Guest Blogger! Desiree Patterson, Director of Sales & Marketing with Wildflower Linen

I was so excited listening to Karli speak at the May WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association) event about “green weddings and events”, especially since going green is an important issue for me. It was not until I heard her presentation that I realized my wedding had some “green” elements. I was so honored when Karli asked if I would share about some of the experiences from my wedding.

We wanted unique touches throughout our special day that truly represented us. We had a “vintage chic western” style wedding. It was never our intention to “go green”, yet without even trying, we did. My dress, for example, was purchased from Brides against Breast Cancer. After I wore it, I donated it to a bride-to-be that was less fortunate then myself. Also, our entire wedding party and even my husband dressed from head to toe in items that were and could be worn again. Both cool tips Karli shared as part of her suggestions for hosting a green wedding!


Other items included eco-friendly linens; my wedding band was created from some of my mother’s diamond rings, and even my favorite cowboy boots that I still wear till this day. As Karli says, “something borrowed = something green” and incorporating items we can use after the wedding day make good sense for the environment.


The biggest hit of our whole wedding was homemade signs that my husband created out of two huge, discarded tree trunks. These recycled signs were hung everywhere, some giving directions and locations, while others just had our initials with a heart etched around them. After the wedding, family members took the signs to put in their gardens and the sign with our initials with the heart etched on it hangs in our home.


Even though not every element of our wedding was green, we’re happy to know that our special day created a smaller carbon footprint. We’re excited to know that we had the amazing wedding we wanted while being friendly to the environment at the same time.

Homemade signs add a personal touch and bring new life to discarded pieces of wood.

Wedding rings made with diamonds, gold or jewels from special family members or ancestors is a great way to recycle and reuse

Bridal party ensembles that can be worn again and again makes good sense for the Earth and the wedding budget

Wildflower Linen offers an assortment of linens that are eco-friendly, beautiful and elegant. From manufacturing to laundering and shipping, think about the negative impact your wedding can have on the environment and do what you can to lessen it.

Simply Mumtaz presents Your Lucky 7 Tips to Maximizing Your Trade Show Experience

Your Lucky 7 Tips to Maximizing Your Trade Show Experience

1. Know your Budget. You know the saying Dress to Impress, well this would be a similar thought. You want to shine to those potential customers!

2. Make sure you train the personnel manning your booth… the last thing you want is someone standing there and watching the clock! This is the time to sell, sell, sell!

3. Don’t pass up the opportunity to network with your peers and competition!

4. If you’ve got that hot prospect in front of you, give them your attention! Ensure that you have another team member to continue to greet as you draw your prospect in.

5. Never block off entry into your booth – don’t stick that 6 ft table in front of you, invite your guests into your world!

6. Customize your promotional materials; make sure you also know what they say about you!

7. Know how one or many trade show(s) fits into your strategic marketing plan.

Simply Mumtaz speaks at WSEA

Hey everybody! Last night Simply Mumtaz President, Joella Hopkins, got the opportunity to speak at the WSEA's monthly meeting and presented "Maxmizing Your Trade Show Experience". It was a great group of event / wedding professionals. Check'em out at http://www.wsea.com/. Below is a copy their flyer for their upcoming Trade Show.

Also, wish us luck! Tomorrow they announce the BizBash Award Winners. Fingers Crossed!

Simply Mumtaz - BizBash 2009 Event Style Awards Nominee

Hey everybody! Yeah Simply Mumtaz Events! We've been nominated for one of the BizBash 2009 Event Style Awards for Best Corporate Event Concept. We're pretty excited.

The meeting’s overall concept was pretty simple – appeal to the commercial brokers at the event, this is where they want to bring their client’s business. The morning meeting would take place in the newly renovated AT&T Center’s auditorium. This initial meeting would address the current market and build the excitement to the next phase of the meeting which was a rotating tour of downtown Los Angeles. But, in order to keep the attendees interested we assigned everyone a bus when they registered that morning. Each bus would depart to a different venue and then they’d go on a rotating schedule (all busses in essence went on a clockwise rotation). The five different locations were all very different in style and features. This allowed the brokers to get a feel for what Downtown L.A. has to offer. Once, the tours were completed, all busses returned the AT&T Center to close the day’s meeting with a quick lunch wrap meeting in a raw space available for leasing. All attendees were also provided at their seats, complete information of the morning’s presentation and stats as well as the information from all venue stops on the tour. Quick closing remarks were planned and off our guests went.