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Will I See You In Indy?

By Rockstar Wedding Planner on November 6, 2009 in Blog, Ciara's Updates

I’m really excited because I have a jam packed couple of weeks coming up and it is going to ROCK! First I’ve got 3 events this weekend. My brilliant team has everything under control and these weddings are going to be amazing for our clients.

Then I head off to Indianapolis for the Association of Bridal Consultants Conference. I’m speaking at the Tuesday lunch to everyone in attendance. I can’t wait to share with them how I grew my business to six figures in just 4 years. If you want the updates of what’s going on in Indy while I’m there my fellow wedding tweeters and I have created the twitter hashtag #ABCIndy. So if you go to search for that on twitter you’ll see all our updates. And if you’re going to be there make sure you use that hashtag when you give your updates too so we can see what you’re learning.

We’re also having a tweetup in the Hyatt Level One Lounge on Monday night after the off site event. Look for me @simon_daykin @QOHweddings and @aliphillips and many more!

Then after ABC I’m headed home for a couple of days and then off again to Turks and Caicos to speak at the Wedding Planner Institute of Canada’s conference there. I’m excited to finally meet my twitter buddy @sparkliatti (aka Sasha Souza) who is the keynote speaker.

And when I get home I’ve got something BIG in store for you. I’m just going to give you a hint about it right now that it’s something that could change next year entirely for you. I’ll give you the details as soon as I can!

P.S. Some of you have been asking when is Rockstar Wedding Planner LIVE happening? Don’t worry- I’m going to reveal the location and all the details soon but for now, Save the Date March 15, 16 and 17 2010! You won’t have to wait much longer!

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How would a wedding planner handle the H1N1 crisis?

By Rockstar Wedding Planner on October 30, 2009 in Blog

I was recently interviewed by a reporter for Metro News Today who asked how I would help manage the chaos at the H1N1 clinics. Below is an excerpt, or you can read the full article here.

“Ciara Daykin, CEO of Firefly Occasions Inc., would remedy the situation with an online form so paperwork is completed in advance. “Just like asking wedding guests for their meal choice before the wedding so the kitchen is prepared, the online form would ease lineups.”

She thinks there should be an online and offline way to make an appointment. “Then priority cases could be distinguished, just as we distinguish wedding VIPs who have special needs.”

Daykin understands planning means comfort. Just as she doesn’t want wedding guests asking the bride and groom organizational questions, she would spare the H1N1 clinic receptionist and medical staff. “I would have at least four co-ordinators at each clinic to make their way from person to person to see if they can make their experience better and answer any questions.”

She would try to reduce vaccine jitters with essential oil candles and calming music.”

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Coming up for Rockstar Wedding Planner

By Rockstar Wedding Planner on October 21, 2009 in Blog, Ciara Recommends, Coaching, Coaching Programs, Events

Join host Ciara Daykin and her special guest, Tonya Shadoan of Circle City Planners on the next Become A Rockstar Wedding Planner call, “5 No B.S. Insider’s Secrets of being a ROCKSTAR Wedding Planner.” Tonya is a member of Ciara’s inner circle Rockstar Wedding Planner Legends mastermind group. As the owner of Circle City Planners in Indianapolis Tonya has made her mark as a leader in the wedding industry. In this past year alone she secured an exclusive deal to be the event designer for Indy’s Union Station Crowne Plaza Hotel and she has been successfully teaching an intern wedding planner course which she designed and promoted. Tonya knows what it takes to succeed in this industry and Ciara loves that she tells it like it is so she invited Tonya to be her guest on this upcoming call to reveal to you just what it takes to be a Rockstar Wedding Planner and how you can learn from her no B.S. insider
secrets.

Here is the call-in information:
Topic: 5 No B.S. Insider’s Secrets of being a ROCKSTAR Wedding Planner
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Time: 1:00pm PST/2:00pm MST/3:00pm CST/4:00pm EST

If you’re not already a Become a Rockstar Wedding Planner member, click here to sign up now as this is a call you don’t want to miss!

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Do You Think Outside the Box With Your Wedding Planning Business?

By Rockstar Wedding Planner on July 27, 2009 in Articles, Blog

Firefly with Randy Fenoli I made a new friend in Randy Fenoli, Fashion Director of Kleinfelds and star of TLC’s “ Say Yes to the Dress” at the Engage 09 summit.

Randy is a such a fantastic person and a huge advocate for thinking out of the box when it comes to your wedding planning business. At Kleinfelds they have a special closet where brides are shown via webcam modeling a wedding dress for friends and family that cannot attend the dress shopping experience in person. Total out of the box ides… and I’ll bet it helps dress sales.

But what are you doing in your business that’s out of the box?

Even the smallest touch can WOW a brides and send a referral your way. When Simon and I plan weddings he brings along his pro camera and takes tons of detail shots of the décor, shots of the couple with his telephoto lens (as their pro photog is always in the prime position of course) and shots of the party after the photographer leaves. The couple doesn’t really notice on the day of but they are thrilled when a DVD arrives in the mail after the wedding from us. They discover 300+ candid photos and detail shots of their wedding décor. Not something they were expecting but it heightens their experience of working with us.

Ciara’s Rockstar Wedding Planner Advice

Sit down right now and brainstorm ideas about what you could do to create an out of the box experience for your bridal clients. And then act on at least 3 of them and see what a difference it makes in your bride’s happiness and in your business.

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We’ve lost touch

By Rockstar Wedding Planner on July 21, 2009 in Blog, Ciara's Updates, Rockstar Wedding Planner News

I know, I know… we’ve lost touch. But I want to reconnect with you and let you know what’s been going on with me. Ciara at Engage 09

I was away in Grand Cayman at Engage 09, a luxury wedding business summit. I’m so glad I made this trip because I met amazing people like Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings, Sylvia Weinstock the famous wedding cake designer, Abby Larson of StyleMePretty.com and of course the host Rebecca Grinnals of Weddex and so many more. If you want to check out pictures and commentary from the event just click here to visit my newly redesigned blog (see I told you I’ve been busy).

On a personal note before we left my littlest dog Chayse took very, very ill. The vet thought he was going to die and he’s only 4 years old and the worst of it was that they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. For those of you pet owners you know how hard an experience this can be. I spent a lot of time in the vet hospital with him. But we prayed like crazy for our little guy and thankfully Chayse miraculously recovered (to this day they still don’t know what he had), and we have our little guy home again. His brother Kohl was very glad to have him home!

We also lost my husband Simon’s Gramma just the other day so we’ll be going to the funeral in Toronto next week. She was 93 and an amazing woman. We were so lucky that both she and my Gramma (who has since passed as well) were able to attend our wedding. 4 years ago.

Chayse I think that at times of adversity and life’s ups and downs, I’m happier than ever to have my own business. Because I can make time to focus on the important elements of my life when I need to. At a regular job taking time off to care for my sick dog probably wouldn’t fly too well.

It’s also amazing to have an opportunity to be creative everyday. This weekend we’re off to do a Midsummer Night’s Dream themed wedding, and also a pro bono wedding for a couple that had been living in a shelter.

So now that you know what’s up with me, I’d love to hear what’s going on with you and the areas that you need help with in your business. Please send your burning questions to questions@rockstarweddingplanner.com and I will answer them here or in our ezine. Just give us your name, your location and your website address if you’re comfortable with sharing, if not, please sign your question “Anonymous” and we won’t share your information.