Luxury Hotels/Resorts that Require Wedding Planners in Los Angeles and Orange County

Mary Dann-McNamee — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:30:50 -0500

I recently surveyed eleven luxury hotels and resorts in Los Angeles and Orange County to find what their policy is with requiring a professional wedding planner for their brides. I hope my research will inspire more partnering and collaboration with professional planners. Hope this helps when searching for your venue location. Please don’t hesitate to call or email. I am always happy to help any bride, at any stage, through the journey of wedding planning!

HOT IDEA: "Wedding Planning Group Therapy" in Manhattan Beach Starting January 12

Mary Dann-McNamee — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:55:16 -0600

"Wedding Plannning Group Therapy"
is perfect for anyone navigating the wedding planning journey.

A confidential sacred space to share your anxiety, fears, frustrations, and joy while you travel the sometimes bumpy road of planning a wedding day. You are invited to attend, at any stage of the planning process and at any time you wish.

Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm

Date: every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, Starting on January 12, 2010

Location: A Legendary Affair Showroom, 505 N. Sepulveda # 10, Manhattan Beach 90266

RSVP: 310.372.5200 (not necessary, but appreciated) or email: m@marydann.com

Cost: $ 25 per person (cash or check)

Facilitated by: Mary Dann-McNamee, MA Clinical Psychology and Wedding Planner

highs and lows of 2009 from a professional planner

Mary Dann-McNamee — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:11:43 -0600

Biggest Challenge and Biggest Accomplishment, insights from a professional planner, since 1991

I wanted to share an insight on hiring your friends as vendors for your wedding day. And just becuase they are your friends, it doesn't mean you are getting the best deal.

Love to know your feedback. Much gratitude!

My biggest Challenge: staying objective when I witness a client (bride/groom/family) hires a “friend/a professional in the business”, to give them beauty and value and the “friend/a professional in the business” charges client more than if they didn’t have a relationship. It bothers me because my client loves the vendor, since they are friends, and that vendor (who may or may not even specialize in weddings) takes advantage of them. I have always felt that my profession is a sacred journey and couples/families let us (professional planners) into the intimate spaces, quickly, with complete trust. I love to escort my clients by guiding them through the pit falls of vendors that could take advantage of them.. and when they are invited into the mix, disguised a “friend of the couple/family”. I first try to negotiate for the couple and stand firm on what they promise “must be’ what they deliver. I found myself in that position several times this year. Standing up for my client and holding the “friend/a professional in the business” accountable for what they promised, proved to be my MOST challenging experience. Hard to keep my "signature calmness” when I witness someone taking advantage of my client, during the sacred journey. Similar to how one would feel if they saw someone bullying a friend… even if the friend thought the bully was their friend.

My biggest Accomplishment: Every Year I seem to birth a new miracle. This year was my book, “Wedding Wisdom”. Although it has a few typo’s (minor but they are still there and it really bothers me..urggh!) Thanks to Leila Khalil, Wedding Publicist, she helped move me through the journey with motivation and light!

The hottest new video wedding book!

Mary Dann-McNamee — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:24:43 -0500

More developments on the hottest new video wedding book for weddings…It is being launched at the WEVA (Wedding and Event Videographer Association) convention in Orlando this week. This video guest book is where the times are heading.. to capture all guests on video, rather than signing in on a guest book.. is reaaallly very amazing… and I am so honored to be apart of the advisory board. Just this past Saturday one of my clients purchased the book for their beautiful Castle Green wedding.

Innovative Guest Books

Mary Dann-McNamee — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:54:06 -0500

I am so thrilled to blog for my favorite magazine!! NO other magazine has their pulse on the wedding market like Inside Weddings!! What a privilege to be able to offer my insight to new trends and exciting things to look out for. I am looking forward to contributing in any way I can. It’s been an exciting couple of months for me as I continue to grow my business. I recently partnered with Americhip and am looking forward to launching the wedding video guest book with them and their new patented technology!