January 2012 – Tampa, Florida

This dynamic session was organized by Michelle Bergstein-Fontanez, Director of Marketing, Exhilarate Events/BeatCreative  along with a panel of notable event industry moms:

How do industry mothers juggle a healthy family life & career all at once? What drives us to continue? What keeps us from throwing in the towel? How do we set the example? What are we teaching? What is the legacy we will leave?

As a panel, we – ten mothers from all facets of the events industry, and from all parts of the country – shared a glimpse into our home life; sharing family photos and personal narratives, and reflecting on our individual struggles and victories.   There was also a very heartwarming introduction video featuring pre-interviews of each panel members’ kids sharing their unique perspectives on their mother’s careers.

Attendees joined the conversation, sharing experiences, laughter, and a few tears.  This is how your fellow event industry mothers are making it happen day to day!

WOW! Moms (front to back): Stacie, Kelly, Christine, Erin, Aymee, Filomena, Annette

Thoughts on being a WOW! Mom…

It was quite an honor to share the stage with such a wonderful and accomplished group of women!  I hardly think of myself as a role model.  Like everyone else, I have my struggles, insecurities and regrets about being a working parent – especially in the hospitality and event industry.  I worry and wonder: Am I trying to juggle too much?  Am I spending enough time with my child?  Should I put more time into that proposal or hang the holiday decorations?   Is it worth it?  Is it WORKING?

Obviously I am not alone.  And I belive that was one of the key messages of the session: Let other event industry moms know that they are not alone.

While scripting and developing the session, Michelle asked each of us to focus on a specific point or realm of experience.  My topic was Growing Pains.  As one of the more senior members of the group, with a child who has literally grown up in the business, it was a unique opportunity for me to speak candidly about the phases of my life – both as a wife and mother, and as an event planning professional.  In order to write my notes for the session, I had to stop – literally s.t.o.p. – and reflect on 15+ years of personal and professional growth.  The highs. The lows. The victories and achievement. The tears and challenges.  I realized that the path which was initially unclear became a road to self-discovery and fulfillment.  Mind you it was a twisty-turny and winding road with potholes, but nonetheless a road.

I realize it’s easy to get discouraged when things don’t go according to plan (rather, our plans).   The stress of meeting the daily demands on our time and energy can be overwhelming, exhausting, and even discouraging.   WOW! Moms are the women who support, encourage and motivate others; we all have this ability.  It’s good to be reminded that we can (and must!) choose to focus on looking forward, not behind.  It’s important to listen to your inner voice and make changes – whether it’s eating dinner together more often, or making time to do that ‘thing’ that has been on the back burner too long.   All we can do is our best.  We are bound to make mistakes along the way: could have, would have, should have…  Instead of letting these phrases haunt you, simply pray that you learn from mistakes and don’t repeat them.

WOW Moms at TSE2012

(c) E. Delgardio, 2012

Just finished reading another terrific wedding article in the Huffington Post titled The End of The Vintage Wedding Trend
Harmony Walton, founder of BridalBar.com, and wedding industry notable (speaker, blogger, etc.) shared her thoughts and I’m inclined to to agree.

savvycityfarmer

“Thankfully, the vintage wedding trend that took the nation by storm (in no small part due to the relentless plugging by us bridal bloggers), is finally starting to see the shade of its own sunset. And not a moment too soon — I say let the trend end!”

Nostalgic. Whimsical. Sentimental. While I can appreciate these things, I think the key to achieving this look is “attachment”. If you are displaying family heirlooms, photos or others items to which you have an attachment or personal connection – great! The best way to incorporate vintage details is to showcase select pieces or collections because they will have more meaningful impact than a random collection of flea-market finds.

But like Harmony, I am ready to see the mason jars and doilies put away in favor of a more sophisticated look. Hmmm – I wonder what the next trend will be…?

photo display

My personal preference is to introduce one or two vintage elements. We have done this with traditional as well as modern weddings and receptions. For example: one of our couples used a cake-knife set that had been previously used (at least twice) at family weddings, while another couple used grandmother’s veil to accent their cake table. These details do not go unnoticed, and we love pointing them out to guests, as well as the photographers and videographers!
(c) Elisa Delgardio

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I came across this poem for the first time. The author is unknown but it is of Native American origin. It inspired me, relaxed me and prompted me to reflect on the simple things in life that I sometimes take for granted. What a great message! – and so appropriate to share today.

“May the sun bring you new energy by day,
May the moon softly restore you by night,
May the rain wash away your worries,
May the breeze blow new strength into your being,
May you walk gently through the world
And know it’s beauty all the days of your life.”

― Apache Blessing

My friends ~ I wish you all these things!

“I define my own existence. I define my own identity. I define my own beauty for myself.”
“No one can define who you are.” ~ Lady Gaga – Inside the Outside MTV Series

I am constantly fascinated by the creative process.  And I never cease to be amazed by creative people.

The funny thing about being creative:  I can’t help comparing myself to others (“Why didn’t I think of that?” – or, “I never would’ve thought of that” – or, “WOW! I wish I could do that!”).

Ok – I’ll give it to Lady Gaga; that young lady is uber-talented and creative to boot!  Heck, Barbara Walters even compared her to Oprah!   But this is not exactly a post about Lady Gaga. It just so happens that I began this blog post and coincidentally was interrupted and then unexpectedly ended up watching the Lady Gaga interview that ran on MTV tonight. I guess it was destiny… {sigh}

But seriously, back to my point about creativity, and insight, which has now taken on a gi-normous new dimension: I find myself making comparisons to Lady Gaga.    For example,why has it taken me almost twice as many years to achieve the same level of security and self-confidence?  Oh my!  I can’t even imagine how that level of maturity and insight would have impacted my life, and carrer!  God bless her.  God bless Lady Gaga.

I loved what she said about collaborating, because that was one of the thoughts I wanted to touch on.  It’s heartening to see that she – with all her talents – admires and desires to work with others.  Awesome.  Inspiring.

You see, for as talented as I am, I enjoy collaborating with my clients as much as I love collaborating with my colleagues.  I am constantly learning and constantly teaching.  Therefore, I am constantly growing.   I may even be blossoming… but I’m not sure.  {wink}

So, before this gets too deep, I just wanted to thank those who love me, and those who put their faith in me, and those who nurture my creativity…  and Lady Gaga who helped inspire this post.  And, last but not least, I am grateful for this incredible career that allows me to collaborate with others.

If you have any thoughts  or experiences related to creative collaboration, please share them.

PS:  Shout out to Brooklyn and NYC!

2010 was a remarkable year. “In a good way or a bad way?” you ask… “Yes.” I reply.

As I make this first blog entry of 2011, there are literally innumerable topics and events I could write about. So why am I writing about this…? Honestly, I’m not sure; except that it’s foremost in my mind at the moment.

For starters, I’d love acknowledge a few recent accomplishments. It’s funny how you can plug along all year and not see much progress. In retrospect, 2010 was a very strong year for me professionally, and it’s rewarding to see how many professional goals I was able to reach!
: I enjoyed speaking at a record number of industry meetings and conferences
: For the 2nd year in a row, I received a nomination for an Orlando WOW Award
: I gave back… more
: Advanced to Accredited Bridal Consultant(tm)

I could continue the list but it’s not my intention to compile a CV. My intention is to illustrate this point: While many goals were met (quite triumphantly!), I also encountered many obstacles (stepping stones), challenges (opportunities), and disappointments (reality checks). It was not the easiest year for business owners, such as myself; it was a physical, emotional and financial roller coaster ride – to say the least! Of course this comment flies in the face of certain conventions, but I place a high value on honesty.

And this is where things get interesting: I learned some incredible lessons. I gained some amazing insights. I met some inspirational people.

Arlene Blake, Elisa, Kerline Docteur, Heather Snively

One such experience centered around the ABC’s annual conference. During that conference I was slated to present my portfolio of work and experience to advance to Master Bridal Consultant. For whatever reason, things did not work out for me in that respect. Instead of being advanced to Master-level, I was advanced to Accredited-level. I was disappointed, feeling that I had proven my skills and credentials . However, the significance of the situation quickly became evident and my focus shifted from what I did not receive to what I did receive: the support of my peers. I was buoyed in particular by three Master Bridal Consultants – Lisa Burnett, Heather Snively and Brigid Horne-Nestor – who reached out to me and shared words of encouragement. Longstanding friends and associates also cheered me up with kind words. In the end, I took away a much more valuable experience. Without question, I will become a Master Bridal Consultant, but in the interim, I am content to appreciate the many wonderful friendships I’ve forged.

inspiration

I also mentioned previously that one of my events was nominated for a WOW Award! This was quite a thrill, but {insert sigh…} unfortunately a colleague took home the trophy. I am determined to keep trying though; I will stay the course! (ha-ha)

It is because of last year that I’m excited about this year! I’m working with wonderful clients, I’ve set new goals and I’m looking forward to every new opportunity – even if it comes disguised as an impossible situation.

The road leading to a goal does not
separate you from the destination;
it is essentially a part of it. ~Charles DeLint

What is it about weddings that keeps you coming back, wedding after wedding?

“It’s truly a combination of things.  A big part of it is that I enjoy the magic of the day: I get to watch families make memories and share joy, and I’m instrumental to creating those experiences.

(c) marc harmon

There is also the creative aspect. Planning and designing weddings is my art form.  The event – while largely a collaborative effort – showcases my talents while reflecting the style and personality of the couple.

It’s exhilarating to create  experiences that can be appreciated and cherished by others – especially when I am so connected to them.   A wedding is a milestone event: it’s exciting, nerve-wracking  and gratifying all at the same time – like watching your child walk for the first time.

I would also have to confess to being an adrenaline junkie. There are unique challenges to this type of work – no two weddings are alike and try as I might, I can’t guarantee that things will go as planned. I never know what situation may arise and yet I know everyone is counting on me to handle it – that makes for some pretty interesting days.”

~ Elisa Delgardio, CSEP PBC | A Flair for Affairs, Orlando FL

Earlier today I came across this quote on the BrideTide Blog:

“You don’t hire a wedding planner for what they do, you hire them for what they know. Most brides only plan one wedding their entire lives while a wedding planner has the experience and understanding of coordinating numerous celebrations for each diverse individual client. Relying on a professional wedding planner to refine the details of the biggest day of your life is not only practical, it’s an intelligent way of minimizing the opportunities for ineffectively handling any unforeseen situations that may arise.”   Rudy, Founder of BrideTide

It’s difficult for wedding planners to make statements like this without sounding like we’re “tooting our own horn”.  But I felt that Rudy’s point was presented well, and I am very pleased to share it.  Additionally, I feel that it’s hugely beneficial for brides and grooms to hear someone else’s perspective.

photo by Kevin Keelan

The experience and expertise that we bring to the table can be priceless throughout the planning process as well as on the wedding day.  I know that we have ‘saved the day’ many times and in many different ways. Sometimes it seems that clients see the value of our services most clearly on the day of the event.   Our finely tuned organizational skills, natural ability to multitask and intuitive improvisation allows us to direct the event as if we are conducting an orchestra.  After the event, we always receive glowing compliments about how well everything turned out.  Recently at one of our weddings, we were quite surprised when the Minister led off the dinner prayer by saying “Let us all thank the Wedding Planner for putting together this beautiful event”.

But, I must add that what we ‘do’ is equally valuable. I think a simple clarification to Rudy’s message can be made to say that the bride & groom should have realistic expectations and/or a mutual understanding of what their chosen planner will do for them (as per their service agreement, which can vary widely). Truth be told, there’s a lot we can do and amazing magic we can work – only we don’t have a magic wand, so we need to charge accordingly.

For more insight into the benefits of hiring a wedding planner, be sure to read “Do you REALLY Need a Wedding Planner”

© 2009 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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Just for fun…

Because I am a Twitter fanatic, I had to share this gem of an article!

Tweet My Wedding? The Dos and Don’ts of “Twedding Tweetiquette” by Juliette Powell, Huffington Post:

Of the six weddings I was invited to this summer, four weren’t just weddings. They turned out to be what I have begun to think of as “the twedding.”

You know you’re at a “twedding” when:

1. Your wedding invitations were sent via the micro-blogging site Twitter.com.
2. All aspects of your big day have been vetted by your twitter followers who suggest everything from wedding guests to wedding vendors.
3. Members of the wedding party take “candid” photographs and videos of the ceremony and upload them directly to twitpic and twitvid for community commenting.
4. Your wedding becomes a trending topic on Twitter.
5. The groom tweets “I’m married” before kissing the bride. 

Read the full article “Tweet My Wedding? The Dos and Don’ts of Twedding Tweetiquette”  by Juliette Powell of the Huffington Post ….

“Get educated, get involved and lead others.”
-Elisa Delgardio

“Break From the Pack! If you fall lockstep with everyone else, you’ll never get ahead. Every great innovator likely strayed from the norm!!”
-Bill Rancic (via twitter)

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
-John Quincy Adams

“Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple, and it is also that difficult.”
-Warren Bennis

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Simon is one of my favorite motivational speakers! His message is both powerful and sincere. His goal is to help others discover the precious gifts and talents they possess and guide them toward transforming their life. Simon is also well known for coaching business owners and partnering with organizations to acheive measurable results in the areas of leadership and service.

Simon recently authored “Release Your Brilliance” which essentially presents a road map for the journey to transformation. I have been reading this book for a few weeks now and highly recommend it. I have found that reading a few chapters at a time helps me digest the information slowly, and I’m really enjoying the interesting analogies, uplifting stories and interactive exercises.

I am excited to share the news that Simon will be at the Barnes & Noble at 2418 East Colonial Drive in Orlando on Saturday, January 17 to discuss and personally autograph his book. If you are able to attend the the presentation and book signing from 2 pm – 4 pm, I guarantee you will enjoy it!

For additional information on this event, please contact Melissa Spencer – Brilliance Institute, Inc. – 407-826-0000. Please visit Simon T. Bailey’s website to learn more about Simon, and to subscribe to Brilliant Carats, a free Ezine.