This is the transcript of the #WeddingMarket Live at the Embassy Suites in Dublin, Ohio on Wednesday, August 26, 2015. This #WeddingMarket Live included special guests Debra Moreland of Paris by Debra Moreland, Jan Kish, la petite fleur, Melissa Johnson, Director and Operating Partner of Cameron Mitchell Premier Events, Kasey Skobel-Conyers from Bliss Wedding & Event Design and Tammy Hudson from Columbus Bride & Groom . The answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different. This chat was sponsored by SmartCrowdz , Embassy Suites – Dublin , Columbus Bride & Groom and Party Pleasers .

 
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).

See photos of the #WeddingMarket Live event by Snap Flash Photo

 

 

Linens by Connie Duglin Specialty Linen

 

Flowers by The Flowerman Columbus

 

Photo by Snap Flash Photo

 

How did you get involved with the Wedding Industry?

Answer:

Debra Moreland I created a custom piece for my sister in law and saw a niche in bridal accessories.

 

Q1: What makes #Columbus weddings unique from other parts of the country? 

Answer:

Jan Kish Couples can be married on The Ohio State University Football Field, the Home of The 1st Ever “National Football Champions”

Kasey Conyers Columbus is a melting pot of styles.  Many of our clients grew up in Columbus and now live/work in other cities around the country.  They want to show a little of their roots in Ohio but include influences from their far away homes.

 

Q2: What are some unique wedding venues in Columbus, Ohio? 

Answer:

Jan Kish Beside The OSU Football Field, Columbus boasts the only “Topiary Park Of Ohio” in the world fashioned after George Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle Of Grande Jatte.”

Melissa Johnson The Ivory Room is a neutral sophisticated loft style room in a high rise office building with city views.

Kasey Conyers There are quite a few venues to choose from. Some of our favorites are Bryn Du Mansion, Strongwater and Hilton Downtown.  We love working at our client’s private residences or at their golf and country clubs.
Tammy Hudson @Cosi @ColumbusZoo @jorgensen Farms

 

Q3: What wedding trends have you seen this year?

Answer:

Debra Moreland The trend 20 yrs ago was toward tiaras then small ornaments, now toward statement again. Brides now want a statement hair ornament which is what I do best.  Design is not limited anymore. There is also a trend toward gold which brides are much more open to in their accessories. Brass accessories are letting that boho bride really get rustic and back to natural.

Jan Kish We have not seen large weddings, they are more intimate.

Melissa Johnson Neutrals, Natural Elements, but classy and ethereal for décor and fresh composed local food.

Kasey Conyers The burlap mason jar trend is fading away – thank goodness!  We’re seeing more formal weddings make a return as well as expanding color palettes to include more bright colors. Although blush and mixed metals are still going strong.

Tammy Hudson Resale Facebook pages.  Brides are more smart/savvy than ever and social media has helped put them in touch with each other when shopping and selling for wedding items.

 

Q4: What are some Columbus wedding trends that you don’t see on a national level?

Answer:

Melissa Johnson Light airy neutral sophisticated décor is a local trend.

Kasey Conyers From what I’ve seen…Columbus is behind on national trends. L  Things tend to gravitate from the east/west coast and move inward.

 

Q5: Jan Kish You fly cakes all over the world. How do you do that?

Answer

Jan Kish People either fly me to their destination or we use our Shipper, United Airlines.

 

Q6: Jan Kish What are some of the most unusual wedding cakes you have created?  

Answer

Jan Kish We have made life size Dale Chihuly Chandeliers and a replica of Neuschwanstein Castle.

 

Q7: Debra Moreland What types of jewelry designs do you create for weddings?

Answer

Debra Moreland Hair ornaments, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and belts.  We also make all types of veils.

Q8: Debra Moreland: What types of designers have you done work with?

Answer

Debra Moreland Bridal gown designers (vera wang, Carolina Herrera, Lazaro, Badgely Mischka, Ramona Keveza, Anne Barge, Peter Langner).

Debra Moreland: Now your work has been on several TV shows.

 

Q9: Debra Moreland:  Can you share what TV shows that you have worked with and How your work was featured on these shows?

Answer

Debra Moreland Reign.  Hair accessories for a period/fantasy show.  Veils as well as tiaras and hair ornaments for almost every character. We were also featured in a VW commercial which was really exciting. Other shows include Heart of Dixie, soap operas, and we are currently trying to reach out to Game of Thrones.

 

Q10: Debra Moreland: What do brides need to know when shopping for jewelry/accessories for their wedding?

Answer

Debra Moreland Try to match the feel of your dress/venue, using the details or textures on the gown.  Compliment your existing jewelry you may hope to use example grandmothers or family’s sentimental jewelry.

 
Photo by Snap Flash Photo

Q11: What types of networking groups do you attend?

Answer:

Debra Moreland The New York Bridal Market will allow for networking often if there are events surrounding the scheduled work day.

Jan Kish I travel to NYC often to meet with wedding oriented magazines and coordinators. I do belong to “Pride Perfect Weddings of Columbus, Ohio.

Melissa Johnson We attend ISES, NACE, Experience Cbus events locally also nationally Catersource and TSE.

Kasey Conyers I attend a few local wedding and non-wedding networking groups each year.  I mainly rely on my network of peers here in Columbus and across the country for support and advice.

Tammy Hudson  @WeddingProsCols , Wedding Professionals of Columbus, NACE, ISES, YPO and Women in Business

 

Q12: How do you use networking events to growing your business?

Answer:

Jan Kish I try quarterly to have a group of individuals in the hospitality industry over for dinner.  I feel meeting on a more intimate format allows you to get to know each other better.

Kasey Conyers Many job opportunities come from who you know, not necessarily what you know.  Some of my best jobs have been referrals.

Tammy Hudson Creating relationships and meeting new people.

 

Q13: Melissa Johnson You handle multiple wedding venues, restaurants & etc.. Can you tell us a little bit more about that?

Answer

Melissa Johnson: We design and produce events at our own on premise venues: Darby House, The Ivory Room, Columbus Museum of Art, Hawk Galleries. We are off premise caterers too and cater anywhere!  Columbus has beautiful venues or we can turn most places into a wedding venue.

We also have 11 restaurant concepts and The Rusty Buckets. Our menu items are known and people enjoy their must have favorites! We have a large local team and can accommodate multiple events with various sizes, styles of menu and service. We create menus from couple’s favorite Cameron Mitchell Restaurants or they count on Cameron Mitchell Premier Events for the latest trends and tastes too!

 

Q14: Melissa Johnson What are some unique wedding dishes or items that you have created for weddings?

Answer

Melissa Johnson: We have catered recipes from family members or from family traditions.  We have catered 100% gluten free weddings. We have written menus to represent where the couple will honeymoon, where they are from or where they met for example.

 

Q15: Melissa Johnson Are there any unique drinks that are being served at weddings?

Answer

Melissa Johnson: This summer a peach lemonade fizz with toasted rosemary was popular.  We have a bar in our kitchen to mix alongside food!

A favorite drink w/ a local partner “our first sunset” is Watershed Bourbon, Aperol, fresh lemon, simple syrup, orange bitters. We mix fresh seasonal chef- driven handcrafted cocktails for our B&Gs. Some colors are matched too. Signature drinks are on trend!

 

 

Q16: Melissa Johnson What advice do you have for brides when thinking about their wedding menu?

Answer

Melissa Johnson: Keep the menu fresh and seasonal.  Let the couple’s tastes shine but try to appeal to ‘the masses’. Work with trusted chefs. Have fun with the food and service styles. Plated dinner and family style course or stations representing the couple.  The couple should be involved in the menu planning and it should be their vision brought to life! Share pics and inspirations.

 

Photo by Snap Flash Photo

 

Q17: What have been the most effective ways to market your business?

Answer:

Debra Moreland In the beginning it was all about presence in the bridal magazines, now definitely more social media driven. We are now looking for someone with the niche experiences involved in this industry to handle all our social media. The NYC Bridal Market is also a venue where we show our collection 2x a year where we show new collections for stores. We host semi regular seminars for our clients where we wine & dine and coach them on how to increase accessories sales. Seminars allow us to connect with clients on a more personal level. Seminars are a great opportunity to teach reps how to combine accessories and gain those sales.

Melissa Johnson We look for positive social media comments and tags to market us.  We use notable media sources such as magazines. We are doing our own social media posting and sharing to gather more followers. We have TV spots paid and demos too.
Tammy Hudson The most effective way is to NOT put all of your eggs in one basket, so we utilize multiple avenues to reach customers such as Social media groups, bridal shows, print, online,  social media.  Not only do we use multiple avenues, we offer all of these options for vendors so they too can connect with brides.

 

Q18: Tammy Hudson Can you tell us what #The Wedding Experience is?

Answer

Tammy Hudson This is a bi-annual event that allows couples to experience first hand what Columbus area vendors have to offer.  It’s an ideal event which puts vendors and couples together.  Couples get to experience themed mock wedding receptions and everything such as dance lessons, food samples, music, and hair and makeup trials.

 

Q19: Tammy Hudson Now in Columbus you now have what you call a SAVVY BRIDE RESALE MARKETPLACE.  What is this?

Answer

Tammy Hudson This is an online and onsite resource for Smart/Savvy brides who are looking to buy or sell gently used wedding items.  On-line we host a Facebook group which puts sellers and buyers together and onsite we host a monthly event where gently used items are available for sale.

 

Q20: Tammy Hudson You also host a wedding resource center here in Columbus.  Can you tell us about that?

Answer

Tammy Hudson This is an onsite resource for couples planning their wedding.  It has been described as a live pinterest board or wedding library.  We have everything couples need to plan their wedding including samples, inspiration, ideas, advice, coupons & magazines.

 

Q21: Kasey Conyers What have been some of your favorite Columbus weddings?

Answer:

Kasey Conyers I have lots of favorites.  Each are different with elements and people I love in them.  It’s hard to pick just one. Some in tents, others in barn, ballrooms & government buildings. There’s so many stories and details we loved about each one. We did a unique wedding in a haybarn in Southern Ohio a few years ago that we talk about our all the time.  Dogs cats chickens cows horses were all around the site.  Another favorite was a birthday party we did in Cleveland where Wiz Khalifa and @djbandcamp were our entertainment for the night.

 

Q22: Kasey Conyers How did you get involved with #destination weddings?

Kasey Conyers I started networking with venues and locations I frequently traveled to (NC OBX) or locations I loved (Greece) I began my event planning career with destination corporate events but had to leave that behind to raise to small children. My kids are old enough now and I can travel again without creating a big scheduling headache with my husband.

Kasey Conyers Now you also serve on the national board for Wish Upon A Wedding.

 

 

Photo by Snap Flash Photo

Q23: Kasey Conyers  Can you explain what Wish Upon A Wedding is and what you have done in Ohio?  

Kasey Conyers Yes I am the National Wish Coordinator for @wishuponwedding. Prior to that I was the founding president of WUW Ohio chapter. @wishuponwedding grants wedding wishes and vow renewals to couples facing serious illness or life-altering circumstance. @wishuponawedding has granted 5 weddings wishes in Ohio since 2010.  Our most recent was in Cincinnati in March.

 

Q24: Kasey Conyers How can wedding professionals become involved with @WishUponWedding?

Kasey Conyers: People can sign up to be a wish granter and help grant a wish or vow renewal on our website.  Click the volunteer button. We’re looking for great people to serve on local chapter boards. Chapter info is our website wishuponawedding.org

 

Q25: How do use social media on a weekly basis?

Answer:

Jan Kish We usually post on our Facebook three times a week and twitter once a week. We send letters to the contacts that we receive from magazines, shows and then follow those up with an additional letter.

Kasey Conyers I use social media on a daily basis.  I use Facebook, twitter and instagram all day everyday.  It’s part of my daily routine. We just started playing with Periscope in the last few months.

Tammy Hudson We use it in a way to educate brides on latest trends, vendors, ideas, through blog, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, Facebook and Instagram. We also use it as a tool to put brides together with past brides selling their items through the Savvy Bride Resale Market page. 

 

Q26: What social media platform do you find that you use the most for business?

Answer:

Kasey Conyers I use Instagram primarily to share designs we create for clients or behind the scenes sneak peeks. I show some of my personal life in my posts. We’re in a personal business so it helps to connect with people on personal level.

Tammy Hudson Facebook

 

Q27: Have you seen an increase in business with same sex marriages in Columbus, Ohio?

Answer:

Jan Kish Yes, especially with being a member of Pride Perfect Weddings.

Kasey Conyers We have seen a small uptick in same sex weddings for 2016.

Tammy Hudson Not yet.

 

Q28: What do you want wedding pros & brides to take away from the #WeddingMarket Chat?

Answer:

Debra Moreland Being able to guide clients to choose things for their brides that aren’t trendy but that make her shine.

Jan Kish That the possibilities are endless. You can create your dream with all the resources that are now available.

Kasey Conyers Wedding & Event Pros – Don’t be afraid to try and put yourself out there.

Tammy Hudson Not only are We are matchmakers to connect brides to vendors to build the right team for their wedding day, but we are also a resource for vendors to connect to each other and to more couples.

 

#WeddingMarket Live Questions

 

@TheKokoBella @parisdmoreland How did you build relationships with these designers you mentioned? Did you reach out to them or they to you?

Answer
Debra Moreland Both. Vera Wang picked up my first collection in completion when I first started.

 

@DreamyWeddingSK @parisdmoreland Do you find brides moving away from bird cage veils to traditional veils or is the birdcage still trending?

Answer
Debra Moreland Bird cage is definitely on its way out.  Our lace veils are definitely our strongest.