One-Year Anniversary

Melanie, PBC, Bride Crystal, Groom Dusty - Married August 14, 2010

September is Once In A Lifetime's anniversary month!  This month has marked the first year of officially being in business.  What a great year it has been!  I knew starting a business would take a lot of work...I mean it is a business after all. :)  But I did not realize how much time I would really be putting into the business....and most of that time, I am not being compensated for. 

In the past year, I have continued my education  in the wedding industry by attending conferences thoughout the country, with the most knowledge-filled conference being the Association of Bridal Consultant's National Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana last November.  Deciding to attend the annual conference was very difficult, as my daughter was only 3 months old at the time.  I spent a total of 4 days away from her.  It was tough, but I do not regret it for a minute!  I now value the tips, trends, and certifications I received more, because I sacrificed my time away from my family. 

I have attended dozens of bridal shows in the past year as well.  Yes, it may be fun for a bride to attend these shows herself, but why spend so many weekend days and hours researching vendors at the shows when you can hire me to do that for you?  At the shows, I don't really stop and talk to each vendor.  I'll say hello to the ones I know, and then pick up a card at the ones I don't.  I really use the shows as an opportunity to catch the "new" vendors in the area, as well as the new styles for wedding-day attire.

After the shows, and throughout the past year, I have spent endless hours networking, interviewing, and meeting with photographers, videographers, caterers, and the other mind-boggling amount of vendors that the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area has to offer one that is planning a wedding or special event.  I have a great deal of information about prices, package offers, as well as those vendors who are truly ones that are worth the moolah ($$$).

And most importantly, I have had the pleasure of working with a great deal of brides and grooms in the past year as well!  I have experienced everything from a dog as the "flower-girl" to no flower-girl; An Hawaiian themed wedding; A Yellow Wedding; An outdoor cocktail-hour in the rain; A 60 guests wedding; a 300 guests wedding (and everything in between); and this coming weekend, a same-sex ceremony (I am in Iowa afterall).  It has been a great first year!!

To celebrate Once In A Lifetime's One-Year Anniversary, I want to give you a gift! 

Thanks to my husband being a computer engineer and tech geek, for each 2011 bride (or groom!) that hires me to plan your wedding (Full-Planning Package), she (or he) will be given a 16GB Apple iPad. 

You defintiely won't have to worry about losing that picture out of a magazine that is of your dream cake.  Just pull it up on your new iPad.  Also, keep track of all of my emails to you about the great venue for your reception or an Excel spreadsheet of the wedding budget that I helped you create.

Give me a call (319) 373-0648 or shoot me an email mail@onceinalifetimeweddingsandevents.com today so we can start planning your 2011 Once In A Lifetime Wedding today!

(This offer is good through September 30, 2010.)