The Reel Deal column - I Have An App For That! by Kris Malandruccolo
I've been asked by several bridal consultants if I could compile a list of apps that would be helpful to consultants and couples as they plan their wedding day. I created a list of 50 wedding apps. This is my personal compilation of helpful wedding apps. My criteria for downloading apps to my iPhone is that they must receive a review of at least three stars (out of five). Read the article here
Attention all Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) members: You are invited to attend WEVA's Power of Video & Social Media at Disney's Dolphin Hotel on Wednesday, August 25 at 3 pm. You must pre-register by Friday, August 19th. See the flyer below for details. You will get one hour of continuing education credit. Any questions contact Kris@ElegantFilmsbyKris.com
Tips for Brides: Bridal Attire Shopping & Win a Free Gown: Enter here with the drawing to be held on July 30, 2009
The following information is courtesy of Jane Skarosi, the owner of the Bridal Mansion of Lisle in Lisle, IL. Jane is both a Master Bridal Consultant (for her Weddings by Jane consulting business) and a Master Wedding Vendor (for her wedding gown business) through the Association of Bridal Consultants.
Budgeting: Bridal Gowns can range from less than $400 to over $3000. The National and Chicagoland average for a wedding gown is $850.00 Additional expenses include alterations and accessories.
Decision: For your best shopping experience, we suggest you bring only your mother or trusted friend, someone whose opinion you value and is supportive of you. For the best shopping experience, leave small children at home.
Ordering: In general, Manufacturers require 5 to 8 months to fill a dress order. Bridal gowns usually take the full 20 to 32 weeks, with bridesmaid dresses taking about 12 to 16 weeks. Most brides order their bridal gowns 6 months to a year in advance of their wedding date.
Jane can give your more detailed information, and speak with you further about styles, sizing, fitting, alterations, steaming, headpieces, etc!
Win a free gown: Courtesy of the Bridal Mansion of Lisle and the Wedding Guide Chicago magazine, you can enter to win a free bridal gown! The drawing will be held on July 30, 2009.
I have known Jane for over 10 years. We have worked together and we are fellow members in the Illinois Chapter of the Association Bridal Consultants. I am very comfortable recommending Jane as a bridal consultant and as a wedding gown specialist. We've had several conversations where she has shared personal stories of going the extra mile for her clients. Please do not hesitate to contact Jane at 630-852-1956 (Bridal Mansion of Lisle) or at 630-292-1181 (Weddings by Jane). When you contact Jane, be sure and tell her "Kris of Elegant Videos by Kris recommended you."
Here's a picture I took of Jane Skaraosi (with my iphone) at the March 2009 ABC Meeting held at The Drake Hotel in Chicago, IL.
Kris Malandruccolo, owner of Elegant Videos by Kris, presented "The Elegant Queen's Rules of Marketing" to the EWE (Elevated Wedding Events) Networking group on February 4, 2009 in Bartlett, Illinois.
If your organization is interested in this timely marketing seminar of low-cost and free tips, please contact me at 630-876-9604.Seminar description: Tired of working the ugly step-sister’s wedding with no budget for your service? What is the best way to reach the Cinderella bride who wants the fairy tale wedding? Want to avoid spending money on the “frogs” of advertising? The best things in life are free says Kris who is listed at the top of Google searches in her Chicago market. With the wave of her scepter, Kris will share free and low-cost marketing tips that will take you straight to the top of the castle. You will learn how to use digital media and the press to get free publicity for your company. Come learn how Kris found the glass slipper containing almost $12,000 by making just two phone calls. Come learn what you can do to make your marketing materials stand out amongst the peasants. Learn about blogging, video emails and portable video. It’s all about YOU! Come to find out how you can have the happily ever after “storybook” ending!
Colin Cowie is the featured speaker at the 2008 ABC Business of Brides Conference held in Newport Beach on November 11, 2008.
There was much anticipation of Colin speaking, and the ABC staff spoke fondly of him, and they kept on saying how nice and friendly Colin was. Colin previously spoke to ABC in 1997, 1999 and 2002. I am happy to report that Colin was gracious and charming to everyone. There was no "rockstar attitude" from him.
Colin signs his book "Colin Cowie Chic" for me. I'm half-way through it already and I really like it. The key is being organized and no one is more organized than Colin. No wonder he can pull off these fabulous events!
Kris Malandruccolo, Master Wedding Vendor in ABC, to educate bridal consultants at the 2008 Business of Brides Conference in Newport Beach, California on November 9-11, 2008
You can find me at the WEVA Tradeshow booth again this year at the ABC Conference. As the WEVA Public Relations Chairperson, I attended the conference in 2006, 2007 (where I also presented the seminar, The Power of Video) and now in 2008.
I will also be a roundtable presenter on the topic of "Video2Go" where I discuss how wedding professionals can use mobile video devices (such as the video iPod, iPhone, etc.) to advertise their services "anytime, anywhere". Courtesy of WEVA International, I will be handing out CDs with video commercials (that were produced by local video associations) that wedding professionals can put on their iPod. The CD will also contain other educational information that they can print out and give to their brides. Educating bridal consultants and brides is the goal of WEVA and I am happy to continue to carry out that mission!
I'm also excited that Colin Cowie will be the featured speaker! Colin Cowie has been an association member since 1997 (the same year I joined) and has been the principal speaker speaker in 1997, 1999, 2002 and once again in 2008.
Read the Nov. 8, 2008 WEVA Industry News Story here (WEVA to showcase 'Power of Video' at ABC Convention next week)
Kris Malandruccolo attends Video Conference in Orlando (January 21-24, 2008)
I'm a huge proponent of education, and I just got back from attending two video conferences in the past two weeks! In Orlando, I was just an attendee and got to support my friends who were speaking, and of course, hang with my video friends who I only see once or twice a year. Here's just a few of the highlights:
(click photos to view larger image) I attended the One-ON-One luncheon that Mark & Trisha Von Lanken organized for past attendees of their One-ON-One workshop at Chicago Uno's. It is a great way to reconnect with the attendees and everyone wears their blue shirt so others ask about it (yes, I'm sticking out in my red shirt, but my shirt got lost in transit). I wrote an article about their inaugural workshop for EventDV magazine, and in the process became good friends with Steve & Sandy Dial, A Minds Eye Film, from Houston who also attended the inaugural workshop. I highly recommend the VonLanken's workshop. Mark & Trisha even won a video award for the ceremony of Julie & Caleb (the were the "wedding couple" in the workshop). Mark & Trisha presented a seminar and conducted a roundtable too.
Another good friend of mine, Steve Fowler of Video-Experts, spoke on "Shoot Ta Thrill." He has won numerous awards over the years and finally has put together a seminar sharing his common sense tips and award-winning videos. The western theme is a cute touch too. Visit his Shoot Ta Thrill website for more information (watch his video clip on his home page before you start clicking around). Steve is also selling his award-winning videos: Wedding Recaps & Shortform videos. Steve also handed out black wristbands with W.I.L.D.C.A.M.E.R.A. (visit his website to see what it means).
Here's a few more photos of the fun times:
Kris Malandruccolo mentioned on page 9 of the October/November 2007 ABC-Dialogue in the article "Members' efforts boost Asian seminar success"
Korean wedding coordinators play close attention during a seminar in Seoul. More than 100 attended a seminar in Tokyo, 75 in Osaka and 45 in Seoul. "We are always impressed with the Japanese and Korean wedding professionals' desire for education", according to Eileen P. Monahan, Association co-founder. "They set a standard and example for the rest of the world."
The article states: When challenged to develop a very visual seminar for the Japanese and Korean markets on "encore weddings", your Association turned to the experts in the field - member photographers and videographers. As usual, you came through with flying colors. Your association appreciates your efforts to share your knowledge, experience and expertise with new audiences.
Special thanks to: Kris Malandruccolo (Master Wedding Vendor), Elegant Videos by Kris, Chicago, IL for sharing her videos on encore weddings.
Encore Wedding? Just what is an "encore wedding?" During a break in the seminars ABC recently presented in Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul, Yoshi Kohara, Director of Asian Markets, asked Association co-founders Gerald J. & Eileen P. Monahan how long the term has been in use in America. "Yoshi", we replied, "we invented the term when you visited New York in April!" An "encore wedding" is a generic term that can be applied to any wedding after the first. Since consultants sometimes deal with not just second weddings, but third, or fourth...or more, "encore wedding" is a more elegant term.
ABC's National Convention to Feature WEVA's 'Power of Video'
Sarasota, FL - "The Power of Video & How to Get More Business Using It" the exciting new video marketing program developed by the WEVA Public Relations Committee, will be featured at "Florida Fusion" the 2007 ABC (Association of Bridal Consultants) Business of Brides International Conference next Monday, November 12th, in Orlando, FL.
Presenting "The Power of Video" will be WEVA Wedding & Event Videography Hall of Fame inductee Kris Malandruccolo, Chairperson of the WEVA Public Relations Committee, a WEVA EXPO featured speaker, and owner of Elegant Videos by Kris (IL).
"We are excited to have Kris and WEVA presenting "The Power of Video," states ABC Conference Coordinator Eileen Monahan, adding that, "Kris, who's been an ABC member since 1997, is the first and only videographer to earn the ABC Master Wedding Vendor designation."
Spotlighting exciting clips from WEVA's Creative Excellence Award-winning wedding videos, "The Power of Video" is designed to bring videographers and industry affiliates up to speed on state-of-the-art wedding video creativity and reveal how vendors within the bridal industry can use video to promote their own services. The program also shows how wedding videographers can connect with this emerging niche market.
TV Commercials Promoting Wedding Video
Custom DVDs featuring brand new 60-second TV commercials promoting professional wedding video, produced by local associations nationwide for entry into WEVA's "Battle of the Videographers" held at WEVA EXPO 2007, will also be screened for bridal consultants at the ABC convention.
WEVA will present "The Power of Video" program three times during the ABC's annual conference next week. Over 400 bridal consultants and industry professionals from around the world are expected to attend. Kris and Bob Malandruccolo will also be leading rountable discussions on Tuesday, November 13 as well as participating at the WEVA exhibit booth during the ABC Trade Show.
This past year, members of the WEVA PR Committee have been on the road presenting "The Power of Video" to organizations nationally and internationally. The WEVA PR Committee, which also includes Al Ritondo, Personal Touch Video (NJ); Natalie Neal, Glass Slipper Productions (PA); and Mike Nelson, Remember When Video Productions (UT), has spent the better part of two years developing industry outreach programs that either directly benefit the WEVA membership, or are meant to promote the value of professional videography to the wedding industry at large.
For information on attending the ABC convention visit the ABC website. Representatives from both the Tampa and Orlando, FL local videographers associations will also be on-site at the ABC convention to share information with fellow wedding professionals.
WEVA's “Power of Video” presentations will continue through 2008. If your local organization is interested in featuring this inspiring program, contact Kris Malandruccolo (Kris@ElegantVideosbyKris.com) or WEVA Director of Association Communications Dan Argenas (da@weva.com) or see them at "WEVA's Wide World of Weddings & Events" the new winter convention and trade show for professional wedding and event videographers January 29-February 2, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV.
(click on photo to view larger image) Here I am with Scott Corridan, a very accomplished wedding and event designer. He runs Corridan & Company Design in Santa Barbara, California. You may have seen Scott on TV this past summer - he was a finalist of HGTV's Reality TV Series: Design Stars (July 2007). Scott was also on Extreme Wedding Make-over (2005) and is currently the set-designer for the Tyra Banks show. I'm not a big TV person (I do watch the Oprah show though), so I'm embarrassed to say that I wasn't familiar with Scott's work; however, I wasn't star-struck when I met Scott and I was able to get to know him in the "here and now". I will be looking for him now! I met Scott when he spoke at the Chicago NACE meeting. I can say that Scott is really nice, approachable, down-to-earth and passionate about his work (or "gift from God" as he calls it). I'll be writing about him for EventDV magazine. I only wish I looked a little happier in the picture as I was thrilled to get my picture taken with Scott! Scott will also have a radio show on iVillage and so much more is coming his way! The above photo was taken by photographer Howard Kier, owner of Magical Moments Photography.
More about Scott:
A native of Southern California, Scott spent much of his youth molded by the beach and old school ranching cultures of Newport, Corona del Mar, and Laguna Beach. In 1994 he established Corridan & Company Design Studios. In over 10 years he has designed weddings, special events and fundraising celebrations for over 1,000 clients from California to England. His celebrations have been widely published in Inside Weddings Magazine, Martha Stewart Wedding, In Style Magazine, and The Knot to name a few. He has also been featured on television’s Tricks of the Trade, The Travel Channel, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight and Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition.
Scott has a true gift to get to the heart of a client’s dreams for entertaining and living. Tapping into emotion and psychology, his work embraces unique and challenging individual needs. He is able to take these wildest desires and whip them into reality, creating celebrations like no other and surpassing the client’s imagination!
