WHY DO YOU NEED AN EVENT PLANNER?

The three biggest fears people face are:

•  Public speaking
• Snakes
• Throwing a successful corporate function

Okay we may be stretching it a little on the last one, but anyone who has had to organize a corporate party, meeting or sales conference knows just how stressful it can be. It's hard work making sure everyone has fun and a meaningful experience.

We know you’ve already got a full plate so why not let us take care of your next event?

Company functions are important and rare occasions where the entire team can get together in a non-work atmosphere to have fun. It should be a rewarding and a team-building experience. It has value and that’s why you should hire a professional to organize it.

Do you remember your last corporate party, meeting, retreat or sales conference? Probably not, right? You are an executive and you know how to run your business. But, you don't necessarily know how to throw a great party or organize an event for 50-1,000 people.

Here is a list of reasons why it's better to hire an event planner:

• An event planner is usually a local business entrepreneur. They would know all the hot spots in town, no matter what city, be it Reno, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, or Houston.

• An event planner has resources and contacts that they can draw upon. You need a DJ? No problem! You need a motivational speaker? We can do that. You need a caterer or chef? We’re on it!

• An event planner has experience. They know that entertainers sometimes cancel at the last minute. What if that magician you hired really disappears the night before the office Christmas party? An event planner will have a back-up that they can call. And, if no magician is available they would be able to find the next best thing, perhaps a clown or an eighties tribute band, you get the picture, right?

• An event planner frees your time. Event planning is time consuming. The “to-do” list is endless: scouting venues, sending invitations, arranging decorations, valet parking, hotel bookings, airline bookings, providing directions. The list goes on and on.

HIRING AN EVENT PLANNER FOR YOUR NEXT COMPANY FUNCTION IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

Ask Beverly: Questions To Ask A Wedding Coordinator

What can you tell me about your business?

When Beverly Harris founded Beverly Harris Weddings & Events in 2006, her vision is to assist individuals, companies and non-profits in maximizing their events through strategic planning and creating fun, original and fabulous atmospheres for their guests. Beverly who holds a MBA has professionally coordinated corporate events for major Fortune 500 companies, planned parties and coordinated weddings for families and friends. She and her professional team are constantly evolving by staying on top of the market and enhancing their skills through their relationships with vendors, associations and the industry, at large.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events is based in Los Angeles and doing business in surrounding areas such as, Beverly Hills, Orange County, Ventura County and the South Bay. Beverly Harris Weddings & Events was Nominated in the Top 5 Best Businesses in the Inland Empire, won the 2011 and 2010 Brides Choice Award, featured in the Los Angeles Times, Bodas USA Magazine and on numerous blogs. Beverly Harris Weddings & Events will take care of all your planning needs and be rest assured that all the details, large and small, will be taken care of so you can feel like a guest at your own event. Beverly Harris Weddings & Events is seeking the ultimate opportunity to build and establish a personal/professional relationship with clients and are committed and totally dedicated in assisting customers, in bringing their Vision to Life!

What is a Bridal Consultant, and do I need one?

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events is a professional service that has endless hours of training and experience. We use highly qualified vendors and will concentrate on making your day run perfectly stress free as you relax and enjoy. You can choose any or all of the roles we play such as coordinator, advocate/point person, mediator, supervisor, advisor, budget assistant and so on. We work behind the scene to make it all happen.

What will a consultant do for me?

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events objective is to assist in making your dream day a reality while helping you stay within the budget, save you precious time, and avoid any costly mistakes. We would handle as much of the details as you would like and be there to smooth all of those complex relationships that sometimes come about with family and friends. We will reduce your stress and help you enjoy your engagement and wedding.

Both Ceremony and reception sites have an on-site planner, why would I need a consultant?

This is a common question and quite justified. Some places do include their own "on-site" coordinator, when this happens Beverly Harris Weddings & Events does not infringe on their responsibilities. They do a wonderful job getting done what is contracted, but they are usually focused on the venue they work for; leaving the question of who will manage the details you have spent hours working on, such as flowers for readers, groomsmen, grandparents, assuring the musicians, limo, and photographer are on time, programs are handed out, candles are lit, bows on chairs are straight, DJ is on time, and much more. On site coordinators are frequently not prepared or else willing to take care of the little things or problems. We are your personal assistant for the entire day. Knowing what the big picture is and assuring that every detail is in its place, looking as beautiful as you have dreamed it would.

If you have more questions, please give us a call.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698 

Need Chauffeured Ground Transportation - LimoLink International

LimoLink International is a premium worldwide chauffeured ground transportation organization who chooses to focus on the two sets of individuals most often forgot in transportation: the representative who arranges the service and the passenger. LimoLink does not simply take reservations – we manage ground transportation like no one else. We currently operate in over 570 cities in the United States and over 125 countries worldwide.

High Level LimoLink Differentiators:

Dedicated Advocates: We are dedicated to serve you. We invest heavily to ensure the level of service you receive is exceptional – our Customer Service is unparalleled! Our responsibility is to provide the highest level of service in the industry.

Meeting/Event Team

EventLink

888-255-4795

EventLink@limolink.com

Client Account Mgr.

Bryan Johnson

319-730-2148

Bjohnson@limolink.com

Client Relations Mgr.

Stephanie Darling

319-730-2161

sdarling@limolink.com

Ease of Communication: We assign you one point of contact for each meeting/event you do with us. Whether they are managing your group internally at our HQ, or on site at the airport, you have an EventLink Specialist working for you as an extension of your business. Last minute changes, manifest revisions, arrivals and departures or registration desk, we are there for you 24x7.

Breadth of Services: Travel Partnerships, Corporate Travel, Meetings & Events, Roadshows, Private Aviation all coupled with industry expertise. We offer sedans, SUVs, passenger vans, executive vans, mini-buses, motor coaches and everything in between. Contact LimoLink and forget it – we’ll manage it!

Ground Management: We know more about our fleet than any provider worldwide. LimoLink International has the world’s largest personally vetted driver network. From GPS tracking to a ‘watchdog’ website where all maintenance records are viewable. We review an exhaustive list of driver and vehicle qualities before placing a single LimoLink client in a vehicle.

Quality Assurance: Every reservation receives a 3 call quality check. 12hr, 2hr, and 30 minutes before pickup, LimoLink is re-confirming your reservation details with dispatch and driver to prevent passenger impacting issues. Our drivers will be staged a minimum of 15 minutes early when we complete our industry leading quality process.

GPS tracking, driver on-location text/email messages, immediate confirmations, service level options, and customized reporting are all available at your request.

LimoLink provides the best drivers, the best vehicles, the best service and a desire to truly partner with you. We are dedicated to the success of the partnership and look forward to working with you!

LimoLink International

Bryan Johnson
Direct: 319.730.2148
Email: bjohnson@limolink.com
Web: http://www.limolink.com/


Reservations
Transient: 877.789.6210 / orangeteam@limolink.com
Meetings/Events: 888.255.4795 / eventlink@limolink.com

How To Avoid Problems with Vendors

Ask for referrals from friends and family members.  Talk to recent brides who have used the service you are considering.  Ask for their pros and cons.  Interview at least three different firms before committing.  Don't accept a banquet halls recommendation without first checking out the firm.  Don't accept an absolute ("On tables, we always put carnations in bud vases.")  Insist on reviewing sample books of florists' and photographers' work.

Hire a company with a successful track record.  A firm that has been in business for years has proven itself to hundreds of customers.  Although this is not a guarantee (management can change), it is a positive sign.

Trust your feelings.  A wedding-service professional who seems haughty, patronizing, overly rushed, or resistant to your suggestions in an initial interview is unlikely to change over the next several months.  If simple conversation is uncomfortable, go elsewhere.  Avoid anyone who asks for an initial deposit that is more than 50 percent of the total price of the service.  Withholding full payment is your only leverage if the service is not provided or if it is substandard.

Be suspicious of any professional who refuses to sign a contract.  Anything that has been promised verbally must be spelled out in writing.  If a company says they do not have standard contracts, ask for, or provide, a letter of agreement.  Both you and the service provider must sign any document to make it legally binding.

Never be pushed into signing anything.  Give yourself time to fully understand the document.  Ask as many questions as are necessary.  An ethical professional whose services are in demand should courteously answer all questions and never pressure you for a quick decision or deposit.  For example, never cave in to pressure to put a deposit down on a gown before the store closes that day.  If this means that you must return another day to finalize the deal, do that.  If you were made to feel uncomfortable about delaying your decision, rethink buying from the store or hiring the firm.

Keep tabs on the professionals once you've put down a deposit.  Bands, in particular, may break up or re-form during your engagement months.  Market changes may make it impossible for your florist to deliver a particular flower.  Stay in touch!

A Hotel Maya Long Beach Wedding

2010 Bride's Choice Awards Winner!

Press Release

Los Angeles, California – January 19, 2010 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Beverly Harris Weddings & Events has been selected to receive the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Wedding Planner!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Beverly Harris Weddings & Events is among the very best Wedding Planner within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/vendor/VendorViewProfile?mode=edit&tab=profile

About WeddingWire, Inc.

WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding vendors, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. In addition, WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/. For additional information, please visit http://www.weddingwire.com/

Why Use HelmsBriscoe?

The way HelmsBriscoe services work:

• We are first and foremost “advocates of our clients” and our goal is to assist you with planning triumphant events.
  
  
• We qualify your needs and base on the specifics you provide will begin to search for all the hotels that would be the most suitable matches to your meeting criteria and have it back to you in a full report within 48 hours in most cases.
  
  
• We assist you with your contract negotiations to deliver you with huge cost savings. We are quite familiar with the hotel lingo and know what to ask for in your favor.
  
  
• Our services are 100% free of charge to you & your organization as we are compensated for through the hotels marketing budget. Our involvement does not impact your rates in a negative way, we only impact your experience in a positive way…time wise, investment wise, and partnership wise. We take pride in working with you as your partner and helping you achieve the utmost success.
  
  
• We can be as involved or not, depending on what your needs are. We can coordinate your site visits, we can also be a great resource for all your additional vendor needs as we have a highly accredited group of vendors that we do business with (i.e. speakers, event production, audio visual, off premise activities, city tours etc…)
  
  

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for ways to provide my clients with excellent service.

I used Farrah Tauvaa with HelmsBriscoe for my groups room block and the service was awesome.  She can be reached at:


http://www.helmsbriscoe.com/bio/ftauvaa
Cell: (626) 482-8484
Phone: (800) 397-0054
Fax: (888) 397-0558