect with potential brides?
Julie Albaugh : The way to shine on Social Media is on the day of the wedding. Sharing those wonderful images spreads like fire.
Vincent Dreffs: Do not diminish the element of surprise with social media on the day of the wedding.
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