Making life a Novel not Manual - Progress, Success, and Motivation:

Letter from the editor:  text by Jaime Valdes-Riench

I usually like to write something heart felt around New Year’s, but it took until now to feel compelled and inspired to write.  I feel this blog post is from my heart now that we are entering our 10 year business anniversary and welcoming all the new changes that will come with that.  So please enjoy! The words are from my heart.

With Love (and Style of course):
Jaime Valdes-Riench

It is interesting that we all can be creatures of habit.  If you are like me, you take a certain comfort when you can forecast and look ahead in order to anticipate what the next hurtle will be.  After all, that is 90% of what an event planner has to do, right?  We trouble shoot by nature; it’s deeply rooted within us. Now what happens when you start allow that to creep into daily to business life and even your personal life?  If we all forecast too often we start living life like a manual.  But life is a novel, not a manual. 

If you among that 2%, who is driven to be a leader and innovator, following your “manual” will just choke your inspiration and motivated spirit.  Do not fall victim to the comfort of the manual.

Not everyone will believe there is such a thing as your true destiny.  Yes, we make our own destiny.  I do believe however there is an infinite potential we all have when we follow through will all aspects of our passions to the maximum of our given talents.  How do we achieve success? Constant and consistent motivation; moving that momentum into progress; and following through until we reach success.  Now here is the kicker.. there is no end. If you want longevity of consistent success you have to continue even AFTER you reach your goal, OR you start the manual mode.  You also need to take comfort that you are making progress, even when it is not as apparent (i.e. challenging situations).  Make your personal and business life a novel, not a manual.  Allow ups and downs to occur, but do not let them strangle you.  It is developing an ear to listen to life when it is forcing you to your true potential.  It is seeing that your where not thrown into a “hard time”, but rather catapulted into something that makes you uncomfortable, and in turn.. makes you better.  Sometimes things have to happen to push us out of the “manual” mode so we get back to making a riveting novel that other want to actually read.  Make your novel inspiring to others.  That ensures your life continues, even after your life ends.  2013 taught me to throw away my manual.  2014 is all about writing a novel.  I encourage you to write yours, and get ready for an amazing harvest of the best years of your life.

Thanks for reading.

Chelsea & Steve- 02-01-12

text by Tiffany Check, wedding planner and travel agent for Travel & Events with Style

After a quick stop back in Winnipeg after Nadine & Ricks wedding at the Melia Tropical Punta Cana I boarded another plane to join Chelsea & Steve with their friends and family to Mexico for their wedding. 

Chelsea and Steve dated for 8 years before he proposed to her. Chelsea always envisioned her big day to be a local wedding with the big fruffy dress, and the large reception party. After beginning the process of planning the details of a local wedding they became quickly over whelmed with the choices and cost of having a wedding here in Winnipeg.  That’s when we started looking at the different options of a destination wedding. Once I went over the options they had with a destination wedding and a destination wedding planner it was very clear to them that a destination wedding was the way to go for them.

Chelsea and Steve choose the Sandos Caracol Eco Resort in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. It is a lovely resort that is child friendly, but also offers an adults only section. This is a perfect solution for couples who have guests that will bring children to their wedding but would still like some alone time.

The morning of the wedding we woke up to rain. You know the saying “It is good luck for it to rain on your wedding day” well the bride wasn’t of the same opinion when she had her wedding planned to be on the beach. I remember ensuring for over and over the morning of the wedding that it would be ok…rain or no rain it was her and Steve’s day and it will be one of the best days of her life. By lunch time it stopped raining and started to dry up still no sun but Chelsea was just grateful she would still be able to walk down the aisle on the beach. As the bridesmaids walked down the aisle everyone stood up waiting for Chelsea and her dad to walk down the aisle. Just then the sun came out. The sun was shining and Chelsea & Steve had their gorgeous beach ceremony!

Here are a few pictures of their lovely wedding at the Sandos Caracol Eco Resort.

Cheers!

-Tiffany

It's Our 7th Birthday!

How time has flew yet we have come so far

A word for the writer: Jaime Valdes-Riench,
owner of Travel & Events with Style and With Style Designs

What a honour it is to announce our companies’ 7^th birthday for Travel & Events with Style and With Style Designs. In some ways it has felt like it happened in a blink of an eye, yet looking back and going over the memories is puts me into a state of awe of all the ground we have broken to get to this point.

When Travel & Events with Style first opened it doors to serving its guests, it was a business model almost unheard of, especially for our little city of Winnipeg, MB. I am a firm believer that most things are meant to be and every day is a gift ready to be unwrapped. Every milestone we passed where truly moments to remember always. Hard or easy, they are what gives us experience.

When Travel & Events with Style was created, the goal was to merge the love of travel with weddings. Destination Weddings where starting to grow and to have a firm that offered the travel agency and the wedding planner firm under one roof only made perfect sense. As time went on, we as a company started to notice the areas of challenges for our couples. We then added services such as Officiant services to be wed prior to departure, wedding invitations, wedding websites, and really, the list always seems to grow. But when a service is added on, we educate ourselves in that area to offer our guests our very best. The best part of passing “lucky seven” is that we have now have had the chance to grow our relationships with amazing suppliers and prime vendors to give our couples and their guests the very best. One thing we have always strove for was to keep our company couture and boutique. The only way to offer service that is beyond status quo is to keep the quality with hands on, personalized service.

It brings us great personal joy that our teams is growing in every direction. Our newest and very talented addition is Tiffany Check, who is an accredited wedding planner and destination wedding specialist through WPIC. Having another experienced wedding planner on our team has now offered our local and destination wedding planning clients more thorough service. She is definitely a gem to find and look forward to you all enjoying her blog posts in her areas of expertise!

Now in closing, as an owner, and almost mother to this dream come true of a company, I can only say that With Style will keep getting better with time. Everyone on our team cares about what we do and why we do it. Integrity IS the way we do business and going beyond is because we care enough to do it.

To everyone who has stuck by us thorough these years, to every client that has honoured us as being our guest, and to everyone we have met along the way, I personally want to say, Thank you. It is a blessing we are here doing what we love and you all where a large part of it!

Salud!
Jaime Valdes-Riench

Distinctive Destination Weddings – Tips on Decor

Written By Jaime Valdes-Riench, owner of Travel & Events with Style

Destination weddings at resorts are can give couples mixed feelings. If it is important to the couple to find a way to set themselves apart from everyone else who has explored the path of the same wedding package, they may feel over whelmed. The question that is asked is, “How may I make our day, OUR day without looking like everyone else?” Also, where do you begin? A suggestion would be to work closely with your destination wedding professional and takethe base wedding package and make it so much more!

The base wedding packages for destination weddings, at most popular resorts, really cover the bare essentials for what a wedding should begin with. You may have the basic bridal bouquet, boutonnière for the groom, and a centerpiece plus one tier wedding cake for the reception. That is hardly wedding calibre of what a wedding should be if you where wanting more. So how do you obtain that without breaking the budget? Simple, work with someone from home and add on!

The basic wedding package is basically that, the base. There are 2 options available: 1. Adding on with the resort and not worrying that you have to bring anything with you but your clothes and love and 2. bringing the extras to make it yours! Both answers are perfect for the right couple. To have the piece of mind that you are taken care-of and nothing needs to me carried with you is peace of mind in itself. If you where planning to organise everything through the resort, the areas of compromise are that colours may not match through out the wedding, nor florals my not be cohesive or even be on the colour scheme you are requesting. Tropical countries offer natural flowers that are bold and vibrate in colour and they may not always keep with a theme. Example: many bouquets are filled with local tropical flowers, but you may end up with a bouquet of orange, yellow and vibrant fuchsia together. It is all in one’s taste on whether or not you embrace the location’s charm and what they have to offer. Now if you prefer to have more control on the over all look of the wedding it will take a little more planning.

As with any wedding choosing the base colour scheme is intrical. Next would be to find out what the resort can offer as far as guaranteeing that themed colour so it is cohesive. It is important to note that bouquets are not always the image of perfection as they are here. A great alternative is to have a local floral designer make up bouquets for your wedding party from high quality “real feel” flowers. The key with faux is that any colour is achievable and transportable. If quality faux flowers are chosen, they also can be taken home and remade into something you will see everyday in your future home. If packed correctly, they will travel impecitively and will look fresh even in intense heat. You also have the added bonus of using your bouquet again if you have planned your day after shoot.

Here are a few other tips on how to work with your resort to create your special look: Tiffany Chairs (what we locally call Chiavari chairs) are now available at most 4 – 5 star resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico. They add elegance to a room without a tremendous amount of fuss. Another tip is to add additional centerpieces to add to the look. One of the more standard centerpieces at resorts right now are the 24” cylinder vase with a floating candle. They are either trimmed with a colour ribbon or steamed faux flower submerged in the water. Depending on the size of the reception and number of guests, seating is more often long rectangle tables, with a family style set up. This usually is a result to not having enough guests for multiple circle banquet tables. One cylinder or tall rectangular vase can easily be lost on a table of that shape. Adding a few additional cube or smaller height vases filled with flowers gives texture, colour, and contrast. For those who want to add even more onto the look, bring long steamed faux orchids or exotic flowers and rent vases from the resort. Adding 3 tiers of height completely changes the look.

Another way to make the reception’s look more distinctive is adding linens and Tiffany chair covers as you would at a wedding locally. Most resorts offer a few options for linens. Overlays or runners are now being offered additionally as well, but are not always very affordable if rented threw the resort. But why not rent from home and add to the look? Locally we have amazing options, and thinking ahead will give a finishing touch. Elegant over-lays bring colour to the room, while custom tiffany chair covers as a final look of elegance to an already gorgeous look. Both pack small and light. Renting locally and bringing to the resort is a great way to combine the local charm with something more current and tailored. It is important to mention that there may be special deposits with local rental companies to make such arrangements.

The last fun item to consider for your destination wedding is practical fun items such as coloured parasols and fans. Giving fans to all attending guests at the ceremony gives a little touch of colour throughout the crowd and comfort to everyone. Parasols are a fun way to have as an alternative or addition to bouquets for bridesmaids and possibly attendees. They are both elegant and functional.

Destination Weddings do not have always have to have the look that they where chosen from a catalogue. It is always important to find an experienced professional who can make your wedding, your wedding. Travel and Events with Style has dedicated their services to find ways for couples to have a wedding abroad tailored to their individual tastes with quality and with style. Between offering services in house or finding the best possible suppliers, it comes down to planning your day and making it full of wonderful memories.

Sources:
Photography: Sugar and Soul Photography
Event Planner and Design: Travel & Events with Style
Floral Design & Rentals: The Little Flower Shop
Cakes & Pastries: Cake-ology
Linens: With Style Designs
Invitations & Stationary: With Style Designs
Venue: La Fiesta Cafecito

Calling all Destination Wedding Couples for 2012!!

We just wanted to take a moment to remind you of the special event you are invited to attend. Please R.S.V.P. by Wednesday March 2, 2011 if you are interested. Space is limited and Admission is free!

You are cordially invited to join us for our Destination Wedding
Information Session and Mini Bridal Showcase
on Sunday, March 6, 2011 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm
We will have refreshments, wedding cake to sample,
door prizes, live entertainment, and Q&A.
There will also be exclusive discounts on destination wedding
coordinating, wedding dress purchases, and
photography packages exclusive only to those who attend.

Our topics and focus will be on:
Is an international destination wedding right for you?
How to choose the best resort and island/country.
What is entailed in a destination wedding abroad.
How to tailor invitations and get the word out to guests effectively.
We will also have professional photographers explain their experience
taking destination wedding photographs and
why to consider them as an investment.
Tips on making your wedding distinctive on budget (décor and florals).

Our Sponsors:
Travel & Events with Style and With Style Designs
La Fiesta Cafecito
LFS – The Little Flower Shop

Cakeology (wedding cake)

Our Speakers:
Jaime from Travel & Event with Style – destination weddings and invitations
Kamp Photography and Sugar and Soul Photography – destination wedding photography
Peggy from LFS – other options for flowers and decorating for a destination wedding

Our Prizes:
• Hyes Xcase Luggage
• Fabutan Free Tanning Sessions, and Red Lane Spa Kit (from Sandals Resorts)
• Carry-on Luggage Bag by Goway Travel

• Complimentary night stay at Sandman Hotel Winnipeg
• $150off a Wedding Dress from Bliss Bridal
• Special discounts to all brides/couples in attendance from:
• Travel & Events with Style, Sugar and Soul Photography, Bliss Bridal
Our list of prizes and gifts keeps growing..

Special acknowledgement to: Weddings in Winnipeg Magazine
March issue will be available to all attendees at no cost.

Please R.S.V.P by Friday, March 4, 2011 to:
Jaime at 204-334-3396 or weddings@mywaywithstyle.com
Admission is Free!

Please Note:
Space is limited. We ask only 2 guests per wedding group. No Drop-ins please.
Also, if you are having a destination wedding that will be in the province,
please let us know as we will be having a session particularly for that topic.

Wonderful Wedding Show in Winnipeg - Thanks for coming out and paying us a visit!

Writen by: Jaime Valdes-Riench
Images by: With Style Designs

We really wanted to say thank you to everyone who came out to visit us at the show. It was our first year there and it was with a warm welcome indeed! I feel confident that we showed you, our guests, that we truly believe weddings are about being distinctive and style infused. We also strive to be very different than any travel agency. We specialize in destination wedding planning and a local wedding coordinating as well as being a travel agency. We think weddings should reflect your personality and by bringing something different to the decor or theme. We want your guests talking to be about your event in an amazing way for years to come. Here are some pictures of our booth and a little bit of our inspiration!

Travel & Events with Style has always strived to go beyond what most think is what a wedding should look like whether it is here or abroad. The décor we chose was an infusion of a destination wedding in Thai Land, Bali and with a modern twist. The bubble décor theme was a fresh take on the typical jewel accents you currently see everywhere. The back drop included acrylic orbs that refracted the up-lighting with larger glass ornaments holding tea lights. Our table took the tropical theme of palms and Macara orchids and united them in a 4 foot elegant vase that gave a hint of a tropical palm tree. There where tiered demission accents with smaller hanging orbs. These smaller orbs held blue and orange orchids and tear drop jewels for a tropical rain forest yet glamorous feel. The linens where layered in the same colour scheme. A papaya coloured overlay with a golden shimmer and olive green linen under it grounded the look. Place settings where layers of Mahogany wood place mats, green chargers, royal blue table clothes and intricate satchels as party favour gifts. The table was finished off with Mahogany Chiavari Chairs that where left simple and clean, which allowed for all the other colours to come forth with out being over done.

Lastly, the cocktail tables where covered with Peacock blue linens with a royal blue shimmer, royal blue ties and bubble glass vases in tiered sizes. Inside the vases where blue/purple orchids wound with bear grass. It was a distinctive look and can be introduced anywhere and will be remembered. It was the show stopper that kept everyone interested. We added cultural accents whenever possible to give the exotic look. Metal urns and vases where introduced in varies areas which added different texture and supported the theme. We used the largest urn for our ballet draw, which would be perfect for any presentation collection at your wedding.

It is important not to be afraid of colour. If done correctly and grounded correctly, it can have an amazing impact and leave your guests wowed! Adding themed accents that are not usually considered wedding décor can make the impact that this day is a reflection of your personality! When we look for decor for a wedding, we really take the time to look off the beating path. Our firm doesn't believe you should have to choose from package A, B or C to have decor. You are an individual, thus so should your event be!

Cheers!
Jaime Valdes-Riench, WPICC, DWC, CSS
Owner, Certified Wedding Coordinator
Travel Agent & Destination Wedding Specialist
Licensed Marriage Commissioner

Happy New Year's & the Best in 2011

I just want to send out a Happy New Year's to everyone and many blessings in 2011. I am not even going to begin by writing how you should or shouldn't start your new year, but I do want to say that if we have ever met along the way or will meet in the near future I hope I (and my company) impact you in a positive way.

I personally don't believe in making new year’s resolutions. I am firm believer that change needs to be applied everyday and in different ways. Again, not a suggestion on how anyone should live THEIR lives, but rather a way I live mine. I just enjoy inspiring others if they feel my message pertains. If change is applied every day, it keeps you fresh and allows you to love everything life brings, good or bad.

A few items I would like to mention is that 2011 does pose to be an exciting year for us over all as a company. Our companies are growing and moving into more tailored and distinctive events locally or on destination. We will be growing our Canadian and Provincial destination wedding/honeymoon locations, as we have paired with a lot amazing resorts and new ones are to come! We feel inspired that destination weddings should be embraced everywhere and should be for every budget!

We are also growing our destination weddings abroad. Adding distinction and finer details to make it more than "just a package deal" you can buy from your local travel agent. There are a lot of travel agents with great deals and a great deal of knowledge to offer. How we go beyond is that we took our 15 year travel knowledge (not accumulative, but rather per agent) and paired it with years of event planning and management, and graphic design. We also work closely with the best of best vendors and suppliers (from resorts to photographers). Again, it is about quality, not quantity with us. That is how we try to be boutique and couture. Going beyond is not just selling you a ticket to jump on a plane and fly away (unless that is what you desire), it is a way we take care of our clients. You are our guests, and that is the way it should always be! So in the new year we do ask you drop us a line or email and see how we can make your day a dream come true. We actually do care, and you are our priority.

On behalf of everyone at Travel & Events with Style and With Style Designs: Happy New Year’s and only the very best to you and your families in 2011!

Wedding Invitations – the new spurge?

Written By Jaime Valdes-Riench, owner of Travel & Events with Style
Photo credit and invites by: With Style Designs

If there was one area of your wedding you knew you wanted to focus on and “splurge” a little, most couples would say the food and entertainment! And most brides, in most cases, (off the record of their groom hearing of course) would say décor. The interesting thing is invitations, which are often the last item on most minds, are not taking a larger part of the budget. Trend or move back to realizing their importance? Interesting question isn’t it?

Etiquette requests that invitations are the true intro to your special day. They state theme, dress, and give an idea to your guests what they can expect when that special day indeed comes. Now this post is not going to get into etiquette, but rather the trend of style that is enjoyably coming back. (stay tuned to out September post on Destination Wedding Invite Etiquette and article in Weddings in Winnipeg Magazine).

The more we have requests for wedding invites the more it fascinates me how couples are asking for their “something special”. Now I do see requests for the simple and elegant every now and then, but I do have to say there is an increase to the more embellished invitations. This brings me alot joy just for the simple fact that elegance is being recognized in every aspect of the wedding itself.

It is no secret our area of expertise is in destination weddings, thus we (and I) have had the pleasure of making and having the requests of fun themed invites that resemble airline tickets, passports, or of something of the area where the wedding is being held. Now if that isn’t enough, we are now adding extra embellishments to not just make them fun, but also elegant. It shows the attention to detail each couple is whiling to put into something so simple, yet so important. I have even had the request from a lovely bride to have magnet added to the back of her invite for her destination wedding so it would be on her guests fridge as a reminder of all the fun they would be enjoying during their week away. I could list a lot more “original” ideas, but how original would they be really? It comes down to each couple and their taste and requests. In my opinion that is truly what custom means, not just changing the names, fonts and colours.

So if there is a message I can say to the couples out there starting the process of designing and ordering their invites it would be simply that they should not be shy to ask what it would take to have their invitations look the way they imagined and may be more so. Now I am a huge advocate on staying on budget, really I wouldn’t be a good wedding planner if I didn’t encourage my couples accordingly, but work with your designer. An inspired designer will create WITH you not just FOR you. There will be a time for give and take in order to create and stay on budget, but it never hurts to ask and see if the image you drew up in your mind became not just obtainable, but rather little gifts to share with future guests. A lot of people say they toss the invites they receive once they are invited, but honestly most keep them that much longer when they are memorable and original. Originality is key with every aspect of a dream come true wedding!

Inspiration – Where do you draw it from?

Written By: Jaime Valdes-Riench, owner of Travel & Events with Style
(photo credits: child's eye - With Style Designs; stock photos: fotolia)

Over the past few months our two companies have been equally busy with planning weddings and events and doing a lot of wedding invitations, graphic design work and photography. One of the mutual traits both have in common is that we must find inspiration to be able to do all tasks successfully and in a timely manor.

This brought me to think about how people get inspired in general. After talking to colleagues and clients, the more I hear, is it usually is by something influential such as a current media outlet or something peaceful and quiet, like walks in nature or a child’s blissful expression to our world. Now both seem like separate sides of the spectrum, but are they? The way I am able to articulate it is that it may be something small that peeks our interest, but it is the time we give the interest that makes it fully inspiring. It often takes us a few minutes (or hours/days in some case) to be in our minds to take a thought and make it something so much more. I believe that is the key! We pass so much in a day, that I am sure we could be inspired far more if we could slow down for a moment to absorb what is around us. Now, I know that is far easier to say vs. achieving, but it is something we need to take the time for in order to accomplish that creative cycle.

How does this apply to our vast types of clients? And why am I even mentioning it? Honestly, I have been asked numerous times how travel and event planning has any relation to graphic design and photography, and why run two business such as these at the same time? When I take a step back and look at all our services (and our industries in general) some how, some way, they need a creative outlet to begin from.

Now to bring it back to the subject of inspiration and how to make the most of a professional's creativity... Those who offer services in creative industries often want to hear their client’s thoughts and inspirations per say so they can learn from them and make them complete and into a reality. What I recommend is to take a moment to look carefully at the things that do catch your eye and take it one step further… figure out why they catch your eye. The “why” is usually the root of the emotion that you want to have evoked! The beauty is once we can understand what emotion or picture you want to convey.. then the true magic begins. I am continually impressed when we can connect with a client and understand their vision, even if it is a little blurry. There is no feeling like the feeling of taking a small inspiration and making it real. I love it when you create something or take a picture of a subject and it that took all the creativity from your soul. So every time you look at it, it gives you the shivers!

So my hope is that this post will inspire you (if that is not too redundant), and give you the fuel to do a little research before you make your next meeting with your wedding/event planner, graphic designer or photographer. Find those things that started your original inspiration and bring them with you to your meeting. They may be clipped pictures from magazines, a small item, or just a sketch or list. Anything and everything will help the process to assist your designer in creating your vision. But most all, be open enough to allow for the creativity to grow!