Final Project 2 The Business of Weddings By Betania Ducasse

1. Final Project 2 The Business of Weddings By Betania Ducasse

2. The Meeting

3. The Meeting • The meetings are set during a morning brunch or over lunch at a local coffee shop, restaurant or café sitting lounge. This allows time to greet and meet the potential client at a place where they can sit comfortably. • After greeting the client and asking and answering some questions regarding the reason for our meet, they would be handed the “Business Folder” which would consist of the business brochures with event packages, business bio,vendors and business cards.

4. Weddings and More….

5. About Mi-Ray In the winter of 2012, Betania Ducasse decided to take something that had been picked up as a hobby, as her main career. The idea was simple, creating successful events each and every time and taking away the stress from the client. For Weddings, Betania wanted to make sure that Brides had a say in their wedding planning, but being able to stay stress free during this process. It was very important to create the Bride and Grooms perfect wedding day and bringing their vision to life, without having the couple get overwhelmed. “ I believe in putting together a dream wedding, and a perfect event by making it easy for you. There should be no reason for an event to become a headache instead of a joyful fun experience. The goal is simple, create a memorable event by highlighting perks and not flaws ”.

6. The Packages • “Day Of” Service • Working with you approximately 1-2 months before the wedding day. • Provide a total of up to 8 hours of coordination and wedding day management • Availability via phone and email • 3 consultations prior to wedding day with the bridal couple, this includes the planning meeting, progress meeting, and final detail meeting. • Creation and distribution of wedding day timeline for Bridal couple and vendors. • Vendor confirmation for ceremony and reception • Conduct final walk through, wedding rehearsal for up to 2 hours • Orchestrate set up of ceremony and reception location • Starting at $675.00

7. Magical Wedding Package • Provides up to a total 10 hours coordination and wedding day management • Includes the final walk through, wedding rehearsal for ceremony and reception • Availability via phone and email • Wedding concept • Budgeting • Guest welcoming • 4 consultations with the Bridal couple this includes the planning meeting, 2 progress meeting and a final detail meeting • Creation and distribution of the wedding day timeline for Bridal couple and vendors • Prepare timelines and bridal check list • Provision of the Wedding emergency kit • Starting at $975

8. Dreams Come True Package • This package is for the Bride with a full service requirement. This is an all-inclusive package, consisting of the managing of the ceremony, reception and the wedding day itself. Bringing to life an unforgettable Dream Wedding. • This package Includes all details of the Magical Wedding Packagealong with: • Monthly progress meetings • Vendor research assistance • Reception location research • Coordinate the attendance and assistance of the wedding ceremony/reception rehearsal • Invitation assembly • Unlimited availability on the wedding day • Provision of the complete wedding emergency kit • Bridal party checklist • Oversee site set up • Wedding concept • Catering & menu selection • Music • Lighting design • Guest management • Transportation • Contract review & negotiation • Beauty • Budgeting • Photograph/videography • The price for this package is based on the budget of the wedding, with the starting price of $1550.00.

9. Additional Service • Welcome gifts for out of town Guests • Wedding Dress Selection • Honeymoons preparation • Bridal gown help • Cake selection • Wedding DJ and wedding Host/ Announcer • Florist • Invitation and stationary • Gift and favors • Day before wedding bride and groom pampering arrangement • Engagement and bridal party

10. Special Events Our services also include and are not limited to: • Birthdays • Anniversaries • Baby Showers • Bridal Showers • Bachelor and Bachelorette party • Social Gatherings • Themed parties and more Prices for these events range from $350-$1100 , prices vary and are based on customer requests for the events.

11. Fees • Full planning of all events above consist of: • Day of coordination on the day of the event • 3 Consultations with the client this includes the planning meeting, 1 progress meeting and a final detail meeting • Venue search,Décor & day of service setup. • Event Planning Consulting Service fee is $50 • Contract initial deposit fee is $250 due at contract signing. • Please note the consultation will guide what services are needed for the package and event.

12. Vendors Local vendor are used for all events. We have a variety of top rated vendors that work with us for all occasions. From reception halls, ceremony locations, bridal salons, bridal event attire, photographers, videographers, lighting companies D.J.’s, cake makers and more. We are also open to vendor suggestions.

13. Mi-Ray Events Weddings & more…. “Day Of” Services Contract This Agreement is made on this ______ day of _______________________20__, by and between Mi-Ray Events, and _______________________________hereinafter referred to as the Couple. In consideration of the mutual agreement contained. Mi-Ray Events and the couple, hereby agree to the following terms and conditions: Mi-Ray Events shall provide wedding day services for the couple on the____________________ day of __________20___, at the approximate time of ____________, located at: ____________________________________. Mi-Ray Events promises to provide “Day Of” services, to include the following: ¨ Initial meeting with the couple to gather information ¨ 8 hours of coordination and wedding day management ¨ Confirmation with all vendors ¨ Conduct Rehearsal up to 2 hours ¨ Orchestrate set up of ceremony and reception locations ¨ Help Bride into Gown ¨ Assist Bride, Groom, and Wedding Party ¨ Act as liaison between the wedding party and the vendors (incl. Photographer) ¨ Provide Itineraries ¨ Provide “Day Of” checklists and reminders ¨ Ensure that the day flows smoothly ¨ Bustle wedding gown at reception ¨ Distribute tossing items and line up guests ¨ Handle any last minute emergencies ¨ Distribute final payments There will also be provision of complete wedding emergency kit. 1 of 2

14. Contracts with all vendors will be between the Client and the Vendor. Mi-Ray Events will NOT enter any vendor contracts on behalf of the client. Mi-Ray Events accepts this responsibility and commits to holding the event date(s) reserved, neither considering nor accepting any other obligation that will interfere with our meeting or full commitment to you. This commitment is conditioned upon satisfactory receipt of fees set forth below. “Day Of” fees: $675. $250 is due and payable to reserve wedding/event date. Deposit paid: _______________ Balance due one week prior to wedding/event date: $_______________, _______________. The undersigned agrees to let Mi-Ray Events know of any changes to the wedding/event and/or vendors that they will be using. The undersigned also agrees to immediately notify Mi-Ray Events in case of a cancellation of the wedding/event or change to the wedding/event date. If there is a cancellation, the deposit is non-refundable. The undersigned agrees that there will not be another wedding planner/event coordinator working with the undersigned except for Mi-Ray Events. The undersigned agrees to pay a $250 deposit upon signing this agreement and pay the remaining balance one week prior to the set wedding/event date of _______________. I understand that I am using Mi-Ray Events to help with my weddings planning. I (the couple) can cancel at any time or change my contract at any time and agree to pay all fees. I acknowledge Mi-Ray Events and its representatives are not liable for the products or services and warranties of participating vendors. I understand that it is my responsibility to purchase my own wedding insurance, if I so desire. In the event of any dispute or legal action between the parties concerning the enforcement or interpretation of this General Contract, each party shall be responsible for their own attorney’s fees, if need be. This Agreement is entered into on this ______ day of ____________________, 20__, in the City of ____________________, the County of ____________________, State of ____________________. Mi-Ray Events Planning Certified Event and Wedding Planners & ________________________________________ 2 of 2

15. Getting Started Getting organized will help all parties involved have an idea of where to start and how to start planning their big event. Here are some tools to help initiate the process. • Questionnaire • Wedding checklist • Bridal party duties • Themes and ideas • Marriage license requirements

16. Getting Started Questionnaire: The intent here will be to get to know the client better and build a rapport. This will help us understand and visualize the clients wants and needs. The questionnaire will have questions such as: • Names of the bride and groom • Wedding date, time • Estimate budget and number of guests • Has venue been chosen for the event • Wedding day vision Once all information is gathered and we have an understanding of who the bride and groom are and what is their visual idea for their event, we will move on to the profiling them and getting them onto a Wedding Checklist. The Wedding Checklist will allow the the couple to keep themselvesup to date, involved in the planning process and in the know without having to feel the pressure of having to do.

17. Getting started Bridal Party Duties: This will allow the bride, groom and everyone in the bridal party to know the role they play. No party involved has a small role. It may not look as much to some, but for the bride and groom, each role plays an important part and helping everyone identify it is key. Details such as the maid of honor helping the bride stay calm through-out the process and helping her guide the rest of the bridesmaids, the best man who has a toast to think about, the flower girl who will initiate the ceremony, the ring bearer that holds the symbol that will signify the unity about to be made. Even the mother who will give her son to the bride that will finish her process of helping her boy become a man, as well as the father that has to see his little girl look like a princess who has now found her charming prince. All Roles Are Important!!

18. Getting Started Themes and ideas: Gathering all ideas and visualization of the wedding that the couple may have, with the combination of some guidance and enhancements will help create the perfect theme for the wedding. Weather traditional, non-traditional, exotic, fun, or over the top the concept will be a dream come true. Marriage license requirements: This information will be given to the couple just so the couple can have knowledge of what is needed to obtain their marriage license, such as fees and length the time before the license can be obtained.

19. Additional Tools Relationship Experts Mi-Ray Events can help couples find relationship experts that can help couples interested in learning how to keep their passion alive, improve, handle or manage a successful marriage and even help manage the “moving in” process. Couple monitoring As an event planner it is important for us to make sure that we keep a relationship with all clients. For our couples, we would monitor them in the simplelist way, by calling them every now and again just to see how they are feeling and making sure everything is running smooth, even though they have access to contact us as they please, be it by telephone or email, it is important that they understand we are not here only because we are doing a job, but because we also care and want their wedding to be special. Brides sometimes may want to talk to someone even though they may have siblings, friends and parents. Sometimes a third person from the outside may help make her feel more confident during the process of her wedding.

20. Common Q & A’s • How long have you been in the industry? I have been in the industry officially for less than one year. I have known of the industry and have planned events for friends and family for a three years. • How many events have you done? I have organized approximately three baby showers, five birthdays, two weddings, two bachelor parties, one family reunion, and one social gathering. • Are you certified? Yes, I became a certified wedding planner in 2012. • Can you give an example of when you had to be quick thinking and avert disaster for a wedding or event that you planned? In 2009 I planned a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic, where all was going great until the brides makeup artist had not arrived, the maid of honor’s dress was not tailored properly and the reception had not been properly decorated. I then proceeded to put to use my knowledge of makeup, and proceeded to put the makeup on the bride. As I was attending the bride I asked the brides mother and aunt if they would be able to help the maid of honor with her dress since they both had sewing experience, and had a sewing machine in the mothers home where all were getting ready . Once that was done, as the ceremony was taking place at a near by church, I proceeded with another relative to properly decorate the reception hall, by changing the drapery setting that was put up, and adjusting the tables and centerpieces.

21. Weddings and More….