Here comes Lucky ‘13

Written By: Jaime Valdes-Riench, owner of Travel & Events with Style
Image by Kamp Photography

I love this time of year, and I love making a New Year’s blog post.  Like every year I like can’t believe how the year flew by.  I love looking back and at the best and the worst times.  Really, even the hard times just make us so much stronger and wiser.  I believe in growth at all times.  Whether we sign up for it or not, we always some how are moving forward.

Now, “Lucky 13”.. Hum.  I am not a superstitious person, but even the number 13 makes you think for a moment.  During my annual December prep for events (weddings, corporate and personal), I had the opportunity to have a few days of a quiet mind.  My thoughts brought me to this, 13 is only unlucky when we do not prepare and follow through with what life will serve us (so it doesn’t have anything to do with the number, but more with what we do with life).  In other words, I really don’t believe in luck, but rather being proactive rather than reactive in order to have a positive outcome.  It is all on how we work with the hand we where dealt with.  When we plan and take responsibility for our choices, we can then find ourselves in a “lucky” or prosperous situation.  This is just my perspective of course.

Now how does this apply to the With Style companies?  First off, all our dear 2013 wedding couples are getting ready for one of the most special days of their lives.  They planned, they hired professionals, and they followed through with a dream.  In the end, they are will have an incredible memory to start a new journey.  That’s not luck, that’s planning and hiring experienced people to help to be proactive with their dream.  I am not exaggerating that I literally smile ear to ear when I think about all the couples, one by one, and imagine their special days.  How I wish Tiffany, Jorge and/or I could be at them all.  Not because of the “trip”, but for that perfect moment when the bride comes around the corner to see their future life partner waiting for them to say “I will forever”.  I wish I was there for the moment when love binds and makes a new beginning.

Now for new beginnings and what is in store:  2013 will bring us more change, and has inspired us to push the limits even further.  Tiffany, Jorge and I really believe in increasing the value of our services every year.  What is in store do you ask?  Well, for one, we decided the beginning of the year we will invest in wedding planning tools for our new couples that will sign us starting 2013.  We are increasing services to our wedding planning packages, making a lot of online tools and a more thorough wedding website for our couples so their guests can feel a little more part of the planning process.  We find, especially with destination weddings, that guests want to feel a part of the process and want to be more informed.  With destination weddings, guests are making larger financial commitments so they are always looking for comfort that they are making the right decision to participate in the wedding by going.  So does the couple.  Among these positive changes, we always are working on building international relationships with vendors and resorts. That is something we take a lot of pride in.

How we are different: The With Style Team is not constantly trying to sell to our clients! You are not going to get a million email flyers from us for travel sales, we are not going bombard you with a million ads such as “heard you got engaged please sign up here” with posts on social media, and you are not going to hear us tell you that “you have to act now or will loose this great opportunity for this limited time offer” (unless of course it was a third party that made a deadline that is out of our control – still then we will give you both sides of the reasoning so we can help you decide).  Now why do you ask we approach it this way?  Isn’t that against everything marketing tells us to do as a company?  Why yes, yes it is.  Our team works really hard on building trust and pairing ourselves well with our clients.  If we wanted to make a sale I am pretty sure we could, but our main objective is not to make a million sales.  We understand we will be your partner for the next year to build your wedding dream so if you hired us based on hype you would not trust us once the hype subsided.  Our team wants to be able to look you in the eye and be able to give you an honest opinion at all times.  We pride ourselves in this integrity.  It is not a secret Jaime, yes I mean myself, has a BIG funny personality and Tiffany and Jorge have to be the sweetest humans on earth, but all of us can say we care deeply about our job and our clients.  We go to all lengths to help and support our clients over the course of the planning process (and boy, do we have a few interesting stories to tell).  The one thing we have in common is that we are compassionate, empathic, educated and most of all, are extremely honest in caring way.  We have a job where mistakes can take a huge emotional toll on our clients, so for that, we take that to heart to better ourselves every day.  We ADORE our jobs and we adore our clients!

So in closing, it is that time again to say thank you! Thank you to all our clients, to all the vendors we work with, and our amazing team.  Every part of this job is incredible, even on the bad days.  We have a job where we make dreams come true, not everyone can say that.  We really feel blessed to be able to do what we do.

So SALUD! And we wish you all nothing but the best in 2013 and beyond!            
Also, if you made this far in this article.. that is an extra thank you I must say.  This was a long one! (wink)

A Fresh New Year. Welcome 2012!

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

Another year about to begin; wow time flies when you are having fun. I am sure every blog you read will be about another new year’s resolution and asking you what you are going to do differently in 2012. Well, if you follow our blog you will know I am not one of those who people who really believe in new year’s resolutions. Change should be applied every day. When we challenge ourselves beyond the norm it is amazing what we can accomplish, and most importantly it is what we accomplish for others that will really matter. Knowledge and experience grows challenge, and we welcome it to make us better for our clients. I do have to say is it is wonderful to have a fresh start and a new year is a great benchmark for it. That in itself is inspiring.

So what is in store for 2012? Time will only tell. For us on the With Style team, it will be about growth and tailoring even more for our clients. It will be adding more services and most importantly connecting internationally to find amazing, realizable vendors for our clients. We strive to go beyond, and it is a true honour to be a part of our couples special days. To us, that is what matters. It is exciting that we are growing our team to meet the demand of our couples in this new year. The weddings and events we are working on internationally just keep getting more and more breathtaking. We truly believe that it is because our wonderful couples are allowing inspiration and style to be infused in their weddings.

We ask you to visit more often. If I must make a New Year’s resolution it will be to share more images with you all so you too can be inspired. We are also going to introduce you to our team as well in the coming months. We are of the very few in Manitoba (if not the only) that can truly say we are experienced international wedding planners. This bold statement does not come by planning just one destination wedding. It is our honour that we have been doing this for over 15 years and 7+ years as our own independent firm. Considering all the couples we have had the honour of working with, I must say thank you. You where never a number to us, we looked forwarded to talking to you almost every day, and I can personally say I actually missed you once our planning was over and you celebrated your marriage. That is why we rush to work in the morning. You make our jobs so amazing. You all are the reason why I personally can say love my job so very much, and I know my team feels the same way.

So SALUD! And nothing but the best in 2012 and beyond!

Who’s that Girl?

A little about Jaime Valdes-Riench & about her companies
Written By: Jaime Valdes-Riench, owner of Travel & Events with Style
Photo credit: Kamp Photography

Well, first off, I think I should apologize for the title and pay credit to Madonna who really made that title distinctive. I simply wanted to get your attention and finally write what I am often asked as a business owner of Travel & Events with Style and With Style Designs.

First off – who am I? Well, I am one of those people who knew from day one that every minute we spend learning something is never wasted and should never be put on a shelf (seriously ask my parents, I was quite the ambitiously artistic little girl who was obsessed with Wonder Woman – who knew I would be her one day?). I would like to elaborate on that for just a minute and explain why it is pertinent. A lot of people throughout their lives have a career change. I on the other hand believe that every time I feel a career change coming on, I would challenge myself to learn something new and I find away to take my new found education and apply it. This was a great way to give my clients even more!

Right out of high school I jumped into the hospitality industry. With my mother-in-law as a cake decorating mentor, and new entrepreneur, I learn a lot from her and found my new love of weddings. (No, I am not a wedding cake decorator, and you’re welcome. I am sure most of you appreciate that I gave it up after my lack of skill). After a few years I put it aside to jump into travel education and start as a travel agent. I was fortunate to get onto the federal government account where I learn more about the world and conventions in matter of 7 years than most regular agents would learn in 14yrs or more. I am not tooting my own horn; I am simply saying it was sink or swim at its best. Thank goodness I learned to swim quickly.

After my son, I knew my passion where with weddings. I also have always been an artist, so I took graphic design part time. Somehow everything came together. Within the year of 2004 we opened the doors to our companies: Travel & Events with Style and With Style Designs. I made a point of being educated in every area of the company and even went out to get my designation in wedding planning from WPIC (http://www.wpic.ca/) which was unlike any travel agent in Winnipeg at the time.

Even though this post is supposed to be more about me, it is also about our companies’ growth as it is my pride and joy. It is important for you to know before you hire us as a company, and in turn me, that we are boutique and very specialized. Even though we have been around as a company for 6+ years (7 in October), we still feel we would rather be a smaller team that works on every detail. This way our clients clients walk away feeling that were understood and that we made their dreams a into reality. We are not that company you send an email off to for a quick quote. We are the company that sits with you first to meet to see if we are the right fit for you, simply because we care that much. Now don't misunderstand, we do offer quotes of course, but with care and knowledge of you individually. The word couture is starting to be used a lot, but we feel we can be bold by stating that as we are boutique, tailored and educated in our respective industries. This in turn gives our clients the best services with actual style. Most of all, we care!

So who’s that girl? Someone who cares, loves, and is deeply passionate at what she does. Staying grouned and appreciating everything is so important to me. I know there is always something to learn and have a hard time being around those who don`t feel the same. Anyone who's ego has grown out of control really as no business being in business with me. Reason being, they no longer care about you the client. It is about them and their "business". Over time, finding great colleagues and vendors that have the same qualities, ethics and personalities makes for the best team anyone could ask for! I enjoy being approachable and “human” with a touch of class. So if you are in Starbucks, take a look over your shoulder. Chances are it may be me sitting at the table next to you, having a coffee with a client.

Thanks for reading this very long post and Salud!

Wonderful Wedding Show in Winnipeg

We wanted to ask everyone to visit us at the Wonderful Wedding Show in Winnipeg at the Convention Centre January 22 & 23, 2011 from 11am - 6pm.

It will be our first time at the show and we thought it appropriate to show Winnipeg that destination weddings can be low stress and style infused when you do it With Style. There are a ton of travel agents who have the knowledge and there are wedding planners who sport destination weddings on the side here in Winnipeg, but our firm takes them very seriously and specializes in them 100%. From high style destination weddings in the province or distictive destination wedding abroad, we are your perfect cocktail to a wedding dream come true.

When looking for us at the show, look for the palm leaves and orange Macara Orchids. Colour upon colour, but style infused all the way!

Cheers!

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!