Wine Women Weddings Wellness
 |
By Denise Jordan
Every now and then, I have one of those weekends with too much to do, too many places to be, and I wonder how I will do it all. The weekend of Feb. 15 and 16 was one of those weekends.
I left Ivy Tech on Friday and headed for the Grand Wayne Center. I was to meet my partners from Kiss Wedding and Event Planning there to help set up our booth for the bridal show taking place the next day. We got that done, walked around the convention hall to meet some of the other vendors, dashed out to pick up a few odds and ends, then came back to attend the vendor networking session. Christine Boulton from Think Like A Bride was there to share her expertise.
Boulton gave a few statistics about today's bride then asked how many of us worked the Internet. A few hands went up. She then proceeded to tell us how today's brides think, shop, and connect. Many of us were not hitting the target with our marketing strategies. Ouch! As marketing director for Kiss, I learned there were several things I needed to do differently. It was a very informative session.
Three of the partners left the Grand Wayne Center to take care of other commitments. Suezette Phillips (director of creative design for Kiss) and I took the escalator to the upper level to attend a wine tasting event hosted by Sharmeron Bostic, owner and operator of WineStyles & Gifts located at 6711 West Jefferson Blvd..
I approached the tables and looked at the array of wines. I never know what kind of wine goes with what or remember the names of them later.
"What kind of wine do you like?" asked Bostic
She cocked her head to the side and sized me up.
"I like sweet wines," I said. "You know, kind of fruity. But, not too dry!" I emphasized.
She laughed. "I've got just the thing for you," said Bostic.
She handed me a glass of rosecolored wine and I raised it to me lips. She smiled as she waited expectantly.
"I love it!" I took another sip. "It's perfect!" In less than a minute, she was able to choose the perfect wine for me. Sweet. Light. Fruity. Perfect.
This turned out to be another great networking session. Suezette and I met some new people, reconnected with others we hadn't seen for a while, and had some really good wine. Bostic had a buffet of chocolates, fruits, and cheeses available so I got to see how the different wines complemented these foods. And, we got some great gift ideas for our brides and grooms.
On Saturday, Feb. 16, Fort Wayne magazine Weddings presented Bridal Extravaganza. About 70 vendors showcased their services for area brides. The Bridal Extravaganza included a New York style fashion show featuring current trends for brides, bridesmaids, and mothers. When Sheila Dean, owner of Shoe of a Different Color, found herself two models short at a January fashion show, Kiss Wedding and Event Planning introduced her to Geraldine Gaston and Geri Stevenson. When Dean made plans for her portion of the fashion show for Bridal Extravaganza, Gaston and Stevenson were included.
Christine Boulton presented two sessions for the brides-Stress Relief When Planning Your Wedding and Getting the Most Out of Your Wedding. Tony Didier gave two demonstrations of American Style Ballroom dancing. He and his partner glided effortlessly around the stage. Then, he gave a humorous example of what the bride would probably prefer not to see happen. He closed by showing how taking a few lessons can make a huge difference.
We had a great time at the Bridal Extravaganza. We met some really nice people, added to our vendor list, and made plans for future projects.
The one event that I was not able to give as much time to as I wished was the Women and Wellness event hosted by Chi Eta Phi Sorority and Gomez Temple A.M.E. Church. The theme for this annual event was "Looking for Love." It was held in the banquet hall of the League for the Blind on South Anthony Blvd. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"Love of God, love of others, love of self," said Rae Sharon Jones, Missionary Society president of Gomez Temple A.M.E. Church. "The program itself is our annual outreach. We'd like to save some souls." She paused, then went on, "The wellness aspect is new. Tyra Watson of Chi Eta Phi Sorority is one of our members."
Watson encouraged Jones to consider taking the three-pronged approach. It made sense to Jones.
"Loving yourself includes taking care of the temple," said Jones. "That's where the wellness comes in."
She was one of the first in line to receive the screening afforded by Health is the Key to My Heart in collaboration with Chi Eta Phi Sorority.
In addition to health screening, the program offered information on heart disease and women.
"Heart disease is the number one killer of women," said Stella Goodman, president of Chi Eta Phi Sorority. "People so often think about breast cancer in relation to women, but heart disease kills more. Women need to know that."
Phyllis Tate and Monique Davis of Chi Eta Phi Sorority provided information on the statistics related to heart disease, the kind of symptoms women tend to report, risk factors, and prevention. Carmen Moore of Chi Eta Phi addressed stroke and stroke prevention. About 60 people attended Women and Wellness: Looking for Love.
All in all, this was a very busy weekend. My experiences ranged from talking to new brides about weddings and wishes and wedding cake to chatting about wellness. I'd say that was a winning combination.
To contact Kiss Wedding and Event Planning, call (260) 471- KISS. For more information about WineStyles call (260) 459-3135. To contact Chi Eta Phi Sorority, call Stella Goodman at (260) 447-7368. To contact Lizzie Mae's Bakery, call (260) 471-8656.
Denise Jordan is marketing director for Kiss Wedding and Event Planning.
This is part of the March 5, 2008 online edition of Frost Illustrated.
Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you. Click here.