Widdis Photography, Jessica Johnston Photography, Uptown Photography, Jennifer Mayo Studios, Andrejka Photography

 Provide a small overview of your company:

 LUCIA|PAUL DESIGN is a wedding and event planning and event design firm for clients who expect the absolute best in service and detail. LUCIA|PAUL DESIGN approaches each wedding and event with a fresh perspective, making memorable events that reflect our client’s taste and sensibility. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, we work with clients throughout the United States and the Caribbean.  At LUCIA|PAUL DESIGN, wedding and event planning and design is our passion. Through our innovative design and flawless presentation, we incorporate a distinctive look and feel into every event. From the planning stages to the execution, no matter what your planning or design needs, LUCIA|PAUL DESIGN will provide you with personalized service to ensure success.
 
We approach each wedding and event with a fresh perspective, because our reputation depends on creating specialized, memorable events that reflect your taste and sensibility. We promise that all our clients will achieve their goals by guaranteeing the utmost attention to detail and the highest level of dedication.
 
Consistent success, a high-regard to detail and professionalism makes LUCIA|PAUL DESIGN the premier Florida luxury destination wedding and event planning and design company.

1)  How would you describe your style?

Classic and timeless with a touch of glamour and modern eclectic.  

2)  What are your favorite flowers to use for an event?

Peonies and parrot tulips…they are soft and can be used in almost any setting.

3) Where do you get your inspiration?

People and everyday life.  In our industry, there is a plethora of inspiration, so sometimes you don’t have to look that far. There are so many interesting and talented people all around us each and every day. I love to absorb every conversation with each person that I am blessed to meet. Everyday life is inspiring due to its constant evolution and surprises. There is always something new whether a challenge, a fight, a crush, a first love, a culture, a color, a flower, a design, a passion…always something. While inspiration constantly surrounds us, it’s what you do with that inspiration that will make you great.

4)  What is your favorite wedding trend you are seeing right now?

 How couples are truly incorporating personal elements into their wedding day.  Also the use of textures.  Building a wedding around different textures creates such a 4-dimensional look and adds a lot of visual interest.  It has always been one of my favorite designing tools.

5) What mistakes do most brides make when planning their wedding?  

Selecting vendors based on price alone.  Do your homework.  Invest in quality…you will be happier in the long run as it does not pay to cut corners.  Also, believing that they and their wedding day has to be 100% perfect.  Something will happen that wasn’t planned in your “perfect” schedule and at some point you have to let it go, otherwise it won’t be the experience that you really want to remember.  My advice is to truly take the quote “Don’t sweat the small stuff” to heart…that is what you hire a planner for!

6)  What part in the planning process should a bride hire a planner?

Without a question, at the very beginning of the planning process…or as soon as they begin feeling overwhelmed.  If you hire someone from the very beginning, a good wedding planner will never allow you to ever reach that feeling of being overwhelmed.

7)  What percentage of a brides budget should be spent on a planner?

For a good quality planner that truly knows what they are doing and has experience (at least 3-5 years), 10-12% for full planning and design.

 What local venue would you love to do a wedding at and why?  

It would be at one of our corporate clients Condominium’s in Saint Petersburg called Ovation.  However, it is not open to the public and probably won’t ever be available for rental for weddings as it is resident owned…but one can dream!  It’s just a very unique and modern venue with an amazing outdoor space on the 4th floor overlooking the St. Petersburg Pier and Bay.

9)  What makes Lucia Paul Design different from other local planners?  

We are known for our level of customer service and the variety of services that we offer to our clients.  We are a quality over quantity company, which allows us to provide an unprecedented level of customized service that each client deserves.  Our clients hire us because they understand and appreciate our value, experience, and dedication to their wedding or event.  We not only help our clients define their overall design vision, but we also focus a great deal on logistics, execution, and follow-through with every element of the process.  The Lucia|Paul team works tirelessly to ensure that no detail, no matter how great or small, is ever overlooked.

10)  What is your favorite part of a wedding?  It’s so cliché, but it’s honestly the moment the bride and the groom see each other for the first time.  There’s just something about the chemistry that happens in that moment that is shared between the bride and the groom.  It is exciting to see a glimpse of it!

Lucia Paul Design

LUCIA|PAUL DESIGN
Web | www.luciapauldesign.com
Blog | www.luciapaulblog.com
E | Info@luciapauldesign.com
T | 888.815.5478

Q&A with Rebecca Zoumberos

OVERVIEW 

Michael and Rebecca Zoumberos are the owners of the acclaimed photography studio Limelight Photography, located in Tampa, Florida and covering events worldwide.  Specializing in wedding photography, Limelight averages 150 sessions annually.

In the four years since its inception, Limelight Photography has grown to rank among the elite photography studios in the country and expanding its staff to include a full-time studio manager, an album designer and three teams of associate photographers.  Their work has been featured in publications such as Event Solutions, Biz Bash, Grace Ormonde, Caribbean Bride, Brides, Best of The Knot, Destination I Do, Get Married, The Knot, Weddings Illustrated, SRQ and www.trashthedress.com.

 Limelight’s remarkable growth has landed them on the preferred vendor lists of such prestigious venues as The Ritz Carlton, The Renaissance Vinoy, The Don Cesar, The Powel Crosley Estate and the Ringling Mansion at the Ca d’Zan.  Limelight has also been featured on the national TV show Get Married and on the Grace Ormonde Platinum List.   

 Limelight Photography is a member of PPA, SMS, and Master Minds, and have been featured in association with Studio Management Services (an affiliate of PPA), Marathon Press and www.collages.net. 

   1) How would you describe your photography style?

Our photographs capture and tell a story. Our style is honest, fresh and romantic. Our images are bright and bold but with a soft touch.

  2) Do you shoot in black and white or color, or both? 

Both

   3) What is your favorite pose or shot for a bride and groom? 

We do not pose our brides and grooms, rather we direct them. My favorite images are those that capture true emotion between the bride and groom.

   4) What local place is your favorite for taking engagement photographs?

 I love to shoot new places that I have never been before. It is always exciting and gets my creative juices flowing to explore a new location.

  5) What is the best way for a couple to prepare for their engagement session?

 I actually have an entire article published in Professional Photographer magazine on this very topic. But I would say the most important tip is to relax and have fun! Get to know your photographer so you are even more comfortable on your wedding day.

  6) How long should a wedding shot list be? What types of photos should be on it? 

Concise but complete. I suggest parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters. The more time spent on a formal list, the less time to be creative and capture those amazing shots you want to blow up for your wall!

7) What percentage of a brides budget should be spent on a photographer? 

Honestly, I have no idea about the percentage. I just know that the pictures are the only thing you are left with after the wedding. Even if you cannot afford to budget for an album or prints. Make sure you have secured a quality photographer with a style that you love for your wedding day! Our prices range from $2,750 to $25,000.

What makes your company unique from other area vendors?

 Our quick turnaround time, our studio manager devoted to customer service, our unique method of storing and archiving images and of course our talented photographers!

9) The question of “negatives” who gets them? 

       Ownership of Work Product. All materials used and produced at the Event, including, but not limited to, any photographs, film, negatives, transparencies, proofs and previews, are the exclusive property of the Studio. Any use and/or disposition of such materials is within the sole control and discretion of the Studio. The Studio agrees not to use any reproductions of any photos taken at the event without the Client’s consent except as follows: for use in the Studio’s Web site, portfolio, self-promotion, samples, entry into art exhibits or photographic contest, editorial use or for display at the Studio or event venue.

 Copyrights. The Studio, as author of all images produced pursuant to this Agreement, owns the copyright to said images. Client owns the personal copyright to said images, which allows client to make copies of images for personal use only. Reproduction of these images in any form, for use other than personal, without written permission to the Studio is prohibited. Violators of federal law will be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

 10)What is your top tip for a bride to ask when interviewing a wedding photographer? 

I would say the most important thing is do you trust the photographer and company and do you connect on a personal level so that you feel comfortable, relaxed and at ease on your wedding day with your photographer. Because he or she is with you more than anyone else on the day of your wedding!

 Rebecca Zoumberos

Central Florida Studio: 813.926.4290
South Florida Studio: 305.249.1420
Worldwide: 877.926.4291

www.stepintothelimelight.com

Q&A with Sarah Florio

Overview

Room Service an AFR Company has grown to be one of the largest furniture rental companies in the United States. Focusing on a premier level of customer service, the Room Service/AFR Team delivers high-end furniture and décor to event industry partners across the country and internationally.

Our team of event professionals offers services that range from custom designed items and branded materials to complete set-up and placement of our product!

1) How does rental furniture add to the ambiance of an event? Furniture groupings offer a more intimate experience for guests.

Instead of being stuck at Table 23 all night, you have the option to move “closer to the action” when furniture is present. Guests can converse more smoothly with one another in a casual, comfortable environment put into place by even just a sofa and love seat.

2) What makes your products unique  from other area vendors?

 We are constantly updating our inventory to keep up with the latest trends in the industry. This effort paired with our exceptional customer service and precise attention to detail makes every event a success and ultimately keeps our clients coming back for more!

3) What are the latest trends you see in event furniture rentals?

Alternative dining. Forget what you know about round and dining chairs provided by the venue – the new trend is incorporating sofas and ottomans as seating at rectangular and square tables for a sit down dinner. You can even repurpose these furniture items at the reception to really stretch your dollar.

4) What is the “must have”  item a bride should rent from you?

 An item that really makes the guest take a step back and know that they are not just at any old wedding is our waterfall. Standing at 8’ tall, the water cascades down to add a visual and auditory experience. This is piece that we highly suggest to be customized – a full size photo of the couple (perhaps from the engagement shoot), the couple’s monogram or event the seating chart!

5) For the bride on a budget, what standard grouping would you suggest?

Ottomans are the way to go for a bride on a budget. You can seat the same amount of people on an ottoman that you can on a sofa and it’s half the cost! This also allows for all sorts of fun configurations.

6) What is the average cost of delivery?

Delivery varies depending on the event location. Our showroom and warehouse are located in Orlando, FL. We delivery to all of Florida as well as nationwide.

7) At what point in the planning process should furniture be chosen?

 Brides and planners normally come to us after the overall theme/color schematic is chosen which is normally around the time that the venue is chosen.

Does Room Service offer custom items?

 Yes, anything from custom covers for sofas, chairs or ottomans, monograms or logo’s on bars/tables/slide walls, and event alter substitutes for the ceremony. We are fully equipped to facilitate any custom requests with an in-house upholsterer and a full time warehouse crew.

9) Do you offer the option to pick up your furniture rental?

Yes, if you are capable to come to our Orlando warehouse and pick up the items as well as bring them back after the event is over, pick up is absolutely available at no extra charge.

10) What is your top tip for brides looking to rent furniture?

Think functionality. At the end of the day, you want your guests to not only be “Wow’ed”, but also be comfortable. Furniture at a wedding is a great way to identify people of distinction (i.e. head table with high back captain’s chairs for the Bride and Groom, VIP lounge area for the bridal party only, or just soft seating around the dance floor to make the elders at the event feel like they are part of the party!).

Room Service Contact Information

Sarah Florio, Sales Coordinator

407.608.5141

sflorio@rentfurniture.com

 Question & Answers with Judy Ferrara

The Dressing Room

2430 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Florida 33712

(727) 323-7666 www.thedroom.com

 OVERVIEW

Thank you for taking the time to visit The Dressing Room.  We appreciate your interest.  We like to think of this room as a little different – at the very least, independent.  Not only an independent locally owned store, but more importantly – a special way of providing the best made dresses for you, the bride, your bridesmaids, moms, flower girls and anyone else who needs a custom-ordered special occasion dress. Your appointment provides a private setting for you and your bridal party.

 Our focus is on the silhouette and your body type.  This collection features more than 185+  sample dresses, gowns, veils, wraps, shrugs, boleros and accessories for your review, offering you over 250 + color choices. The size range is from 00 to 32.  We offer plus sizing, extra length, various options for hems, necklines, jackets, wraps, shrugs, etc. 

1)   HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE BRIDAL BUSINESS:      

 I wanted to create my own business after working internationally for nine plus years that was local, beautiful, purposeful and fun.

2)  DO YOU FIND MOST BRIDES KNOW WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR?     

Most brides have an idea of what they want but many times are pleased to find a gown that is different from what they envisioned. After all, this is a once in a lifetime selection, we do not shop for these gowns everyday. 

3)  WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION BRIDES SHOULD ASK WHEN THEY MEET WITH YOU?     

 Brides should always ask what style gown would best suit their body type.

4)  WHAT MAKES YOUR APPROACH AND SERVICE DIFFERENT?     

Privacy and with one on one attention, focus on needs and follow up service.  I also encourage photos taken during appointments.

5)  WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE A BRIDE WHEN SHE MEETS WITH YOU?     

 Be careful not to make a quick buying decision based on price, go over her budget and  not allow for professional alterations

6)  WHAT SATISFY’S YOU THE MOST ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?

I am most pleased when I can help a bride make a decision that is all hers and she is confident in her choice.

7)  HOW DO YOU FIND THE LINES YOU REPRESENT?     

I find the lines that have excellent quality, very superior construction, value, details and style.  My daughter- in -law is very good at choosing lines that have been very popular and that are nationally known.

8 )  WHAT OTHER SERVICES OTHER THAN BRIDAL GOWNS DO YOU OFFER?

 The collection has also bridesmaids, mothers, juniors and flower girls. There are several lines of veils, sashes, accessories and jewelry.

9)  WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

What I find the most rewarding is to de-stress a bride throughout the entire process, provide the support and service she needs and hopefully exceed her expectations.

10)  GIVE ME YOUR TOP TIP?

My top tip is for brides to be realistic about their expectations and budget. I prefer a bride not to bring with her an entire entourage, this only becomes a fashion show type experience and this can create too much discussion.

11)  GIVE ME A DESCRIPTION ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?  

 This salon is all about ‘your day, your way’, I enjoy the collaboration with brides in creating details, alterations, combinations and customization in order to personalize each bride’s look.  I can be contacted by phone or email; I prefer receiving a phone call so I can better serve a bride’s needs.