Since opening Mochablue in 2006 this is a question that I get quite often. This is the top 3 so to speak… do I ever get responses that are not within our realm of services? Of course! Will we complete the tasks if they fall in that category? Unfortunately no – services deemed ethical, non-harmful, well intentioned and legal (of course) we will do our best to assist. Who’s the we in Mochablue? Myself and a great team of assistants that help me from time to time when needed. (future blog item!)

1-Consult with clientele to determine how and if Mochablue may assist with their needs – from concierge services (making arrangements, research, home management services, organization services, errands, personal assistance) to event and wedding planning (design, timeline development, vendor/partner referrals, budget management, execution of event). Ours services assists our clients in maximizing their time so they can focus on living life rather than attempting to do activities they do not enjoy nor have the time or energy to do themselves.

2- Networking/Marketing for myself and my clients. This is an area where due to the type of profession (social!) I have to be out in the community meeting and educating people on what benefits a concierge service can be.

a) Overall management of for the ‘mochabook’ which my clientele may tap into whenever they need. It includes passing on key partner cards and information for services to be offered to my clients.

b) Affiliation with key associations and organizations to promote my respective businesses and gain ‘perks’ for being a member with those same organizations to pass on to my clientele. One example is ticketing for shows and theater. Our group gains access to certain productions, receives the best seats available for a price of course to provide a particular experience – special requests, coordinating the evening, little unexpected surprises…
c) Maintain connections and build relationships with other fellow concierge/event planning firms as well as preferred partners in the Twin Cities and beyond

3) Manage the daily business operations, client requests, marketing/social marketing needs (ezine, blog, newsletter etc), responding back to emails and phone calls. Check with our business partners on progress of their work is satisfactory to client.

I have always been a fan of doing what you love. Especially as someone once said the true art of life is not knowing the difference between play and work – they are both the same thing. Although I adore the idea of a 3 day work week (have to have time to travel!) this may be the next best thing for overworked Americans. Check it out!

http://www.good.is/post/tgithursday/

One of the organizations I belong to is having a fabulous FREE event for engaged brides and/or grooms… Its a limited event. If you or someone you know is getting married and needs to get all of their planning done (love how it saves time!) and does not want to be in the throngs of 1000’s at the same time this is the event they must go to!

Registration
My List

Main website

Registration is required as space is limited. Scroll on down for more details!

List of Bliss is hosting its first ’speedplanning’ service event.

List of Bliss is an event & wedding network of prescreened professionals. The setting is more intimate than larger trade shows – we strive to keep this simple and enjoyable. There are only 1-3 vendors present per category and we cover the entire Twin Cities Metro. Some of our fabulous members travel beyond as well! We know planning, floral and invitations just to name a few of our members.

This is an opportunity for you (our guests) as an engaged couple to meet and greet potential wedding vendors for your wedding. You will have a few minutes to discuss details and complete an onsite interview of your pending day to determine if the person/business you ’speedplan’ with is a good fit for you! One place and you can do all of your interviewing in a short period of time.

This is a FREE event to pre-registered brides and grooms to be. If you would like to attend just sign up at www.listofbliss.com/mylist – indicate which vendors you are currently seeking, fill out your contact information and then show up!

You must be pre-registered. Non registered guests may or may not have a guarantee to participate. This is a limited registration – only the first 150 guests will be allowed in – again this is a FREE event.

When? July 19, 2009 Sunday
What time? 1pm-4pm
Where? Chambers Hotel- Minneapolis

Cheers!
List of Bliss
Your event & wedding network
www.listofbliss.com

Especially in this economy. Many get caught up in all of the glorious details that come with planning and may get a bit discouraged when thinking of ‘limits’ – but it is actually a game. How to achieve the look you want while staying within whatever your budget may be.

First figure out who is contributing to the budget. Traditionally (think the 1950’s) the Brides parents paid for the Brides Attire, Bridesmaids Bouquets, Grandmother Corsages, Ceremony/Reception flowers and decor, Rented Items for the Wedding Ceremony/Reception, Wedding Stationary (invitations, programs, printed items), Church & Reception Hall Fee, Musicians/Band/DJ/Orchestra, Catered Reception/Service, Wedding Cake/Favors, Rice Bags, Photography/Videography, Wedding Breakfast, Bridal Brunch, and the Brides Family Formal wear (Mother and Father of the Bride). For further information check out this link

For the past decade or so costs have shifted to the Bride & Groom themselves along with gifts from their families. Knowing what you are able to truly afford without going into debt to do so will make your day even that more perfect.

Your biggest expense will be the reception itself – along with it you have to include the venue, room/hall fees, tables & chairs, guests meal options, beverage options, cake/dessert, decor (other than floral), linens, service fees, staff/gratuities, rentals and of course the favors. This concierge planner would recommend a comfortable 50-60% of your overall budget dedicated to the reception. The most basic way to keep costs in check is to streamline your guest list to the family and friends who are important in your life. These are the people who will be instrumental in supporting you and your new spouse in your new lives.

So how would I suggest the remaining breakdowns of costs? Try the following as a template keeping in mind that of course you can tweek as you go along – if there is an area that you do not allocate funds that means that much left over for any of the others that have greater meaning to you as a couple for the first day of your new lives!

10% Bridal & Groom Attire, Accessories, Jewelry (other than your rings), Garter/Hoisery, Shoes

7% Photography/Videography

7% Music (DJ’s, Band/Musicians) for ceremony & reception

7% Floral/Decorations (Bouquets, Bouts, Corsages, Ceremony/Reception flowers, Table Centerpieces, Bows/Florals for aisle/pews/chairs, Cake Table, Candles, Lighting, Balloons, Other)

6% Stationery (Invitations, Save the Date Cards, RSVP cards, Maps, Programs, Personal Stationary, Calligraphy, Thank you cards, Stamps, Guest Book/Wish Bowl, Reception Napkins, Matchbooks, Other)

4% Miscellaneous (Marriage License, Taxes, Tips, Other)

3% Bridal and Grooms Wedding rings, Other (tokens/jewelry for children, significant people etc)

3% Transportation (Ceremony, Reception, Guest Transportation, Limousines, Trolleys, Parking, Taxis, Other)

2% Gifts (Each other, Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Parents, Readers/Other Participants)

1% Ceremony Location Fees, Officiants Fee/Donation

Additional costs to consider are:

Wedding coordinator/planner 3-5% (on average)
* Keep in mind that most planners may assist you in sourcing additional discounts when working with their preferred list of vendors, and of course doing our best to keep you under budget!

Celebratory events (often gifted by the families to the couple) leading up to the big day may include Engagement Party, Rehearsal Dinner, Showers, Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties, Salon Appointments, Brunch, and Hotel Rooms 1-5%

Some great planning tools can also be found on
http://www.engaged2be.com
http://www.ourwedding.com
http://www.theknot.com
http://www.weddingchannel.com
http://www.realsimple.com/weddings or
http://browse.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/weddings/index.html

Happy planning!

Katrinna Hanneman with Studio Laguna has a eye for photography that is pure art from weddings to commercial to portraits. Her web page/blog is www.stulagu.com

I love her photojournalistic bend. She really captures the person, the event just the overall mood. She is very professional and a pure joy to be around.

Check out their offerings and let her know Mochablue sent you!
Cheers!

On the East Side of town there is a lovely small business for spa and salon treatments… Details Salon. The Downtown St Paul location is tucked into the Lowry Condo’s building off of 6th-close to the courthouse.

Excellent services (4 stars out of 5) for both nails and eyebrows. Any salon that serves up a smile, great services and a cup of soothing tea always gets a nod from Mochablue!

If you’re over that way let them know Mochablue sent you!

Cheers!

Fabulous food – Afghan & Mediterranean for decent prices (one favorite Gyros for only $5.50 for lunch) also try the spinach pie. The homemade yogurt sauce is fresh and perfect accompaniment to the savory layers of spinach and feta cheese. Next visit I plan on trying their Bouranee Banjaan – eggplant cooked with sauteed onions and tomato sauce as well as their Kofta Chalaw.
Based inside a little strip mall on Bass Lake Road.
6408 Bass Lake Road, Crystal MN 763-533-4900
Fridays are belly dancing nights!

Macy’s has a great sale coming up – Friends and Family – where you recieve a 20% off coupon good through 12/15

Sierra Trading Post (online) has the 12 days of Christmas – deals every day up to the big one!  Prices change daily. http://www.sierratradingpost.com/

Yellow Mango Brazile has its first store (second one possibly coming soon) in St Paul.  If you go say hello to Iara for me (the owner).

Iara Watney      794 Grand Avenue,  St Paul MN            tel: 651.983.5968

www.yellowmangobrasil.com     iara@yellowmangobrasil.com

Ta’s Salon is offering limited gift certificates $125 for $100 call them directly to inquire 763-503-4792  http://tassalon.com

Pazzaluna in St Paul is offering an incredible deal of buy a $100 in gift certificates get $100 in gift certificates from their partner restaurants – check out their website – http://www.pazzaluna.com/

Parsole restaurants are also offering $125 in gift certificates for $100 – includes Mannys, chino latino, Good Earth, Pittsburgh Blue just to name a few!

Oh and of course mochablue is thrilled to offer $125 in gift certificates for only $100 as well – ours have no expiration date and are good towards service fees, and event fees for our concierge/event services.

Happy shopping!

]]> http://girlgetitdone.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/shopping-around/feed/ 0 Mochablue http://girlgetitdone.wordpress.com/2008/06/17/new-series-of-events-and-need-help-naming-them/ http://girlgetitdone.wordpress.com/2008/06/17/new-series-of-events-and-need-help-naming-them/#comments Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:14:17 +0000 Michelle Thayer http://girlgetitdone.wordpress.com/?p=73 ]]>

Mochablue is very excited to bring to our clients and those on our little mochalist a new series of events that are being developed.  This set is for the girls (sorry fellas).  We need to name it and to give you some background…

Events will be tied with a little bit of shopping, a bit of giving (to selected charities) and Mochablue’s favorites – samplings of beverages and food with networking!

Name possiblities?

Peony

Fleur de lis

Luxe de lis

G3 – Give (to charity), Get (pampered and fed), Grab (shop!)

Any suggestions always appreciated!  Send your vote to michelle@mochablueco.com

Dates to be determined but coming very soon – First launch set for July/August 2008

Cheers!

A special just for the ladies that attended the opening SITC event. Just email me where the event was held and your able to tap into a world of bliss all your own!

simple 5 hours

joyful 10 hours

bliss 20 hours

Check out the website for more details or drop me a email! You will also receive a special gift compliments for Mochablue from Innovative catering- yum!

Cheers!