It's that time of year again for Weddings and Summer events!
Join CRE8AD8 and for fun-filled summer events and on the travels we take for our brides and grooms!
Stay tuned for more exciting information!
Showing posts with label wedding planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wedding planning. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, October 19, 2009
CONGRATS ARE IN ORDER!
Congrats to our CEO, Gregorio Palomino!
Recently Greg was named Entrepreneur of the Quarter by Hispanic Executive Quarterly, a national publication based out of Chicago, IL.
Greg was also featured with Wedding Planner, Michelle Franco, in the summer edition of San Antonio Woman magazine as the first 100% male owned business to be featured in their 8 year history!
CRE8AD8 was also recently named one of the Best Destination Management Organizations in TEXAS by Texas Meetings & Events Magazine for 2009!
-CRE8AD8.com
Recently Greg was named Entrepreneur of the Quarter by Hispanic Executive Quarterly, a national publication based out of Chicago, IL.
Greg was also featured with Wedding Planner, Michelle Franco, in the summer edition of San Antonio Woman magazine as the first 100% male owned business to be featured in their 8 year history!
CRE8AD8 was also recently named one of the Best Destination Management Organizations in TEXAS by Texas Meetings & Events Magazine for 2009!
-CRE8AD8.com
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
CRE8AD8 Opens up travel to everyone
CRE8AD8 has recently partnered with WorldVentures to offer our brides, grooms, clients, corporate travelers, vacationers and more a more cost effective option to travel...no matter the reason.
We DARE you to compare rates against other leading sites!
www.palomino.worldventures.com
-CRE8AD8.com
We DARE you to compare rates against other leading sites!
www.palomino.worldventures.com
-CRE8AD8.com
Monday, February 2, 2009
LOOKING FOR A VENDOR?
I am always telling everyone to put their information in the body of requests you fill out online. Trust me it helps in the long run, remember it costs us money to find you and as much as we all wish we could afford to purchase every lead and help everyone, we cannot; forcing us to be more selective on who we pursue especially during the "recession."
We all need to help each other in this time of need. No matter how large or small we all are.
We want to help everyone as much as possible and sometimes being selective means we may miss someone to who really needs help. We know it could be more stressful in the short run, but in the log run, it'll save time and money!
TIP: Type out everything you need in Word and copy & paste it into the sites(bodies) you have...always include NAME, PHONE & E-MAIL!
On top of that, check your SPAM boxes since most of us have "love, beauty, marriage" and more filters are made to single these out and trash them!
Greg P., CWP, CEP
-CRE8AD8.com
We all need to help each other in this time of need. No matter how large or small we all are.
We want to help everyone as much as possible and sometimes being selective means we may miss someone to who really needs help. We know it could be more stressful in the short run, but in the log run, it'll save time and money!
TIP: Type out everything you need in Word and copy & paste it into the sites(bodies) you have...always include NAME, PHONE & E-MAIL!
On top of that, check your SPAM boxes since most of us have "love, beauty, marriage" and more filters are made to single these out and trash them!
Greg P., CWP, CEP
-CRE8AD8.com
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Embajador of the Year
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OWN:
GREGORIO PALOMINO for becoming one of the 2008 Embajador of the Year for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
This honor is bestowed on the Embajador who shows volunteerism, activity within the chamber, community efforts and initiatives and more.
Please help us in congratulating Greg! He will receive his award at the annual San Antonio Hispanic Chamber Installation Banquet on Jan 30, 2009 at the Grand Hyatt in Downtown San Antonio, Texas in front of fellow business owners, Fortune CEOs, colleagues, friends, family and more.
The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 80th anniversary as the largest and oldest Hispanic Chamber in the United States.
-CRE8AD8 Staff
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Weddings Weddings Weddings & The Box Office
REALLY! WE ARE IN FULL FORCE!
It's wedding planning season. And another wedding movie, Bride Wars, has hit the big screen. Although many of you have already seen this movie I am sure with your girlfriends...it's my job to see it as well and fill.
Yes:
- Some places book years in advance(although some venues do not book more than 1 year out)
- Stop looking once you find something you like
- Always pick a MOH who will support you in being married, not be a hassle to you
- Be flexible if you're going to put a budget to the wedding
- It is always safe to have a budget, however, movies can be deceiving...American Wedding(American Pie)-$50K+; Bride Wars-$45K+; My Best Friend's Wedding-$80K+; Wedding Crashers(final wedding)-$100K+
- There will always be stress of some sort
- Yes, pamper yourself and make room in the budget for this!
- Make sure you feel for your soul mate as they feel for you...love is work, but it shouldn't feel like an obligation!
- Wedding Planning can start anywhere from $3K-$15K depending on location of USA
No:
- Wedding Planners are not like that, we should be nice and fun
- You shouldn't try and plan two weddings at the same location, in different facilities wit your best friend
- You shouldn't be upset if others want to help you
- Unfortunately, wedding planning is not always so bright and fluffy as it looked, it takes time, there's money to be paid and finances to consider
- Wedding Planning offices are not all digital as they were in Bride Wars(the picture frames)
- The Wedding Planner will not assume you know what you want and have photos of mock-ups digitally enhanced for your pleasure
- You should always be flexible no matter what...not being flexible could cause challenges and could ultimately cause more stress
- You should always stand by your friends no matter what
- You should expect what can be afforded and try not to squeeze things into a tight budget...quality goes down as the quantity goes up...good for exposure, not for your special day!
These are just some things to think about when planning your wedding. To give you an idea of what we would charge in that type of setting and in that location...it would be around $25K just to PLAN the wedding.
Let us know if we can help!
Greg P., CWP, CEP
-CRE8AD8.com
It's wedding planning season. And another wedding movie, Bride Wars, has hit the big screen. Although many of you have already seen this movie I am sure with your girlfriends...it's my job to see it as well and fill.
Yes:
- Some places book years in advance(although some venues do not book more than 1 year out)
- Stop looking once you find something you like
- Always pick a MOH who will support you in being married, not be a hassle to you
- Be flexible if you're going to put a budget to the wedding
- It is always safe to have a budget, however, movies can be deceiving...American Wedding(American Pie)-$50K+; Bride Wars-$45K+; My Best Friend's Wedding-$80K+; Wedding Crashers(final wedding)-$100K+
- There will always be stress of some sort
- Yes, pamper yourself and make room in the budget for this!
- Make sure you feel for your soul mate as they feel for you...love is work, but it shouldn't feel like an obligation!
- Wedding Planning can start anywhere from $3K-$15K depending on location of USA
No:
- Wedding Planners are not like that, we should be nice and fun
- You shouldn't try and plan two weddings at the same location, in different facilities wit your best friend
- You shouldn't be upset if others want to help you
- Unfortunately, wedding planning is not always so bright and fluffy as it looked, it takes time, there's money to be paid and finances to consider
- Wedding Planning offices are not all digital as they were in Bride Wars(the picture frames)
- The Wedding Planner will not assume you know what you want and have photos of mock-ups digitally enhanced for your pleasure
- You should always be flexible no matter what...not being flexible could cause challenges and could ultimately cause more stress
- You should always stand by your friends no matter what
- You should expect what can be afforded and try not to squeeze things into a tight budget...quality goes down as the quantity goes up...good for exposure, not for your special day!
These are just some things to think about when planning your wedding. To give you an idea of what we would charge in that type of setting and in that location...it would be around $25K just to PLAN the wedding.
Let us know if we can help!
Greg P., CWP, CEP
-CRE8AD8.com
Thursday, January 15, 2009
No Shows and What To Do...
How many of you are in a sales/marketing position within your company? Most posts are about pretty, frilly or event stuff. However, today is one of those days where we have to balance our blog from all this light-hearted stuff to some reality. It caught my attention when I started to hear horror stories from friends, colleagues and within our company.
NO SHOW APPOINTMENTS
We are all guilty at least once in our lifetimes of missing or just plain not showing up for appts. However, the majority of us are very on par about calling and apologizing. Sometimes we don't realize how much it does bother us if they don't show. So today is all about calling ahead and confirming.
I have three simple steps in my opinion that should be followed:
1) Set the appointment and make sure they understand how valuable your time is as well as theirs. It works both ways.
2) Let them know you will be confirming the appointment 1 or 2 times before the proposed meeting time so they now you are serious. (Yes most of us are SURE about our appts and ALWAYS show up), but remember who your audience is. If my money is on the line, I will be confirming as I think about it.
3) Always try and get a day-of confirmation. Although it may not be answered in time, it does put the responsibility on the other party to at least make an effort to communicate.
Bonus) Never settle for less. No matter who the appointment is, always treat them with the same courtesy and respect as you would any other person.
If these tops do not help or do not make your life(whether business or professional) better, then sometimes the client isn't worth having. You can only chase so much before it becomes a losing battle.
In our industry, we see very few business professionals breaking this rule...as for our wedding side. It's impossible to tell. We clients all day long that seem uninterested in the fact that they can save money...yet these are the ones who always show up and buy...the others who seem interested and want to hire someone ASAP seem to just not show every once in a while. This has caused many sales/marketing reps to stay in the office and make their client come to them. Although unorthodox and a little off-beat, it has proved to save money for those unwilling to make contact for absenteeism. So next time you are wondering about a client standing you up, don't be afraid to meet in a central location or at your office. It may be inconvenient, but your office also holds all the materials you need to close the sell, not just progress it!
Good luck in 2009!
Greg
-CRE8AD8.com
NO SHOW APPOINTMENTS
We are all guilty at least once in our lifetimes of missing or just plain not showing up for appts. However, the majority of us are very on par about calling and apologizing. Sometimes we don't realize how much it does bother us if they don't show. So today is all about calling ahead and confirming.
I have three simple steps in my opinion that should be followed:
1) Set the appointment and make sure they understand how valuable your time is as well as theirs. It works both ways.
2) Let them know you will be confirming the appointment 1 or 2 times before the proposed meeting time so they now you are serious. (Yes most of us are SURE about our appts and ALWAYS show up), but remember who your audience is. If my money is on the line, I will be confirming as I think about it.
3) Always try and get a day-of confirmation. Although it may not be answered in time, it does put the responsibility on the other party to at least make an effort to communicate.
Bonus) Never settle for less. No matter who the appointment is, always treat them with the same courtesy and respect as you would any other person.
If these tops do not help or do not make your life(whether business or professional) better, then sometimes the client isn't worth having. You can only chase so much before it becomes a losing battle.
In our industry, we see very few business professionals breaking this rule...as for our wedding side. It's impossible to tell. We clients all day long that seem uninterested in the fact that they can save money...yet these are the ones who always show up and buy...the others who seem interested and want to hire someone ASAP seem to just not show every once in a while. This has caused many sales/marketing reps to stay in the office and make their client come to them. Although unorthodox and a little off-beat, it has proved to save money for those unwilling to make contact for absenteeism. So next time you are wondering about a client standing you up, don't be afraid to meet in a central location or at your office. It may be inconvenient, but your office also holds all the materials you need to close the sell, not just progress it!
Good luck in 2009!
Greg
-CRE8AD8.com
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Wedding Planning Season
It's Wedding Planning Season!
It happens every year and it seems to be the most busy time of the year. As you come to realization that not every wedding can be done within certain budgets, remember, things can be altered and can be simplified which means you could still get more bang for the buck. Before you plan your special day:
PICK A DATE
MAKE A BUDGET(and stick with it)
HIRE YOUR WEDDING PLANNER(if you wouldn't go into court without a lawyer, why plan an event without a professional?)
The rest is downhill!
Happy Shopping!
Greg
-CRE8AD8.com
It happens every year and it seems to be the most busy time of the year. As you come to realization that not every wedding can be done within certain budgets, remember, things can be altered and can be simplified which means you could still get more bang for the buck. Before you plan your special day:
PICK A DATE
MAKE A BUDGET(and stick with it)
HIRE YOUR WEDDING PLANNER(if you wouldn't go into court without a lawyer, why plan an event without a professional?)
The rest is downhill!
Happy Shopping!
Greg
-CRE8AD8.com
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Valentine's Day is around the corner!
Love is already in the air and we've got you covered! We have put together several packages to help make your memorable day hassle-free!
-CRE8AD8.com
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Mega Mixer - February 2009
CRE8AD8 will be hosting the third Mega Mixer Monday on February 2, 2009 at The Plaza Club in San Antonio, Texas. Sponsorships are available. RSVP to MegaMixer@cre8ad8.com.
Mistress of ceremonies: Elsa Ramon; Anchor, News 4 WOAI
-CRE8AD8.com
Mistress of ceremonies: Elsa Ramon; Anchor, News 4 WOAI
-CRE8AD8.com
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Requesting information...
A good piece of advice...when filling out information on various websites, put as much information as possible when it asks for comments. Most websites that you can request information through are not monitored to the n-th degree, so many times they will allow you to enter contact information as well!
What does this mean to you?
Since they are not monitored so strictly, you can put, "My name is John, looking for wedding planner in this area in $$ price range, looking to book in 4 months, want several quotes in this range and my number is 000-000-0000 and my e-mail is john@ymail.com."
The reason for this is that when you put in, "Looking to book soon." This is not enough information for some to warrant paying for the request. That's right, we PAY for them! Sometimes $1, sometimes $10! This way we know you're serious and want to be contacted. Not just "Researching." Most vendors will not contact a "Researching" or "Checking Pricing" since they are not usually buyers and could result in a "Bad Lead."
We want to make sure that you are serious about planning your event so that we do not waste your time while preparing and following up with you if you are not ready to start the planning process.
When you send a request out, it goes to more then just one person. If you're looking for a venue, keep in mind that venues offer catering, planning, lighting, etc...So now that one request turns into 4! Which could mean more information than needed and more time on your end that it takes to organize it.
It's nice to shop around, but make sure you do it reasonably and smart. Your planner should be available and should do the shopping for you as it takes less time and you're already paying for it. If you're planner doesn't want to shop around or doesn't offer you more than a few options...you should be shopping for another planner.
Another way to blast multiple vendors is checking out various programs that are add-ons to your computer and use the local magazines to compile a list. That way you can e-mail different groups and they'll love you much mroe when you can tell them where you found them! Many times, there are discounts if you find them first instead of making them pay to find you! If it costs us less, we can rebate that price or put it in our "+Box" and remember it when we can discount in certain areas.
Think of it like Vegas...if you invest in their casino, they'll start to comp you!
Greg
-CRE8AD8.com
What does this mean to you?
Since they are not monitored so strictly, you can put, "My name is John, looking for wedding planner in this area in $$ price range, looking to book in 4 months, want several quotes in this range and my number is 000-000-0000 and my e-mail is john@ymail.com."
The reason for this is that when you put in, "Looking to book soon." This is not enough information for some to warrant paying for the request. That's right, we PAY for them! Sometimes $1, sometimes $10! This way we know you're serious and want to be contacted. Not just "Researching." Most vendors will not contact a "Researching" or "Checking Pricing" since they are not usually buyers and could result in a "Bad Lead."
We want to make sure that you are serious about planning your event so that we do not waste your time while preparing and following up with you if you are not ready to start the planning process.
When you send a request out, it goes to more then just one person. If you're looking for a venue, keep in mind that venues offer catering, planning, lighting, etc...So now that one request turns into 4! Which could mean more information than needed and more time on your end that it takes to organize it.
It's nice to shop around, but make sure you do it reasonably and smart. Your planner should be available and should do the shopping for you as it takes less time and you're already paying for it. If you're planner doesn't want to shop around or doesn't offer you more than a few options...you should be shopping for another planner.
Another way to blast multiple vendors is checking out various programs that are add-ons to your computer and use the local magazines to compile a list. That way you can e-mail different groups and they'll love you much mroe when you can tell them where you found them! Many times, there are discounts if you find them first instead of making them pay to find you! If it costs us less, we can rebate that price or put it in our "+Box" and remember it when we can discount in certain areas.
Think of it like Vegas...if you invest in their casino, they'll start to comp you!
Greg
-CRE8AD8.com
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Communication is a big part!
As many of you know better than others, communication is a big role in planning any event. I can't begin to tell you how important it is to communicate with your professional. No matter the reason or rhyme, if you do anything to your event and don't tell the professional, it could lead to large problems!
Even if it's changing the color, design, floral, entree, etc...it could cause damaging results to your event, not so much changing them, but changing them and not telling your professional! Especially if they have planned something around or related to that aspect. Planners do not like surprises that could lead to challenges unprepared for on the event date!
So please do us a favor and make sure you communicate everything with your planner...it could mean the difference between success or somewhat dismal.
Greg
-CRE8AD8.com
Even if it's changing the color, design, floral, entree, etc...it could cause damaging results to your event, not so much changing them, but changing them and not telling your professional! Especially if they have planned something around or related to that aspect. Planners do not like surprises that could lead to challenges unprepared for on the event date!
So please do us a favor and make sure you communicate everything with your planner...it could mean the difference between success or somewhat dismal.
Greg
-CRE8AD8.com
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Photo of the Week!
One of our photographers really get the shot they need. This just goes to show you that your professional shouldn't be afraid to get dirty to go above and beyond for their client.ErikaBPhotography.com for this "down & dirty" fun photog!
-CRE8AD8.com
Monday, October 27, 2008
Researching for events...
A word of advice one of the planners brought to my attention...when going to these websites that ask you for information and what information you want, many professionals will not answer many of the requests with responses such as "just researching," "looking around," "getting quotes" or any of those. The reason you may be wondering why there may not be many professionals responding to these requests are that they cost money! As much as we would like to purchase all these leads, we may not always be able to due to various reasons:
-Incomplete information
-The information may not be valid
-The information given may be duplicated from another site you registered on
-Some leads rovided could cost anywhere upwards of $20 each!
And more...
One of the things we mention is try one website first that seems to be more of one of the popular sites(weddingmall.com, sanantonioweddings.com; your local convention visitors bureau, etc...) or the local area you're in. Google and Yahoo searches are always popular as well, but you may not find the professional you're looking for as only about 10% of planning professionals are able to advertise for whatever reason. This does not always mean quality, it could just mean that the professional is always booked and could actually mean they are more expensive than others.
Wait a few days or even a week or so and see who responds. As a professional opinion, I would say you want at least 5 choices from each area. This gives you a good idea of the ability and where the price range should be. It gives you a better idea of the market pricing so you know that any price you get in this range is fair.
If you do not receive the amount of quotes you want, try another site a few days later and always enter the same information! Never change your mind or the information about your event in hopes of getting different vendors to call you. This could open the door to vendors who are not in your league and waste time on both ends.
Want a good reason why you should always have a planner on your side?...Remember, who does more business and who can give more business to other businesses...the planner! A planner will almost always be able to get a better deal just beacuse the vendor wants repeat business from the planner. Whether your planner decides to mark this up(which about 90% do) is up to them and the agreement you have(CRE8AD8 doesn't do this).
Always be honest about your budget as well when entering these sites! As it is in a marriage and being up front and honest about your finances, this must also be true for the professionals working on your event. We want to shoot for the right stuff in the right price range in the right way all the time. If you give us a low budget, well find the budget professionals which may not be what you want. If you give us a high budget, we'll find the high-end professionals(which could be one-in-the-same) to give it to you. Our goals as event professionals should always be your best interest. It should not be what our vision is...it should be what you want. A great planner will always tell you how it is and how it needs to be. it may not be fun to hear, but this is why you brought us on board...to give you what you want for the price you want!
If you want the professionals to contact you by E-mail, remember...check your spam box! It's amazing how much e-mail goes to spam these days. We really want to reach out to you as soon as possible and if you don't know that we've done so...it could change the outcome of your event! We always like phone as well and don't be afraid to reach out to our e-mails first as well. It shows you mean business, are serious about planning smart and we're always more inclined to move you to the top of our lists since you took the time to research us!
Always remember, no matter the title(s), testimonials, certifications, position on a website, age, flashy website, etc...it all comes down to personality and experience! A good mix is always preferred and easy to work with. Testimonials are not always accurate and sometimes paid for by the planner. A referral is always the best route and references are always good. The higher reference the better. It builds credibility and you know they have experience with large budgets and money management of funds.
Remember, quantity does not equal quality!
Greg
-CRE8AD8.com
-Incomplete information
-The information may not be valid
-The information given may be duplicated from another site you registered on
-Some leads rovided could cost anywhere upwards of $20 each!
And more...
One of the things we mention is try one website first that seems to be more of one of the popular sites(weddingmall.com, sanantonioweddings.com; your local convention visitors bureau, etc...) or the local area you're in. Google and Yahoo searches are always popular as well, but you may not find the professional you're looking for as only about 10% of planning professionals are able to advertise for whatever reason. This does not always mean quality, it could just mean that the professional is always booked and could actually mean they are more expensive than others.
Wait a few days or even a week or so and see who responds. As a professional opinion, I would say you want at least 5 choices from each area. This gives you a good idea of the ability and where the price range should be. It gives you a better idea of the market pricing so you know that any price you get in this range is fair.
If you do not receive the amount of quotes you want, try another site a few days later and always enter the same information! Never change your mind or the information about your event in hopes of getting different vendors to call you. This could open the door to vendors who are not in your league and waste time on both ends.
Want a good reason why you should always have a planner on your side?...Remember, who does more business and who can give more business to other businesses...the planner! A planner will almost always be able to get a better deal just beacuse the vendor wants repeat business from the planner. Whether your planner decides to mark this up(which about 90% do) is up to them and the agreement you have(CRE8AD8 doesn't do this).
Always be honest about your budget as well when entering these sites! As it is in a marriage and being up front and honest about your finances, this must also be true for the professionals working on your event. We want to shoot for the right stuff in the right price range in the right way all the time. If you give us a low budget, well find the budget professionals which may not be what you want. If you give us a high budget, we'll find the high-end professionals(which could be one-in-the-same) to give it to you. Our goals as event professionals should always be your best interest. It should not be what our vision is...it should be what you want. A great planner will always tell you how it is and how it needs to be. it may not be fun to hear, but this is why you brought us on board...to give you what you want for the price you want!
If you want the professionals to contact you by E-mail, remember...check your spam box! It's amazing how much e-mail goes to spam these days. We really want to reach out to you as soon as possible and if you don't know that we've done so...it could change the outcome of your event! We always like phone as well and don't be afraid to reach out to our e-mails first as well. It shows you mean business, are serious about planning smart and we're always more inclined to move you to the top of our lists since you took the time to research us!
Always remember, no matter the title(s), testimonials, certifications, position on a website, age, flashy website, etc...it all comes down to personality and experience! A good mix is always preferred and easy to work with. Testimonials are not always accurate and sometimes paid for by the planner. A referral is always the best route and references are always good. The higher reference the better. It builds credibility and you know they have experience with large budgets and money management of funds.
Remember, quantity does not equal quality!
Greg
-CRE8AD8.com
Monday, October 20, 2008
It's a Monday!
Wow...Mondays are full of surprises! E-mails, e-mails, e-mails! We enjoy answering e-mails on Mondays because it's a great way to start the work week. We're so happy many of you rely on us for answers to your wedding planning and corporate event planning questions!
Ciao!
Ciao!
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