Celebrating Dejanae Events Sweet Sixteen Birthday!

Each passing year amazes me as I celebrate another milestone in Dejanae Events.  I'm so grateful, no thankful, to say that I have sustained in the wedding and event planning industry for 16 years!!!  Yes, God is GOOD!

As I reflect on the year that has past, I'm honestly most grateful for bring able to endure the 2015 wedding season.  The year started out so great with dozens of client's wedding and events on the calendar.  But in May, I found out what had been troubling my body for over 2 years and I was in need of surgery.  I was told that I needed to have the surgery almost immediately, but in my mind...there was no way that is happening.  I'm thinking, "There are still almost 30 weddings and events on the calendar to plan and direct!"  And although I had a medical clause in my contract, I did not want to stop working.  Sitting still is not even in my bones or vocabulary. 

So I took a very strong, body altering medication during the summer.  And although it made me sick and pained my body, the DE Team held me down through all of our events and even the teaching of my wedding and event planning class at Triton College.  I cannot thank these ladies enough!  They hugged me, wiped the sweat from my forehead, allowed me to cry on their shoulders, fed me and smiled with me all the way through the 2015 wedding season and through the surgery I eventually had in November.  From the bottom of my heart...thank you Priscilla, Nikki, Didi, Vanessa, Kelly, Peggy, Holly, Angie and Angie!!!  The love and respect I have for you ladies can never be expressed in words!!!  It is because of you we hold The Best of Weddings by The Knot for 7 years and are apart of The Knot's Hall of Fame of Vendors.  It is because of you that we helped over 200 less fortunate men and women over the holidays and it's because of you that we moved into our first official office location in early 2016!!!

Yes, I said it early on that God is good!!!  My body is healed and my team...the DE team is a blessing!!!  I toast to these 16 years of business with each of the ladies and I'm excited about sharing year 17 with the DE Team and the clients who love us.

HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN TO DEJANAE EVENTS!!!

The entire DE Team could not be present for this shoot. Didi, Kelly and Nikki are pictured.

Until next time...WEDologize!

Photo credit - www.BM-Photography.com

Really??? Postage Rates DECREASE!

Usually I'm writing a blog about postage rates increasing, but not this time.  As for 4/10/16, the First Class stamp has decreased from $.49 to $.47!!!  This is just in time for wedding season.  There have been a few additional changes.  Please see below:

The additional ounces of first-class letters will drop to $.2, from $.22.
International letters drop to $1.15, from $1.20.
Postcards drop from to $34, from $.35

Until next time...WEDologize!

The Knot Webinar - Reviews Think Tank

Registration

So what do you have planned on Wednesday, March 30th around 12:00pm CST?  Well clear your calendar because I am one of five The Knot Ambassadors that will be on a panel to discuss how to take your reviews to the next level and build a stellar online reputation, plus we will answer your burning questions.

You can register for this wedding industry webinar here or by clicking the registration link below the photo. 

Can't wait to meet some of you on Wednesday for what I know will be a very informative webinar.

Until next time...WEDologize!

The New Knot Brand Ambassador

I'm so thrilled to announce that I am the 2015/2016 Brand Ambassador for The Knot Wedding Pro Network!!!  Having been nominated for this position earlier this year, I'm so blessed to be a part of the inaugural team of 26 Brand Ambassadors nationwide.

From  The Knot - "Introducing, The Knot Ambassador Program – a select group of 26 wedding pros who will help us help you, grow your wedding business! These ambassadors will spend the next year working closely with The Knot Pro Network to share best practices with our community, offer insights into the challenges and opportunities in the industry and more.

What exactly will the Ambassadors be doing?
The Ambassadors will use their unique experiences to inform the direction of The Knot products, programs and services. They’ll also contribute to The Knot Profeed, speak at events like Education Workshops, host and co-host webinars, and more."

I am truly honored about this new journey to educate men and women in the wedding and event planning industry through the biggest wedding network nationwide and global!

Until next time...WEDologize!

WEDologyEDU - Winter 2014

I'm so excited to announce the official date for WEDologyEDU (formerly WEDology Experience) is Saturday, November 1st at Halsted Studio near downtown Chicago!  Yes, you requested the workshop in the city and I listened.  Registration is LIVE and the early-bird pricing has been extended to October 1st.

This intensive one-day workshop will cover the following topics:

• The role of a wedding/event planner and the various hats they wear
• How to turn your passion into a profitable business
• The potential client approach and initial meeting
• Contracts and how to receive compensation
• Who's your ideal client
• Marketing efforts and public relations for your wedding/event business
• Benefits of social media and blogging
• Expanding your wedding/event business offerings

I look forward to meeting, greeting and teaching budding and aspiring wedding and event planners on November 1st!!!  Visit our business website WEDology toolKIT for more dates and information about our WEBinars, NOTEbooks and MENTORing.

Until next time...WEDologize!

WEDologyEDU - Winter 2013

I'm so excited to announce the last 2013 date for WEDologyEDU (formerly WEDology Experience) is Saturday, November 9th at Flossmoor Country Club!  Yes, you requested another workshop and I listened.  Registration is LIVE and the early-bird pricing has been extended to October 25th.

This intensive one-day workshop will cover the following topics:

• The role of a wedding/event planner and the various hats they wear
• How to turn your passion into a profitable business
• The potential client approach and initial meeting
• Contracts and how to receive compensation
• Who's your ideal client
• Marketing efforts and public relations for your wedding/event business
• Benefits of social media and blogging
• Expanding your wedding/event business offerings

I look forward to meeting, greeting and teaching budding and aspiring wedding and event planners on November 9th!!!  Visit our new business website WEDology toolKIT for more dates and information about our WEBinars, NOTEbooks and MENTORing.

WEDologyEDU coming February 2013!

I'm so excited to announce the 1st 2013 date for WEDologyEDU (formerly WEDology Experience) is Saturday, February 23rd at The Chicago Firehouse!  Yes, you requested a Chicago workshop and I listened.  Registration is LIVE and the early-bird pricing is available until February 8th.

This intensive one-day workshop will cover the following topics:

• The role of a wedding/event planner and the various hats they wear
• How to turn your passion into a profitable business
• The potential client approach and initial meeting
• Contracts and how to receive compensation
• Who's your ideal client
• Marketing efforts and public relations for your wedding/event business
• Benefits of social media and blogging
• Expanding your wedding/event business offerings

I look forward to meeting, greeting and teaching budding and aspiring wedding and event planners on February 23rd!!!  Visit our new business website WEDology toolKIT for more dates and information about our WEBinars, NOTEbooks and MENTORing.


Until next time...WEDologize!