To All My DC Wedding Vendors -- Let's Collaborate!

My Fellow DC Wedding Vendors,

I am the owner and Lead Event Coordinator of The Jade Experience (Jade), a DC Metro Area Event Planning and Management Company. Since 1998, Jade has managed hundreds of events, each specially tailored to individual tastes, personalities, styles and budgets. Jade provides an array of services that can make client events a success! While these events can range from, children's birthday parties, Sweet 16 parties, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Anniversary Celebrations and Holiday Gatherings, Jade's main focus is Wedding planning.

Over our eleven years in business, Jade has been instrumental in coordinating and managing hundreds of weddings with diverse fine points, but would not have be successful without our wonderful vendors.

With the economy in its current state; myself and a faithful fleet of vendors are starting to feel the pinch, to which end I've come up with some creative ways to keep clients at our doors and business afoot.

While we, as vendors, are feeling the lash back of the times so are our clients and potential clients. I'm finding that many have cut back on planning services, fresh flowers, cake extravagances and bridal attire.

Here's where The Jade Experience can help...

After loosing clients to the economy; whether it be to reduced services or clients insisting they can coordinate the wedding themselves, we figured something had to be done. So, in collaboration with my staff and other vendors, Jade is now facilitating instructional seminars intended to enable clients to plan and organize their own high-end weddings.

These seminars would provide clients with the necessary tools to create and manage a successful wedding. Seminars are structured to help in finding and managing vendors, finding suitable venue options, handling pre-nuptial details (wedding theme & design, invitations, RSVP options, favor concept and more...) and all else that falls within planning.

Here's where you come in...

Jade would advertise the seminars, provide all the adequate background information and necessary materials (hand-outs & reading material) as well as refreshments, but is asking for the use of your space in which the seminars can be held. This would be of no cost to you, just the advantage of increased traffic at your door, free advertising and a platform in which to sell your services free of charge.

While these seminars could be held at a local ballroom, I find it favorable to bring clients and potential clients to vendor shops. This gives you, the vendor, an opportunity to show off your products, space and knowledge. I envision a 50/50 split of time -- half the seminar would be geared to educating participants on “Do it Yourself Planning” from Jade and the other half would be of your services…allowing attendees to get a first hand look at what you do and how best to do it.

It is not in my best practice to change people’s minds or direction, but to best equip and educate them on the choice they have selected; that is the goal of these seminars.

I look forward to hearing from and working with you in the near future.

Thank you.

Jade