How to Get an Internship with a Wedding Planner

'Tis the season for college students to start looking for internships. We have had some fabulous interns in the past and we always get lots of applicants each year so I thought I'd share some tips for anyone who may be thinking of breaking into the business by interning for a wedding planner.

1) Address your letter or email to a person. It isn't too hard to do some research and see who owns the company. If the info isn't listed on the company website, call and ask to whom you should send your resume. And be sure not to mix up names. I have gotten emails addressed to another wedding planner before. Big oops! We know you're probably sending out lots of resumes, just don't make it obvious.

2) Proof well for spelling or grammatical errors. Don't say you're detail-oriented and misspell it!

3) If possible, find a personal connection. Did you go to the same school, join the same sorority or belong to the same professional organization?

4) The best is a personal recommendation or referral. If we ever met or spoke, remind me of it!

5) Don't be afraid to show your personality in the cover letter. We get so many letters that sound exactly the same. Show us why you are going to be an amazing asset but do it in a creative way. In other words, don't just say you'll be an amazing asset, show us! This is a business based on creativity, after all.

6) If the person you are writing has written a book or even an article, read it! Do your research and know about the company or the event planner to whom you're applying. I'm always impressed when people have done research and know about my company's history. It shows me that they will be just as thorough when they are working with me.

7) Be persistent. Wedding planners have a ton going on so it is your responsibility to follow up. If someone keeps emailing or calling, I know they are really interested. I don't think I've ever hired someone who has just sent me one email or letter. If your email says you will follow up in a week, do it.

Good luck!
Laura

Sweet Treats!

Today we had the pleasure of sampling some of the cakes offered by Cotton's Gourmet. If you're a faithful Bridal Bubbly reader, you know we love cake. And you also know that Alison really loves cake. So this was a fun day at the office.

We tried four flavors: chocolate, red velvet, vanilla and their signature flavor, sweet potato pound cake. Being the Southern girl that I am, I loved the sweet potato pound cake. It was so flavorful and moist! If you can't imagine sweet potatoes as dessert, you should try this cake. One of our other tasters loved the vanilla, and Alison is always partial to red velvet.

Cotton's specializes in Southern desserts so they also offer deep dish pies like coconut custard and bread pudding with whiskey sauce. Yum! They are located in Maryland but travel all over the D.C. area for weddings. So pop up to Maryland for a tasting and don't miss the sweet potato pound cake!

Breaking D.C. Event World News!

Well, there is big news this week in the D.C. event world so hang on to your hats (or veils)! Our dear friend and Director of Catering at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Michael Deltette, is moving to The Park Hyatt to become their new Director of Catering. We absolutely adore Michael and have done so many amazing weddings with him at The Mandarin so now we look forward to doing lots of weddings with him at The Park Hyatt!

And the lovely Amal Zaari from The Park Hyatt will be taking over as Director of Social Catering at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. We all know Amal for her spectacular events at The Park Hyatt, and the Ritz is lucky to get her talent. Congratulations Amal! We look forward to working with you at The Ritz!

Congratulations Sara!

Once again, Sara has been nominated for a Capital Award for one of her weddings! The Capital Awards are sponsored by ISES, the International Special Events Society, and are the highest honor you can achieve in the D.C. special events industry. Go Sara!

Green Garters!

Our favorite Garter Girl has designed fabulous eco-friendly garters. The first-ever, green garters are environmentally friendly (and chic) wedding garters made from recycled plastic bottles. The background and accent colors can be mixed and matched to find your perfect style.




So, be you and be green! Go to Julianne Smith to purchase or customize your garter colors. You might have to get a couple, though. These garters are too cute to throw!

Mellow Yellow

Photo from MSW

This past weekend was so gorgeous in the D.C. area! The forsythia bush in my yard is in glorious bloom with the most riotous yellow blossoms so I thought I'd post some favorite photos of yellow wedding details.

Photo by The Cake Girls

These individual cakes look so yummy! You know how we love bright shoes under wedding dresses. These sunny peep-toes are perfect for a warm weather wedding!

Photo by Jose Villa

Happy Monday and bring on the Spring!

Wedding Amusement {Carnival Inspiration}

credits: candy and game (Victor Sizemore Photography), centerpiece (Green
Wedding Shoes), escort cards ( Grey Likes Weddings), milk jug toss (Victor
Sizemore Photography), photobooth (Grey Likes Weddings), ferris wheel kiss
(Green Wedding Shoes), carousel bride (Picture That Photography), cotton candy
(Victor Sizemore Photography), ring toss (Victor Sizemore Photography)

The warmer weather starts making me think about summer carnivals and outdoor fairs. I always love really whimsical weddings that take inspiration from childhood fun. Plus, I adore cotton candy and funnel cakes and all sorts of fair food! Love having escort cards that look like carnival tickets--such a cute idea! Weddings are happy occasions so why not make them really fun? Enjoy and Happy Friday!

Win a Luxurious Yacht Wedding!

We just have to share this amazing giveaway!

Win an Annapolis dream wedding on a luxurious private yacht on the Chesapeake Bay! The prize, valued at over $20,000 includes:

• 3-hour yacht cruise
• Hosted Soda/Juice/Beer/Wine Bar
• Delicious catering and a fabulous wedding cake from The Main Ingredient.
• Accommodations, valet service and breakfast from Historic Inns of Annapolis
• DJ services from Alpha Entertainment
• Photography by DBryant Photography
• Florals from Intrigue Design and Décor
• Limousine from An Extraordinary Limousine

There are two ways to enter:
1. Send a video (90 seconds or less please) of your love story or wedding proposal.
OR
2. Come down to the Annapolis City Dock on April 17, 2010. Watermark will welcome you to step aboard the Catherine Marie to record your video and receive a tour.

For more information or to download your video, go to the contest website. Good luck! We hope a Bridal Bubbly reader wins!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! {Green Wedding Inspiration}

Photo credits: dresses (Martha Stewart), bouquet (Martha Stewart), cake

(Artisan Cake Company via The Knot), ring pillow (), shoes (Cheri Pearl), table
setting (Martha Stewart), teacups (Martha Stewart), clover boutonniere, apple
escort cart setting (Style Me Pretty), drink (Martha Stewart Wedding), cupcake
(Snippet & Ink), invitation (Style Me Pretty)

Hope everyone remembered to wear green today!  We have a few green and white weddings coming up this summer, and we love the crisp combination. Enjoy this fresh and fun green wedding inspiration and may the luck of the Irish be with you!

Lunch with Some (Wedding Planning) Ladies

Last week, Sara and I had the pleasure of attending a lunch to showcase the catering talents of Silverleaf. Our dear friend Pam Barefoot of Atrendy Wedding hosted the Georgetown party and some of our favorite fellow wedding planners attended.

The weather was glorious so we enjoyed cocktails in the walled garden before going inside for a seated lunch. The meal was tapas style with delicious items like shrimp on skewers, summer rolls and chai pots de creme. I loved the unique flavors and creative use of spices! Pam had everyone answer a fun, wedding planning related question, which led to some lively conversation.





Nick Perez of Multiflor created gorgeous centerpieces using unusual flowers and vegetables that evoked the modern art on the wall. The beautiful photos are courtesy of Kate Triano. Thanks to Pam and to Silverleaf for a lovely afternoon!