Amy Jarczynski talks about Destination Weddings

I am so lucky, I got to interview for my BLOG my friend Amy Jarczynski.

Amy is a very cool and sophisticated girl and I really thank her so much for this opportunity.

She is the International Travel Accounts Executive for XO Group, Inc. (The Knot), so basically she handles all of their national advertising accounts in Mexico, Latin America and Europe.

I had so many questions for her, because she travels a lot, and visits so many countries but I've seen her in major Tourism and Wedding related Events and Conventions here in Riviera Maya.

So my questions are more related to learning more from her experience:

I need to know How fast do you think the wedding industry is growing in the Riviera maya?

I can certainly speak for the US market, which is a large portion of the wedding industry in Riviera Maya. The wedding industry as a whole grows every year, even in tough times, there are increasing numbers of weddings year over year and always new trends and ideas that catch the eye and the wallet of the bride. We're finding that Destination Weddings are a quickly growing sector of the wedding industry (17% in 2007 to over 20% in 2010), so that coupled with the general yearly growth of the industry puts Riviera Maya in a position of double the growth potential. Mexico as a whole is slightly down 2009 to 2010 in the percentage of US couples choosing an international destination wedding, yet the general industry growth and Riviera Maya's strength of carrying a majority of the market share of Mexico destination weddings the destination still saw growth.

Why do you think the Riviera Maya is a very good option for a destination wedding?

A few reasons stand out in my mind: 1. The level of hospitality available, from the actual resort properties to the individuals providing the hospitality, it's top notch. 2. The beautiful beaches...no further explanation needed. 3. The affordability and accessability. When planning an international destination wedding, every couple wants to know that their guests can make the event. Cancun airport makes it easy to reach Riviera Maya from anywhere in the US and the variety of resorts allows for guests to come from various budget ranges.

Which wedding trends so far, do you think are the most important of this 2011?

foto found at pretty cheky

One major trend that I'm loving this year and see it represented editorially on our sites and magazines is the tone on tone color combinations, whether on flowers to overall decor, I think it's made a huge splash this year.

What is your favorite thing about working at theknot?

I love working for a brand that I truly believe in. From the quality of the editorial that we create to the tools that help our clients grow their businesses, it's rewarding being able to associate myself with this business.

What advise would you give about destination weddings in the Riviera Maya to wedding planners who are looking for new destinations for their couples?

My advise would be more aimed at planners who are Riviera Maya based, as the opportunity for business growth is all theirs. They're the ones who have the relationships with local vendors, so are just as capable of creating a fabulous event, yet can often do it more affordably and with greater logistical ease. US based planners should definitely recommend the destination but at the point in which brides / couples choose their planner, they've typically already chosen their destination, so the planner is a very small influential factor. If US based planners are looking to refer brides, they definitely need to know the destination well and have their own network of local vendors in order to keep costs down.

What type of publicity do you think is more effective to reach the target brides for destination weddings in riviera maya?

Online.

source theknot.com

Destination wedding brides are digital brides so get out there in every way possible online, ie...wedding websites, search engines and social media, because the brides are busy researching.

Any advice you can give our readers on social media?

You've got to engage your users / followers. Make sure you're offering something of value that makes it worth their time to keep coming back to your social media pages.

Amy thank you so much for your time, and I am so excited to see you soon!!!

Thank very much for reading this post, I hope it helps wedding planners who are looking for Riviera Maya as a Destination for your Brides, and also Bride & Grooms looking for a great place to have your dreamed wedding you can trust our expertise and see why so many people are falling in LOVE in Mexico and with Mexico over and over.

Have an amazing day!!!

BOW TIES & RIBBONS

found at finishingtoucheventdesign.blogspot.com

I will say with absolutely no doubt about it, that my favorite

wedding trend of the YEAR 2011 is ribbons and bow ties.

I personally adore Ribbons

They are fun!!!

But what is even funnier is that

bow ties, which usually date me back to my grandpa,

something like: back in the days .... (you get the idea).

Getting back to the point, when I see Bow ties

I not only see someone who is daring to do something

different but it ALSO looks and feels Young & Fresh.

Ribbons hanging with place cards

found at finishingtoucheventdesign.blogspot.com

Ribbons on the chairs for decoration

found at finishingtoucheventdesign.blogspot.com

So this is what its all about giving your

wedding that sense of fresh, young and fun

every couple wants to transmit to their

friends and family.

I really hope this post inspires you

to use ribbons & bow ties, you can use them

fon decoration, just as a backdrop in your wedding ceremony

or as a very chic accessory.

My confession:

I am a ribbon lover.

Wedding Venue in Playa del Secreto, Riviera Maya Mexico

Wedding Venue in Playa del Secreto, Riviera Maya Mexico

ITS ALL ABOUT ... SETTING THE MOOD

I am so excited to announce I have solved the

CANDLE LIGHT issue.

I love networking (as you may know by this time) but NOW I have really done it. You see I made a partnership with an amazing and talented group of mexican artisans.

Over the past years I have seen how real candle light has being replaced by LED tea lights to solve the problem of the wind blowing out candles at our ocean front weddings.

Well, we have solved this problem by providing unique designs that will make sure candle light is setting the romantic mood we all want at your Cancun or Riviera Maya destination wedding.

In the workshop, candles are handmade and designed by dedicated artists. Here, a world of colors, lights, textures, and scents inspires the creations that will accent all of life’s little moments.

We now create a sense of romance by illuminating and enhancing the spaces and moments most important to them; allowing the artistry of the candles to convey your story and emotions.

Cool huh?

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AMAZING

OPTION FOR YOUR WEDDINGS PLEASE EMAIL ME

rpdiamant@gmail.com

it all starts with a KISS: FYI

I think of myself as a romantic person, I really had to know how did the custom of kissing start. And as we all know Google is our best friend (most of the time) when learning things you are curious about; so I looked it up.

And most of the information tells mostly the same story:

The custom of kissing swept from France through Europe to Russia, where Russian nobility loved to ape the French. Eventually, the kiss was incorporated into marriage ceremonies, and today lip-locks couples into

sweet matrimony.

The custom of kissing today, as well as in ancient times, serves to show respect, and to pay homage to another. For example, early Romans kissed each other on the mouth or on the eyes to greet one another in a manner they deemed to be a dignified. One Roman emperor even ranked a person's importance by the body part he was allowed to kiss. He allowed important nobles to kiss his lips, less important ones to kiss his hands, and the least

important ones to kiss his feet.

In Russia, the highest sign of recognition from the Crown meant a kiss from the Tsar himself. Today, natives of many African tribes pay homage to their Chief by kissing the ground over which he has walked.

Over time, the custom of kissing developed as a way for adults to express their love and affection for one another. The roots of this form of affection can be traced back to primitive times, when mothers fondled their children, much as mothers do today.

Much later, in the sixth century, society apparently accepted the custom of kissing between adults as an expression of their affection. Not surprisingly, France first accepted kissing in courtship, and in amore. There, figure dancing was the rage, and each dance was sealed with a kiss.

Now you know every time you kiss you are keeping one of the oldests traditions of mankind alive!!!

XX ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE.

GREAT PEOPLE, GREAT INSPIRATION.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AMAZING

PEOPLE DURING WEDDING MBA LAS VEGAS,

BUT THE MOST INSPIRING FOR ME

ARE WITH OUT DOUBT:

Naomi V. Goodman

CEO & Founder

Naomi is the owner and lead designer of Enchanted Dream Weddings & Affairs located in San Diego, California. Whenever there is a break in her schedule, Naomi enjoys interior décor, literary and visual arts, as well as travelling abroad with her husband. In between work, travelling, and hobbies, Naomi focuses her attention on further promoting and expanding the mission of the TWIPS community within the wedding industry. You can find Naomi on Twitter @NaomiVGoodman.

Andy and EBS Virtual Communications have refocused squarely on wedding marketing and small business consultation, with the launch of The Wedding Marketing Network and its affiliated companies. With industry experience of 2000 weddings, and three decades of hospitality and wedding marketing, The Wedding Marketing Network promises to be yet another exciting direction for Andy Ebon.

CARMEN LABORIN

Romance Director for the Mexico Tourism Board, based in NYC.

In this role she is in charge of building strategic relationships with key players in the wedding industry for the promotion of special events and tourism for Mexico.

Director for

Las Palomas Beach & Golf Resort; Marketing Director for Flamingo Lakes Golf & Country Club Resort; Director of Special Projects for Mexico’s Federal Communications Commission;

and most recently Weddings Manager for Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, in Mexico.

Publisher for Reforma Newspaper, Editorial Director for En Blanco y Negro;

A down to earth individual, appreciative of nature, beauty and aesthetics, good music, any-time dancing & dining, adventure, photography, travel, arts.

Carley Roney

Carley Roney is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of

The Knot (www.theknot.com).

Her fresh, tell-it-like-it-is approach to weddings has made

The Knot the nation’s favorite wedding planning resource, used by millions of

couples each year. Carley has taken the hip style and

up-to-date advice that made The Knot the #1 wedding website and

launched THE KNOT Weddings magazine,

five popular wedding books, and a television show, Real Weddings from The Knot. Carley appears regularly on national television shows

from Oprah to NBC’s Today to ABC’s The View.

KATE L. HARRISON AUTHOR OF THE

The Green Bride Guide is a comprehensive and credible resource for eco-friendly wedding ideas, product and services. The site is a companion to The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth Friendly Wedding on Any Budget, written by Kate L. Harrison after she planned her green wedding in 2006-07.

YOU KNOW THAT FEELING AS KIDS, WHEN YOU ASKED

SOMETHING FOR XMAS

AND YOU WERE NOT EXPECTING MUCH

BUT INSTEAD YOU GOT WAY MORE THAT WHAT

YOU ASKED FOR ... WELL SAME HERE WEDDING MBA

ROCKED MY WORLD BECAUSE I FINALLY MET IN PERSON

ALL THESE SMART,

AMAZING AND INSPIRING WEDDING PROFESSIONALS!!!

Karla & Charlie from LA Destination Wedding at Riviera Maya

One night before my trip to Vegas I hosted and

Coordinated the wedding

of Charlie & Karla at Secret Jewel Celebrations VENUE,

Riviera Maya.

The highlights of the wedding where

the decoration in purple, the fire show and the cake:

OCEAN FRONT WEDDING IN DECORATED GAZEBO

pure romance!!!