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Tag Archives: wedding industry

LKE and ABC

09 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by Lisa Kenward, AWP in Destination Wedding, Wedding Planner

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Destination Weddings, Hilton Head Island, wedding industry, wedding planner, wedding planning, weddings

In a prior log, I wrote about how I began my journey to becoming an Accredited Wedding Planner. What I left out of that blog was how the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) helped me achieve the title. My personal story includes a village of ABC members.

When I decided to launch Lisa Kenward Events, a full planning wedding company, the process was made easier with the help from ABC. ABC is an international organization that focuses on helping wedding professionals gain knowledge within the industry, offers webinars, seminars, annual conferences and has a large staff of dedicated professional ready to answer all your questions. The Wedding Planner Magazine is published with help from ABC.

The lengthy process of paperwork, online classes, written tests, essays, attending conferences including the ABC South Carolina Chapter networking event and attending CPR and AED training classes helped me gain the points needed to earn the title of Professional Bridal Consultant as of January, 2011. It took me until January 2016 to earn the title of Accredited Wedding Planner after many additional weddings planned, conferences attended, volunteering within Beaufort County and having three prior events featured in local publications.

My goal was achieved by marketing to destination couples, creating a personalized plan with each couple, months of coordination, hours of documentation, phone calls and emails, volunteering my time within my community while staying focused on the prize. I am proud to say that I am the only AWP in Beaufort County.

The next goal for me is Master Wedding Planner! Look for that announcement in 2020!

32.175240 -80.772245

Be A Voice, Not an Echo

30 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by Lisa Kenward, AWP in Destination Wedding, Unique Events, Wedding Planner

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Hilton Head, Local Businesses, Unique Events, wedding, wedding industry, wedding planners

My day started with a conversation with a potential new client.  My day ended awaiting the information that I requested – a signed contract and retainer paid.

The conversation with the bride-to-be has been continuous for two weeks discussing what I can do for her and listening to what she wants on her wedding day.  My service is about the value that I offer, experience and history.

My services may not be what she is looking for.  And, she may not be the client that I prefer to work with.  Either way, my voice – my message  – is clear.  There are other wedding planners that do what I do.  I set myself apart from the crowd by being the only Accredited Wedding Planner in Beaufort County.  I cherish every opportunity to be part of a client’s wedding day as this profession is my passion.

At some point, the destination bride decided to shop for another wedding planner. I know this because Hilton Head is a small island with event professionals who network to discuss clients needs and the latest trends.  I try to be a voice, the voice of positive reassurance and guidance.

If you are looking to lead or follow – decide and move forward.

For more ideas and tips, follow me on my Facebook page! Lisa Kenward Events

Want to copy my post in your newsletter, blog or website? You can as long as you include: “Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (and surrounding areas) Accredited Wedding Planner, Lisa Kenward, writes the “Southern Weddings Blog” with her perspective on current topics for weddings and special events. http://www.LisaKenwardEvents.com

Am I Worth My Fee?

03 Saturday Feb 2018

Posted by Lisa Kenward, AWP in Destination Wedding, Wedding Planner

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Destination Weddings, Local Businesses, wedding industry, wedding planners, Wedding Planning Tips, Wedding Tips, weddings

With the Hilton Head/Bluffton Wedding Expo scheduled this month, I feel compelled to update my post ‘Value vs. Price’ written March 27, 2017, to ‘Am I Worth My Fee?’  If you are planning to attend the Expo, please keep in mind my comments and the comments noted from Jean from WeddingsFromTheHeart.net.  I am worth my fee and here is why…

As of January, 2018, I booked my 100th wedding; a milestone for myself and my business.  The 100 wedding couples selected me for a reason.  I’m not the most expensive nor am I the cheapest.  The destination and local clients place their trust in my Preferred Vendor List and are confident in my ability to get the job done.

Yes, your wedding day is a job, for me.  One of the responsibilities is to make sure you are happy and comfortable and not stressed about planning your day.  Your wedding is also my passion.  I love what I do.

My fee isn’t set by a randum number or amount.  My fee is calculated by the time/hours it takes me to create your wedding celebration and getting the key players (wedding professionals) together. My fee includes being there for you for your wedding rehearsal, on-site at your ceremony location and being there thru your reception.

‘It’ shouldn’t be about price.  ‘It’ should focus on your comfort level, confidence in the person to do what you ask them to do and it should be about trust.  Trusting someone that you hired to explain the pro and con of every decision, give honest answers to your questions and to be there on your wedding day implementing your decisions while stopping any family drama that develops.

Now, Jean from WeddingsFromTheHeart.net  writes about her experiences and response to her clients questions…

How much do you charge?”  That is usually the first question I get from a newly engaged bride or groom.

And it’s definitely a valid question.  However, my answer is “It depends.”

Now you’re probably thinking, “why does she give a vague ‘it depends’ answer when other planners can tell us a dollar amount?”

How can I (or they, for that matter) tell you the price without knowing any details of your wedding, without knowing what you want me/us to do for you?

There way too many variables from one wedding to the next that affect the level of service I can provide for any couple, and in turn, affects ‘how much I charge.’

Do you want to end up paying too much because you’re getting things you really don’t want, or end up paying too little and miss things that are truly important to you?  Of course not.

Some things (but not all) that affect price are:

    • The size of your wedding

– A wedding for 40-50 people is different than one for 250-300 people.

  • How traditional or non-traditional your event will be

– Although traditional is in no way “cookie cutter,” non-traditional events can require more time and effort.

  • How hands on or hands off you want me to be

– Do you want me to schedule vendor appointments for you, and join you at these appointments? Or do you just want me to provide you with names and contact information of vendors that would be a good fit for you?
– Do you want help with DIY projects?
– Do you need help locating unique resources and products to enhance your wedding?
The main services I provide are planning (partial to full-service), wedding weekend coordination, and hourly consulting. But (other than the hourly consults, because well, an hour is an hour, no one couple’s planning or coordination needs are the same as another couple’s.

Unlike so many other wedding planners, I do not have a price list to hand out, and am really surprised that others do.

So please don’t think I’m trying to be secretive when I don’t immediately answer the “How much do you charge” question. Instead, let’s get together (in person, or by phone-chat), and talk a bit about your wedding needs. That way we can develop service programs specifically for you (with pricing), based on you and the wedding you want.

The decision to have LKE as your wedding planner shouldn’t be solely decided upon due to price.   It’s not always about price.  Your decision to contract with me should be about the value of my services – knowledge, experience, education – a trusted professional that will guide you and help you have the wedding day that you envision.

Call me, let’s chat so I can answer your question, how much do you charge?

For more ideas and tips, follow me on my Facebook page! Lisa Kenward Events

Want to copy my post in your newsletter, blog or website? You can as long as you include: “Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (and surrounding areas) Accredited Wedding Planner, Lisa Kenward, writes the “Southern Weddings Blog” with her perspective on current topics for weddings and special events. http://www.LisaKenwardEvents.com

Wedding Planner or Wedding Coordinator… Which Is Right for You?

27 Monday Nov 2017

Posted by Lisa Kenward, AWP in Destination Wedding, Wedding Planner

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Destination Weddings, wedding, wedding design, wedding industry, Wedding News, wedding planners, Wedding Planning Tips, Wedding Tips

Is your head spinning from the overload of wedding info?  Let me help you sort out one of the line items on your wedding planning list.  Do you need a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator?

I found the attached article below, online, written by Lindsay Goldenberg Jones.  Her insight of event responsibilities will help you understand the difference between a planner and a coordinator by breaking down pre-wedding details and day-of responsibilities.  And, lead you in the right direction so you can cross of one more detail from your long wedding check list.

Wedding Planner or Wedding Coordinator

 

For more ideas and tips, follow me on my Facebook page! Lisa Kenward Events

Want to copy my post in your newsletter, blog or website? You can as long as you include: “Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (and surrounding areas) Accredited Wedding Planner, Lisa Kenward, writes the “Southern Weddings Blog” with her perspective on current topics for weddings and special events. http://www.LisaKenwardEvents.com

Bridesmaids: Try On Your Dress

22 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by Lisa Kenward, AWP in Destination Wedding, Wedding Planner

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Destination Weddings, Hilton Head, Local Businesses, wedding, wedding industry, Wedding Packages, wedding planner, wedding planning, Wedding Tips

Image the setting… It’s the morning of your wedding day and your bridesmaids arrive to your staging area early for hair and make-up application.  The room is buzzing with excitement and conversation.  You are relaxed, chatting with ‘your girls’ and the morning hours fly.  It’s now 3pm and time for you to get dressed for your ceremony.  Your bridesmaids follow your lead but one gal returns fifteen minutes later to tell you her dress doesn’t fit.  Do you believe this scenario?  It truly, 100 percent, happened.

Now what.  You have a bridesmaid that cannot fit into her dress and it’s 3:15pm and your ceremony starts at 5pm.  It’s too late to call for an alterations person to sew a panel into the dress.  Even if the tailor could sew another panel into the dress, where would they get the fabric?  There isn’t time to go shopping for another dress as the nearest store is 20 minutes away.  Time is ticking.

What would you do?  Tell the bridesmaid that she cannot walk down the aisle or send her to the nearest department store to find a similar style, color and fabric match dress?

The bride was calm but embarrassed and sent her friend to find another dress.

Lesson to learn:  Focus on every detail even the ones that seem so simple but can become complicated.

For more ideas and tips, follow me on my Facebook page! Lisa Kenward Events

Want to copy my post in your newsletter, blog or website? You can as long as you include: “Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (and surrounding areas) Accredited Wedding Planner, Lisa Kenward, writes the “Southern Weddings Blog” with her perspective on current topics for weddings and special events. http://www.LisaKenwardEvents.com

Venue Discount on Hilton Head Island

29 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by Lisa Kenward, AWP in Destination Wedding, Unique Events, Wedding Planner

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Destination Weddings, Hilton Head Island, wedding, wedding budget, wedding industry, wedding planners, wedding planning

Port Royal Golf Club is offering 1/2 off the rental fee of the Clubhouse venue…
I just received an email from Kim Brabham, Event Manager with the Port Royal Golf Club. Kim is discounting the cost of the venue rental with a “FLASH SALE” that promotes the Clubhouse.
Book your wedding by Saturday, September 30, 2017, and receive Half Off the Clubhouse facility and The West Lawn Ceremony Site fee. Up to $1850.00 in savings!
Standard Food minimums must be met, and all other discounts cannot be combined with Flash Sale.
Call Lisa Kenward Events for additional details and to schedule a tour of Hilton Head Island’s southern-style venue!

For more ideas and tips, follow me on my Facebook page! Lisa Kenward Events

Want to copy my post in your newsletter, blog or website? You can as long as you include: “Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (and surrounding areas) Accredited Wedding Planner, Lisa Kenward, writes the “Southern Weddings Blog” with her perspective on current topics for weddings and special events. http://www.LisaKenwardEvents.com

What are you Looking for?

11 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by Lisa Kenward, AWP in Destination Wedding, Wedding Planner

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Tags

Buy Local, destination brides, Destination Weddings, Hilton Head Island, Unique Events, unique wedding, wedding, wedding industry, wedding planners, wedding planning, Wedding Tips

I had the opportunity to talk with a destination bride yesterday to learn more about her plans (so far) for her wedding and to discuss how I could help.  The phone conversation focused around her questions – what can I do for her?

With 94 weddings planned since 2008, I was prepare to answer her questions and to explain why I felt I was the best wedding planner for her unique celebration.  Being thorough while answering her questions I also wanted to focus on:

  • Couples are not into ‘trends’ they want ‘tasteful’ designs that reflect their personalities
  • Couples want to share unique details focused on their relationship
  • Clients will hire a wedding planner due to the wedding planners personality, honest, trust
  • Couples want their event to be memorable – a positive memory
  • Each event is a production – design, plan, set-up/break-down

Your wedding planner can be a great resource to assist in finding local talent, caterer, officiant, photographer, stationery, bakery, and the perfect venue – within your budget.

Value vs. Price

27 Monday Mar 2017

Posted by Lisa Kenward, AWP in Destination Wedding, Wedding Planner

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Tags

Destination Weddings, wedding industry, wedding planning, Wedding Tips, weddings

It’s the end of March – 2017 wedding season has begun.  With 2018 wedding inquiries appearing in my in-box from destination couples, I am noticing a pattern of questions that weren’t prevalent in 2017… How much do you charge?

Of course, the question was asked by the prior 78 couples that contracted to have their wedding planned, designed, coordinated by Lisa Kenward Events, but the question wasn’t the first question asked.   It’s not always about price.

Jean from WeddingsFromTheHeart.net  writes about her experiences and response to her clients questions…

How much do you charge?”  That is usually the first question I get from a newly engaged bride or groom.

And it’s definitely a valid question.  However, my answer is “It depends.”

Now you’re probably thinking, “why does she give a vague ‘it depends’ answer when other planners can tell us a dollar amount?”

How can I (or they, for that matter) tell you the price without knowing any details of your wedding, without knowing what you want me/us to do for you?

There way too many variables from one wedding to the next that affect the level of service I can provide for any couple, and in turn, affects ‘how much I charge.’

Do you want to end up paying too much because you’re getting things you really don’t want, or end up paying too little and miss things that are truly important to you?  Of course not.

Some things (but not all) that affect price are:

    • The size of your wedding

– A wedding for 40-50 people is different than one for 250-300 people.

  • How traditional or non-traditional your event will be

– Although traditional is in no way “cookie cutter,” non-traditional events can require more time and effort.

  • How hands on or hands off you want me to be

– Do you want me to schedule vendor appointments for you, and join you at these appointments? Or do you just want me to provide you with names and contact information of vendors that would be a good fit for you?
– Do you want help with DIY projects?
– Do you need help locating unique resources and products to enhance your wedding?
The main services I provide are planning (partial to full-service), wedding weekend coordination, and hourly consulting. But (other than the hourly consults, because well, an hour is an hour, no one couple’s planning or coordination needs are the same as another couple’s.

Unlike so many other wedding planners, I do not have a price list to hand out, and am really surprised that others do.

So please don’t think I’m trying to be secretive when I don’t immediately answer the “How much do you charge” question. Instead, let’s get together (in person, or by phone-chat), and talk a bit about your wedding needs. That way we can develop service programs specifically for you (with pricing), based on you and the wedding you want.

 

The decision to have LKE as your wedding planner shouldn’t be solely decided upon due to price.   It’s not always about price.  Your decision to contract with me should be about the value of my services – knowledge, experience, education – a trusted professional that will guide you and help you have the wedding day that you envision.

Call me, let’s chat so I can answer your question, how much do you charge?

For more ideas and tips, follow me on my Facebook page! Lisa Kenward Events

Want to copy my post in your newsletter, blog or website? You can as long as you include: “Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (and surrounding areas) Accredited Wedding Planner, Lisa Kenward, writes the “Southern Weddings Blog” with her perspective on current topics for weddings and special events. http://www.LisaKenwardEvents.com

 

If you call yourself a Wedding Planner…

21 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by Lisa Kenward, AWP in Destination Wedding, Wedding Planner

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Tags

Destination Weddings, Local Businesses, wedding industry, Wedding News, wedding planners, Wedding Tips

If you don’t already know, the wedding industry isn’t regulated which can be a good thing for both the client and the professionals offering a service.  And what you don’t know about wedding planners may impact your decision with whom you should contract with.  Here’s several insightful comments from Lacy Miller, an events and entertainment professional at SSL Entertainment and The Gracie & Lacy Show based in Charleston, SC.

Lacy Miller writes about how a Wedding Planner thinks, dresses, responds and juggles the tasks & responsibilities of each event.  Her descriptions and scenarios are light-hearted reflecting the passion and focus of many wedding planners.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-know-youre-event-planner-lacy-miller

When you select a wedding planner for your event, keep in mind Lacy’s comments and seek out a professional who is educated with a history of coordinating current events and has the skills and resources to get the job done.

For more ideas and tips, follow me on my Facebook page! Lisa Kenward Events

Want to copy my post in your newsletter, blog or website? You can as long as you include: “Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (and surrounding areas) Accredited Wedding Planner, Lisa Kenward, writes the “Southern Weddings Blog” with her perspective on current topics for weddings and special events. http://www.LisaKenwardEvents.com

Accredited Wedding Planner

21 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by Lisa Kenward, AWP in Destination Wedding, Wedding Planner

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Tags

Hilton Head Island, Local Businesses, wedding industry, wedding planners, weddings

In August, 2016, I shared my goal of applying for my Accredited Wedding Planner status with the Association of Bridal Consultants. My 2016 goal was to have the application and binder done by September, 2016. With many speed bumps during my progress to complete my application, I am proud to say that I mailed the binder on February 7th.  Oh, what a great feeling it is to have it DONE!! I walked into the post office with the biggest smile and left feeling relieved and proud of my accomplishments, so far. When my application and wedding binder (documenting prior weddings and publications along with community service) is approved, Lisa Kenward Events will be the only Accredited Wedding Planner in Beaufort County.

 

Update as of February 21, 2017…

Lisa Kenward has achieved the designation of Accredited Wedding Planner (AWP) with the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC). Lisa is owner and principal designer of Lisa Kenward Events, offering event planning, design and coordination services in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Georgia, and beyond. She is the only Accredited Wedding Planner in Beaufort County. Her extensive experience with weddings and special events advanced her thru the education program with ABC. Lisa seamlessly leads her clients through the process of planning their wedding day, rehearsal dinner, pre-event activity or post-wedding event with elegance and style. She is also a member of the Lowcountry Wedding Professionals Networking Group on Hilton Head Island.

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