On a chilly January evening, with a glow illuminating from the entryway of La Belle Mariée Bridal Boutique, some of the region’s most notable wedding vendors congregated in an industry “Mix & Mingle” event. Organized in a partnership and collaboration with Happenings Media, La Belle Mariée served as the evening’s host. In addition to bubbly and a signature cocktail from Bucks County’s 1675 Spirits, there were gourmet small bites from local eatery and premier caterer, Piccolo Trattoria, and a scrumptious array of sweet treats from The Caketeria in Newtown. With drinks flowing and bellies filled, a collective of renowned regional wedding vendors, from wedding planners, to DJs, and entertainment companies, to florists, seamstresses, and makeup artists, gathered together to network, exchange ideas, facilitate partnerships and enjoy a networking event that was uniquely intimate and meaningful.
On full display were the vast collections of exquisite designer and one-of-a-kind wedding attire; everything from traditional wedding gowns to flower girl dresses and mother-of-the-bride ensembles. Bringing one of the many opulent gowns to life was a model, who stood on full display and even graciously posed for photos with event attendees.
Throughout the evening, current popular and upcoming wedding trends were discussed and were hot topics of conversation. Locally trending in the wedding world are, “microweddings,” consisting of smaller numbers of guests, but keeping the details and personal touches as important as ever. Also popular are the additions of drones, creating an exceptional perspective in the filming and photography taking place during weddings. In fact, local production company and former Happening List winner, Luria Visuals (also serving as the official Mix & Mingle event photographers for the evening!) is officially FAA-certified to fly drones and will fly for any wedding or wedding festivity, weather and location-permitting! Beyond the actual wedding ceremonies themselves, also increasing in popularity are spa parties, often held as bachelorette parties, or as “pre-wedding” pampering excursions.
“As the second owner [of Luria Visuals Custom Productions], I’ve been in the business since I was 13-years-old. We offer over 30 years in the industry and customize our events. Our films dictate the entire wedding experience and we are there all-day filming and go above and beyond for our clients. We’re not a “cookie-cutter” type of production company and operate through 90% of referrals with minimal advertising.” ~ Michael Adelson, Owner of Luria Visuals Custom Productions
Happenings Media Publisher & Owner, Angela Giovine & Luria Visuals Owner, Michael Adelson
Regardless of their specialty, a common, notable theme emerged amongst attendees, with a strong focus on personalization, customization and truly tailoring each aspect of the wedding planning to the individuals involved. A consensuswas reached, stating, “no wedding is the same,” with a common goal of alleviating any stress or trepidations that could emerge during planning. Partnering with one of these top vendors is a guarantee for a top-notch, customized event, one of which can fulfill the once only imagined dreams of brides and grooms in the planning stages.
Office & Catering Manager for Steam Pub, Jackie Ehrgott
“We are completely full-service and can offer our clients anything and will attend to all the details. If an outside service is needed or desired, we will work with outside vendors. Also, we can set up stations, or even bring in food trucks for a unique experience each guest can make their own.” ~ Jackie Ehrgott, Office & Catering Manager for Steam Pub
As the evening came to a close, business cards and well-wishes were exchanged, along with fresh perspectives to welcome in the year of 2020 and all the weddings to come in the next 12 months. As the saying goes, it is not only “If the ring fits,” but also the vendor!
When it comes to wedding planning in the local Philadelphia region and its neighbors, there was no better way to welcome in a new year of weddings than to “mix and mingle,” with fellow colleagues, partners, and friends; cheers to a very jovial wedding season and year!
