Sassi Planner Tales

Wedding Buzz Around The World...

2011-08-02T06:39:00.000-07:00

Last week I wrote a blog that really felt good to write. It's not too often that I am able to express my thoughts to those around me on the east coast let alone anywhere else.

For some, having people email about a post locally is HUGE...For me personally, to have been given the chance to actually meet aspiring and established industry professionals that live around the world; IS JUST A MEGA dose of smiles.

Have you ever wondered how many people you can make an impact with by saying JUST a few words? Words enough to have someone call you from another country 1/2 way around the world to train with you? I have!!! There have been a handful, but that handful is HUGE in my eyes.

I read my blog stats weekly and show below the daily views. The below stats are from around the world. I took the annual number thus far for 2011..Check it out!

Worldwide Stats for 2011 See Bottom of BLOG for Daily stats!!!

United States 1065

Germany 44

Russia 39

Australia 20

Hungary 14

Japan 100

Namibia 10

Romania 12

I just wanted to express the honor, the excitement and the thanks for your support! i hope you all decide to visit America! I read your emails asking for advice on how to establish this industry where you are. It saddens me to know that you do not have the education where you reside. I am sure this is not going to be a permanent issue!

The good news is that I have started webisodes weekly to share what is happening in our world...and in mine personally..May not always be glammy...But, sharing this, is probably going to save you from making the same mistakes!!!

Happy Tuesday World! It really is not as big as I thought!

xoxoxox

Is The Wedding World as "Glammyrous" as You Think?

2011-07-31T00:06:00.000-07:00

This is a question I find myself asking myself (ha) almost daily. Don't mistake this as if I'm not happy with my clients, staff or along with the trust we've been granted. This comment truly means this is not an easy task and to be honest, it's never going to be "easy" (easier, yes).

I so cringe when people say this is simple. There is nothing easy/simple about marriage and planning for one. Get real. This is serious stuff and it's not about us, it's about them.

Sometimes, we may have to wait 2 years+ to hear what a benefit we were to a couple, their families and more. It's worth it, really it is. I don't blame them for being on guard. After all, they meet me for an hour + and they invest in my services to ensure the ones they love are happy. That is not always an easy situation and you do need to work with caution to gain their trust. As a mother, I will expect the same when my 7 year old going on 85 tells me to butt out or snap to it as "You should know me momma".

While I joke about how I fell into this career, it is the truth when I share with various vendors around the world (an honor and still unreal or surreal) this career you see "chose me".

I love that it has allowed me to express a side that wasn't on the list of "wants". I truly love to make people happy. Weddings are just a piece of the bigger puzzle or picture.

I just like it and have developed a passion that I do not see too often in most careers. How many people can say they LOVE what they do?
I don't doubt this judgment and I know if you choose to read this, you too understand what I mean. There are no words.

I have not been on the east coast for long. Actually,it's less than a decade That is not much time to get "acclimated" to the way it works "here". I admit being most envious that I did not have someone like myself to warn me of what would be good, what not to rush into or say and what to stay away from to be successful long term if I really wanted what long term meant. The truth, I jumped in and took a chance. I did have the skill-set no doubt and I believe that my passion is now shown in ways that most of those who aspire see.

They are the ONLY ones that matter at this point, be very clear with that comment.

I did not have a "Me" when I needed it. I want to make sure someone does have this when they are ready to take a leap that could cause a rollercoaster to tip or like me...ruffle the feathers. Maybe that's why I have an obsession with feathers; they do have a huge significance in my life. Hence "Sassi Sammi" the gal behind the boa who really is just like you, but may have issues with the "foot in mouth" syndrome on a few occasions. I do know that some wish they had this trait as there are times we just want to combust maybe that would be therapeutic for some? Don't knock it until you try it. Just be careful with whom, we do have some “miserable players" and they will try to break ya, if you let them.

Is it possible to have someone hate you (a true ethical leader in our industry) yes, hate is a word I don't use for people, food yes. Someone who is that insecure that they destroy certain things that kept you sane in someways. More like a personal vendetta but not knowing you makes that a hard one to understand because you never met them. So what does that mean? It means they suck too. And again, per advice of many who cares? They are right. And they are NOT known or valued as much as they believe they are. Maybe someday, those who do chat will confront them and maybe it will end?

The many agents I have worked with and the vendors I have met have taught me more than I can explain. Most importantly they advised me NOT to care about the others and what they say, if they like me or how they run their business. I did listen to all of them. They said just "Be Sam" and don't give a Da...” And I don't. I am here to do my best and while it's been tough, I have some great memories and accomplishments and more to look forward to later this year.

I have stayed quiet (for me that means no blogging) for so long about so much and am happy that I've a chance to speak honestly about the who's who and the ones that just suck..Sorry. Is suck a bad word?

The concept of networking means you gather info, you help each other and you learn new things with every event you have. Even those of us who have been in the industry for 20+ years screw up. The honest ones will admit this on any given day and the ones who are shady will lie.

Ask them. Look into their eyes and see do they really look back at you with all the "passion" in their soul? No. Not all. Not many and that is just so sad.

I have never met those of my platform aka point in my career, not ever. I have reached out. I'm not too proud. I do know what you feel like when you email someone from TV and you just don't know how to ask for some guidance. Rejection is the worst. You email and re-write over and over because you want it to be perfect. What you need to understand, they are just people who are at a different place in their career. No it's not right and yes it's a shame, but it's not personal. It cannot be. They don't know you and that's their issue not yours. DON'T GIVE UP. DON'T subject yourself to that ask wondering if you can do this. If you doubt yourself, then you will fail.

While I have reached out to many for different reasons, thinking we could have some kind of "bounce the idea" or in once case to warn another professional who is most noted about a "shady" client. It had a negative outcome. I did not have to do this, but as a peer I thought I was doing this person a favor. That "person" had their assistant call me to get more details. You know what I said FU figure it out yourself. Oh and by the way, have a good day. I always end with a smile.

How is it that there are a small number of us in the US under 20 perhaps and we do not communicate with each-other? What is this nonsense I hear about them bring afraid of new planners etc stealing their business? How can you steal something that was never yours? And how can you be so shallow as to think you are that good?

We are the ones that 90% of this industry looks up to. They admire all of us for specific reasons and/or accomplishments. They just want to learn. Where is the crime? We've had many interns, let me tell you only one screwed me. And it hurt me personally, not the company.

So the answer is no I will not stop hiring aspiring planners. However, they must be trained first and whether that is with me or elsewhere, I ask for that.

Let's be honest, I do have an interesting way of doing things. I admit that.

The truth, I just don't care about those things anymore. There is much more that needs to be done. If we don't share the right way to be successful, we will not be a fun, exciting and fulfilling industry for long. We all know this. But yet, no one makes a move.

PLEASE no more seminars for planners about getting rich and buying furs vacations and even a boat...PLEASE stop sharing how social media will be the way to become successful and PLEASE stop having those FAKE REALLY a WASTE of money seminars of how they too can be in magazines? Is that what makes one successful? Really? I use media to share ideas and experiences. Not really my work and what "people" I have worked with. If you really want to know, it's out there.

Is it really that important? Ask yourself is it right to ask those who have just started out to pay hundreds of dollars to hear brags, make more $$ and be famous? You are filling their heads with lies! You know as much as I do the media wants new info, true leaders that change this career and those who share what works. Someone who has never planned won't receive what you claim they will have. Give them something they can call their own, especially if you charge a ton...Forget the crappy swag bags too. They are junk and if they cannot use it or eat it like what we share with clients, they dump it.

We have orgs that are BEYOND fabulous. I am a HUGE ISES fan. In the beauty world they had ISES shows that we worked with 4-6 times a year. ISES has always been good to me and I will continue to say they are the best by far for learning, networking and so many things. Join THEM...and if you cannot afford it, talk to a chapter they will work with you. Sometimes vendors in those particular chapters donate funds so that some can get a break in price. That truly warms my heart.

I admit I have not been active as much as I would like, but am so thankful you hire me to speak. I do not charge a ton based on name or exp, I could, I don't want to.

Now you may ask about other orgs and I cannot honestly say that one particular one is a very good one. Esp. when the president, who I've never met, passed judgment doesn't know me and has never been in the same room as me. This person took the words of one person who has their ear and just believed it. If you knew what was said, if you knew who this was you would be disgusted. You may not believe it. So the paper trail is there when I need it. I have no reason to lie. It hurt, and why did it have to happen?

This person (not saying the XYZ PDQ) has no idea about my background or my abilities and honestly I would describe this "wise one" (Sarcastic for sure. I know you would expect nothing less from me) as a major a cluster fuck.

Yes, I did JUST say the F Bomb...Sorry. I know that many of you have shared these same thoughts and well, what can you do right? You have sent some fabulously funny emails and I thank you for that. And for doing what is right. You are amazing and real.

GUYS...Look into the mirror, whether you have done 1 wedding or 1400, you are who you are and will make this work in the capacity that is meant for YOU.
There are some great educators that can help and no they don't have books with just photos, they don't brag about how many mags they are in and they spend hours in a conference designed just for you w/o robbing you of your first born. BTW, they don't share what celebs they have worked with. That's beyond the scope of cheesy and such a plea for help based on insecurity.

Wouldn't it be great to choose the next president of a trade organization that has absolutely NO CLUE about this biz we are in? One that at least, shares the meaning of the word "Ethics" (not just the word, the MEANING). This is with a straight face instead of like a crinkled tattoo in the "Cracker Jack" box. Yes, they do still have a prize. I love those tattoos...BUT if this person’s face was on one, I might totally eliminate that favorite food for champions.

I do hope that doesn't happen. If it does, maybe I will be left with a less known brand. You know I will make sure that brand does become the next "Cracker Jack Hero". It's what we do when those have great potential. Call it karma. You share, you give and someday when you least expect it, a reward which is not always physical shows itself.

Trust me. This year is not over; We've a great schedule ahead. This means to be a guest speaker, trainer and best form of flattery, to meet more people! My own classes and yes watching my team grow with friends/partners whatever. We have the most amazing clients that have trusted me with more innate design.

How could one not be happy? Guess what? I did not have to change one thing which is proof even a wacky, silly off the wall designer can still make things happen despite those who choose not to partake in that world.

Yes, their loss, I know.

For The Good of Good or For Monentary Gain? Can They Be Linked?

2011-06-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

In the last 6 months I think I have won the trophy for the most "Drama" with regard to non-profits and celebratory events general. Honestly, anytime a nonprofit or profit idea is involved it's not always pretty.
I'm very happy about Dream Team and our decision to keep our clients silent and not shown-off which I respect.

We are truly just a small circle of those who work on special situations that allow for an intimate wedding. I think after a year + and going national with coverage doesn't make sense for us as it's not like our service is in huge demand. I am quite happy that it's not.

Small is good, and is manageable. I started on the east coast with 3 states in 2005 and now we are in 13 states with the ability to assist when we can. BUT again, would rather give quality and not quantity. I don't want people to need this service, I know you are savvy. However, when they do need such a service, they have a variety of orgs that can address just about any issue when speaking about a wedding or special event.

Did you know my goal when moving to the east coast was to join a few non-profits and be the best "stay at home" mom? I did not have this growing up and had always hoped to give what I did not receive. I love what I do and that makes it hard to make a decision, why should I?

This particular blog post is not about any specific organizations; It’s about the “for profit” businesses who want to do great things but have to charge a fee in order to make them happen. There is no such thing as free anymore. And to be honest, free is not always a favorable word. Trust me.

In March of 2011, I was asked to Headline an event. An event that was WAY overdue. I could not be happier knowing that my hometown "Chicago" aka IL was approved for same sex marriages. I have no idea why such a simple ask took this long. Politics and the word "Marriage" is really the obstacle on this one as Chicago itself is quite the conservative market when it comes to events.

The possibility of the magic $$$ being made doing something we love, can technically destroy just about anything, if that is your mind set. That would include the new law that was passed so that we can treat anyone who wants to marry the same way. In my eyes, this law is just words just as I say the license is just a piece of paper. It's how you choose to potray your relationship that matters the most. Love is Love... and you cannot argue on this thought.

How can money and same sex marriages be in the same subject? I'm getting there...It's a hard one to describe.

I was asked by Cheryl Hooten to partake in a “for profit” event for on June 1st 2011. A VERY important date for those in IL as same sex marriages were approved. If you are human, you have good ethics,want to be happy and to be accepted, along with being with the one you love, why does anyone have to wait for that? You are already doing the major items that would call for a really meaningful relationship. One that we can assume will last a long time. This is all good!

It wasn't that long ago where I was chosen to be the celebrity planner for the first same sex marriage shown step by step in New Jersey. Christopher and Keith who are not only hysterical, fun and REAL, but have never forgotten me during each year that passes and holidays even after the show.

I love their special handwritten cards asking how things are. I do not get that from many people. I've saved every card and will always hold a space in my heart for them. Fabulous men and YES still together after all of these years BRAVO to you both!

Cheryl Hooten of Dream Day Weddings in MI corresponded with me the week of March 15th 2011. It was about joining her as a headliner for the weddings at the courthouse/etc...She had such an amazing plan to design a inexpensive celebration for those who wanted a mini party or an intimate one while saying their life long vows in front of guests or alone with their partner.

This was a "for profit" event as with anything that is planned, it takes effort and people should be reimbursed for that. I was offered a fee to cover my time and my travels and yes, to be a part of this idea. A large percentage of my fee was going to be donated to various charities. They need this more than I do and I cannot think of a better way to support many different types of charities. So I donate.

Her business plan made perfect sense. She never had an agenda to make millions, but she did need to charge enough to support the idea at the Bolingbrook CC in Bolingbrook IL. What a fabulous venue by the way!I look forward to the day where I am living in Chicago again. I know that things will be different. I have had a taste of reality in my recent visits. I used to think NYC/NJ was very competitive, I can only imagine what's in store for my return. I do not believe in the word fail and I will ensure that this does work. It can always make the clients experience better.

What I have learned about Cheryl is that she is like an open book. I too share that quality and as you all know, I have been kicked for that quality many times. I have decided not to change that quality as 99% of the time, I do not have issues. I cannot lie that the 1% doesn't sting like a bee, but it's not enough to stop.

She had no hidden agendas and while I love this quality at times, it can be thrown back at anyone, I've been there too. And sadly, she shared her business plan (Honest and on paper) with a website which is the "Portal" of many gay friendly vendors located in FL. I had asked many people about this website and no one could tell me much, they had not heard of them. Not that it matters, but if you were there to witness what I did, between Cheryl and a "Gay Friendly" portal which I will share this week, you will have a questionable response..Just as I did.

This was not about Cheryl.

It was about two individuals that started with a handshake agreement and it turned sour due to money. Money that was never asked for, money that was not in a written contract, money that was an ask only after the other party decided to take that business plan and go after a percentage that was never discussed when this relationship took place.

MONEY MONEY MONEY...This is NOT what is supposed to happen with this fabulous and amazing time for those who have fought to have the same rights.

What happened in between this story...It's disgusting. I am going to share a weeks’ worth of a nightmare with you. I will also be linking Cheryl Hooten and her blog to this blog. We will share information that may be disturbing. I have personally taken a vested interest due to my feelings & anger with what is about to happen. I am being proactive which is part of what makes a successful venture.

Amazing what can happen when you have someone, such as the owner of this portal for "Gay" friendly vendors, who claims that they are in FULL support of same sex marriage. One who boasts about "their" family being 1/2 "gay" which is NOT what you share as you are only labeling your own family.."Gay" is judgment, Gay, is not respectful to those who do not share the same preferences in sexual relationships. It’s a word that should not be used bottom line. If the couple decides to announce it this way, great. It's not our right to judge anyone.

We do not have the right to place such a label esp. with our own family, flesh and blood. It's a word that prevents those from living a "normal" life...LABELING them or anyone is only going to stop this from happening. You may not agree with this, but if you give it some time, you will understand my point.

If one chooses to love one sex both sex what does it matter? It's like me bragging about someone in my family having cancer. Yes, this is just like those who used to whisper the word "Cancer" like it was the plague.

When you support same sex you should include them in our world and not name them as they already have names such as “Paul and Mike” or Susan and Donna”.
They are human not an alien. They like Pizza, fashion, laughing, taking a bath, getting their nails done etc…EVERYTHING that we like to do and more.

How sad it is that couples feel they have to warn the businesses etc that they are "Gay" How sad is it when those same people have to label themselves in fear to save the embarrassment they might have if someone denies them in public.

If you take a step back, it’s very similar to the issue between being segregated with many backgrounds, colors and cultures. While in some states slavery has not ended, why we need to segregate again. Why do you think America is called land of the free?

You can choose not to work with anyone outside what "one" thinks is normal/acceptable. I cannot judge a decision or belief. It is you, whom will have to live or work with this opinion. We all have the right to express this at anytime.

“Normal” is the opposite label for Americans as we are far from normal...FAR. Our industry alone is hard enough and to add this into the equation. So why do it?

There is a lot more to this story, and the only individuals that know of this are Cheryl and the 2 individuals who made threats along with destroying the concept.

The goals of the other participants were clearly made to make this event so awful for her that she pulled out completely.
She was given an option that if she would pay 5% of the (Possible earnings) of each click or referral from their site, they could continue this agreement.

This was not noted on paper or contract, written or even thought of prior to Cheryl showing the business plan with estimates of the profits.
There is more…

The “Estimates” meaning if it were to be a success due to the reality that most business plans don’t work 100%. Cheryl will share this with you. It was an honest, well thought out business plan. Her mistake was showing this to the “couple” who then realized, “hey” I want in on this profit...OR… You will see their response as they will be quoted and this is the only one of many emails that are true and authentic.

Not one bit hearsay and 100% fact.

I was included with this issue about profit, being threatened from the portal that their referrals such as the “Bolingbrook CC” and a judge who would issue waivers would be taken away from Cheryl as they gave them to her. She contacted me as she was beyond upset and did not know what to do.

When the referrals were given, again, no ask of 5% or any fees other than for Cheryl’s officiant company to be listed and that the “portal” would advertise her event at n/c. Once you see the emails, this will become fact.

On March 15th I attempted to write a letter in hopes of buffering this issue and to have some resolution between this couple and Cheryl.
I was shown all emails which became more intense as Cheryl did not respond promptly.. endless emails after mine, at least 20, mentioning how I have no idea what is going on, “I should shorten my emails too much to read” or “ I used to blame you, but now I know you have no idea what you are talking about”. I read my email 4 times trying to figure where I might be threatening.

I explained I did not want this to be public as I have been representing some major companies. I also explained that I have shared such great things with the press and what they were offering Cheryl. My fear that if they did not work out somehow, this would become public as they/media will ask why she/I chose to not work with them. Why wouldn’t they ask especially since my comments of them supporting her on their large site for “Gay Friendly” vendors and not being recognized on paper etc”.

This letter amongst every other will be shown this week beginning on 6-13 along with several others that were not directed at me as I blocked them from harassing me. I wanted to be done. I do not regret this battle. I still support the idea of having an event that could/would allow for any couple to partake including same sex marriage.

There is much more, and I will share more tomorrow in hopes to answer your questions, which most likely would be the “How's and Why”?

And while the “portal” mentions that I have threatened them. There is nothing that was threatening about this letter. I will share this as well. To ensure that what I said was proper w/o threats and nothing that would destroy the integrity of my own brand which I do need to protect I shared this with many.

I asked advice from an attorney who happens be a friend, what is the best way to solve this? The advice was to think of a variety of options (3) to make this event happen between Cheryl and the ones who designed this portal. I would hoped that this would have been a chance to let steam die down, and proceed with the plan as Cheryl Hooten has described on her own blog.

Her website is www.dreamgayweddings.com

I personally am saddened, as I would have loved to marry couples and celebrate with them. Its history and to be a part of that is more than an honor.

Why, is this happening? ALL over money..You will not like what you see..BUT it must be shared the right way. There is NOTHING but fact.Again the ONLY person who really knows what occurred in March was Cheryl. She will share what she needs to in order to put this behind and start a new event which will most likely be better than her first original plan. I will ensure this will be done the right way and will help her acheive this idea w/o any threats from anyone.

More tomorrow and thank you for your support in allowing this story to be shared on your blogs and anywhere else you might see as a fit.

Are We Too Convenient For The Copy Cat Planner?

2011-04-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year! The wonderful brides we started with over 300 days ago are ready to make that dash down the aisle. Girls' don't forget the groom on your way back!

Some call planning the test of how you and your significant communicate. I would tend to agree with this 99% of the time. They say to "choose your battles". Ladies, this does hold some truth. Trust me on this one.

I love when our clients allow for whimsical/extravagent design and personality! To show the creativity they have invested in to their guests is beyind the best feeling ever! You have no idea how wonderful this feels for me personally and those who have been your partner in crime. Sometimes we may plan 2 years in advance. There is so much that can happen during this time and the details are amazing. Sometimes, this can be too long and can make anyone a bit crazy waiting to execute the plans that we have put together during this time.

BUT...It does work out every time!

We know that every couple wants a wedding that is reflective of their relationship. "A true one of a kind". Those who know of me understand my goal in keeping this promise, I do take this very seriously. Some things may not be 100% possible and may seem like the icebreaker for the "wow" factor.

The decor, dress, rings, shoes, floral, music, venue, limo, makeup, rented tuxes and etc dosen't make or break the marriage. These items don't determine who you are. They are what one envisions for an important occasion. And is not a good enough reason to place such pressure on yourself. Decor is not a need, but your happiness with friends and family there with you is.

There are only 2 proven items that are considered "Perfect" One is chocolate and the other is when you steal someones heart.

Speaking of the desire to be different, I too would like to be noted for the unique vision and incredible passion I hope to share with our peers about our past clients. I'm not looking to share this information unless you truly care about your clients.

Some of what I have shared and then "witnessed", doesn't show this off in the best light. Why you ask? I see those who are just luring them in based on lies (pr maybe what you hope to have). The client today is going to figure out your experiemce level once you open your mouth. There is never an exception to this rule.

Your not going to be giving the client the same service. Trust me, they can see right through you.

We live in a world where most things pertaining to "being the best" at the job or the sport etc, are the main focus, They are thought to be a priority with anything one might encounter. I would be lying if I said I wasn't irritated by this.

I've spent many years trying to grow my business and focus on items that deem to be more important than the issues that happen on a regular basis. Items such as SABOTAGE and PLAGIARISM. Don't mind the caps with the words, I'm expressive what can I say?

These are words that happen everyday and leave one thinking that if they're going to succeed in this industry, they're going to have this in life whether they like it or not. I don't like it. I don't/won't accept it & I do believe this can be fixed.

Your probably wondering what is "she" going to say this week, right? What type of drama will she share? Well the good news is I'm not going to share anything negative. This is truly to share an experience.

There are those who can sway a client away from those who may charge more for services. The "Swayers" may make themselves appear as successful, but we the "seasoned professionals", can smell you a mile away. It's like a letter I read in Feb 2011 about an employee of mine, taking a client and charging her way more than she deserves and stating, if they decide to use you, they can save a whopping 10%. Wow..Yep. This happened to me this year.

You know that saying that some people can sell a dog crap? Or even better, They have a great investment in the swamp-lands of FL to sell you? You don't need to worry about me brides and grooms, you need to worry about those listed in the swamp.

Funny mention...

There is now a site called, www.poopsenders.com. Yes, they will send shit to anyone who has been a shit for the amazing investment of $19.95 and $9.99 shipping and handling. I should have bought stock in this one. I have dealt with some "shit" earlier this year.

This is part of the crap...I had to "eat" in order to get stronger...

COPY CAT "TOP 2" in 2011!!!!

Simply Glamorous Events"
This is a event planning company which is owned by Nellie Rodriguez Link is www.simplyglamorousevents.com. Nellie took my planning course last year June 2010. She failed every quiz and made some rather "stupid" decisions when I was kind enough to invite her to a book release party to make some extra money serving items to guests. The pay was quite generous and we were happy to have her join us.

She mentioned she needed to make extra money on a few occassions and well, I wanted to help. This was a last minute ask and was happy it worked out. Well, not really. It really didn't work out. Why? Well Nellie had to meet someone at her home due to some flooding issues. She did not share this with us. She had her sister take her place. Wow, I have never been more embarrassed and just upset about her decision to NOT share this last minute change. Why on earth would one do a "switcharoo" with a family member who has NEVER trained with me? I did not sign off on this and for one to assume I would be OK? This "action" definitely assured me that she never listened to what I said in class and why she felt the "Ala Carte' area was a package.That was commical! Beware of Glamourous Events in NJ folks...

Nellie thought I should be grateful that she found someone to take her place. Well, I see things a bit differently. Her sister was late, upset my agent due to her inability to handle a simple task of passing appetizers. That was a poor reflection of me. She also knew that my agent would NOT be reimbursing this help for a week. I was kind enough to ask her sister that she was not going to be paid for a week. I offered to pay for the sister I have never met. She did not even have $40 for the parking. That was additional and was reimbursed.

I should have known better than to expect that a student of Nellies capacity would be professional especially when she failed every test we had during the duration of the course. Yes,like I said above, she thought a-la carte was a package. She failed every test and with items that were truly just common sense.

I would say based on her "borrowing" of the exact wording of my packages and dishonest information about being in business for 10 years. I want to share that there are some items that are incorrect on purpose on the packages that were "borrowed". I think I will let Neliie the 10 year planner "vet" figure them out. However, I am not sure if she even knows what these items mean. Whatever.

I would just say beware on this one. She has little to NO experience and Those who lie about such things along with plagiarizing my programs, will lie about other things too. I would say thumbs down with Nellie Rodriguez. She doesn't have 10 years experience and she was not certified by me. Sorry.

Let's be clear, packages are not the "portal" of my or ones success. Twenty years would be the correct way to assume my experience level is at least 100% better and stronger than Nellies. Just Sayin'?

2. Belle Fete' Weddings. Jayme Knast Engelhardt. Jersey Shore Area

This particular situation, is most saddening for me. You hire those who seem to be genuinely honest and want everyone to succeed. You hope that when you allow someone to have a career with something that have been dreaming of that when they leave, they stay honest and leave with compassion/respect not burning bridges. I don't know where to begin. I will say, Jayme, doesn't have over 10 years in the event planning industry either. What is with the gals that take my course and lie about 10 years? It's easy to say this as she worked with me, and only me. So I know this to be true.

She also took my course and shortly after, I gave her what she wanted. Her very first wedding was on June 19th 2010. She did not prepare for this wedding as she was going through her own planning. I told her to relax, not worry about things. Any good boss or lead planner would only share the same respect and space as to her own clients , right?

I apologise to the many people who offered to work for experience at this particular wedding. They truly wanted to learn about this business.I would usually ask most to take the class as I have little time for a strong bit of training on a reg basis.

On the day of the largest/most detailed wedding we had last year, I made sure my entire staff base was trained VERY well. I think all 10 of my planners agree, they were prepared and reimbursed for an event that they did very little for. In fact, Mrs Knast mentioned to a few of our planners that she did not understand why she was there, there was nothing to do. I have never met someone who would ask that? Especially while this was a experience that most would give anything to observe and learn.

I think for me, having nothing major to do on the day of, is a good sign and showed I was prepared for a long time. I would guess if I were that bored, why didn't they leave? Why did you stay unless you saw the $$$ in the mirror. She obviously felt OK about excepting such a large sum for doing nothing as she stated. It must be me as I would never do that.

Life went on...We worked with many more clients and well...I thought we were OK? So I thought.

This email below, really disappointed me & was beyond words. Not only was my very own employee telling clients to send monies directly to her instead of me, but she also took the leads I had given to her and sold them as her own. I have attached the letter so for those who haven't really understood the issue, can see what I reviewed. How does one express such hurt? You don't. You vent to your friends and I think to share via blog...

Jane,(Client name listed below was hidden) I have to be honest, this was the only time I have ever had to deal with someone who stole from me and my company. And it's not just financial, it's leads, contracts and verbiage taken from my own clients that trusted her.

Dear Jane,

I was thinking after we got off the phone........since you are utilizing mine and (another planner of mine) services for 90% of your wedding, wouldn't it make sense to go directly through our other company? We do work separately from Samantha's company from time to time, especially if we are doing most of the work on an account and we feel that we can save the client some extra $$$$.

As far as the design, we have the same capabilities and resources as Samantha and would be able to fully design your wedding, everything we spoke about would remain the same, but we can do it for 10% less, so that would mean that option #2 would be $3,000 instead of $3350. We are able to charge a bit less because we use our own overhead and supplies from our homes, and not Samantha's office.

However, as far as the reveal for the design goes, we can still utilize the space in Summit so you can see what you would be getting. Other meetings we can use my office in Point Pleasant since that is closer for you :)(This is not Jayme's office, this is where she works part-time FYI).

It's a DJ/Entertainment company. A very nice person owns this company and sadly, due to this, we are no longer friendly). It's actually a bit odd when we speak now. It's hard to find "real" friends/business contacts in the event world. I have a wonderful following and despite my thoughts, such as this one, they still respect what I have accomplished.

Wait there is more to the letter:

Again, nothing that we spoke about would change, except for the fact that (Blank) and I would also be handling your design ideas, as opposed to Samantha, AND you will be paying less $$$$. If this is of any interest to you, please let me know! The decision is all yours, but just trying to save ya some moolah :)
(Moolah? I want you to understand, this is not the way we talk in the event industry. This is how a truck driver/used car salesperson might work, not my employees.
Have a great night and I hope you feel better soon!!!

Jayme

Other emails from Mrs Knast to various leads and to my own clients were also quite disturbing. Trust is a VERY important thing in our industry. If you don't stay true to who you are and you feel "entitled" You should allow your client to go elsewhere. They use our service to be stress free. I'm here to assure you, they will have nothing less than stress free.

I have to ask, do you know what it feels like to have an employee take your new client contract and eliminate your logo, info and replace with theirs? I cannot describe the hurt and "unsettled" feelings. There are just no words for this. Do you know what it feels like to read emails to clients about being "less"?

The problem with having your own company and being passionate about all that you do is that you think with your heart and you expect that everyone else will follow. I have worked very hard to get to where I am in life and with my career. It's much too important to allow for this to happen again. I finally have the team I need. The ones who don't care about the income first. They think of the client. Isn't that how it should be?

I did make this easy for Jayme. I trusted, I did not stay at the office everyday. I did allow for her to take a lot. Some might say if I was there more often, maybe I could have prevented this. I do not have regrets, my time in the field, and reconnecting with life was the best decision I made.

If it wasn't for a "fluke" situation, I may not have discovered this. I cannot thank our vendors, employees and even our clients who approached me and shared this information. Why would someone try to sabotage a successful teacher? That is what I was. I can only assume it plays along with the I am "entitled" attitude she portrays. In some ways I can say, I did a great job with what she learned. I thought I was teaching morals, my teachings were used to be deceitful who would ever use a client who entrusts you with such a special day? Jayme would.

I would ask if you have been told to mail a check to Mrs Knast and/or paid her in cash, check made to cash and or Pay Pal, please contact Samantha Goldberg immediately. Jayme Knast does not have an office in Point Pleasant (Her living quarters,yes). She is a employee for a entertainment company as well as a planner on the side. The entertainment company covers DJ/MC and various enhancement products. She is no longer with Samantha Goldberg and Co/Gold Events LLC as of Feb 8th 2011.

Jayme's experience level is novice (Beginner) with no formal design training. She worked with less than 10 weddings during her employment with SG&Co. Jayme has not been in the event and catering industry for ten years. That is incorrect information. She worked as a restaurant manager prior to accepting employment and planned her own wedding.

We do have documentation that she is currently using my companys contractual agreements and programs. This written agreement does not belong to Mrs Knast and is the sole property of Samantha Goldberg and Co.

I do not want to cause havoc, I want to show the truth. I do not mind that she is now friendly with the 2 vendors that we no longer work with. I can only hope that they never have the same issue. Again, they may right this very moment. I will say any pretty face can hide this and I thought I was good with scams. I guess I was not good enough.

This posting was not used to be vindictive. My sole purpose is to allieviate some of the after effects that this has left me with. I do have a heart and she broke it. I will do whatever I can to prevent anything of this nature to happen to those I do business with in the future.

With regards to the "friends" I thought I had lost, well I guess they were never my friends. That is also a hard lesson to learn. I did bring certain companies to another level. I know they have not forgotten this and will not lose sight of our workings. They can't, it was a good thing.

It really was. I now have new teams and new goals...They are much stronger than I imagined. Who would have thought it could get better? Not me.

GRANTS ARE IN WE NEED 3 MORE STUDENTS and YOU WILL ALL RECEIVE A GRANT OF $200 of The Regular class fee?? WE NEED FRESH PLANNERS IN THE BUSINESS!

2011-03-26T03:12:00.000-07:00
OK Aspiring Planners I'm SETTING A CLASS!!! First I would like to thank all of you that have been super patient! In 2010 CAES can proudly say we had 70% of our students whether new or seasoned, that found their niche and have some amazing stories! Thanks for sharing everyone and I will share them with you on our new site!! This is a great time for me to meet new people and learn of new ways to help some break into the world of events or to help those who have been at the detour sign waiting for someone to guide them in the right direction. I have hired planners from this course and others have their own business and work with us at times. We want to stay connected to you. This is our own network system! And mentally, I think we need to stay close and not live in fear of someone duplicating our "ideas".Who cares if they do.I am sharing my pearls, Why? I have nothing to lose and nor do you!! Fact, everyone is different. We don't have something to give via "tangible means", We do have our personalities and expertise that shines..So make that word go away!! When people speak of networking, this is where it starts. One day with Samantha Goldberg and other peers is not the class. It's after you have completed "lab time" meaning you are going to come into the office to observe interviews with clients, you will participate with the interview by asking questions to a REAL bride and you will leave, knowing if this is a good fit. Want to know why you cannot close certain brides? What's better than having a day where brides come to you, and tell you anonymously why they chose not to go with you.Yup that is a hard reality.But it's such valuable insight. You do want to grow right? Yes, negative feedback hurts.I have been there and I know better than most how it stings.But, I am still here. Why? because my way of doing things is appealing and to be good at planning, yes you need that quality. I change our classes each time, not so much with content, but the way the context is discussed. Thanks to all of you, this program continues to sell out each month, word has spread to many states where I am able to travel, learn and meet some of the most extraordinary people. You teach me valuable information too. While the east coast has many fabulous vendors and venues available to us, it's nice to check out the scenery in another state. I always come back with good and positive feedback and always some form of drama due to myself not playing by the rules. This whole" rule" thing, I think they were made to be broken. I believe our industry constantly needs to be broken so that we can fix what we missed, revamp and rev-up! I'm happy to announce CAES is starting yet another class in April 2011. Date is April 30th. While I have loved teaching the 7 week course, with my traveling schedule and clients, I cannot do this right now. I will make you a promise that I will do my best to have at least one of these in 2011. Various reasons why I cannot teach the weekly and all good news!! This course is special. It's special because you are all going to have 100% hands on from the minute you walk in until the moment you leave. Can I share a bit about what this looks like? On April 30th at 10:30am you will arrive in Summit NJ. I will have an amazing breakfast spread with lots of goodies to hold you until lunch. The morning portion is really learning about you, how you might fit into the industry and how will it work for YOU. We have to start somewhere and since you have decided to invest in yourself, that needs to be our first area of focus. How do you want to be a part of the industry and what does that look like? Many cannot answer that question right away. That's actually a good thing as I don't want you to leave other ideas and opportunities behind once you leave us. I also would really be disappointed if I wasn't able to show you what areas you might want to consider. What I have learned about event coordination/orchestration and design is that they are all very important roles in the event world as a whole. It's impossible to play the role of all 3 at one event. While a planner must be good at multi tasking, this means that with-in the category you've chosen and being able to bring in each element that makes you exceed expectations on your own and with others. It's not impossible and yes, there are many planners/designers that can do both to an extent, but not until they have truly mastered each portion and walk away confident that they did give 100%. A bride and groom have just one day to make it count. If they invest in you, you too have just one day to meet the expectations of what really counts.How might you know this unless you know who you are and who they are. What you can do is seek assistance with areas that may not be mastered yet. The biggest problem with our industry is that people fall in-love with the "gig" the wealth and without thinking about how this might affect you getting another job via referral from the client or any of the vendors you are working with. I will show you in person what that means.I am going to allow you to meet a potential client who will tell you exactly what she needs, and let's see how many of you can figure that out with a suitable program. Many of the classes online are not good for this particular career due to lack of being live with peers, interacting with others that share the same goals and seeing what you might be doing that could destroy your desire to be successful. You can learn the mumbo jumbo of sales..But what are you really selling? You are selling yourself. When we speak of investment there are 2 meanings to the word "Investment". The first meaning is usually a collaboration of what you bring to the table and the time it takes to improve what you know. Or to change the mindset altogether and start fresh. When you invest in yourself, it shines through. It shows that you have enough passion to learn new things and are always going to change so that each client can benefit a wonderful experience with your keen knowledge and expertise. They usually don't have a clue with what this entails. it's not as simple as finding vendors, the right location, making sure a budget is being considered and etc. It starts with you. While you may know much about the industry, there are reasons why you don't close every client or any client, or that your buddy who attended the same class and took off like a rocket. And how we can show that you are still working your way through. I will give you one piece of advice, this will happen. It happens at least 70% of each class. When I review stats, if our average class consists of 10-12 students (Yeah have space for 25 if need me in Jersey City!!), 30% of the class will do the work and may have to change a few things along the way. They will succeed in whatever area they decide to focus on. Remember that the biggest problem for those who are seasoned professionals in ANY career, must look into different ways in order to constantly keep with the "now". If that 20% is resistant to this, they will never grow anymore than what they are. However, if they seek to change or make a mark in the industry, the change of mindset starts with them. their teacher. I always hope that people walk away and feel refreshed and motivated to develop a plan. I know that some are looking for the "golden ticket" or "pot o gold" waiting for them. I have some reality to share, it doesn't come via UPS. You must be the one to reach out for more support and develop a plan to ensure you are able to meet that task. However long it takes you dedicate the time and patience to ensure it's done right, your willing to put in the effort no less than 100%. To summarize, you take the new tools, you look at what you had, and make the decision of whether your goals are realistic. You don't want to rush. I will share why, during the class. We start with theory and how one might reach each goal. We start with your business plan. This is somewhat like the plan we will have for our brides. It's nice to control ones event, but can you control yourself enough to make the plan you have set for the client and yourself? Most successful planners/designers have one thing in common. We did not aspire to be in this career. We had skills that would show early on, but would never go any further than that. They will also take the all or nothing approach. That may show dedication, but without a plan, we have all fallen on our face, and will continue as we never stop learning. Even when it's bad. Let's just say "Bad" isn't as terrible it sounds...It's the only way you learn. Like I tell every bride, I do not believe in perfection. That statement is real as nothing is ever 100% perfect on ones wedding day. Our job is to take control, be quick on their feet and stay honest with when you need help. While I show you how to budget, the real timeline of a wedding, the "how to" and the 4 F's in sales, I show you ways to incorporate YOU into this career choice. Experience is a question that will be asked by many brides. BUT a connection is just as important. I will show you how to connect. They are investing in you bottom line. Shoppers ( Brides who would care less about what you can bring to the table and just want price, are just not savvy of what we are about). It doesn't matter how much of a budget a bride has, if you don't connect with them or visa/verse how will that experience be that day? Or how about the 1+ years of planning with someone you don't connect with. Venues...How do they do it and how can you begin to understand how they work. There are MANY venues that do not believe that a client needs a planner. I have actually been in a appt and have the sales manager state, "You really don't need a planner". That is insulting. What they don't tell our clients are ways to save, how to work with a calendar, talk about all aspects of the event and etc..Who will be there every week etc to guide them through what's affordable and what's not. Or at least offer an option that is similar. I don't mean with food. I actually enjoy hearing them ask that. I say each time" So basically you are going to take over stuffing envelopes, calling vendors and arranging payment schedules,negotiations to ensure your client stays with-in the number given. reminding them when it's time to book rooms, what to do with guests if you have a long period of time between the ceremony and reception, transportation for everyone/anyone who needs it..Are you really going to help with this? NO COMMENT! Silence is GOLDEN with this one..So what if you get the evil eye.Hey if I can take that, you certainly can. We also talk about how to match the right person/vendor to a client. One that has work she loves and also can "mirror" her so that your team allows for a trusting and fun relationship with your birdie/groom. MANY cannot do this. You will. What is the worst that could happen if the bride doesn't like the person such as a photographer..UM bad photos as he's a jerk and makes her upset. I've been with the bride when she finally says ENOUGH.I want to go in to cocktail hour and see my friends/family etc.They annoy her/him with requests that should have been answered early on. WE HAVE VALUE even-though we are not tangible. You cannot put a price tag on time. The value of a stress free beginning which allows the client to focus on being engaged and not just focusing on the wedding. On the day you come in, we will see a venue in action..What happens when you walk in, what do you first once you arrive, how does the procession work/recession during the ceremony, what takes place during the event, how to give some room for last minute changes etc. You will also hear first hand, what venues dislike about planners. You need to know this. If you have a good relationship with the venue, they will recommend you. We are not caterers, so it's not our job to tell someone how to do theirs. BUT some do. So let's not go there OK? You will also watch an interview with a potential bride, let's see if you can tell what she is looking for. You will have a chance to ask her/him anything you want. THIS PORTION IS IMPORTANT. When 5:30pm hits. You are not done. For the next 1-2 months you will have floor time. You must sign up for days before you leave the class!!! This means you will come into our office in Summit and do research, be in client meetings, see reveals, how I design, even chat with our clients about specific things they need. I promise you, there are not planners who will allow you to do this. EVEN if you offer your services at N/C. I cannot answer why people will not allow you to do this, but I can tell you, it has much to do with them, NOT you. In the 1-2 months you will have up to 14 days working inside one of our facilities. This is not paid, this is part of your certification. If you cannot come during the week, you may have to be patient and wait for evening appts. We do not have labs on weekends. You will also attend 2-3 weddings. Participation is a must. Each student will have the opportunity of working with myself and team. The last portion of this particular class is your own client we will choose this for you. Each student will be given an assistant who knows less than you. Your bride will need to fill out a survey based on items you were taught and how you implemented the tasks. This will also require an 80% to pass. It's not important that they like you, it's important that you do what is required. While I wish I could say everyone passes, some do not. That means nothing and everything. We have to try again. We will NOT give up on you as long as you do not give up on us. We do have a waiting list for this particular course. I'll believe the rush to fill when I see a name with proper paperwork done. As of today, we have 5 openings. The date is April 30th 2011 Location: 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 Classroom #4 (last office) Time 11:00am to 5:30-6pm Breakfast, beverages, Lunch, snacks will be covered Fee: The fee is $950 SPECIAL GRANT FROM ALLIANCE $@)) OF PRICE SHOWN..Not applicable unless you can share certain forms (Audit) per student in school (For a college student you may take $100 off the price listed with a valid ID). We are lucky enough have limited amounts of financial aid which has been donated by various vendors. We do offer our planner special which includes our online system "Project I Do" (this is a $600 value , you will invest $50. We also have out completely filled "BRIDAL EMERGENCY KIT" which gives you everything you need and labeled for $150 instead of $250. The total package for the working planner is $1250. You can wait to pay for the kit and Program I Do..We will guarantee the price for 6 months from the date you complete the classroom portion. This pass also allows you to take any other CAES program at N/C with the exception of the floral/design class which is a 2-3 hour class includes pizza and beverages and is a ton of fun! Prizes will be given for the best centerpiece...The prize might be $100 in cash..$200 in cash..a DVD player for your clients to see your work, a bridal emergency kit on wheels...It's whatever ticket you choose!We have 4 people that will qualify for various categories.. We do take PayPal..Visa MC and Discover along with money orders, bank checks and personal checks (Please note, personal checks must be given at least 2 weeks before the class. The only payment we need as a retainer for your space is $100. This is not refundable and can be used as credit for the next class. Please checkout our website for the education link www.samanthagoldberg.com Email or call us at 908.219.4028 for schedule and questionnaire. We do not accept every applicant. If we feel this particular class doesn't work with your experience/background. Our education coordinators can be reached at info@samanthagoldberg.com or you may call 908.219.4028 I cannot wait to meet those who have signed up and look forward to sharing my tools and how to use them in a way where you too can be successful! OOO I forget to mention you may hold your place with a retainer which is #100 down. Discounts for cash payments. So are you ready to hit the streets with me?? Are you ready for that one wedding you know you can do but cannot get that foot in the door? Let's get started shall we??? Sam xxoxoox

Education Calendar For The Aspiring Planner!

2010-12-28T20:44:00.000-08:00
FINALLY SHE'S SETTING A CLASS!!! First I would like to thank all of you that have taken CAES 100 this year! We had 8 classes for 2010 and each one was amazing. This is a great time for me to meet new people and learn of new ways to help some break into the world of events or to help those who have been at the detour sign waiting for someone to guide them in the right direction. I have hired 4 of my planners from this course and others have their own business and work with us at times. We want to stay connected to you. This is our own network system! When people speak of networking, this is where it starts. You will have a "Planner Buddy". One day with Samantha Goldberg is not the class. It's after you have completed "lab time" meaning you are going to come into the office again to observe interviews with clients, you will participate with the interview by asking questions to a REAL bride and you will leave, knowing if this is a good fit. I change our classes each time, not so much with content, but the way the context is discussed. Thanks to all of you, this program continues to sell out each month, word has spread to many states where I am able to travel, learn and meet some of the most extraordinary people. While the east coast has many fabulous vendors and venues available to us, it's nice to check out the scenery in another state. I always come back with good and positive feedback and always some form of drama due to myself not playing by the rules. This whole" rule" thing, I think they were made to be broken. I believe our industry constantly needs to be broken so that we can fix what we missed, revamp and rev-up! I'm happy to announce CAES is starting yet another class in January 2011. Date is January 29th and the snow date would be the following Sat February 5th. While I have loved teaching the 7 week course, with my traveling schedule and clients, I cannot do this right now. I will make you a promise that I will do my best to have at least one of these in 2011. This course is special...It's special because you are all going to have 100% hands on from the minute you walk in until the moment you leave. Let's share a bit about what this looks like. On January 29th at 10:00am you will arrive in Summit NJ. I will have an amazing breakfast spread with lots of goodies to hold you until lunch. The morning portion is really learning about you, how you might fit into the industry and how will it work for YOU. We have to start somewhere and since you have decided to invest in yourself, that needs to be our first area of focus. How do you want to be a part of the industry and what does that look like? Many cannot answer that question right away. That's actually a good thing as I don't want you to leave other ideas and opportunities behind once you leave us. I also would really be disappointed if I wasn't able to show you what areas you might want to consider. What I have learned about event coordination/orchestration and design is that they are all very important roles in the event world as a whole. It's impossible to play the role of all 3 at one event. While a planner must be good at multi tasking, this means that with-in the category you've chosen and being able to bring in each element that makes you exceed expectations on your own and with others. It's not impossible and yes, there are many planners/designers that can do both to an extent, but not until they have truly mastered each portion and walk away confident that they did give 100%. A bride and groom have just one day to make it count. If they invest in you, you too have just one day to meet the expectations of what really counts...How might you know this unless you know who you are and who they are. What you can do is seek assistance with areas that may not be mastered yet. The biggest problem with our industry is that people fall in-love with the "gig" the wealth and without thinking about how this might affect you getting another job via referral from the client or any of the vendors you are working with. I will show you in person what that means...I am going to alloq you to meet a potential client who will tell you exactly what she needs, and let's see how many of you can figure that out with a suitable program. Many of the classes online are not good for this particular career due to lack of being live with peers, interacting with others that share the same goals and seeing what you might be doing that could destroy your desire to be successful. You can learn the mumbo jumbo of sales..But what are you really selling? You are selling yourself. When we speak of investment there are 2 meanings to the word "Investment". The first meaning is usually a collaboration of what you bring to the table and the time it takes to improve what you know. Or to change the mindset altogether and start fresh. When you invest in yourself, it shines through. It shows that you have enough passion to learn new things and are always going to change so that each client can benefit a wonderful experience with your keen knowledge and expertise. They usually don't have a clue with what this entails. it's not as simple as finding vendors, the right location, making sure a budget is being considered and etc. It starts with you. While you may know much about the industry, there are reasons why you don't close every client, or that your buddy who attended the same class and took off like a rocket. And how we can show, you are still working your way through. I will give you one piece of advice, this will happen. It happens to at least 70% of each class. When I review stats, if our average class consists of 10-12 students, 20% of the class will do the work and may have to change a few things along the way. They will succeed in whatever area they decide to focus on. Remember that the biggest problem for those who are seasoned professionals in ANY career, must look into different ways in order to constantly keep with the "now". If that 20% is resistant to this, they will never grow anymore than what they are. However, if they seek to change or make a mark in the industry, the change of mindset starts with them.Your their teacher. I always hope that people walk away and feel refreshed and motivated to develop a plan. I know that some are looking for the "golden ticket" or "pot o gold" waiting for them. I have some reality to share, it doesn't come via UPS. You must be the one to reach out for more support and develop a plan to ensure you are able to meet that task. However long it takes you dedicate the time and patience to ensure it's done right, your willing to put in the effort no less than 100%. To summarize, you take the new tools, you look at what you had, and make the decision of whether your goals are realistic. You don't want to rush. I will share why, during the class. We start with theory and how one might reach each goal. We start with your business plan. This is somewhat like the plan we will have for our brides. It's nice to control ones event, but can you control yourself enough to make the plan you have set for the client and yourself? Most successful planners/designers have one thing in common. We did not aspire to be in this career. We had skills that would show early on, but would never go any further than that. They will also take the all or nothing approach. That may show dedication, but without a plan, we have all fallen on our face, and will continue as we never stop learning. Even when it's bad. Let's just say "Bad" isn't as terrible it sounds...It's the only way you learn. Like I tell every bride, I do not believe in perfection. That statement is real as nothing is ever 100% perfect on ones wedding day. Our job is to take control, be quick on their feet and stay honest with when you need help. While I show you how to budget, the real timeline of a wedding, the how to's and the 4 F's in sales, I show you ways to incorporate YOU into this career choice. Experience is a question that will be asked by many brides. BUT a connection is just as important. I will show you how to connect. They are investing in you bottom line. Shoppers ( Brides who would care less about what you can bring to the table and just want price, are just not savvy of what we are about). It doesn't matter how much of a budget a bride has, if you don't connect with them or visa/verse how will that experience be that day? Or how about the 1+ years of planning with someone you don't connect with. Venues...How do they do it and how can you begin to understand how they work. There are MANY venues that do not believe that a client needs a planner. I have actually been in a appt and have the sales manager state, "You really don't need a planner". That is insulting. What they don't tell our clients are ways to save, how to work with a calendar, talk about all aspects of the event and etc..Who will be there every week etc to guide them through what's affordable and what's not. Or at least offer an option that is similar. I don't mean with food. I actually enjoy hearing them ask that. I say each time" So basically you are going to take over stuffing envelopes, calling vendors and arranging payment schedules,negotiations to ensure your client stays with-in the number given. reminding them when it's time to book rooms, what to do with guests if you have a long period of time between the ceremony and reception, transportation for everyone/anyone who needs it..Are you really going to help with this? NO COMMENT! Silence is GOLDEN with this one..So what if you get the evil eye.Hey if I can take that, you certainly can. We also talk about how to match the right person/vendor to a client. One that has work she loves and also can "mirror" her so that your team allows for a trusting and fun relationship with your birde/groom. MANY cannot do this. You will. What is the worst that could happen if the bride doesn't like the person such as a photographer..UM bad photos as he's a jerk and makes her upset. I've been with the bride when she finally says ENOUGH.I want to go in to cocktail hour and see my friends/family etc.They annoy her/him with requests that should have been answered early on. WE HAVE VALUE even-though we are not tangible. You cannot put a price tag on time. The value of a stress free beginning which allows the client to focus on being engaged and not just focusing on the wedding. On the day you come in, we will see a venue in action..What happens when you walk in, what do you first once you arrive, how does the procession work/recession during the ceremony, what takes place during the event, how to give some room for last minute changes etc. You will also hear first hand, what venues dislike about planners. You need to know this. If you have a good relationship with the venue, they will recommend you. We are not caterers, so it's not our job to tell someone how to do theirs. BUT some do. So let's not go there OK? You will also watch an interview with a potential bride, let's see if you can tell what she is looking for. You will have a chance to ask her/him anything you want. THIS PORTION IS IMPORTANT. When 5:30pm hits. You are not done. For the next 1-2 months you will have floor time. This means you will come into our office in Tribeca or Summit and do research, be in client meetings, see reveals, how I design, even chat with our clients about specific things they need. I promise you, there are not planners who will allow you to do this. EVEN if you offer your services at N/C. I cannot answer why people will not allow you to do this, but I can tell you, it has much to do with them, NOT you. In the 1-2 months you will have up to 14 days working inside one of our facilities. This is not paid, this is part of your certification. If you cannot come during the week, you may have to be patient and wait for evening appts. We do not have labs on weekends. You will also attend 2-3 weddings. Participation is a must. Each student will have the opportunity of working with myself and team. When we have completed this program you will have a written exam that will need a score of 80% of higher to pass. The last portion of this particular class is your own client we will choose this for you. Each student will be given an assistant who knows less than you. Your bride will need to fill out a survey based on items you were taught and how you implemented the tasks. This will also require an 80% to pass. It's not imporatnt that they like you, it's important that you do what is required. While I wish I could say everyone passes, some do not. That means nothing and everything. We have to try again. We will NOT give up on you as long as you do not give up on us. We do have a waiting list for this particular course. I'll believe the rush to fill when I see a name with proper paperwork done. As of today, we have 5 openings. The date is January 29th 2011 Location: 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 Classroom #4 (last office) Time 10:00am to 5:30pm Breakfast, beverages, Lunch, snacks will be covered Fee: The fee is $1200 per student in school. We do have limited amounts of financial aid which has been donated by various vendors. For a college student the fee is $1000. Thia allowa for a $200 SAVINGS. Planner who is working full-time the fee is $1200. We do offer our planner special which includes our online system "Project I Do" (this is a $600 value , you will invest $50. We also have out completely filled "BRIDAL EMERGENCY KIT" which gives you everything you need and labeled for $150 instead of $250. The total package for the working planner is $1400. You can wait to pay for the kit and Program I Do..We will guarantee the price for 6 months from the date you complete the classroom portion. This pass also allows you to take any other CAES program at N/C with the exception of the floral/design class which is a 2-3 hour class includes pizza and beverages and is a ton of fun! Prizes will be given for the best centerpiece...The prize might be $100 in cash..$200 in cash..a DVD player for your clients to see your work, a bridal emergency kit on wheels...It's whatever ticket you choose!We have 4 people that will qualify for various categories.. We do take PayPal..Visa MC and Discover along with money orders, bank checks and personal checks (Please note, personal checks must be given at least 2 weeks before the class. The only payment we need as a retainer for your space is $100. This is not refundable and can be used as credit for the next class. Please checkout our website for the education link www.samanthagoldberg.com Email or call Jayme Knast for schedule and questionnaire. We do not accept every applicant. If we feel this particular class doesn't work with your experience/background. Jayme can be reached at jayme@samanthagoldberg.com or you may call 908.219.4028 I cannot wait to meet those who have signed up and look forward to sharing my tools and how to use them in a way where you too can be successful! Happy New Year!! Samantha Goldberg

Party City & Sassi Sammi Tie The Knot!

2010-08-02T01:03:00.000-07:00
Right now we are becoming more sensitive to wasting items and using products that can be recycled along with being eco-friendly. It's amazing that many people do practice the conservative approach with being "eco-friendly" or recyclables. There are so many ways you can cut back, use again and stick with mother natures plan to keep the planet clean! I have some great tips below with Party City. The items you see in the photos are gorgeous. I remember putting this together for our "Fam" trip in the Bahamas. Just as an FYI...The Wyndham in Nassau is amazing. Not only is the staff extremely accommodating, but the views, the casinos (that's sort of eco friendly ha!) I do give the money back to someone, the questions is to who? I loved the room we had. Every editor that joined us from Brides, Get Married, Texas Bride, Your Wedding Day, One Wedd to name a few...had a fabulous penthouse. The one that I shared with my lead planner Karen was just amazing. It was about 3000sf and had 2 wings..We both bad our own separate rooms, powder rooms, bidet room, shower area, jacuzzi and the sleep number beds. When I tell you I haven't slept that well in years, Going to bed at 2am and not waking up the next day until 2:30pm. It was not a hangover I assure you..My body needed that rest and I am still finding I need at least 10-12 hours of sleep daily. I would highly recommend visiting this fine facility. I know they are due to gut and make it even better! I cannot wait to go back. They really made me feel like I was home. Except for the bedside ordering for meals..I REALLY liked that. You guys know how i love to order out. Imagine calling down stairs and them wanting to come up and take your order. It was a bit odd as I am the independent one..I cannot lie it was really cool..If you happen to look into this fine hotel for vacation, ask for Sam! He is the GM for the properties on the east coast +++..I think this was the first time I actually felt like I was on vacation. Even though I was nervous meeting new people..They were all amazing. I found 2 great people who I adore and I am so glad this worked out the way it did as I wouldn't have met such incredible people. The Party City family is just the kind of place where you go to work smiling..Not because they have a mock up store with a HUGE area of candy..You can get 15 pieces of many items for $1...I don't know what I like better the fact that I can actually pick items that are so inexpensive...Or when I get home looking into the bag and realizing that I just ate..15 pieces of chocolate lol..My team and I have left PC on many occasions with a belly ache..It goes away, and we just do it again..

Enchanted and Magical...

2010-06-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

Each year we have the pleasure of meeting hundreds of brides in our Summit office. I don't tend to "prepare" or make assumptions about making the "close" happen during this first meet and greet. Sometimes I may get a call and I feel this automatic connection to the person who may be calling from 10 miles away or 3000. I am sure you guys are savvy about the "connection". In our industry, this is how some of us sell ourselves. We never really sell our product. In theory, when people look for our service and they call, they are ready to make a choice or to see if this even applies to them. I've played the sales 101 game for years. One thing I have learned is that it can be the best deal in history financially, but does it work for everyone? I have worked with hundreds of smaller budgets and sometimes, I feel like they are worth 5 times the amount of a seven figure wedding. All of the right pieces are present. And you know that this union is going to last a lifetime as it just feels right. Hence my reference to the first call with a client. I wanted to share a few photos of a recent wedding on June 19th in Morristown NJ. While this wedding was incredible to design, the family and couple were exactly what you see in the pics I have chosen to share. just "real, unique and beautiful". This is what a wedding should look like when you are given the ability to create without restrictions..I don't mean budget. I mean the full picture. It shows trust and solid relationship with a fabulous couple. Congrats to Dorian and Kevin! We loved working with you and your families. Thank you for allowing us to show our creativity without reservations. I love that you still cannot put a word to describe what this was like! I hope that feeling continues for the next 50 years +!

Where Is The Sassi Sammi Going?

2010-05-27T20:42:00.000-07:00
Let's be clear...Sassi is still around, she is just getting ready to go full force with Party City and some other REALLY cool opportunities. I have to say I've just gotten back from the most AMAZING trip to the Bahamas with my new partner in crime Party City! It was amazing! I met over 35 editors from the US and all of them were just amazing people. The "Fam" trip aka familiarity trip, was held at the amazing Wyndham in Nassau. This hotel is absolutely a gem. The property is fabulous and there is just so much to say it might takes days to describe. However, I am going to give you a glimpse as to what the experience was like. Party City has been around for over 25 years. They are America's largest party supply retailer in the US. Most of us when we think of Party City think of party supplies such as balloons, gift bags, theme parties for our kids or various events such as Cinco De Mayo or a Hawaiian Luau. And any color plate, napkin, utensils etc...you know..Orange plate and orange napkins, or maybe you spiced things up and tried a table with 8 different set-ups! Even growing up I remember being able to go to Party City to get supplies for parties when my mom was away on business and we were in high school. Yep, I did have parties and we were under age..I never did anything too terrible..A Pina Colada or Boones Farm was pretty much what we drank our senior year. I think if I touched that stuff now, I would lose it. We cannot forget the wine in a box either! Franzia or something like that...What was it called again? Do you remember drinking it? It may have been what 10% alcohol but it was sweet and cheap and well, it got the job done. Anyway back to this amazing trip. The room I was in was the largest penthouse which was about 2500-3000sf. I was sad that I didn't have the family to enjoy it. I did have one of my senior planners/assistants Karen with me. She was great with setting boundaries and making sure I didn't go bonkers with working too hard. I didn't listen to her about 80% of the time...But still love her! The goal of this adventure was to show the event gurus "media wise" that Party City isn't just a supply store anymore. It's a planning playground. It's all about thinking outside the box. I think we can all agree that is not a problem for me. I think my favorite part of the trip was watching each editor look around the room, cameras going off nonstop you would have thought they were tourists from Nikon taking photos of various celebs on the red carpet. The entire table was 100% PC except for the linens and the floral. Do you want to see this? I can post photos..You will not believe your eyes. Funny the President asked "where did some of this come from?"..I said in your store. You begin to have so much product and so much to choose from it's easy to say, wait..where did you find that? I did take the whole PC experience in as I was designing table scapes for the trip. We displayed coordinating candy bars for both the wedding shower mock up and wedding.This is something you have to check out at Party City's super stores..They now carry the containers of various sizes and colors, colored candy to match your theme...Custom name stickers for example.. Chinese takeout containers for candy, monogram tags on the actual jars..Iridescent gum balls in a pearl white..Black gum balls..OMG talk about beyond fabulous. You just have to go! I guarantee you go in to one of their super stores, you will leave with items that can be used for home entertaining nonstop. They have an entire custom invite, place card, thank you cards and menu dept for so many occasions..I just have to add that you will never look at them the same. We are now working on recreating the wedding section. I know you gals like the swanky, mod, clean and cost effective items. Let's be honest, we don't have the deepest pockets at this point in time and you need to have options. My goal as PC's Spokesperson and Celebrations expert is going to take you to the next level. Show you ways to wow people like I did and start some new trends that you are not going to want to miss. I amazed myself. And this fueled me to fester better ways to help you see through the eyes of a planner. I am going to walk you through every step of the way...I will be in the stores with visuals and online for plan-o-grams, color charts and how to make your event look the way you need it too..I guess what I am trying to say is that I want to plant the seed for ideas and let you finish off what you want in bringing your vision to life. You need to "own" your event. We are just there to help you! All with-in your budgets ladies. I hope you hear me loud and clear on that one. I'm making this process affordable for any budget. If I could fool over 35 editors into thinking this was all new plates etc that were better than plastic paper etc..You will have no problems following my ideas on how to do the same thing. You have my promise. Every question was "Is this Party City" I said yes..Well what about this..Yes that too..Ha! I am so excited to begin our next shoot with tablescapes for 2010. The bridal aisle is going to have items that you must have. Color galore and as elegant or as whimsical as you choose. Party City has so much to offer and I couldn't be more excited or honored that they are going to allow me to take their company to another level. I see this as being a long term home for me. They are an amazing company and I am just so happy to be there. Thanks to my "agent" Tanya at Burns for finding me for this. I know the gals at Zimmerman were also asking to work with me when they decided to have a face and expert for PC. It was an instant match the minute I walked into corporate. They have been so receptive and welcoming with my ideas and goals. All of the years I have invested in this business proved to pay off. My goal was to work with products and now I will have a change to add my own flavor to the mix. I cannot think of anyone being more lucky to work with such an ambiitous, open arms company. I do have many new things to chat with you about, but want to save things for later. For those who have been asking about a press release party for editors and various media means, we are working on it. I will be showing many different items that you will be happy and excited to be a part of. After this trip I now have over 30 contacts that are going to working with me and PC to show you the next level in wedding planning 101.. I hope you have your seat belts on because this gal isn't stopping for anyone.. By the way, for those who have asked about the book, it's still in the working..I hope to share more very soon! Until next time, keep your eye on this blog..I am going to start having my assistant keep you updates starting in July. And I will be "tweeting" about some awesome things that are coming up! Yes. I did give in for a personal assistant. Do you have any idea how hard it is for someone to NOT come in and want to be a planner? i am always willing to assist my staff in accelerating their careers. But it's been a nightmare with finding someone who doesn't want to do anything but assist another. Have any great ideas? I do have Karen and sadly, she is really happy being an engineer..She needs a mental challenge. I 'm not saying that planning doesn't cause mental issues. It can and is not for the weary. You are all wonderful and I thank all of you for following me on my journey and for the ones who just come in to look..Please sign up..We have over 5000 views daily and I promise I will keep all info exciting and I won't hold back on crazy wedding situations. I know you love this the best! This year I have had some good ones..Worthy of this book. Be Well and Stay Fab Sassi Girls xoxo Sam

CAES!! June 8th 2010!! We Have Financial Aid!

2010-05-22T14:36:00.000-07:00
I know some of you fabulous aspiring planners have been calling about the next class and we are half full! Which means I have some financial aid to share thanks to the Hassel Foundation! For our June 8th course the weekly fee has been reduced to $125 per week! This is a savings of over $100 off the regular fee for the 7 week intensive workshop for beginning planning and orchestration! We have 4 openings and this is given to just 4 people! Our next course will be in late Sept or Oct of 2010. Our emergency bridal kits are on sale this month!!! $175 for the entire kit on wheels with all products necessary for your brides etc...I have even managed to squeeze in some fun little treats for you! If you would like to reserve a bag, please contact nicole@samanthagoldberg.com regarding availability! We are also looking to complete our floral designers course in July 2010. Please contact sonya@samanthagoldberg.com for more details and to hold your space! Hope you guys are enjoying the summer! For those students that have not completed your internships with us, please contact the office to schedule your time! We want to help you get that sassy certificate! I can see it...Sitting on my desk..looking for a wall to hang on..or a desk to sit on... :( Make it happy by finishing the class! You have already invested in the classroom portion, let's finish what needs to be done so you can start working with brides!!!

Dream Team! Elizabeth and David May 2nd 2010!

2010-05-22T13:35:00.000-07:00
I know that many of you were not able to see Dream Teams national segment on WWOR and affiliates of. I have linked the video to this post and hope you are able to see how fabulous this organization is! We are continuing to grow daily. If you have noticed I put a hold on our chapters and we were expanding a little bit too quickly..I am a firm believer in what starts fast, ends fast. We have a group of national sponsors that have been amazing along with our state chapters and their lists of "Dream Granters". Our first televised wedding took place on May 2nd at the Westin Jersey City. I would like to thank everyone who had donated their time and services! You truly made the bride and groom glow for days! They are still just in disbelief that we were able to put her entire wedding together in 6 weeks. Thank you all for a day I will always remember. This experience showed how much our circle of vendors support the many things that I do. Never asking for anything but how else that can they be of service. Thank you for being great peers and friends. Ron Holtz Photography www.ronholtz.com Eddie Stix Video www.stixvideo.com Kristen The Golden Quill www.thegoldenquill.com Dave www.njbestdjs.com The Westin Jersey City www.westin.com Lisa A Touch of Elegance Floral Tim Caruso Photography Dream Team www.dreamteamwishes.org I look forward to bringing this to other chapters this summer! VA, NC, IN, TX and FL. Thank you all for your continued support. I have more news coming soon as always! xoxo Sam

CAES Beginning Event Orchestration Series! June 8th!

2010-05-06T21:52:00.000-07:00
Hello all of you fabulous aspiring planners! We have just completed our last week with our Feb class! What a fantastic group of gals! We have 8 energetic and willing to go the extra mile people in this one. I have to say this was one of the best classes we have had in a while as we had many similar personalities and it was fun and educational for all! I would also include myself in this as each class I learn something new..and carry this information over to our next course. I thank everyone for being patient while we completed our class. We did send an email to everyone who had asked to be on our waiting list. If you did not receive this please contact nicole@samanthagoldberg.com to learn more about the course or to sign up. We did have a list that was made when we started our Feb class so please understand that we have already filled some of the class. I wish I could have more classes or enroll more per course..Our limit at our Summit location only allows for 10 students at present. We are going to be opening a larger space for education only in NJ probably in the late fall of by end of 2010. I promise to keep you posted via blog so check back when you can! Here is the info you have been waiting for! CAES Planning and Orchestration Series 100 Date: June 8th Day of class: Tuesdays and can be subject to change based on weather conditions or issues out of our control. However, since you pay as you go you will not loose your payment and will just make this class up... Time: 7pm to 8:15pm and 15 minutes of Q&A Fee: $150 weekly 7 weeks of classroom time 2-3 months for interning at Summit NJ location Participate in 1-2 weddings with a senior planner Work a wedding alone with an assistant. Once you have completed this program your last quiz will be rated by a bride whom we have chosen for you. If the bride surveys her experience with you at 80% or higher you become certified with the CAES Institute and will receive a certificate of completion and be noted as a CP/ Certified Planner. Our next series of courses are for planners who have completed 25 weddings/events and over. The next basic course will be in Sept/Oct of 2010. Please let us know if you have any questions! You can make payments weekly and save a space for $75 down. Once you arrive on the 8th you will have a balance of $75.. You can then work out a payment system via check, credit card, pay pal or cash weekly! Please contact
nicole@samanthagoldberg.com
to sign up. We have 6 openings as of today! We look forward to meeting you soon!!!

Staying On Budget..As Posted on Examiner.com !

2010-04-25T20:35:00.000-07:00
Let's face it, weddings are expensive. Flowers, attire, dinner, drinks, cake, the minister, photographer . . . it all adds up. Hence, creating a budget will not only keep you from spending more than you have, it will make planning your wedding less stressful. "One of the biggest mistakes for people that have a champagne appetite and a beer budget is they don't sit down and put together a spread sheet or even jot down what the major expenses of the wedding will be," laments Samantha Goldberg, Celebrity Wedding Planner (Gold Events Planning) and TV personality on the Style Network’s “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway” and “Married Away.” "Usually," continues Gold, "when the newly engaged bride gets that rock, the first thing she does is run out and buy the dress." And that, says Gold, is probably the biggest mistake a girl can make. Why? Because she hasn't taken the time to sit down and make a budget for her wedding yet. "About 90% of the time," says Gold, "she doesn't know what she's going to be able to spend on the dress (but she buys one anyway). "Last year," explains Gold, "I ran into a situation where the bride's budget was $50,000. And her dress cost $12,000 (leaving little left for everything else)! The cost of the dress should be no more than 10% of your budget—and the average dress in America right now is $1,500 and change." Of course, every bride wants to look fabulous on her wedding day, so how do you work within your budget and snag the dress of your dreams? According to Gold, by looking at sales you can still get a gown that's worth 10% of your budget and only pay 5%. Gold also advises brides to stop looking at dresses they can't afford unless they really like shopping for the resale online. "There's also a great market for rentals," adds Gold. "Brides can rent a designer gown for 1% to 3% of the original retail price." Other tips for saving money on your wedding include renting a faux cake with a real top tier (to cut for photos), and then serving guests a delicious sheet cake. "You can have that grandiose look and even cut into it for a fraction of the cost," states Gold. For those willing to do a little homework, you don't have to sacrifice looks or taste. "Believe it or not," says Gold, "there are lots of cake artists that work out of their home and/or local caterers that make cakes but don't have a cake shop. Typically, you can get a great cake for less money by hiring a "freelancer" or someone with a small business. To help couples stay on budget, Gold has designed a spreadsheet that can be downloaded, which has the basics and percentages that will automatically allocate amounts for every category from inivations to flowers to, of course, the dress. Check it out at: www.samanthagoldberg.com

Budget Smuget...It's all Numbers Girls!

2010-04-25T13:42:00.000-07:00
When I sit back and wonder how on earth I have managed to work with OVER 1000 weddings...I want to hide. What the heck was I thinking taking on so much? I have this obsession with design I do admit. I just don't feel that there is a limit on what one can do on limited means. And who wants to dress up your day to make it look like you have limited means? Not me. Call me snobby, call me silly...Heck call me anything you'd like. I don't care. You know I am right about certain things and decor is something I excel in. This is all I have ever wanted to share with the public. Besides some of the craziest adventures and maybe some mistakes where I need some advice..I don't have many people to share my zany activities with as they are with me when it happens. If I can get a good giggle from you and make your day a bit better, then my grand plan has worked. You have to know that over 70% of America is that bride who watches "My Fair Wedding" where Mr Tutera saves the day by rescuing these damsels in distress..I don't know about you, but I don't see anyone in distress. I do see someone who comes in and makes a beautiful wedding. However, if these gals had more of a budget they would have a planner and have a fab day regardless. If you can appreciate this show for what it is, great. But don't discount your taste when you compare it to what he had used in place of your original plan. This is NOT reality my fab frugalistas... I have been working with budgets in the 4-7 digits..and honestly, some of the 7 digit clients are not much better than the average budget of 25K. This weekend our team had the pleasure of working on 3 events. Friday we had an amazing wedding. It was amazing because of our client. Holly is one of those brides who came in looking for assistance on having a wedding but to also have some budget left over for a great down payment on a house. That's my kind of gal. She's a young lady which surprised me as I thought for someone to have that mature thought process had to be in her late 20's+..Nope. Her parents had offered her a sum of money to be used however she chooses. We had a long discussion getting to know each other as you guys know, I have to meet my clients and learn about them before I decide to work on their wedding. If we don't mesh personally, they are not going to get the best from me or my team.In this case, I just fell in love with her sweet demeanor and attitude. She wanted simple, rustic and elegant..She had a vision and had trouble describing it. But as I got to know her, I figured it out and together we came up with an amazing theme. Originally she wanted to split the budget down the middle to save $12.5 for the house fund, but after we talked further there was a few extra things she really wanted and I was able to get her a great price for them..Actually they were chivari chairs and gold chargers..She couldn't see her vision with any chair but that..I do understand this as I share the same thought process. The chairs make everything look better. For under $7 each..How can you go wrong? I think this wedding was right in every way. She invited her nearest and dearest. When you put it on paper...The list is not that huge. Who do you really consider people who will be with you for a lifetime, you can trust with anything etc etc etc? Yeah..not too many. So she decided to keep the evening delicate with 60 guests. I have to tell you, it was great to see that everyone came, and we were able to make this intimate but so elegant. I can't stop saying this "all for 15K"..I still cannot believe it. I am so proud of our Floral Designer Lisa from A Touch of Elegance who makes my chicken scratch look like this. She isn't psychic...Maybe a bit psychotic from hanging with me. But who doesn't get that after a Samantha experience? Bottom line, you can all have this..BUT, and it's a big but, you have to cut back. Now I am not saying you can't have a pretty setting with more guests minus the floral and chairs..BUT..This does look better than a few candles and rose petals. Let's face it, most of you want this. Maybe not this design, but this package..You just don't know how to do it? I have a new program, to get you here...I need your help as it's your day..But help is an option. I have been training a part of our team to work with a specific budget for a while. If you want to learn more, call us..visit with them..It costs nothing to ask questions and to come in...Why don't you decide what you must have, and what you can forgo before hand... You may be surprised on what one of my fabulous planners comes up with..and I do touch every wedding with something special. That's why I get to know you, so I can help you get to that magic place..Far away in your mind. I can make that thought real if you choose to trust us. Looking forward to sharing some magnificient designs with you this year. I am excited as you will see some of the secret larger budgets this year..They are worthy of sharing.I don't think I will top this one off for a while. Again, a very fabulous couple who just know me well enough to give them something magical. They don't want to see much..They want a surprise. I promise they will have the most amazing wedding ever...and yes, I still stick to my rules of never doing the same design twice. xoxo Sam

Consider These 3 Rules When Buying Your Gown...

2010-04-24T19:29:00.000-07:00
Thought you may find this helpful...If you are a bride looking for the perfect dress..Or a planner who feels this might help one of your brides out! It was posted on the Examiner.com 2 days ago! Enjoy!! Comfort, Look and Style are the three big things to consider when choosing a wedding gown, says celebrity wedding planner, Samantha Goldberg (www.samanthagoldberg.com). Whether you wear your mother's gown or buy a new designer frock, make sure you're not wearing it because you think it's something you should be wearing. "Wear it because you love the way you look and feel in the dress," says Goldberg. "You should love the way you look in your dress." Goldberg also advises brides don't buy anything trendy unless it's flattering, otherwise, you may look silly in your wedding photos twenty years from now. The most important thing to consider is your shape. On you on the plus size? Do you have an hourglass figure, or are you more of a pear or an apple? Are you large-boned, or stick straight without a curve in sight? You need to look for a dress that will enhance your better features and hide the "flaws" that you associate with your body type. "Color," adds Goldberg, "is often an issue with plus size brides. Certain colors don't look good on women with more curves and larger hips. In the bridal family," she notes, "sometimes champagne and pink is a better color for someone with a larger frame. That also depends on skin tone—an olive complexioned bride might go with a light pink, peach or champagne." Beware of "tricks" to slim a waist that may actually work against you. "If you have a small waist but large hips, a sash will bring more attention to the hips, not the waist. Though it may make a waist look smaller, it will make the hips look incredibly large." Goldberg also says to use a light hand when considering enhancements on the dress. "Anytime you go with something that's too much, it's not a good idea. It's also very, very important for brides to measure themselves for a dress—and have a professional do it so you don't wind up spending additional money on alterations. If you try to save money by purchasing a dress online, which is fine, if you're measurements aren't correct, there's no guarantee it will fit. And you can't return those gowns. Hence, it's really important go to a bridal salon and have them take the measurements for you; they'll be precise and you'll get a better fit." Don't forget the rear view, says Goldberg. "Consider the back of the dress, not just for photos, but for your guests who are going to be looking at the back of your gown as much as the front of your gown—when you're dancing and walking down the aisle, etc. The design in back should be as flattering as in the front." Goldberg says that many brides get hung up on looking good and never consider how they feel in the dress. "You want to look good," she reiterates, "but then you forget how long you'll be in the gown—at least 8 to 10 hours. You want to go with a gown that feels comfortable all the time. When you're trying it on you should walk in it, bend over, sit down, and even dance in it to make sure everything is easy and you're not struggling." If you have a long train, yes, you can bustle it. But remember, it will be twice as heavy. "And with more fabric around the waist, your hips will look larger than they are. And again," she warns, "people will be seeing you from the back, so if the bustle goes up, the backside looks bigger." If you have large breasts, adds Goldberg, don't go strapless and lose the beads. "The biggest mistake I see with strapless gowns is brides that wear a heavy necklace with it because they feel like their neck is bare. Better to go with small pearls, etc., to fill the blank space that won't be distracting. Same with gloves. A chic or A-line dress will look very dramatic with gloves that are the proper length (just above the elbows). If you're larger, a short glove gives too much attention to the upper arms. If you don't work out, you don't want to focus on that area." If you do decide to go strapless, make sure you have a good good tailor as they will put things in place that will keep the dress on. If you live—or are getting married—in a hot climate, you will "expand" a bit at the wedding so you need to compensate for that (don't make the dress too tight). "If it's a humid day," cautions Goldberg, "you may retain water around the neck, waist and stomach, and that would be a very costly mistake to learn the day of your wedding." Goldberg admits the tiara is popular as are all types of combs. "Try them on with the dress, not separately. Even the most beautiful gown will look horrible without the proper accessories (and remember, less is more). A tiara should always face forward, parallel to the floor. You're not supposed to look like Miss America; you're supposed to look more like a princess." One last tip, says Goldberg, is never get your dress dry cleaned before your wedding—never. "Even the best dry cleaners can melt the faux pearls and other beading. If the gown doesn't have any embellishments on it, then you can. Otherwise, if need be, spot clean the dress. Finally," concludes Goldberg, "focus on you as a person, not the gown."

Fab Press! You know How I love to "plain" talk right?

2010-04-16T22:01:00.000-07:00
Hello Gals/Guys! Yes, I know it's hard to believe that men would take their chances by being in a room with 500 estrogen queens. I wish him luck in here. Thank goodness this is only my blog! RUN FOREST RUN! Ha! You may have noticed I have been a lot more saturated with media from television and publications nationally. Now with my new relationship as Party City's spokesperson and event expert along with getting our first book deal! I cannot tell you how lucky I feel to have these fab experiences. I love sharing them with you as I know you appreciate being around those who have good karma. You know how the saying goes, if you think positive and are around positive people, you become a better person. I have to admit these changes are scary and sometimes really hard. I have never been the public eye "type". I just look as what I do inspires aspiring planners and also gives our clients a taste of what the real side of me is. You don't get to see the good days and bad. We all have them. Doesn't matter where I am career wise. I am human and do struggle with making the right decisions that will help me grow as a person. Can you actually walk away from work or something of substance and say you give 100% of yourself, Let's be honest, no..... Every day I ask myself when leaving the office did I give 100% of myself today? Whether it means calming a bride or fixing a major issue someone has gotten themselves into. I do feel confident that I some how make this crazy world we are in a better place. I make people laugh, I assure them they are going to be fine. I tell my employees how proud I am of the coming out of their shell. We need a backbone in this business. I didn't have this kind of support when I started. So I can't tell you in better words how this make me feel. I feel alive. I feel important to so many people and most of all If this is what makes someone happy, I want to make it happen. Tonight I let go of something that was really important to me and my career. I know they were not happy. They didn't verbalize this to me...and let things fester for over a year. While the convo wasn't about ending the relationship, I realized I had to do the right thing. And that was to acknowledge what they felt from working with us and how unhappy this path has been. I don't know how they could stay in this position for that long. It could have been solved a long time ago. So I feel empty. I did the best I could. I asked my husband who is always the devils advocate to tell me if it was me, and he would say yes, but said this time, it's not about you. I guess he was right. I tried to give what they thought they wanted. Only to find it wasn't enough. I cannot make everyone happy, I will try. So for this new lesson, I know now I cannot give too much..There's going to be boundaries and we are starting fresh on Monday. Did you ever get into a situation like this? Did you ever think one way and had a totally different outcome? What did you do? I wanted to share a few fab articles tis the season...Thanks everyone for growing our following and for your many posts that inspire me to do even more. I don't have much family and am so appreciative I have a wonderful husband and daughter who loves me unconditionally. I didn't grow up with this and it's so incredible that I am able to recreate what I missed at age 6 for my daughter (6). She's the light of my life and keeps me who I am. I love her so much! Here's the NY Times article. The bride they interviewed was my client! She has just tyed the knot April 3rd and she was a joy to work with. I am really going to miss her. Not too much as we have become friends and she is just amazing!I will make sure we stay in contact as she's just a bubbly fun beautiful person and cannot wait to share her wedding with everyone! http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/fashion/weddings/04FIELD.html?pagewanted=all This was in the New York Daily News...Confessions of a NY Wedding Planner! Talk about an amazing piece! Jane Ridley a wonderful editor and friend has always made my info come to life! Thanks Jane. You are always exceeding expectations and are near to my heart! The article was "real" and you know that's the only way I work. Here you go!! http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Samantha+Goldberg If you have some advice on my situation, I would love to hear about it. Sometimes when I get your feedback I realize my decisions were right and I should trust my gut. Thanks everyone for supporting my career and always hanging in the background to see what things are going on in my world. xo Samantha

Dream Team! One of America's Wedding Wish Organizations!

2010-03-26T09:29:00.000-07:00
I am proud to announce the "Dream Team" is going National! We have started the process of becoming a 501c3! I have shared our stories with the public about our stellar "Dream Team" here on the East coast since 2005. Many of our cases have been published or have been seen on television. I can still remember our very first case Luz and David Streeter located in New Jersey in June of 2006 who filled the world with happy tears and good laughs. Many of the first pioneers with Dream Team were Buddy Valestro of Carlos Bakery "Cake Boss", Stix Video, Carlson Craft, Hilton Brand of Hotels, Fancy Faces Stephen Hamel, Stephen Taylor Photography, Floral Gallery Cindy Reiken and way too many to mention. Their work along with what was donated was shown in publications such as Special Events Magazine, NJ Bride and Bridal Guide. It was also aired on local and national television such as Style Network and Fox News. It wasn't long after that hundreds of vendors in the tri-state area and various other states had joined in! Each year, I've reached out to various vendors to assist us in granting a dream wedding to a not so fortunate couple. Not one vendor has ever declined our ask. If they were unable to assist or physically be there, they found a way to make it happen. I know I have said thank you in many ways, but still feel it's not enough. If it wasn't for all of you, I would not have had the stamina to do this! I think we can all agree, I am always working on new ways to bring this industry to another level. I have spent numerous hours training planners to be the best they can and our clients who deserve the best, walking away with a one of a kind event. It wasn't until 2010 when a few peers of mine in the Chgo region suggested I share the happiness and good fortune with others. While I hesitated to do so, they were right. Why couldn't I do this? There are so many wonderful orgs that have also worked to grant weddings or portions of such as Brides Against Breast Cancer, ABC (on a local level) ISES (local level) NACE, WEVA and various other event groupings. It's great watching so many people have collaborated efforts for something we do on a daily basis. If you can truly love what you do, this is another way to give a warm hug for those who want to share that same feeling we've all been fortunate to experience. You can never give enough and every effort is always appreciated. I share my success today with many high profile companies that will be a close sponsor and advocate with Dream Team. I also open my heart to all of you who want to take another adventure with me. I have always promised a good time and great rewards. I will continue to offer this as you all are the reason I am fighting to make this work. I want to thank my national team in Chgo Our founding board, for pushing me to do this. You took a chance by coming into my crazy world. I promise to not disappoint you. This is just the beginning for us! For those who are intersted in forming a chapter or wanting to donate funds or services please inquire at info@dreamteamwishes.org or visit our website at
www.dreamteamwishes.org
. We should have all applications and information ready for your viewing in the next week! You may watch us as we work! Maybe bring a cold soda for those who are on a mighty tight deadline! Love to all! xoxoxoxo Samantha

Say I DO With Samantha Goldberg at Westin Jersey City April 18th 12-4pm!

2010-03-24T21:17:00.000-07:00
Jersey City, NJ. If you’re a bride to be, than say “I Do” on Sunday April 18, to the Westin Jersey City Newport. You and a guest are invited to discover the newest Westin, an experience in sight, sound, taste and service. Enjoy delicious hors d’ouvres, sip sparkling wine, and socialize with vendors. On top of it all, you’ll learn the hottest wedding tips and trends from celebrity wedding planner Samantha Goldberg! Celebrity Wedding Planner Samantha Goldberg is featured as one of the top planners on Style network’s “Whose Wedding Is it Anyway?” She’s a contributing editor for one of America's largest wedding publications and websites, www.bridalguide.com. She is also a columnist for her own column "Savvy Samantha's Nuptials in the Star Ledger. Samantha has shared her wedding expertise on national news programs such as; CNBC’s On the Money, Good Morning America, Today Show, Better Homes and Gardens TV, ABC. NBC, Fox News and Geraldo at Large. She’s a regular contributor to trade publications such as OK Magazine, US Weekly and Cosmopolitan Magazine. Goldberg has planned more than 1,000 weddings working with celebrities, athletes and political figures. She’s excited to use her inside knowledge to show brides how to think outside of the box and achieve the wedding they’ve always dreamed of. “This show is typically not the show for a traditional wedding, it’s for brides who want to be unique and show personality at their wedding. This can be achieved with any budget as long as you have the right allocations,” says Goldberg. The “Westin Experience” is the event of the year for future brides. Not only will you learn the tricks of the trade from one of the most sought out wedding planners in the country, you’ll have the chance to win fabulous prizes from award winning vendors. Due to space, not every bride can attend. To secure your spot call 201-626-2917 by April 1. The Westin Experience will take place in the Newport Ballroom on Sunday, April 18 from 12-4pm. The Westin Jersey City Newport is located on 479 Washington Boulevard, in Jersey City. Let's start off by saying my good friends at Demetrios at Macy's is going to share their newest and exclusive couture gowns at our event! Ten original designs to satisfy your urge to stay true to who you are! LOVE them! I hope you enjoy the fab show too! By the way if you are 5'7 and taller and would like to particpate as a model we would love to have you. In return you will recieve a group of photos for your resume! Please call us ASAP as we only need 2 lovely brides! 908.219.4028 ask for Lacey or Alyssa! Some of our fabulous vendors include award winning designs from A Touch of Elegance, Infinity Lighting, CTO Manhattan, Coppacabana, Rose Petals and Lace, Stix Productions, Enzo Video Productions, Samantha Goldberg and Co, Bella Bridesmaid, Dave Nace from NJ Finest DJ's,Hudson Cakery, Cocoluxe, Bridal Guide, Get Married Mag, NJ bride, NJ Wedding,com, Fabulous photography from , Ron Hotlz, Josh Lynn who will also have a photobooth from NJphotobooths there for any guests to try out" You guys this is truly a magnificent favor...I had so much fun scrapbooking for my clients after we took a photo! Talk about fun!! We also are honored to have Alan Reider one of my first dear vendors who opened his arms to a new kid (me) on the block 6 years ago, Dream Team One of America's non for profit orgs that help brides and grooms with various major hardships across the US have the wedding of their dreams and MANY more vendors on their way! Space is limited and It truly will be an urban chic event for the metro bride who wants a one of a kind experience!

DREAM TEAM OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF NAT BOARD TODAY!

2010-03-20T09:06:00.000-07:00
Hello Everyone! I am sorry I haven't been much of a blogger lately! We have so many things going on with Samantha Goldberg and Co, Gold Events and Dream Team! Very excited to finally share Dream Team our National board in Chicago and other chapters starting in VA, IL, NY, NJ, FL and IN. Our National launch for all of the chapters listed will be in April! Please be on the look-out for your board's date! I wanted to personally thank everyone for your emails and Facebook posts! I would ask that even if you cannot assist us with services please join our Facebook group. Your spirit is enough!Help spread the word! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=739756987#!/pages/Dream-Team-Wishes/323906266265?ref=ts We are making some National and Regional appearances on television! This will share the concept of our org along with some updates on what's happening! You will be able to follow 2 of our Dreams while we make it happen! And share in both couples joy while we show you that love can conquer all in so many cases. These couples are people just like you and me who just want to marry the one they love and had to put their plans on hold due to many reasons. Once you see them, you will understand why we fell in love with their stories and will walk away understanding why I have been doing this for so many years. Join us today! Make the world a better place by spreading the word about love! If you are interested in forming a chapter in your state, we are officially ready to help you make it happen! With LOTS of love! xoxoxo Sam

The Dream Team! One of America's Non For Profit Orgs

2010-02-28T20:27:00.000-08:00
I hope that you will join us in our expansion of Dream Team! I have always been one to help a couple in any way I can. For years you have all been there to support my vision and successes. You have also been there during times where I thought I wasn't going to be able to produce another wedding. After over 18 years of working with events and celebrations, I have decided I want to give back on a higher scale. I have been so limited as you only have so many hours in a day. And sometimes you forget to balance your life and focus on things that mean the most long term. I have never forgotten. I am proud to announce that I have expanded my quest to assist those who have endured hardships along the way of their planning and had to end that dream...For whatever reason whether it be sickness, losing their job, losing a loved one, deployment to serve our country or financially not being able to handle such a responsibility, you had to give this up. I look at this as a temporary set back, and people want to help. I know I can't physically change all of the bad things in this world, but I do know that I have a strong following who have come to help me in making this happen one day at a time. Please help us with our goal in helping others...Join our fabulous team "The Dream Team". Were on Facebook..We're going to be all over this country and soon...Our industry has really been blessed with having little recession problems. We all want t give back in someway or another...This is just the beginning! I have linked below for easy access. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or chapter we are accepting applications for NJ/NY, IL, VA, FL and TX. Again this is just the start of something much bigger that I could ever have imagined. Thanks to you! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=739756987#!/pages/Dream-Team-Wishes/323906266265?ref=ts Looking forward to working with all of you...Your gift of assistance or donation is going to change some one's life. That's priceless in my opinion! xoxox

Dream Team Is Accepting Applications For Weddings in 2010

2010-02-22T09:20:00.000-08:00
Hello Everyone!! I know I've been behind with our "Dream Team" postings this year...In fact, I should have listed this in January as we do every year. We have so have much going on. All wonderful of course. I look forward to sharing soon! Please make note: We have decided to change the criteria for those who are applying for the "Gift of Love" donation. If you know of anyone who has gone through or is going through issues that did not allow for them to have a wedding in 2007 through current please send us an email describing the situation and what specific things were cancelled or lost due to the hardship. We have opened this up to job loss, family hardships and deployment to Iraq. We've received numerous letters regarding job loss and while I wish I could help everyone, we are limited to assist those who go beyond job loss. Even though this is an option, this is only if both parties have lost their job due to the economy. Maybe someday we will have more resources to assist those in similar situations. Please send all inquiries to Lacey Borman Cohen our Special Events Coordinator at lacey@samanthagoldberg.com. Please put "Dream Team Request 2010" in the subject matter. Looking forward to helping in anyway we can. Much love and thank you for vendors who have reached out again this year! Our list is growing and I do want to involve as many people as possible. Samantha Currently, we have over 200 vendors and various venues who are a part of the "Dream Team" on the East coast and the Midwest. We are looking to expand and welcome donations and assistance! You have all been extremely generous the last 6 years! We are expanding and look forward to opening "Dream Teams" all over the US. For those who may be interested in learning more about opening a chapter in your state please contact us!

CAES TONIGHT!!!

2010-02-18T10:12:00.000-08:00
I'm just preparing my "planner's brew" for tonight's class! So happy it's not snowing and we can actually get back to work! Or for this class, get started!! Class begins at 7pm sharp! If you get lost etc call our office 908.219.4028 . Hopefully there will not be traffic or issues, if there is we will deal with it once you arrive to ensure you don't miss anything pertinent. Good news for those who haven't signed up yet....We have 1 opening!! If you call the office before 5pm today, I will give you $50 towards the class fee of $700! You can use the discount with this class and play the additional weekly fees of $100 as you come...You can decide what's best!! We will still honor the extra $30 discount if you pay in full. So you could potentially save $80! Looking forward to meeting everyone...And yes, I do have chocolate! See you soon! xo Sam

Packages Schmakages...I've Decided To Change Ours!

2010-02-11T10:29:00.000-08:00
I've changed our website so many times and yet I'm never satisfied with how our packages read. They are SO generic. I used to like them, until people started copying my verbiage. If you go to www.copycat.com or something like this, you can actually see how many people use some or all of your websites content . Cool right? I'm very honored that some have copied this information. But I have to tell you, you too are now listing REALLY boring information. I'm trying something new! My 19th year anniversary of working with events will be in April. I need a change! I think our clients do as well. We have already begun to restructure our format and will now allow you (or client) to customize options once we have worked out the right "bridal blueprint" for you. I've noticed in the last 4 years, most of our clients say they want Full Coordination" but after reviewing tasks they've completed such as finding the venue and some of the essential vendors, they really don't need it. Sometimes I'm not even sure they need Partial. The goal is really to see where our services will pay off for each client right? Technically we do not show our worth until the wedding day. They are able to see their vision work as flawlessly as possible. I never say flawless. You have no idea how hard we work to ensure you don't see anything that would upset you. Sometimes, it cannot be hidden. I have been there and it's not fun. This one time at her wedding....We had this cake and well...It's like bandcamp! :) Please be on the look out for some fun changes! We look forward to working with you and providing services that exceed your expectations! Happy Planning! Samantha

CAES New Structure Next Class Feb 11th 2010 Summit Location

2010-02-02T19:58:00.000-08:00
I have to admit, after educating the tri-state area and then working with students in other countries, this experience has been amazing! We have a FABULOUS list with several of you who have been asking when is our next class. While I would love to have them monthly, it's just not possible right now. I have many great projects that are FINALLY happening in the next few weeks that will help me to get the next level within the event industry. You do know how I love to educate, and I have tried to keep the investment at a minimum! Our wonderful Lacey has come up with a great idea on how I might be able to train you in the beginner series but weekly, instead of one Saturday in theory and 6 months of hands on training. Starting on Feb 11th, I will begin to have 7 weeks of 1.5 hour classes for the novice planner. Each week will breakdown our fee to $100 payments. The first payment is used as a deposit(covers first class) and each additional class you may pay in cash on the night of, money order or via credit card. If you can cover 1/3 the class upfront we will offer a $30 discount, please inquire. This is not applicable if we are able to grant financial aid sorry! I'm not able to offer more than this and I apologise! But this was the only way I can still educate and do what I need to on the weekends! My next Sat class may be in April or possibly in June. Logistics are Feb 11th-Until March 18th 2010. The fee for the class is $700 in total and will allow all students to pay weekly instead of upfront. I do not have much financial aid anymore :( But am asking my nearest and dearest vendors for support! We have 3 openings as of 2/1/2010. I do apologise for the decrease in space. I have tried for 3 classes to fit 10...It's just not feasible. I promise to look into other locations later this year. Larger space and classes more often! I am working on it!!! Please call Lacey to hold your spot for the Feb 11th course from 7:00pm to 8:15pm. We will meet every Thursday for 7 weeks unless our class decides that another week night will work. Lacey can be reached at 908.219.4028 908.219.4028 or lacey@samanthagoldberg.com Location: 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 I hope this works! I wish I could teach every week and I think this may work out in the end for everyone! xoxo Samantha

Pick a Planner Any Planner....NOT....

2010-01-31T13:45:00.000-08:00
Sometimes I feel as though our industry is compared to the "Let's Make A Deal" show aired in the 70's. Honestly, I just cannot be the "Marty" you see on TV. I don't have a toaster or 14 karat gold chain to slip in if you sign with me today, sorry. I really do love what I do. However, for as much as I'd like to spend my life just designing events, I know I can be of better service training others to achieve their goals. Most that know me, I mean "REALLY" know me, are savvy that I'm not a follower. I'm a leader . I can't sit back when I see so much that can be done to make something better. Our industry for example. My years working in Corporate America were a great experience and I thank the people who put their trust in me to build a better team,a better company overall. I always achieved their goals and made sure I surpassed the expectations. I've been trained to do this in all areas of my life. OK. I'm letting loose.... I just don't understand why "we" cannot be one happy community? The bridal world is happy!!!! Why is the answer apparent that we can't? We'll, I can't accept that answer! For those who want to be elsewhere on their path to success, instead of training to get there you would rather criticize your peers (us) who have?? This is happening in every area of our industry. I know I'm not alone in this thought process. I just don't have the edit button like some of our vendors do. Why are some people are better than others? Honestly, there's no "BIG" secret and stop asking why we're better (no one is better, maybe "better" educated or trained). It's simple. We train, we work our behinds off and not to be the best, or better. Like some of you some might think. We do it to better ourselves. And sometimes what we offer isn't good enough for us, so we reach for more. And yet, in the end when were rewarded or recognised for this, it's not always such a positive forum of feedback from our peers. Makes no sense to me??? I'm not asking for a silver star, just some respect on how hard I work. We can all blame the green monster of jealousy..I'm getting tired of doing that. I just chock it up and move on...Or try to. People ask why I charge what I do? Why does it matter? You may ask what I do that's better than you? Again, why does it matter? I'm not trying to be better than anyone in the industry.But instead am trying to better myself. If this is a crime, so be it. In the last 2 months I have had wedding spies I laugh when I say this..Yes...Wedding Spies..Who call and ask for pricing or package information. I just want to pre-warn you, I don't give any of that information to anyone on the phone. Why? Again, none of your business. You may hear I charge 3 times the amount you do. And honestly, we all charge what we feel were worth. If you try to low ball some of the planners who have been doing this for a long period of time, you are essentially saying your worth less. If you want this type of reputation, go for it. I would highly suggest you revisit this option. Our clients share your information with us to see if we'll match the price. I say this with my heart, why do I need to match someones price when I still invest the same amount of time and have more experience than some of the others on their list? They end up agreeing were not comparing apples to apples. So why does someone work with us? Because they like our vision. We do sell ourselves along with experience. If someone worked with us for the wrong reason, they would lose out on having the best experience possible. Not all clients are the right fit for my team, and we know this. So as some might take on anyone,I'm going to take a different approach and make sure the client, no matter how much of a budget they have, is able to receive the best experience possible. If it can't be with us, I want them to find someone who can offer this. It's not always about the dollar bill people. I know with this tough economy you may feel taking on any client is key. You will learn the hard way. Stop looking at your financial benefits and start worrying about your clients experience huh? And PLEASE stop trying to low ball us..Your not giving yourselves a good reputation, your destroying your worth. I'm giving you great sound advice. You want success? Then start with putting in the time and effort needed. We did! For those planners who feel by charging less, your going to gain more clientele,or possibly get more of our business, you're mistaken. Most of the clients we work with, know exactly what they are investing in. And they are comfortable investing more in a company such as ours because they know we've worked a long time to get here. And to be honest, we're a better fit. I promise you, they have done their homework. And it's not just from watching us on a reality television show. I have a good piece of advice for those who try to low-ball planners, florists, photographers etc...Sometimes by doing this, your doing us a favor. Not every client you work with is going to be easy. The biggest gift you can give us is to take away more stress. If you want to work with people who nickle and dime all of your vendors including your services, you can have them. But, who will walk away feeling good about the exp? You may want to ask yourself that. Wishing all of the aspiring planners much success! And if you ever want to learn a better way of working with your business, maybe calling me directly might be a better way to get my attention? I'm getting smarter and our meetings with you will be much more fun for us than you, if this continues. One last thought, I will do just about anything for someone who genuinely wants to learn. You have my word on that!

Please Assist Me In Helping Haiti & In Return I Will Help You! I Can't Do This Alone!

2010-01-23T17:53:00.001-08:00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Premier Business Showcase Hosts Cocktail Networking Event Featuring Celebrity Event Designer TV Personality Samantha Goldberg will offer advice and tips on “Positioning Your Business for Success in 2010”Somerset, New Jersey - January 21, 2010 - Premier Business Showcase announces a Networking Cocktail Party, featuring nationally renowned guest speaker Samantha Goldberg, who is a Celebrity Event Designer and television personality on Style Network’s “Whose Wedding is it Anyway” and “Married Away.” Hosted at Toucan’s Martini Lounge in Somerset, NJ, on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010, this public event offers an opportunity to meet an eclectic mix of NY and NJ business professionals in a relaxed, upscale setting. This occasion of open communication invites those looking to grow their business, looking to meet with other area business people, or interested in sharing professional experience. Goldberg will lead a discussion on “Attracting the Right Clients” and “How Your Business Can Thrive in a Challenging Economy.” As the owner of her own company Gold Events Planning, and the spokesperson for Hilton Brand Hotels and author of their Online Booking Tool "Guestiquette," Goldberg will share her pearls of wisdom for “Positioning Your Business for Success in 2010.” Attendees will have opportunities for elevator pitching, and are encouraged to bring business cards for networking. The event entrance fee is $7, including free hors d’oeuvres and $5 drink specials. To register, please visit www.premierbusinessshowcase.eventbrite.com. Tickets will be available until January 27th, 2010. The event will also feature the soulful music entertainment of Barry Ward, of Wise DJ Sound Entertainment. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to The Haitian Relief Fund. Questions or concerns, please contact ACL Event Planning at 570.977.6638 or acleventplanning@yahoo.com. Information Summary: Guest Speaker: Samantha Goldberg, Celebrity Event Designer & TV Personality Toucan’s Martini Lounge 1850 Easton Avenue Somerset, NJ 08873 January 27, 2010 Cost: $7.00 at the door This event is sponsored by: ACL Event Planning, Wise DJ Sound Entertainment, Michael Derek Photography and Toucan’s Martini Lounge.

New Class CAES 200 Beginner Series! Feb 4th Weekly!

2010-01-13T12:29:00.000-08:00
I have to admit, after educating the tri-state area and then working with students in other countries, this experience has been amazing! We have a FABULOUS list with several of you who have been asking when is our next class. While I would love to have them monthly, it's just not possible right now. I have many great projects that are FINALLY happening in the next few weeks that will help me to get the next level within the event industry. You do know how I love to educate, and I have tried to keep costs on the low end. Our wonderful Lacey has come up with a great idea on how I might be able to train you in the beginner series but weekly, instead of one Saturday in theory and 6 months of hands on training. How does this sound...Starting on Feb 4th, I will begin to have 7 weeks of 1.5 hour classes for the novice planner. Each week will break down our fee to $100 payments. The first payment is used as a deposit and each additional class you may pay in cash on the night of, money order or via credit card. If you can cover 1/3 the class upfront we will offer a $30 discount, please inquire. This is not applicable if we are able to grant financial aid sorry! I am not able to offer more than this and I apologise! But this was the only way I can still educate and do what I need to on the weekends! My next Sat class may be in April or possibly in June. Logistics are Feb 4th-Until March 11th 2010. The fee for the class is $700 and will allow all students to pay weekly instead of upfront. I do not have much financial aid anymore :( But am asking my nearest and dearest vendors for support! Never say never! We have 6 out of the 8 openings as of today. Please call Lacey to hold your spot for the Feb 4th course from 7:00pm to 8:15pm. We will meet every Thursday for 7 weeks unless our class decides that another week night will work. Lacey can be reached at 908.219.4028 or lacey@samanthagoldberg.com Location: 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 I hope this works! I wish I could teach every week and I think this may work out! xoxo Samantha

Calling Budget Brides...I Have Something VERY special for you!

2010-01-12T15:06:00.001-08:00
OK gals...First of all CONGRATS on your new engagement! I want to know how long did it take you to run to the nearest dress shop? Can we smell the smoke?? I know some of you guys bought the dress without finding out what your budget for the wedding is! Shame Shame! Heck, I don't blame you, I did the same thing. The BIG question this year is... HOW do I get the wedding I want with this budget that looks quite slim???...Well bridal buddies, it only looks slim when you have 15K and 400 guests! Stop laughing, you know what I'm saying. The only solution I have for you in this case is Ramen noodles and possibly a soda for each guest. Maybe a Hershey's kiss to go? I realize that you may have a huge list, but something has to give. Weddings are meant to celebrate your union. If we had bigger budgets, it would be easier for some, but not always the best answer. The bigger the budget, the HIGHER your expectations are for what YOU think your wedding should look like. It's a rarity that any guest would say "Sarah better have diamond earrings as favors and a mile long Venetian table". Heck, I would love to give diamonds to my guests! But it's not realistic. No one expects anything! Whatever you have, is going to be fabulous! I do have some good news for my favorite 15-30K bride who is flexible with date and have a guest list of 140 or less. I have a nice BIG handful or 4-5 star properties in New Jersey who have made magic ladies. MAGIC I TELL YOU! They have dropped their fees by over half...I wish I had this years ago! I am not at liberty to advertise them. But promise you, after you meet with one of our consultants, your jaw will drop! And we can laugh all the way to the altar together! I never lie about funding or $$$. Anyone that knows us, will agree it's not laughing matter! Please note, these properties will ask for a non disclosure with pricing. Meaning, you cannot share your contractual(PRICE) information in chat rooms etc. It's a bonus for all of us! Let's keep this on the low so that others can have the same experience. OK? Give Lacey, Victoria or Alyssa a call at the office to schedule a complimentary meeting! 908.219.4028 We have lots of planning to do gals! Let's not wait until tomorrow...Let's save $$$ TODAY! Don't even bother asking if I have affordable vendors..That's a given! Lets GO! xoxox Samantha

Guess Whose Officiating Your Wedding?

2010-01-10T12:23:00.001-08:00
I have been looking for months regarding the legalities or performing ceremonies for our clients in the tri-state area. While there are many free sites, they are not exactly the real deal. It does take proper training and studying to become a minister or ordained clergy. I have great news! I am now able to officiate your wedding in the state of New Jersey and the 5 boroughs of NY. I have always wanted to do this as it would be an incredible honor to be a part of your day! We have worked with many ordained ministers and they have always been fantastic with great end results. We will continue to work with our chosen organizations. Please do not worry! However, I feel that due to my relationships with our clients, there are some I would rather conduct on my own. We truly do get to know the couples for a minimum of 10-12 months in most cases. If that couple decides not to marry in the church and their Priest will not marry outside of their congregation, I know that we can make your vows to each other become meaningful and personalized. I can even tell stories about the process along with your relationship to your nearest and dearest guests. While some of you want humor, some may want a romantic yet meaningful ceremony. Who can create that better than your partners in crime? I look forward to this new part of Samantha Goldberg & Co and hope you enjoy it too! xo Samantha Goldberg

Welcome to America Yewande!

2009-12-18T19:45:00.000-08:00
I received a call many months ago from a young lady who lives in Nigeria. She is currently a planner. Yoyo (Yewande) has decided she wants to better her organizational skills to gain more exposure. I am proud to announce she will be coming here to NY for some private lessons Jan 5th and 6th 2010. If you are around our Summit location, please come by to say hello to her! We couldn't be more excited for your visit Yoyo! Your going to love NJ/NY! Keep your eyes open for another student from Australia who is working her way here as well! It is absolutely amazing that I am able to meet planners from all over the world! We can learn from each other! I am so excited!!! Have a great weekend everyone! xo Sam

Education Update!

2009-12-18T19:34:00.001-08:00
First I would like to thank each and every student that has attended the CAES course in Summit NJ! Everyone has been extremely gracious with emails and calls! I need to get better at taking more photos during class and post them! I want to show everyone how absolutely awesome you are! I've finally gotten my act together and formatted a separate course for design. We have talked about doing this for a year now and one of my resolutions is to offer more of a variety! After all, I wouldn't want my parents hard earned money to go to waste! I should be teaching Kindergarten, but I have to admit this is much more fun! Event Design With Basic Coordination: Date Jan 23rd 2010 PRICE HAS BEEN REDUCED BY $100!Thanks to our local vendor donations for better education! We have 5 openings as of 12/17/09!!! This class will consist of schematics of design, color wheel, linens, rentals, lighting, texture vs no texture, layout and centerpiece design. Please make note, this is not the floral class which is taught monthly. We will still continue the 2 hour course with an award winning florist for $250! Please check my blog for dates in 2010. This class is for those who want to focus their speciality in design with coordination of anything that relates to details. You should have some basic event experience before attending this course. Unfortunately, I can only accommodate 8 students not 10! You will be assembling a few types of decor and we have space allotted for 8! Fee: $700 Date: 1-23-2010 Location: !2 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 Time: 10am to 6pm (It's a long one! Wear comfy shoes!) Contact our Special Events Coordinator Lacey Borman Cohen at lacey@samanthagoldberg.com for more info and to reserve your space. CAES 200 Beginning Planning January 9th 2010 This class has also been reduced by our local vendors who give donations for those who cannot afford education due to unemployment or restricted schedules. The fee of $695 is now $550! You must qualify for financial assistance to receive this discount. This course has 3 available openings! Hurry to get in while the price is hot! This course is for the novice planner. The CAES 200 teaches the basic essentials to coordinate Day and Month of Coordination. You will work on time lines, sales methods, organizational skills, client assessments, where to begin in this crazy market and the fundamental skills you must have in order to succeed! This includes vendor relationships, venue information and much more! You will be required to intern at one of our offices as well as visiting some of the local venues in your neighborhood. You will need to work an event with a certified planner as an assistant and then asked to complete your own event which will be given to you by Samantha Goldberg. You may use this one event to begin your portfolio. Date: January 9th 2010 Saturday Time: 9:30 to 4pm Location: 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ Fee $695 10 Students Max Please call Lacey at 908.219.4028 for more information or email at lacey@samanthagoldberg.com Are you done working for someone else yet? Do you want to break into the industry and learn the RIGHT way to begin? We have hands on workshops to get you out there the right way! This course may be 1 day of theory, but many weeks of on the job training with yours truly or another established planner on our staff!

Education Update!

2009-12-18T19:34:00.000-08:00

Best of The Knot 2009/2010! Yeah for Us!!

2009-11-27T08:02:00.001-08:00
I wanted to thank everyone who voted for us as " Best of The Knot Weddings" in 2009/2010! I was also so EXCITED to see that 3 of our recent students were also named "The Best of Knot"! I couldn't be prouder! Our team is continuing to strive on being the best with education/customer service satisfaction! Without my fabulous team, we would just be another cookie cutter business. I've learned it's the people who work with you that are the ones who rise to the top! Im very fortunate to have such a loyal and hardworking crew! This is not an easy task let me tell you! Its like finding the "perfect" guy! You have to kiss a lot of toads in order to find your prince! In our case we have to weed through many "me" types of people in order to reach the "WE" folks! I want a team! There's no "I' in team right?? We always love your feedback and will continue to offer the best customer service possible! Here's to a fabulous 2010! We have much to share for 2010! Press and More Press! Samantha's book is in progress and hopes to have a tour date in late summer 2010! We have been chosen for the 4th year to be a columnist for the Star Ledger regarding bridal trends and advice! Keep your eyes open for an upcoming issues in the Bridal Planner! We have also been featured in NJ Bride January 2010, where we discuss our experiences with reality television. Some of our fab brides are being featured too! www.bridalguide.com New post is up!! Samantha Goldberg's Red Carpet Weddings! The Knot 2010 Winter!! Profile story and advice advice advice! Keep checking back to see our new taping schedule and Samantha's new show in the works!! Lot's going on and were all very excited for the new year! Please welcome planners Kim and Elizabeth to our team!!! We currently have 16 planners ready to make your event as fabulous as it can be!! Trust me these gals don't understand anything but perfection!! Happy Holidays To All! xo Samantha

Wedding Blues...Post Wedding Blues???

2009-11-20T19:41:00.000-08:00
Post Wedding Blues I am sure you have all heard about post partum depression. It comes from a plethora of reasons from hormones to losing your time in the spotlight. But have you heard about post wedding blues? Same feelings one has when focusing on wedding activities 24/7 and then once the day has come to an end, so is your stardom! Everyone forgets about the planning, the excitement of being engaged and getting ready for that moment you say I do. People stop focusing on you period! It makes perfect sense why one would be depressed. You feel like your kicked by the roadside until something else is the focus...Yes..I mean babies. Well, this would be the sure fire way to keep all eyes on you for at least another year right? But after you spent so much time getting your body bride fit, are you sure you want to expand in every direction for attention? I don't know about you, I would think of a plan C...Like having part 2 of your wedding a year from now! Much easier and maybe less stressful depending on how elaborate you go! BTW..The baby thing...This is an area I would implore you wait. You'll want to spend time as the new Mrs. Jones and get your feet good and grounded before you step down as #1 and take second runner up. That's not a bad thing, but don't rush to Babies R Us so fast OK? Not a good way to get long term attention there are better ways trust me! I have watched countless brides go down this spiral leading to disappointment when their vision of how life should be doesn't appear the way they had hoped. They tend to fall in love with the concept of being in love and living happily ever after. The wedding has to be perfect in order to achieve this "perfect" life right? Wrong! Focusing on anything 24/7 isn't healthy. I am sure we can all agree, but can you stop yourself from doing it? Can you allow yourself to focus on life with your finace' and career, family or anything that does not pertain to that date you asked people to save? Many cannot. I don't want to destroy any one's excitement about planning their special day, but the reality is if you don't smell the coffee every now and then, you lose who you are and that leads to major disasters! Even a divorce before the marriage! Scary huh? Take some of the celebrities that have been married to several people. The reason why they are so short lived with a mate is due to the excitement wearing off. For a celebrity to give up after 6 months, isn't a good sign. Or is it? They do get tons of publicity about their love life and the more dramatic it is, the more people want to talk about it. I guess they live on this very unstable roller coaster day by day. But when is it enough? They are always in the limelight and once their out of it, you can only imagine how alone they feel. One thing I would suggest is to split up tasks where you are able to delegate certain things and wait to complete others. Call it a timeline if you will. I would call it a guarantee that you won't make your significant crazy enough to run to China. or anyone else in your circle for the most part. It is completely normal for many women and men to have a down period after the wedding. You have just been the center of many and it ends so quickly! What you have to keep in mind is the vanity doesn't have to end, you just have to learn when to shut it down and get back into your routine again. When you don't focus on perfection of this new type of relationship you won't be disappointed. You have the rest of your life for many surprises and exciting events to plan! If all else fails, have a renewal of vows for your first anniversary. Seal and Heidi Klum do this even after 4+ years. They throw a themed wedding reception to rekindle and celebrate their love for each other! I think that is a fabulous idea! Just keep one thing in mind after your special day, this is the first day of the rest of your lives. You can make it as exciting and dramatic as you want! Just because your gown is retired, doesn't mean you can't still be the bride right??? Here's a toast to many newly engaged couples this Thanksgiving having the best planning experience ever! Savor the moment each day, you don't get this time back! So take it slow and enjoy the ride. I promise you , there will always be drama around the corner! Marriage is never a bore! xo Sam

Education Time! New Classes For 2010!!

2009-11-20T15:24:00.000-08:00
Hello Everyone!! First I would like to thank each and every student that has attended the CAES course in Summit NJ! Everyone has been extremely gracious with emails and calls! I need to get better by taking more photos during class and post them! I want to show everyone how absolutely awesome you are! I've finally gotten my act together and designed a separate course for design. We have talked about doing this for a year now and one of my resolutions is to offer more of a variety! After all, I wouldn't want my parents hard earned money to go to waste! I should be teaching Kindergarten, but I have to admit this is much more fun! Event Design With Basic Coordination: Date Jan 23rd 2010 This class will consist of schematics of design, color wheel, linens, rentals, lighting, texture vs no texture, layout and centerpiece design. Please make note, this is not the floral class which is taught monthly. We will still continue the 2 hour course with an award winning florist for $250! Please check my blog for dates in 2010. This class is for those who want to focus their speciality in design with little coordination. You should have some basic event experience before attending this course. Unfortunately, I can only accommodate 8 students not 10! You will be assembling a few types of decor and we have space allotted for 8! Fee: $800 Date: 1-23-2010 Location: !2 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 Time: 10am to 6pm (It's a long one! Wear comfy shoes!) Contact our Special Events Coordinator Lacey Borman Cohen at lacey@samanthagoldberg.com for more info and to reserve your space. CAES 200 Beginning Planning January 9th 2010 This course is for the novice planner. The CAES 200 teaches the basic essentials to coordinate Day and Month of Coordination. You will work on timelines, sales methods, organizational skills, client assessments, where to begin in this crazy market and the fundamental skills you must have in order to succeed! This includes vendor relationships, venue information and much more! You will be required to intern at one of our offices as well as visiting some of the local venues in your neighborhood. You will need to work an event with a certified planner as an assistant and then asked to complete your own event which will be given to you by Samantha Goldberg. You may use this one event to begin your portfolio. Date: January 9th 2010 Saturday Time: 9:30 to 4pm Location: 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ Fee $695 10 Students Max Please call Lacey at 908.219.4028 for more information or email at lacey@samanthagoldberg.com I hope this brings some interest your way! I look forward to meeting everyone in 2010! Let's make next year one that counts! Here's to new careers in the exciting world of events! xoxox Samantha

What Not To Say During a Wedding Toast

2009-11-09T18:03:00.000-08:00
What Not To Say During a Toast At a Wedding.... I'm sure we've been to enough weddings where it was time to hear the best mans or maid of honors toast. Sometimes they can be well thought out and heartfelt. Other times you wonder if the one giving the honorable speech is drunk or just plain stupid. Face it, it's a lot of pressure standing up in front of any crowd and you want to make sure you say something tasteful along with being fun! I have learned during my career that there are just certain things you just don't say. For example, say this is your brothers wedding and the date was pushed due to him getting his girlfriend pregnant. It probably wouldn't be appropriate to say how your brother used to be so irresponsible and now thank goodness he's taking responsibility for his actions and how proud you are...I would say this may not get many laughs and may be your ticket out of the relationship you could have had with his wife. You may want to reminisce about your single days with your best girlfriend and how you used to travel and compete for being with the most men. How she would always come home with someone new every night. You thought how could she possibly ever settle down. You may also mention how grateful you are that she found one person that satisfies her every need. Thank goodness you don't have to worry about her going home with the wrong guy too! No matter how you try and dress this one up, you are going to be toast when the groom get's to you later...Even worse, your best friend may be so mortified and embarrassed that she regrets asking you to stand up and asks the videographer to delete this portion. I wouldn't want to be you! One of my all time favorites is someone who might have been married a few times already. I have heard the bestman explain how it's 3 times the charm and sometimes you have to try out the merchandise before you place your bet. Or maybe he knew that the other 2 women were never the right ones once he started dating the bride. Rule of thumb, you never talk about the ex. Not only is this distasteful but not funny at all. Who would even want to think of any relationship that caused the bride or groom any anguish or pain? Trust me your not doing them a favor by reminding them of their past mistakes. So while you prepare the toast, do everyone a favor and speak of the here and now! This could prevent a huge fight between the newly weds after the fact! Would you want to start the marriage with thoughts of divorce? While these may sound funny when you are alone with the bride or groom, it's probably not a good idea to talk about the "topics off the list" in front of 100 guests. If you are the type who cannot handle their liquor, I would keep the toast nice and short. Maybe wishing them well and toasting to a long and joyful life together. His or her family may think some of the private topics are funny. However, what if they don't? All eyes on you babe and that is worse than Marsha Brady and her fear of speaking in front of an audience. You cannot just picture everyone in their underwear and get through it. It will stay with you a LONG time after the wedding! I think a smart rule to follow is "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" right??? You can always look to a professional toast writer to give you something appropriate. That may be the best gift you can give to your newly wed friends..Call it a good investment! Cheers! xo Sam

Is This You??

2009-11-07T10:38:00.000-08:00
I thought I might share a VERY funny video with all of my favorite brides out there! This gave me a chuckle! Please let your groom have a breather every now and then!!!!

Are You The $20K And Under Bride???

2009-10-28T17:03:00.000-07:00
Are you a bride who has a fabulous $20,000 budget or less? Do you feel clueless on what to do, where to start or how much you should be paying for your wedding overall? We have the perfect solution!!! Let's have a fabulous time planning the most amazing day of your life! Honestly, you just need the right tools and a great partner in crime. I have spent the last 2 months compiling a list of professional vendors and venues who are willing to work with you! This includes New Jersey, New York and PA! Only catch...You have to be a 2010 bride and a bit flexible with dates. There's no reason why you can't have a $40,000 wedding for $20,000 right? This sounds way too much like an infomercial...I am sorry! I cannot express in words how excited I am about the venues and vendors who have substantially lowered their fees to assist our clients during the tough economy! This thrills me more than you know! I love a challenging budget! Many moons ago, I ONLY worked with the 20K bride. It challenged me and allowed creativity with sense of accomplishment. I knew it was needed and wasn't afraid to jump in. Bottom line gals, I know people who want to assist!! They just haven't found you yet! I'm just here to connect the dots! Please call Lacey Borman Cohen to set a complimentary one hour appointment with one of our planners who will be able to show you the many ways to save and have the wedding day you have been dreaming about. STRESS FREE PLANNING IS NOT AN UNREALISTIC GOAL! 908.219.4028 xo Sam

Samantha's Headed To Orlando For Bridal Boot Camp!! Dec 5-6th 2009!!

2009-10-24T16:34:00.000-07:00
Planning Tips & Trends For The Stylish Bride Featuring Celebrity Wedding Planner Samantha Goldberg Hosted by Creative Designs Event Details When Dec 5, 2009 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM (1 day event) where Seminar - Legends Luxury Suite/ Reception- The Summerlin House 1315 S.Orange Avenue- Legends Luxury Suite 111 Summerlin Avenue - The Summerlin House Orlando, FL 32806 cost $45.00 homepage http://www.Thesummerlinhouse.com December 5th & 6th Limited to 150 Brides per day 12:00(Noon) Registration /sign in 12:30 Lunch will be provided 1:00 -5:00 pm - Planning Tips and Trends from Orlando's most sought after wedding vendors and featuring Samantha Goldberg for Q&A Session 5:00 Transportation will be provided to our new venue "The Summerlin House At Thornton Park" 6:00 - 8:00 pm Cocktail Reception at The Summerlin House Cocktails, hord'oeuvres, music and dancing! Samantha will attend the cocktail reception. ***ONE LUCKY BRIDE WILL BE DRAWN FOR A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR FREE VENUE PACKAGE AT THE SUMMERLIN HOUSE VALUED AT $1,500!!! Don't miss out on this event!!! Limited to 150 Brides per day Call now to reserve your spot and meet Samantha!!! Please register with the Summerlin House! The link is above! I am so excited to meet everyone! I have head this event is booking quickly so please sign up now!! Samantha!

CAES 100-200 UPDATE!

2009-10-24T16:24:00.000-07:00
Hello Everyone! I apologize in advance if some of you have called the office this weekend. We are out of state currently and will return on Monday October 26th at 10am. We are planning a large birthday this weekend! 40 is the magic 30's! Congrats to Angela. I promise you will LOVE your 40's more than 30's! I did want to keep everyone abreast of the CAES 100 on Nov 7th, this class is now filled! Again, we have received your calls and will call you regarding the Nov 14th course. This class has 4 openings and ample time to sign up. Both floral classes still have openings. Please call Lacey about each date to see what one may work for you. You are always welcome to email Lacey at lacey@samanthagoldberg.com. If you are looking to book with Ana Ortega or Carla Costa for the Day of Coordination special please let Lacey know when you call. Again, thank you so much for your continued support for our courses and seminars. If you would like a FREE VIP pass to our January "Celebrate Your Success in 2010" seminar, please call to sign up now. Dates will be released in November. This seminar/expo will be the BEST education one can receive for doing better in 2010. Any vendor may sign as this is for anyone in the event and wedding industry. As always, I look forward to seeing everyone! Samantha Goldberg

CAES 100 and The Fabulous and Frugal Floral Class Nov 2009

2009-10-17T07:54:00.000-07:00
Hello Aspiring Planners or Tribal Friends! I am giving in! Lacey had received several calls literally the morning after the Oct 3rd class asking us when the next course was! Why do you guys wait until the day after??? Ha! You are too funny! I have to share a secret, I used to do the same thing in the professional beauty world. I know I said I would wait until 2010 for any new classes, but you've inspired me to have more. I love educating and sharing our pearls. Actually what I love most is hearing your success stories after you graduate! Our last class was FANTASTIC! Nine energetic ladies who really want to make a mark in the industry. I commend you and will be your support system anytime you need it! We have added 2 classes in November 2009. CAES 100 "Beginners Level" This is your basic how do I get started, the logistics of the biz and where do you start course! This course is NOT for the planner who has been in the industry for over a year or completed over 25 weddings. If you fall into this category, please ask about the CAES 200 or our newest addition "CAES 300 Intermediate". ***Please note CAES 300 is a 2 day course and will require a minimum level of exp 50 weddings and or have taken CAES 100, 200 and floral design. The 2 day course will also include a floral design portion including an intermediate centerpiece and personals. We have 2 dates! November 7th and 14th! Maximum 10 Students per class Location: 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ Fee $595**(Financial aid for students attending college or SAHM's) Time: 9:30am-4:30pm Certification for Day of Coordination upon completion of in office and DOC client. **Please call office for an application for financial aid ask for Lacey Borman Cohen) The Fabulous and Frugal Floral Class Maximum 10 students Summit location Fee please call! Each student will learn the logistics of design, lighting, linens and will assemble a centerpiece along with a corsage. Dates available Nov 2nd and 9th! Time 6:30pm-8:30pm Pizza and beverages will be served! If you have taken any CAES course and have not been contacted about the floral class please let us know! This is a fantastic class with an award winning floral artist! This is the last call for 2009 as Samantha will be traveling in December! I want to thank everyone for your calls and emails about the courses! Education is one of my favorite parts of the industry! There's always so much to learn and share! Look forward to meeting everyone in November! *** Some of the courses maybe taped! Please let us know if you have an issue with being on television! I completely understand if this is NOT an area you choose to participate in. Please call Lacey Borman-Cohen at 908.219-4028 or email lacey@samanthagoldberg.com for more info. See you soon!!! xoxo Samantha Goldberg *** As we do have floral educators in house, we are always open to new ones. If you are interested in working with some of our courses, please contact me directly at samantha@samanthagoldberg.com. We have had a huge amount of interest in floral design and don't always have enough staff available!

The UGLY bridesmaids dress!

2009-10-15T10:53:00.000-07:00
I think one of the biggest honors in the world is being asked by a close friend to stand up at her wedding. It's like winning the Emmys! You're proud and you want to make this day amazing for your friend "the bride". With this title of "Bridesmaid or Maid of Honor", there's responsibility that tags along side if it. Call it a silent contract. You will do the best you can to assist the bride with little projects up until the wedding. You will also help her ease the stress with lending an ear even if 90% of the time it's bitching about the inlaws or even her own family. Even if you cannot hear another ounce of whining, you listen with the phone on speaker while you polish your nails or watch a favorite movie with subtitles. It's a hectic job right? But you take each day with a deep breath and you deal with it. Or at least you try to. So there you have it, you made the cut into the bridal party. It's all good right? Or until she decides what the bridesmaids dresses are going to look like...If everyone had the same taste, we would never have issues. Or if all of the ladies have the same figure, big boobs and a size 22 waist, we'd be in GREAT shape. However, let's be honest, the likelihood of this happening are slim to none. How many weddings have you stood up in where the bride says just wear what you want in this color? Since most of my friends are married or divorced working on #2, I can tell you I never was given that option. Now when we look at albums, I get apologies cause Sam, you didn't look good in that dress. No one did! After spending a few hundred on a deep purple dress with a lace collar for example, it makes one wonder what the designer was on when they marketed such an item. Not even Cindy Crawford would look good in this. You know how certain things can make someone look bad right? This is definitely one of those fashion DON'T! So why is it that some brides pick a dress that only they can wear or appreciate? "She has that vision thing going on again". It's a brides thing...You see it in a a magazine and your sure your bridal party is going to look just as glamorous as the photo. Well NOT if some are tall, short , blessed on top, blessed on bottom...Or over blessed. I have witnessed the OVER BLESSED and let me tell you, I can't even find the words to describe what it looks like. I wonder of these women felt the same pain I feel...I am sure they do! I wouldn't be able to stand back if I wasn't comfortable wearing something. I would hope my friend could appreciate that everyone wants to look good. I mean it is her wedding and she is your friend, right? I cannot even tell you how many times I have watched bridesmaids argue, drop out of the bridal party or worst case scenario end the friendship over the dress...Yes...Over the dress. It gets wicked and sometimes the outcome is not pretty. Even if the party decides to wear the choice regardless if they look good in it or not. I have to ask, doesn't anyone worry about the photos? Take this photo (above) for example. I cannot believe the girls saw this dress and said YES IT'S PERFECT! Now luckily all of them had the figure to pull a dress like this off. I am not saying they looked good in it. In fact, my first response was feeling a slight urge to vomit just looking at it. As a planner one area I stay away from is the Brides dress and her entourage's attire. Why? Because everyone has an opinion and this particular subject is very emotional. I don't want to give the wrong answer. Or perhaps the honest answer. I think this is up to the family or close friends to get beaten over. I have enough issues in other areas to deal with. So while you see me on television going with the bride to try on the gown, it's not my idea. The good news is that many designers especially the chain stores like a Davids Bridal give the bride and her bridesmaids a choice in style to match every body type. While the bride is able to create the palate, the BM's are able to feel comfortable in a gown even though it may not be her favorite color. Many designers are now doing this to show diversity and maybe assist with the issues that do come up while searching for the perfect look. Just remember bridesmaids, there are solutions with the dress. It's not wrong to express your concerns and if you can give a few options to your special friend who is going to be the one in white, you may find it's not a fight after all. To the bride who made her BM's wear this one as shown in the picture, I am sure we can all agree they will not be wearing this dress again. Especially since it's all over the Internet. Who would have ever thought this color could be so intrusive? Someone finally made it happen!

National Show Casting Brides That Are Getting Married In Dec!

2009-10-09T13:27:00.000-07:00
Hello Brides!!! If you have already planned a wedding for December 2009 and are in the NJ,NY,PA or CT area this is quite the opportunity! If you want to get married in December and want to be totally spontaneous this could also be a GREAT way to save $$$!! Please email lacey@samanthagoldberg.com ASAP! For Brides in December 2009 Attention all Brides in the Tri State area!!!!! New National TV Show is giving free makeovers to one lucky bride and her bridal party on her special day. If you or someone you know is looking for the best of the best to do your makeup/hair for FREE we want you!!! The catch is we are looking for brides getting married THIS December!! If you think you or someone you know would be an excellent candidate please send a photo, how many people are in your wedding party, what your overall theme/look is, and a brief paragraph on why we should choose you!!! Please send to s.boasberg@gmail.com Thanks and congrats to all the lucky brides!!!

Happy Monday! Special Promo For Day of Coordination Brides!

2009-10-05T08:16:00.000-07:00
Attention Brides To Be! I am happy to announce that we have just completed training on Oct 3rd for 9 Day of Coordination planners! That means...YES a FREE qualified planner to assist you with your needs for the day of your wedding only! If your wedding is in the months of Jan-March of 2010 please call Lacey Borman Cohen at our Summit location to sign up! There are NO strings attached! These lovely ladies need experience and are fully capable of assisting you! We are also running a special promo for our new planners who have recently joined the team! Welcome Ana Ortega, Carla Costa and Jenny Taylor! This promo will only be available for Nov-Feb 2010 brides! Call now to ensure you get this fabulous offer!!! If you are REALLY brave...We have over 60 venues in the tristate area who will save you 40-50% off the per person fee if you have your wedding by April 2010! It can be done we have recent bride testimonials to prove it! 908.219.4028 For Reservations! Looking Forward To Working With You! xo Samantha

We've Added More Classes!!

2009-09-21T19:27:00.000-07:00
Financial Aid Offered For CAES 100 Students!!! FINANCIAL AID OFFERED TO STUDENTS,UNEMPLOYED APPLICANTS,SAHM's. Some of our local vendors have contributed to allow those who are in need of financial aid to attend this beginners course only. Please make mention this is for the CAES 100 series. We are running out of funding and our class is getting full! CAES Beginner Planning Course 100! Oct 3rd 2009 For those who want to get into the industry have absolutely NO experience and want the logistics from beginning to end, this is the class for you!Please check out our website www.samanthagoldberg.com Education link. We have already reserved 9 seats and have ONLY 3 left! If you were on our wait list from last months course and were not called, please call us ASAP to ensure we register you. This will be the last beginners course for the year. The CAES 200 will most likely take place in November and is for planners who need a jump start. The CAES 200 is not a beginner course. Please call Lacey Borman Cohen our Special Events Coordinator @ 908.219.4028 for an application to see if you are approved for this specialized course! Please mention CAES Beg Class 100 on Oct 3rd 2009 as we have other classes being taught during the month of September/October as well. The classes in Oct are advanced seminars and have been filled to date. Please inquire about November classes when you call. For recent clients, we offer an additional $50 discount. For planners who have taken our beginners course, we offer an additonal $100 discount which cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Location 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 Time and Date Oct 3rd 2009 Time: 9:30-4pm Supplies included Breakfast and a full lunch will be provided and is included in fee If you are coming in from out of state we have special hotel promos and transportation to the class. Please inquire if needed. Fee $699 Student Maximum 12 9 at Current We look forward to seeing you! ***Since this course is for Beginners ONLY we will have up to 2 intern dates for each student (This may not apply for every student). You will be invited to an event with-in 3-6 months after you have completed the course. You will be required to work at least one event before you receive certification. You must be able to work a wedding on your own with an assistant provided by Samantha Goldberg in order to be certified. If you are a bride getting married in Sept-December and would like to have a day of coordinator at n/c please inquire by emailing samantha@samanthagoldberg.com

Can You Plan A Wedding Even With Limited finds???

2009-09-21T19:24:00.000-07:00
In light of the current recession you may find yourself wondering how you can create the perfect day without breaking the bank. There are many things that we need to have present and others that are a “wanted” item. As long as you have a plan in place, you are sure to maximize all funds to have the wedding of your dreams. When you begin planning, it’s very important to keep in mind that your venue should not take up more than 45% of your budget. The more flexible you are with date and time, the likely you are to get the best bang for your buck! Most venues have extraordinary specials to accommodate any budget right now. In fact, if you are considered a spontaneous planner, you may be able to plan your wedding in less than 6 months and save almost 50%! That means 50% more to spend on great photography, video and design! Venues are not the only area where you can save. Photography and video are the only tangible items that will last a lifetime. You never want to skimp on these. It’s a rarity to have all of your nearest and dearest in the same location so taking advantage of this is important and you need a professional. While we used to think registering was just for china and bedding, did you know that you can register with your photographer or videographer? This allows you to ask for financial assistance, but your guests will see that it’s going towards something that is most memorable. Another way to save is looking for a photographer who is willing to just give you the disk and allow you to make a book or copies of photos as you wish. This can save you almost 50%! Maybe after the wedding is over you can go back to the photographer and get a book you desire! You can also look into photography schools for new graduates who are just dying to build a portfolio and in return give you the negatives. You can afford a book this way for sure! The same applies with video. If you ask a professional to take straight footage and minimal editing you can save over 60%. You can have the video edited at a later date when you feel it’s OK to invest! Last but certainly not least is floral and entertainment. When you visit your florist ask about floral that is in season. Local floral is going to be a lot less expensive than having to ship from overseas. You also may want to ask if they can use floral stock. This basically means left over floral from another wedding or what they currently have in house at all times. You can save 20-40% this way! You may also want to alternate centerpieces, maybe lows and highs, or candles on tables and floral on another. Diversity keeps things exciting! Entertainment has always been known to make or break an event. DJ’s are absolutely the more affordable way to have music during your reception. There are many services that just have a DJ present who can play fantastic music to keep your guests on the dance floor and not at the table! If you are set on having live music try a cover band from your local hot spot…Did you know you can have live music for 4 hours under $3,000?? IPOD’s are becoming increasingly popular too. Make sure you hire someone to man the IPOD station to ensure you have no issues with delivery of music. There are so many great ways to have the perfect day without taking a loan or having to forgo things that you want. Remember planning ahead is always key. You’ll always know what to expect and won’t set such high expectations. You only have this one day to create something special! So keep in mind whatever you do will be all about you and that is what’s most important! Happy Planning!!!

How Does A Planner Stop A Major Mistake?

2009-08-29T16:29:00.000-07:00
I guess that really depends on what type of mistake your speaking of. If you are talking about the logistics of planning, no problem. If your asking me what would I do if I didn't agree with a marriage, that's a tough call. I have tried in so many ways to give subtle hints in many of the publications that I contribute to what you should stay away from etc. The bigger question is do I have clients that should not be getting married? While I would like to answer this with specifics, let's just assume that all of us in the event industry have our own opinions of what we see as potentially being a bad fit. When we have worked with celebs and this may be their first or 3rd wedding, do you think they care what our opinions are? No. They want what everyone wants, the perfect day. Some will go to any extent to get it done, while others tread waters lightly. I will tell you one thing, we do hear this statement quite often. " I had this the last time and it didn't work, so we need something completely opposite OK Sam?" I have to admit for the record, I don't believe in the word perfect. I think we look at things that may be perfect for us...But are not necessarily perfect. Is there such a thing anyway? Is there really such a thing as a perfect marriage? Think about it. Honestly, I would probably use one of their last ideas as something borrowed or used..I mean this does fit with the wedding rules right? I am trying to be eco friendly here, bare with me ha! It's such a tough call to decide what's right or wrong. Who should be getting married and who should run to China. I have had my share and we watch them walk down the aisle only to get a call a year or so later saying it didn't work, but I think this time, it's right. OK. So who are we to say "this " time is going to be right? I have so many friends on the A list circuit and when I hear what weddings they attend and how they loved everything but the couple. It's kid of disheartening. As I always have said, it's Hollywood. So getting married 5-7 times doesn't seem abnormal. Or does it? They are living in such a world we will never understand. I have many friends who deal with bad publicity and paparazzi in their face, it's almost as though the world kind of decides their fate. That stinks! I have had some bad publicity due to a reality show where people think because it's called reality, it must be real. I have news for you, you cannot change the story line, but you can change the way things are perceived with the right music and commentary. I like many others on the tv screen have learned about the edit button the hard way. But then without drama, it wouldn't get the best ratings..But at who's expense? I have one family member who has been married 2 times already and going for #3. You would think she would just realize she's not "marriage material". I really wish she was. But after several relationships gone wrong, I would think she'd catch on. I am not worried that she will read this, as she doesn't pay much attention to anything I write. I think I'm safe. Maybe there's a part of me who secretly hopes she reads this and realizes she's making another mistake. I really think she is. And this time, it may screw her up worse than any other relationship. I really do believe there are people who are just not meant to get married. Why? Because for them, it's just a piece of paper. I mean look at Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russel? They have a great relationship which I guarantee has had it's ups and downs. But look at Goldie, she even admits why ruin a good thing? They love each other and what's a piece of paper going to prove? I hate to say it, but Goldie does make a strong point. They are still together. I do love planning weddings and events don't get me wrong. But there is a moral obligation I have to not take on every client. And this is for many reasons. Maybe they are a bad fit for each other or for us. I think after working 18 years in the industry, I have the right to do what feels right in my heart. I am not a psychiatrist but I might as well be with all of the issues I see. I have started sharing some of this in book and I do share several anecdotes. While I have changed the names, I will always remember who they were and hope that most have lasted. Although for years people have asked how many of your clients do you think are still married. I have decided as a professional not to answer this. I think people can formulate their own opinion right? I don't think our celeb clients really need anymore trouble from press etc...They are human. My question to you, the bride or the public, is do you believe there is such a thing as a perfect relationship and what does it mean to have one? Would love to share your experiences in my book or on my blog. I am an old soul, so there is a part of me that still feels true love is right around the corner. I just know based on experience that even true love takes time and patience. What do you think?

Financial Aid Offered For CAES 100 Students!!!

2009-08-24T10:10:00.000-07:00
FINANCIAL AID OFFERED TO STUDENTS,UNEMPLOYED APPLICANTS,SAHM's. Some of our local vendors have contributed to allow those who are in need of financial aid to attend this beginners course only. Please make mention this is for the CAES 100 series. We are running out of funding and our class is getting full! CAES Beginner Planning Course 100! Sept 12th 2009 For those who want to get into the industry have absolutely NO experience and want the logistics from beginning to end, this is the class for you!Please check out our website www.samanthagoldberg.com Education link. We have already reserved 6 seats and have ONLY 6 left! Please call Lacey Borman Cohen our Special Events Coordinator @ 908.219.4028 for an application to see if you are approved for this specialized course! Please mention CAES Beg Class 100 on Sept 12th 2009 as we have other classes being taught during the month of September as well. Those are advanced courses and have been filled. Please inquire about other classes when you call. For recent clients, we offer an additional $50 discount. Location 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 Time and Date Sept 12th 2009 Time: 9:30-4pm Supplies included Breakfast and lunch provided and is included in fee ( We do not serve just roll ups! Unless of course that is what would like!) If you are coming in from out of state we have special hotel promos and transportation to the class. Please inquire if needed. Fee $699 Student Maximum 12 6 at Current We look forward to seeing you! ***Since this course is for Beginners ONLY we will have up to 2 intern dates for each student. You will be tested and will be required to work at least one event before you receive certification. You must be able to work a wedding on your own with an assistant provided by Samantha Goldberg. Posted by get real with samantha goldberg at 7:41 AM 0 comments

Promotion for Month of Coordination and Day of Coordination

2009-08-17T08:05:00.000-07:00
Hello Prospective Brides and Grooms Due to our many classes and new employees we are running a tri-state promotion (NY,NJ and PA). This promotion is limited to Sept-Jan of 2010 ONLY. Decor services by Samantha Goldberg will also be provided at a discount. Please call for our Fall Back Special 908.219.4028 for information. Ask for Lacey. Availability is limited during peak months Sept and Oct of 2009 as we have already booked other clients. Savings at over 40%!!!! So yes you can afford a planner! Distance will factor into the amount. This rate applies to 2 hours or less from Summit NJ. Minimal travel fees may apply for locations over 2 hours. We look forward to meeting you! Samantha Goldberg

CAES Beginner Planning Course 100! Sept 12th 2009

2009-08-17T07:41:00.000-07:00
For those who want to get into the industry have absolutely NO experience and want the logistics from beginning to end, this is the class for you!Please check out our website www.samanthagoldberg.com Education link. We have already reserved 6 seats and have ONLY 6 left! Please call Lacey Borman Cohen our Special Events Coordinator @ 908.219.4028 for an application to see if you are approved for this specialized course! Please mention CAES Beg Class 100 on Sept 12th 2009 as we have other classes being taught duirng the month of September as well. Those are advanced courses and have been filled. Please inquire about other classes when you call. For recent clients, we offer an additional $50 discount. Location 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 Time and Date Sept 12th 2009 Time: 9:30-4pm Supplies included Breakfast and lunch provided and is included in fee ( We do not serve just roll ups! Unless of course that is what would like!) If you are coming in from out of state we have special hotel promos and transportation to the class. Please inquire if needed. Fee $699 Student Maximum 12 6 at Current We look forward to seeing you! ***Since this course is for Beginners ONLY we will have up to 2 intern dates for each student. You will be tested and will be required to work at least one event before you receive certification. You must be able to work a wedding on your own with an assistant provided by Samantha Goldberg.

Weddings That Work Marriages That Last

2009-08-17T05:29:00.000-07:00
It has been a few weeks since my last post. I feel like I am either leading to confession or the 12 step program. If there was a place for planners to do this, I would be first in line. The last 2 months have been unbelievable! While we have fabulous weddings 99% of the time, there's always a handful that you can say, this one is going to have some problems later on. Since I am hired to plan and not give marital advice, it is hard when a fellow bride asks us questions that elude to "am I making the right decision". You want to tell them flat out "STAY AWAY"! "The in laws are going to wreck your marriage and they are going to have their say in your special day whether you like it or not. Or your fiance won't even let you have your favorite colors in the venue, this is a sign that he does not respect your thoughts or opinions". It isn't as easy as choosing your wedding decor, vendors, guests and walking down the aisle. I wish this were true. It's really about communication and how it works with anything you do together. If your fiance' is a momma's boy/girl at this age, you might as well assume, this isn't going to change. It may get a bit lighter, but that's a bond that will last a lifetime. You have to accept this now, or just get out. There's no compromise 100% of the way! Marriage doesn't mean people will change for the better or make things "livable". I'm sure we can all agree that there are certain habits or peeves we have with our significant others. Some we can work with and some, we cannot change. Although, many relationships feel that once the wedding is over, everything just fits into place and we live happily ever after. Sounds great right? Sorry folks, this couldn't be farther from the truth. I'm not saying by any means that you cannot have a healthy marriage. I am mearly saying that it's going to take work. Some days your not going to see eye to eye. There many be days where some one's family has overstepped their boundaries. It's up to your partner in this case to let people know what's appropriate to get involved in. Do you know that saying "don't let them into your bedroom"? Well, it's not always meant to be about sex. It means your domain. If you are having sexual issues, I am not sure mom and dad should know about this. If you are old enough to get married, you are mature enough to handle this without them. Some of us are used to sharing EVERYTHING with our families and friends. Well, marriage kind of changes those rules. It's not like when your dating and you have smaller issues that get resolved or you break it off. Once you share intimate details about your marriage with family, you can be sure if the information you are sharing is bad, you cannot go back to having your family love them unconditionally all over again. That takes time, and there's no guarantee that things will go back to where they were. We live in a very judgemental world and there are many friends and families who are protective of their children or friends. Who can blame them? We don't want anything bad to happen to the ones we love right? but where do you draw the line? Some families no matter how hard you try, will always side with their own. Just because you marry into a family doesn't mean they will treat you like your one of them. I know this holds true for those who come from broken homes in hopes that this new found family will bring them in and treat them as an equal. Set no expectations, and whatever you receive will be a gift. I have had to follow this in many instances and it's hard. You cannot expect anyone to do anything. It's just something that they'll do, in their own time. If you both go into this union making decisions together and not involving the "outer world", you may find that you are able to conquer many things later on alone. Even if you don't agree with your partner about everything they want or need, even letting them express their thoughts is respectful. I wrote an article with Cosmo last December that mentioned how I know a couple isn't going to make it to the altar or after. Communication was key. Three out of the 5 signs I used had to do with how we are able to express our thoughts etc... Are we shot down or does the other listen and then give an opinion? There was one sign about letting the groom choose the cake. It did bring up several blogs written by men who agreed, this was important to them too. Let's be honest, it may seem like a silly thing to get into an argument over, but it's a decision and it's not really all about the bride anymore. Grooms have an opinion too. We should at least listen to what they say. Such a simple request "the cake". While you get to choose just about everything. Think about it. I will leave you with this. Yes, this Summer was challenging with a few clients. Some weddings were doomed from the start. I should have walked away. Maybe that would have changed things? Or not. I guess I will never know. I do know that with every couple where I saw issues, communication was the major reason of why it wasn't going to work, and we just went downhill from there. Sad when you invest so much time along with a large sum of money and you don't get the "happily ever after" you thought would be there in the end. The in laws still did what they needed to do to be happy whether you approved it or not, people still complained about how you only thought of yourselves by not allowing them to bring the kids. Like I said, marriage can be a wonderful thing if you don't set any expectations about the day or even afterwards. Letting things go with the flow as we say, allows for a lasting marriage in most cases. While certain things that we cannot change have to be figured out first. They don't get resolved after the nuptials. Trust me...From a former bride still married with children!

My Interview With a Bridal Magazine..

2009-07-29T10:46:00.000-07:00
Today I was interviewed about being a television personality and celebrity event designer. They asked me if I ever thought I would go this far. I said " I thought at this age I would be doing commercials for tampons, Viagra & Boniva like Sally Field. I guess this will be my next goal? One day I aspire to discuss one product like Viagra and maybe Xanax to assist with the worries some brides/planners have. :) I think this will be a BIG hit! LOL...I hope everyone is doing well... xoxox Sam

A Book Is On It's Way!!! TOTALLY SERIOUS!

2009-07-18T12:17:00.000-07:00
For years I have been asked why don't you write your own book Sam? You give advice to so many sources, I bet you would have several things you could write about. Each time I hear this, I agree with you! I could call it timing or being overwhelmed with all of the changes with-in our company. The truth is, maybe I just wasn't ready and needed the right push. I found that right push less than a month ago! Well, maybe he found me... To make a long story short, I was asked to contribute information for another author's book and began speaking with the author about why I haven't written one yet. Good question! One thing lead to another, he made calls and now, we have begun this amazing book together! There's so much to say so many details and our calls go on for hours as he gathers my information for each chapter. I never knew there was so much involved with a book. TOC (Table of Contents). See I am learning the lingo. It's much like planning a wedding. You have to set a blue print first before you can begin the groundwork. As you digg deeper you find more things to say! Without my magic book partner, I would not be doing this right now! I am really enjoying this and now kicking myself, why did it take this long? So no more excuses OK? I think we can all agree, I have a boat-load I can write about. The wonderful world of planning, how I got myself into this career, the people I have met and the ones I have left behind, the good and the bad behind the scenes, being on television and working with celebrities. I can go on and on... I think what most people want to read is the drama and the secrets I don't usually share. I do have secrets. Some are great and some are sad. Someday, when I am ready and have completed this book, I may divulge some things about me...Things that made no sense years ago, but do now. What you see on television is one part of who I am. I am also an author, a spokesperson for Hilton Family Brands, a contributing editor for www.bridalguide.com, a columnist for a few papers and a contributor for hundreds of publications on-going. There's a lot going on in this head of mine 24/7. Is this what I aspired to be? Your going to have to buy the book to see! What you don't see is that I am also a wife, a mother and a woman who is trying to decide what opportunity I can seize next. I love doing many things, some of the vendors in my circle are ready to climb aboard that train of excitement, while others can't understand why I can't just focus on one thing at a time. I have one answer to that. If I did things that didn't seem natural, I don't think I would have had all of these great opportunities come my way. You never know if you are truly ready unless you go for it. So with me, if it feels right and your too slow, I may be moons ahead jumping into a pool of ??? Head first! I only give 100%...There's no other way! I AM GOING FOR IT! I hope I can continue to count on your support along the way! I am so very excited about this project! I know it's going to be months before anything goes to print..But you will soon hear little tid bits about the book on some of the appearances I will be making on television etc... I am not just celebrating this alone. I get to celebrate this with all of you. Without your support, your following and emails...it would be incredibly difficult to do this. I am your biggest fan! Trust me, in this world, success only works when you support each other! I look forward to sharing little bits of the book and who knows I might need a few pieces of information from an unbiased point of view along the way! As always THANK YOU!!! This is a journey that is going to take us far! xoxo Sam

CAES 100-200 SOLD OUT JULY 25th! New Class!!!

2009-07-18T08:49:00.000-07:00
I am happy to announce we have finally completed our registration for both courses on June 25th 2009. Thank you for those who were adamant on saving a seat! You made me blush! Was it the discount??? Well, you asked for one!!! I am trying here! Due to the overwhelming response and questions about the series 200, I've decided to create a class for beginners ONLY in August and Sept. The class has been tailored to work with those who have no clue on where to begin with paper work, how to start the planning process, how to meet new vendors and build strong long lasting relationships with them. Etc. Please read our website www.samanthagoldberg.com (education link) for more information. The course will have intense role playing as well as some field trips 3-4 months after the course to some of the top venues in the NJ area. During these visits you will learn the secrets of the trade from those who have been in the fabulous world of weddings for over 20 years. This class will only be available to those who qualify based on our questionnaire. We will no longer be sending out our applications due to issues in the marketplace. We also want to ensure you are right for this particular course. The class will be open for ONLY 10 students and will only be available on August 22 and September 12th. Location Summit NJ Time: 9:30am to 4pm Meals and snacks included in fee. Fee $699 (Early enrollment discount of $50 if signed in by end of July 2009)Please mention this when you contact our Special Events Coordinator Lacey at 908.219.4028 We accept all credit cards, money orders and cash. Payment plans are an option. Please ask about the prerequisites of the payment plans when you call. We do have grants available for those who qualify. You will need to meet with a trained coordinator at the Summit location to discuss specifics. Each case will be considered. *** For those who are approved for the class you will receive a free bridal emergency kit on wheels. This is valued at over $170!! and was custom designed by Samantha Goldberg. This offer is not applicable for those who receive the $50 early sign up fee discount or any other discounted offers. However to be fair, the cases will be offered to you at a discount if you would like one. I look forward to seeing you at our next class! Samantha For those who had asked to be on our waiting list for CAES 100...Please call us as you may qualify for this class. We have most of your applications on file and can review each class with you to see what is the best fit for you.

How To Afford Fancy Items For a Fraction of The Cost?

2009-07-07T16:37:00.001-07:00
Do you ever wonder how certain brides and grooms can afford elaborate items and not others? Did you know that some items they have are rented?? Yes they are!!!! Did you know that half of the elegant weddings you see in the movies have fake or borrowed elements? I bet you didn't know that? In the last 5 years many people have divulged ways to have to elegant bling, designer gowns and fabulous decor on a budget. I am firm believer that we are not raised with the ability to think outside the box when it comes to designing our wedding. There is a small percentage of brides who may have thought of how this one day should look since the day they were born. For the 99.9% of us, we have no clue. I have to admit, I am one of the 99% who had no idea what she wanted even though I worked in the industry. A White wedding with some floral seemed like a great idea! I never strived to have the best, I didn't have a favorite song or color. Honestly, I had to wing it. I just said yes to everyone's ideas... :) Now I didn't follow everyone's advice, I just said yes to shut them up. Another tip you should keep in your back pocket! When I hear about new trends or start one, I always am the first to share my treasures with the public. Why should such fabulous secrets be kept to myself? So let's start with some fun tools you should know about... Did you know you can rent a gown? A REAL high end designer gown that could have cost in the double digit thousands for a few hundred? These stores are out there and continue to expand slowly...Here are a few on the East Coast and I promise to list others as they become available to me! They even rent bridesmaids gowns too!!! http://www.alexandriasformal.com/page/page/1394292.htm This link has tons of options! http://www.weddingdressmarket.com/search.php?Start=340&c=2&AgentID=&search_city=&search_state=&search_country=&min=&max=&year1=&year2=&vehicle=&p=&r= Did you know that you can rent a cake??? You can! They look so fabulously real and having a great tasting sheet cake in the kitchen for serving? Whose going to know? I have been to many bakeries and I have to say, I cannot tell the difference. Don't say anything, but at one bakery I did try to lick the cake..I thought the baker was kidding! Ha! It was really fondant and foam...I still have a furry tongue from the dust on the cake! This place has EVERYTHING fake and so cool!!Don't lick it...Take it from a pro! http://www.rentafakecake.com/ Speaking of rentals..Rented Bling??? So So So available to anyone! Celebrities do this all the time and why can't you?? Check with your nearest jeweler for information on how! Stay tuned for some more secret ways to wow your guests and save thousands! Stick with me gals, I will take you on a ride you won't forget! Until next time! xoxo Sam

Planning Courses and Our Competition!!

2009-07-07T07:31:00.000-07:00
In the last week we have received many great emails and calls regarding our courses that have been taught since 2000. It seems as though some of my peers along with other classes such as the "Smart Planner" (which is about working through your blog and building your business this way, Penn Foster which is an online course and has not offered hands on training and various others have been brought to my attention. The big and most common question is how are each of you different? There are many classes that are available for less time, less of an investment. Some do teach about planning to an extent but do not spend enough time on logistics and relationship building. They focus on building the business, making contacts etc...I would say our course is very hands on, we speak of the logistics of planning, how to find your niche,how to begin, strategies on how to be different and various other topics that are crucial before you start. We also cover paperwork, the process from beginning to end, what to charge, how to get your foot in the door and how to handle rejection in the begining. This business isn't open arms from day one let's face it! Thank you to Poster Barbara Thompson for bringing to our attention that our class should be called a seminar instead of a course. This absolutely makes sense. I never thought of it that way! But am VERY appreciative for the suggestion! CAES is an ORIGINAL concept with customised content. I started the classes-courses in strategic planning and sales due to my vast background in sales, marketing training and events. I also have a background in education which shows my appreciation for educating! I do love to teach! This is key! My philosophy has always been to NOT copy or worry about your competition. It doesn't allow you to stand out in a crowd and doesn't show why you are special! I do emphasize this during my seminar. There have also been questions as to if we will match the fee of our newest competitors. We absolutely will if the course they have matches the same content as ours. If you are finding fees at $500 or $600 please show us the invoice and we will gladly work with you to show you the difference. In most cases, our courses are very different. We have spoken to many students that have invested in association courses and felt when they left, they were not worthy of the certificate the programs offered upon completion. This tells us that we have made a difference! CAES is a proven system that can take beginners to the next level or semi established planners to a more advanced status. Please make note, the CAES 200 course which is SOLD OUT on July 25th is for students who have already started planning events. The second class CAES 100 is for beginners which has a fee of $699. The course fee for "CAES 100" has not been dropped! It is a completely different course and the fee is substantially lower due to content. I look forward to seeing you in July!!! xoxo Samantha *** Samantha Goldberg has a background in design and education for over 18 years. She has taught courses for all vendors including sales, planners, and multi vendor functions. She has spoken at several ISES, ABC and expo events throughout the country.

New Class Promotion!!! July 25th 2009!

2009-07-06T09:40:00.000-07:00
CAES 100 Beginners Planning Course Summit NJ July 25th 2009 #2 Call us ASAP for your reservation! I felt horrible about booking this course last month! I know several of you have been asking and we had to grant booking to those who were on our waiting list. It was booked with in 4 days! I have never had that quick of a turn around trust me! However, I have GREAT news!! Due to the overwhelming response about our July 25th course, we have decided to have a second class the same day for less experienced planners or those who want the REAL basics of planning. This class is a bit less of an investment than the CAES 200 which is $999. The bad news...I can only facilitate 6 students. I don't have the space! Please visit our website at www.samanthagoldberg.com (Education link)for more information on content. We are able to accept 6 applications at this time. This class is new option for planners who just need to break into the industry...This will not be a regular running course! Date July 25th 2009 Time: 9:30am to 3:30pm Location: 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 Fee: $699.00 Includes: Breakfast, Lunch and snacks, training, materials and hands on experience after the course. You will receive certification once you have completed a wedding on your own. We will supply the bride! Payment programs are open...PayPal, All Major credit cards, checks and cash are welcome. IOU's sorry guys, can't do it this time :) Please contact Lacey our Special Events Coordinator at 908.219.4028 to sign up today! This will be our last class until November of this year! Don't wait!!!!

Happily Ever After…Do You Have To Marry To Have True Love?

2009-06-29T19:27:00.001-07:00
I've always been a romantic at heart…I can't get enough of Hollywood love stories. Even if it’s only on the silver screen, I still believe true, non-judgmental love does exist. Even for some celebrities! You don't have to marry to live happily ever after...Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have proven this to be true. And several other A-listers are still together even after really crazy careers in Hollywood! As you all have heard, the beloved Farrah Fawcett has passed on from a long battle with cancer. I've kept pretty close tabs on her career through the years and have always felt she was a very accomplished woman. I can still remember watching Charlie’s Angels and seeing her poster in all of my friends' rooms! One thing I've always appreciated is the relationship she had with Ryan O’Neal through the years. I remember after her divorce with Lee Majors, Ryan was a good friend and soon after a long-time companion to Farrah. Who would have thought he'd stay until the end? They had many ups and downs, yet he had unconditional love and an appreciation for her. Even at her worst, he continued to ask for her hand in marriage. My eyes water when I think of his undying love for her. They were so close to tying the knot. While issues stood in the way of making a marriage happen for them, they still had an everlasting love and appreciation for each other. I think we can all agree that's not so easy to find. Just wondering what your thoughts are on true love? Do you feel the man you're with has what it takes to make it until the end? What is your opinion on unconditional love? May you all be blessed with unconditional love… Here’s to you Farrah! XOXO Sam

CAES 100 Beginners Planning Course Summit NJ July 25th 2009

2009-06-15T09:08:00.000-07:00
Back by popular demand we have FINALLY set a date for our next beginners planning course. If you are just starting out or need a refresher this is the class for you! This July will be our 14th class in 2 years! Please visit our website at www.samanthagoldberg.com (Education link)for more information on content. We are able to accept 12 applications at this time. Date July 25th 2009 Time: 9:30am to 4:00pm Location: 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 Fee: $999.00 Includes: Breakfast, Lunch and snacks, training, materials and hands on experience after the course. You will recieve certification once you have completed a wedding on your own. We will supply the bride! Payment programs are open...PayPal, All Major credit cards, checks and cash are welcome. IOU's sorry guys, can't do it this time :) Please contact Lacey our Special Events Coordinator at 908.219.4028 to sign up today! This will be our last class until November of this year! Dont wait!!!!

Your Friend The Blogger Their Jealous OK?

2009-06-11T19:28:00.000-07:00
One thing I never thought I would have to deal with is a friend who was jealous enough to post terrible information about me in a public chat room. You never think that this could happen to you especially when you share your frustrations about the business and just life in general. You never think someday, it can backfire on you. I remember reading a website called "I Hate Rachel Ray.com". I thought to myself how could anyone be so vicious as to participate in something so insensitive. Could we call this jealousy, or just plain being rude? Rachel had just stated out at this point and she found out who it was. It was an old colleague. I was mortified for her. Who would actually make the time to say these things? What would make someone do it I asked myself. And then it dawned on me, the green devil comes out no matter what you think about people. That saying "keep your friends close and your enemies even closer". I am not sure I agree with that. I actually was given some information about this poster and wonder what do I do? Do I confront them? Do I press charges for defamation of character? Furthermore, why was it done? I can go with the whole jealousy issue, but why be jealous over a friend or someone you know because you want what they have? It's not like there's a shortage of brides. I've worked very hard to get to where I'm at. It wasn't given to me on a silver platter. The more I grow and noted as so, the more criticism follows. I remember a producer at Style telling me any publicity is good. It means you have a made an impact. I am not sure I want this type of attention especially if it's negative. I work on shows that are National and International. Everyone who reads the postings in any chat room can form their own opinion. But it still stinks! What I need is some unbiased opinions. What would you do if you found out someone you know is talking smack about you? Have you ever run into this? What did you do? At this point I don't care about rekindling a business relationship...I just want to know why they said these things. They are hurtful and untrue. I know you have all faithfully followed by blogs and I thank you for doing so. I thought if anyone could understand this, you would. What would you do? I found out this persons secret "identity" through an attorney and now it's my choice if I choose to press charges or let it go? I am having problems letting it go. If it's not this person, it will be someone else. Right? Thanks for listening! xxoox Sam

Getting Married in a Tough Economy

2009-05-31T19:19:00.000-07:00
A few weeks ago I started talking about how the economy is affecting us all—especially those of us currently planning weddings. Well, I turned my attention to other subjects for a few weeks because I was starting to feel like a Debbie Downer, and really, who wants to hear how dismal things are week after week? Well, we can’t avoid the topic forever, and I would rather help you figure out how you can still have it all—the wedding of your dreams—even in this rough economy. The other piece of this—and also something we can’t avoid discussing—is whether your guests will be able to afford to make it to your wedding. And, I hate to be the one to have to admit this, but will your guests also be cutting back on your wedding gifts? Someone had to say it. Yes, it is selfish to wonder about your wedding gifts in a time like this, but truth is, weddings are generally a selfish event where we find ourselves worrying about things we wouldn’t normally. I think it’s OK to be a little selfish this one time in your life. Just remember—it’s just this one time. And also please remember, people are suffering in this very difficult economy. So, let’s get back to your dream wedding on a realistic budget. For starters, I know you wanted a spring or fall wedding, but this is one area where you can easily shave off a lot of expense simply by having your wedding in an “off” month. I know, no big surprise here, but I wanted to remind you that July is a beautiful month to get married, and you could get very lucky with the weather— August too, and even November. This is a relatively minor compromise that could represent big savings. Moving on—would you be willing to have a Friday evening, Saturday afternoon or Sunday (anytime) wedding? If you can forfeit your Saturday-night affair, you could save BIG bucks. I know, no great revelation here either, but do ask yourself this question—are you willing to cut back on guests just to have a Saturday-evening affair? Just by changing the time of the year, and day of the week of your wedding, you can see a 20–50 percent savings. So, my advice is quit arguing over the guest list and compromise in other areas so you can have the venue of your dreams surrounded by ALL the people you love. Next, you need to prioritize. Once you’ve secured your biggest expense, the venue, start by making a list of the things that are most important to you—areas you are NOT willing to compromise. For many, this is photography and videography. Why? Because besides (hopefully!) your actual marriage, these are the two things that will last the longest beyond your wedding day. If you want a lifetime of reminders of your big day, allocate a decent amount of your wedding budget for these items, but do remember, you DON’T have to go with the highest end photographer. There are many middle-of-the-road (expense-wise) vendors that are just as good and will save you big time! And, even if it makes you uncomfortable (take 10 yoga breaths), you MUST ask for a good deal…now is the time! Stop shaking your head and saying, “I don’t have nearly enough in my wedding budget to hire a decent photographer.” Yes, you do, because you can register for one! If you and your loved one are both bringing toasters and dishes into the equation, you don’t need to register for those household items. Instead, you can register for your vendors! I know it seems a little untraditional, but people, these are quirky times. Quick tip: Have your stationer make up little cards for each vendor and include them in your shower invites so people will know they can contribute to these registries. Now, I won’t take you through every single item on your wedding to-do list, but here are some rules to live by when planning your dream wedding on a reduced budget: As I said, prioritize the items on your wedding wish list. Make cuts and compromises where you won’t feel “cheated.” And, don’t compromise on those things that mean the most to you—set aside enough money for those items, and then see if you can secure as good a deal as possible on those pieces. With the less important items, ask family and friends to help out. Got a crafty friend? Ask her to help you out with your favors as her wedding gift to you. Got any friends in the printing business? Perhaps they could print your invitations for you. Know any good bakers? Could they make you a wedding cake? Love your mom’s wedding dress? Everything old is new again…what about her veil, or wedding jewelry? Any of your friends into making jewelry these days as a hobby? Looking for a break on the catering? What about culinary students? You can go to a great culinary school and see if you can get a good deal on catering. Got any friends with younger siblings working part-time as deejays? Will they run the music for your wedding if you pre-program your iPod? Having a non-denominational ceremony? It’s very easy to get certified online these days to perform marriages—another great wedding gift idea from a friend or family member. Do yourself and your friends and family a favor by securing as much help as you can when planning your wedding. By offering you a “service” in lieu of a crystal vase, they can save money on your wedding gift and you can save BIG time on vendors! All it takes is just a little bit of imagination. Xoxo Sam

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway New Show May 26th @ 8pm!!

2009-05-21T06:40:00.000-07:00
Tis the time of year where we finally get to see the episodes we've taped for season 9! Turn on the TIVO and DVR and watch Samantha Goldberg along with Linnyette Richardson Hall share an exciting one hour of challenging tasks! See Ana above getting fancied before her big debut on camera! She was a wonderful bride!! Did we have fun drama or what???? Your going to love my "tough love" shopping tactics! The show will be aired on May 26th at 8pm Eastern time! You're going to love it! Ana and Tony were an awesome couple to work with and we had an amazing time taping even though we dealt with some crazy vendors! The show is called Wedding Warriors! Now that sounds like a show I could do with Linnyette. Got to love the "tell it like it is" personality to appreciate the show! We do not hold back if things need to be said that's for sure. Get ready for a new show on the CW network coming out June 18th "Hitched or Ditched". We had the pleasure of working with a new production company and the experience was amazing and fun. Yes, there is drama, but not with us!!!! Let ne know what you think. I hope this episode makes you laugh! xoxox SG

Floral and Design Class June 1st Summit NJ

2009-05-18T11:07:00.000-07:00
For those who have expressed interest, we ONLY have 3 spots left! Sign up today and save 1/2! Please inquire with Lacey Borman Cohen at 908.219.4028. See what you can do with your next client and their venue!!!! Includes a little vino and pizza too! Get ready to make a centerpiece and learn the color wheel! xoxo Sam

Courier News Sunday May 17th!

2009-05-17T09:41:00.000-07:00
If your an East coaster and you get the Courier, we have a fantastic article about prom and the trends this year! I will try to link it! Enjoy! Congrats to Amy and Daniel and Elaine and Daniel today! It's cold out there! I'm glad you all decided to have the ceremony indoors! I would have froze with you Amy, but you know I would have raced you to the door when it was over! :) XO Love you guys! Sam

New Thoughts?

2009-05-16T09:10:00.000-07:00
I appreciate the emails and the following this blog has brought me! I know there are several of you who are aspiring planners or in the industry. I guess you can call us all aspiring. When I am asked what do I aspire to be, I have to change the subject. No really...I have tried to dabble in many things. How can I answer just one area? Some might call it selective ADD! No wait, that's what I call it! Ha! While focus is important in our industry, it's OK to goof around once in while. It keeps me smiling and others around me happy. Isn't the reason why we do this to keep ourselves and others happy. I mean this is the happy business right? It's been a very relaxing year to say the least. We've been crazy busy, but seem to finally have a system that works for all. I have spent more time on other projects and my team continues to amaze me with their fantastic organization skills and sales tactics. My company still continues to be a lonely business at times. When you've "made it" as some have told us, what do you really get? While many aspire to be where you are, there are many who would do anything to destroy it. How can this be you ask? You know exactly what I am talking about. While some call it your competition, I call it the "others"...If you let them get to you, your going to fail. I know times are tough right now. I am sickened by the amount of jobs being lost. I am saddened by the smiles around me not so bright anymore. I continue to do what I can so we don't end up on the sidelines. I just don't want to fail, so I won't. It is THAT simple. Not sure if you have read The Secret" or have watched the movie. It's amazing the laws of attraction. What positive things we reap when we think good and hard about the things we need to stay happy. I truly believe in this. I live each day hoping tomorrow will be just as good. And that my 5 year old will still have the cute rolls of fat on her thighs.. These things are what I look forward to. Hard day at work and juicy kisses when I come home! Wishing we could all be on the same team at times! How cool would that be??? I have met some of the most amazing people this year! For those who are inquiring for internships we are at max right now. Please check back with us in July or August. Don't get distraught, be patient. It will happen whomever you work with in this world. Here's hoping our brides tonight and tomorrow have sunshine for some photos outdoors! Thanks for not blaming me for the weather! xoxo Sam

Calling Chicago Brides!!!

2009-05-15T08:27:00.000-07:00
I have some great news! We are in the process of opening a 3rd location in Chicago! In the past few years I have planned several nuptials in the windy city and decided we needed to be there! Starting in August 2009 we will have our first location set! Please inquire with our Summit NJ location until we have our phone system ready to go! Lacey Borman Cohen will be handling any and all inquires at 908.219.4028 I would also like to announce we are having our first CAES planners series in Chgo this July and August! Location to be announced. Most likely will be in the Northshore. Hotels seem too work best! Especially for WI and IN... This class is limited at 12 students so please let us know about adding you to our roster!!! Can't wait to meet you this Summer! Sam

NJ View on line article on "TIGHT BUDGETS" and Modern Bride bartering for wedding services!

2009-05-11T21:17:00.000-07:00
I was not able to copy and paste! We were chosen with 2 other planners to give brides some great solid savings advice! http://www.njviewmagazine.com/sub_level/bridal_030409_001.htm Modern Bride Press http://www.bucketsnbows.com/images/modern_bride_4pgs.pdf Enjoy! xoxo Sam By the way, we still have a few openings for our June 6th wedding course! Call us today to save $50 off enrollment! 908.219.4028

Structured Wedding Planning Does It Exist?

2009-05-07T13:39:00.001-07:00
I always thought I was a structured worker. Needing things just so. If I look back, I think this made me crazy! I think systems are wonderful, but you need to leave room for changes. I'm not so sure everyone understands this while planning for the big day. I have told my clients many times while watching them get upset about the small things. I ask "Do you really want to focus on the cheese display being a bit empty or do you want to look at the BIG picture your ceremony went off lovely and the reception room couldn't be sweeter"? We look at each other and laugh. So typical, but so true. The little things we focus on. Why? I always find my clients saying it's easier to focus on the bad instead of the good. Or easier to hear the worst instead of the best. I'm not too great with criticism if it means it's destructive. I remember hearing in Pretty Woman my favorite movie, while they were laying in bed saying how special they thought each other were. Julia Roberts said " the bad things are easier to believe". Is it really this way? I find myself trying to keep our clients on the other side of this, as negative vibes prove nothing but more negative issues. I don't know about you, but this causes me to run! On television you may see this well put together planner..Inside this gal wants to dash for the door. But what will that solve? I think we all know after this many years in the business. You just learn to deal. This is what I teach my clients. To deal.. Even when it's really bad, what control do we have? Very little once the day has begun. Once you realize this is it, you tend to let things go, but on a normal day you may run for the hills. Anyone have this? I have to admit this may be me in a few ways! Looking forward to your thoughts? Do you find yourself being more critical as the day comes near? Do you focus on the bad things more than the good? Why? xoxo Sam

Another GREAT Weekend!

2009-05-03T09:44:00.000-07:00
Wedding season is here! This weekend was our first kick off with 3 weddings. We ONLY have 6 more to go! This month! I have to laugh when I say this, who would have thought years ago, I would be working with months which we serviced 9 weddings? For those who read this and are married, what is your favorite part of the day? You go through the motions, but what part do you really remember? For myself, it's watching you walk into the reception to see the months of hard work all come together. If you think about it, this is the largest amount of time you'll invest for the big day. All of the important players that make it happen your way! I love the smiles and sighs of relief after you say your vows. The best part is watching you relax in general. Why life chose this as the top 3 major things you go through in your life always makes sense after a wedding! It's life changing for everyone, even your planner! I felt very complete inside after last nights wedding. JoAnn and Keith. The weather could not have been better and the stress levels were at a minimum. I wish I could duplicate this couple. To show everyone the small things just don't matter. This couple actually cared that I had a life too. I wasn't just the hired help. I wasn't on their pay roll. I was a part of the day. The one who assisted with their ideas and made it happen. I think we did make it happen based on the smiles! I could not have been more touched when they asked me to sign their Ketubah and marriage license. They had many close friends and family nearby. For a moment I asked why me? I felt honored and again speechless. We were friends. Can't find that with everyone. That's why it's so touching. People ask me all kinds of questions about this business, none are what we get from the experience. It is an honor to plan something so important. When you choose us, you are making an investment for something you will remember for a lifetime. I remember each bride, each potential client whether good or bad. How do forget a couple unless things go sour? I would be lying if I said every wedding we've planned has worked exactly the way we wanted. Or a possible loss of communication while planning that dissolves our relationship. Either way you look at it, it affects us. I've met a few people (being very modest) who were fans of WWIIA and they of course bring up the silly episodes I've done. They ask how could I have tolerated? Or they agreed with my decision. You never know your being watched until someone calls you by your first and last name...Or you hear soft whispers as you walk by that's Samantha Goldberg"...from the wedding show. I think the only time I have ever heard my name that way was while I was in trouble via mother! "Samantha Gene Rosenfeld" (maiden name)What are you doing now? I still shrivel the shoulders when it's spelled out. I have to ask myself, did I do something wrong again? Ha! Do I get into trouble often you ask? Hmm...How do I answer this and not sound like I am trouble on wheels. Let's just say I tread all waters lightly and hope for the best! Until the next post! I do hope all of you who are getting ready for the big day know that the small problems that come up, really don't make an impact on your day. I promise! xo Stay Smiling! Sam

CAES 100 June 6th 2009 Summit NJ!

2009-04-29T19:37:00.000-07:00
What do we expect during hard times? Maybe more time to educate ourselves on how to do better, work smarter and stay focused. I think you are aware that I love to educate. It will never bore me. Sometimes I feel that educating was what I was meant to do. I am ready for another class if you are! Our last class was a great 10 student day! Please check out my web page on education for specifics on what class entails. Date: June 6th 2009 Location: 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ Time: 9:30-4pm Fee: Please contact Lacey Borman Cohen our Special Events Coordinator at 908.219.4028 We accept all major credit cards, checks, PayPal and cash. For more information please visit our website at www.samanthagoldberg.com Click on EDUCATION Class is limited at 12 students!!!!

Engagement Issues Do They Really Make It To The Altar?

2009-04-23T10:36:00.000-07:00
Tis The Season For Engagement or Not? It seems in the last few weeks we have heard about several celebrities getting some bling! Speaking about HUGE bling, I think the one that surprises me the most is playboy Vince Vaughn is engaged to Calgary Realtor, Kyla Weber as released in US Magazine! That man has dated several woman and the last significant relationship was with Jenn Aniston which obviously didn't work. I sure hope this one is a success! Poor Jenn! He was ready, just not with her. I will tell you I used to get wonderful massages from Vince's sister Valerie. I remember hearing some fun stories about M. Vaughn. I think he might be better off with someeone who doesn't mind being in the spot light. I just hope Hollywood doesn't freak her out! Now, I don't know about you but I enjoy watching the Bachelor. What I don't understand is how crazy these participants get when clearly they've only known of this person for a short period of time. Did you get wind of the newest bachelor who first chose Melissa. He even jumped into he pool he was so in love! Not even a week later he decides he wants to get engaged to the gal who was his runner up Molly. I don't get it! How can you engage in one relationship and not even a week later decide you are in love with the girl you just dumped on National television??? I don't know about you, but I was appalled and along with millions of viewers we can all agree this one is a real idiot! Watch out Molly! This is clearly a man who has commitment issues. This is not the first time in bachelor history where someone has called off an engagement or decided to reach out for the runner up. What would you do if you were the runner up and someone dumped you on National television and a week later decides he wants to marry you? I would show him moves with my legs I cannot divulge. Ha! One engagement that was called off that was really a shocker was Brian Austin Green to Megan Fox! They were sure to beat the odds! According to US Magazine at the end of Feb, they decided it just wasn't right after 2 years????? Surely there must be more to the story than this. Supposedly they are amicable and still friends. I guarantee neither of them will have an issue finding love elsewhere. What I don't understand is how after you spent being engaged for 2 years would you end the relationship? You know the person well obviously. All problems and issues are not going anywhere. Do you just give up and call it quits? Have you ever been engaged for a short period of time say less than a week? Why did it end? Or if it did end could you see yourself jumping into another relationship with a "runner up"? I am dying for your feedback! I was kind of rooting for Brian and Megan to be honest! But I am happy for Vince Vaughn and his new fiance Kyla Weber. Maybe it's better that only one is in the spotlight for now. I hope she can handle it! From real estate to a Hollywood lifestyle, ahhhhhh fingers are crossed! Much Love and Luck during this time of engagement to you all! Please share your engagement stories with us! Sam xoxo

Calling All Planners!!!

2009-04-22T13:50:00.001-07:00
Obviously you can tell I love to educate! I love the CAES 100 series...Your first intro to the wedding industry! I have watched all of our students in the last few years blossom into awesome planners! For those who want to take design to the next level, I have the class for you! Meet CAES 200 Series! Finally a class that teaches design and offers a hands on workshop too! Have you ever wondered how floral artists learn to create a vision? They show you a scribble and within a few hours construct an amazing centerpiece! This has always been extremely fascinating to me. I would never consider myself a floral designer. However, after taking a floral class, I have a HUGE appreciation for them! Well for those who are curious like me, We're having a fabulous "chic" floral design class on June 1st! This class will allow you learn the fundamentals of design!! You will also work hands on with a professional floral designer on 2 centerpieces! This class will be monthly at our Summit location and most likely be scheduled on Monday evenings from 6-9pm.... Our first class is scheduled for June 1st 2009 6-9pm. We are only able to squeeze 10 students in each class due to high demand and space! So if you are not able to get into this class, try again in July! We currrenly have 7 students ready to go for June! We're down to 3 openings! It's funny how I asked our last class on Sat the 18th if there was interest and they all signed up! I know this is just another method to prove how valuable you are to your clients! I will provide the pizza and wine! You are to bring comfy clothes and a mind set ready to bring your business to the next level. I mean business ladies and gentleman! Please contact Lacey (lacey@samanthagoldberg.com) our Special Events Coordinator regarding fees and dates that currently are being booked. This is going to be an amazing class for those who really want to understand floral! What if you have a budget bride and she looks to you to make it happen??? Wouldn't it be fantatsic to make someone's vision become a reality! You'll look like the hero and they will love you to death for providing the service! June 1st is the date! Don't wait! I hope to see you there! xoxo Sam

Bridal Gossip!!!! The NY Post!

2009-04-22T12:12:00.000-07:00
I nearly SPIT my juice box out when I read it! (April 22) - A New York woman has filed a lawsuit against a wedding guest who allegedly announced during the ceremony she had been having an affair with the groom, the New York Post reports. Sandrina and Harold Purdum, both 31, wed last September in South Ozone Park, a neighborhood in Queens. In a civil suit filed in Queens Supreme Court, Sandrina Purdum claims that guest Jennifer Angevine -- who was Harold's boss at the time -- ruined her special day with an outburst in which she allegedly tossed a drink on another guest and poked the bride in the chest while making the stunning claim. Me and Harry were good together. You had to ruin everything by marrying him. You f- - -ed everything up," Sandrina Purdum quotes Angevine, also 31, as saying in the suit. Harold Purdum, who denies having an affair with Angevine, quit his job following the wedding and has not found employment since, the paper reported. The suit, which accuses Angevine of slander and inflicting emotional distress and battery, goes on to allege that Angevine caused such a stir that 70 guests were ordered to leave the catering hall. The couple spent their wedding night apart but have been trying to work things out. "This girl really ruined my life," Sandrina Purdum told the Post. "Nobody should go through what I went through. Every time I talk about it, I get chills." HOLY HOT TAMALES!!!!

New Bridal Finds! What To Wear!!! Destination Weddings

2009-04-21T07:30:00.000-07:00
So your thinking Destination huh? Well, that's a fabulous idea for a bride on a budget! And the more spontaneous you are with location and timing, you are sure to get a steal where ever you go! Now all I need to know is when your calling me to assist you, and can I bring a friend? Ha! One of the questions we are asked frequently is what to tell "our" guests to wear? How do you find good beach apparel? Even if your not by the beach? I recently came across some great websites for clothing. There are enough ideas for the bride and groom especially if you want to look semi casual for the big day. They also carry a ton of apparel ideas for your guests. The prices are fair and the quality is great I assure you! VINEYARD VINES http://www.vineyardvines.com/weddings/?roi=echo4-5323684788-4511234-8b1e078909d511894dab5af166ea0ba0&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weddings_4.20.09 J CREW J Crew is also another great website carrying fresh breathable fabrics for a beach theme or destination wedding. Destination weddings are becoming more popular each day. They carry less stress in general not to mention how they can also be less expensive for the reception and ceremony. This does depend on where you are going obviously. Fiji may not work this route, unless you want to chance it during hurricane season! Some of the more popular areas for weddings are located in the Caribbean such as St. John, St. Martin and Anguilla. The DR is great and Hawaii is just incredible with wedding packages right now! Mexico continues to be a popular locale. I recently did some research on what a Kosher meal would cost for a Jewish /Moroccan wedding. Can you believe it was less than $100per person inclusive of all taxes-gratuities? I was floored. It takes a lot to blow me away...The price points for an amazing wedding are unbelievable! On the East coast you can barely find locations that can offer a deluxe package at this price during peak season. I was shocked, but at the same time excited! I have so many ideas for the budget bride. This is just another idea to add to the list! We receive calls weekly about wanting to have an intimate wedding for 50-75 guests on a 10K-15K budget. With all of the great promotions regarding travel right now, you can have a celebrity style wedding with this budget. Especially in MX. Can you tell I am a fan of Mexico. I've been to MX over 25 times! How can one compare crisp white sand and Curacao blue waters behind you to a local venue in photos? There's nothing that compares to this. I am guessing for my 10th wedding anniversary, I'm going to plan a renewal of vows somewhere tropical. I just love the entire concept of traveling for an event! You do need to realize that not everyone will be able to attend for reasons such as budget or work obligations. However, if you want an intimate wedding this is the way to go. It's a great way to get out of the guests you don't want to come! (Shh..I didn't say that). When you think about it, you can escape to another location after you've tied the knot! Your guests can be left lying on the beach enjoying a foofy cocktail discussing how absolutely fabulous your wedding was. Believe it or not, Hilton is a totally chic hotel in Cancun! They were the ones who came in less than $100 per person! This was for Kosher dinner. I did inquire about regular entree options and it was even less expensive starting at $70pp. So the next time you feel bad about your budget, remember you have options that are far greater than what you may find locally. Who doesn't want to maximize their budget?? Here's to great weddings overseas!

TLC Casting A New Show! Are You A Hard Working Mom?

2009-04-19T13:56:00.000-07:00
I've just gotten off the phone with a wonderful casting director who told me they are in need of the following.... TLC is seeking hard working moms on the East Coast (for starters NY, NJ, PA, MD, VA, DC, GA, & FL) who have an event or milestone they want to be madeover for! Please pass this on to any of your friends, family, or clients! Renowned British style experts and the original UK hosts of WHAT NOT TO WEAR, Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, bring their stellar expertise and charming wit to TLC with an all new series MAKING OVER AMERICA WITH TRINNY AND SUSANNAH. The British fashion gurus are about to enter new territory on the other side of the pond, to share their simple philosophy: "Looking stylish is not about following fashion, losing weight, being rich or succumbing to the knife. It's about dressing to show off what you love... about your body”. Making the most of what you've got to look great in any situation! TLC is seeking hard working American women who have something coming up that they want to look great for, but they don’t know where to start! Please email us at info@samanthagoldberg.com if you have any questions.

The Frustrated Bride.... Be Nice To Your Vendors!

2009-04-19T06:44:00.000-07:00
One thing I've realized with vendors in the bridal industry is that we all share one common bond. We try to appease and WOW our clients. We try our best to dot I's cross T's. Ninety-Eight percent of the time we make it happen. Remember, I do not believe in the word perfect! But when we don't, we are yelled at, pressured and I have to tell you, screaming nasty things at your vendors and or brides is not going to help you guys! I know I can handle a lot of the mayhem that goes on. What I don't understand is why we must be the scape goat? We do understand that things can happen at any event. Even when I fell ill last Feb, I had angry clients on tv who couldn't see that the event would never had been possible if it were not for a strong team. Did you know this couple who received double digits in the thousands and did not even send one thank-you note to the vendors? That angered me. I was blessed to have vendors who knew I'd make it up to them. I did! Still will! The definition of a "planner" is one who orchestrates events or situations involving people and or things. I was proud of my vendors that day. I knew who I could count on during that time. Those vendors are going to be with me for a LONG time. Poor souls Ha! This industry is so very different from any other event in that it puts all of us on guard when you criticize us about a miscommunication or an issue that can be easily fixed. I want to give all brides this May-June some advice. We know you are stressed. We want to make this day fabulous for you. If you could breathe for a moment before you type away on your computer to your vendors or pick up that phone. Maybe you will come off less harsh and you can work together to correct this situation. I am seeing VERY stressed vendors this year and they don't/can't do their best work for you if you do this. I am giving you honest advice here!!! Most of the time everything is fixable. Coordinators can even change things the day of your wedding! I know other types of vendors can't but will try! If you change your mind the day of the wedding, just note to yourself, the change may not be good. Last minute changes can sometimes turn against you. This is a happy time, a exciting passage for you! If you stay calm and collected, you will have less drama with family, friends and vendors! Take my advice you have watched the show! You know exactly what a mean behaviour looks like. It isn't pretty and while staring at you in a gorgeous gown pretty as a princess is great, that bulged eyeball stare isn't good for photos or going to make vendors work harder! It's actually going to intimidate them. I've watched it happen too many times in 18 years! As always, I am sending good vibes your way and hoping that all of you are enjoying the great weather we are having! They said it's ending soon! AHHHH Why can't NJ/NJ make up it's mind with the weather? Am I missing something? xoxo Sam

Ettiquette Hell!

2009-04-17T18:56:00.000-07:00
I have to say this year thus far has been an exceptional one when it comes to wedding etiquette. The numerous emails and conversations I have had with brides/grooms and their families about the "proper" way to express our concerns and ideas. I'm going to be frank here! I feel like some of us have become a little "George Bushish" making up our own rules and words as time goes by. Things have definitely changed since the 50's and well it's not always "smelling like roses" if you know what I mean. I'm the first to say the wedding is all about the bride and groom. I know the families are involved, but it really is about the 2 of you right? Call it selfish? I don't think so. I have observed people that take the whole "us" thing to another level. OK. So let's get started shall we. I am going to cover the basics, but the REALLY important areas that will answer your questions and maybe set some thoughts or feelings at ease. I'm following the Post girls on this one. Did you know they have a school in FL for planners? The Post gals have courses annually. Interesting huh? I have not picked up an Emily Post book in years. I was recently given a copy of her 5th edition as a gift and maybe as a bit of a joke. We've really taken etiquette to another level ladies. It's as though we want to raise the bar higher every year. I'm taking notes on all of your posts and emails. You betcha this is going in my book! How far can we go??? ADULT RECEPTIONS I've covered this subject in numerous articles and conversations with clients. The question is how can we do this without hurting or angering someone? I'm going to be honest, once you delve into this area your going to piss someone off. It's just going to happen. You can't please everyone no matter what you do. I know you guys try so hard to keep everyone happy, but it's just not always that simple. You allow the ring bearer and the flower girl, your sisters newborn and your own children. But your other sister has 2 kids that are 12 and 13. Now why do they have to stay home, but your allowing your other sister who just had a baby to bring her newborn? Good question. You're not going to like my response, but if you say NO children, you have to stick with the rules or you will have some "side" effects. Decide if you want to go down this road. While some may be OK, you may start a ruffle. Can you deal with it? You're going to have to. It's a road most don't want to travel, but to get what you want, you have to go there. What to write on the invite? NEVER write adult reception on the invite itself. Not only does it look tacky, but it's not proper etiquette. If you want to "sassy" someone off, this could be a good way to do it. The RSVP card is the way to go. You can add to the top of the card "Adult" reception to follow at the "ABC Club". You may also want to spread the word under the table per say with letting your friends know, this is an adult only reception. Get it right! I always say talk about the things to others in confidence that you WANT everyone to know. Do you have any friends/family who have what we call "diarrhea" of the mouth? Tell them first, the message is sure to be on the front page of the Post by morning. FIRE AN ATTENDANT OK. This is a touchy subject, but if Peggy covers it, you got to know it's good. Peggy suggests a more politically correct way of saying it " Asking your attendant to back out"...Hmm...There is NO way that asking someone to step down is going to look pretty. I don't care how you do it. Not even a 4 carat Tiffany diamond is going to make it better. It may mask things, but come on, these are DANGEROUS waters. I want to tell you as a planner and as a bride, I had to do this. It was not with friends but with family. I can't think of anything worse than to ask someone to step down. This subject just sucks and well, what can I say? But here's the question you have to ask yourself. Do you want this person to be in every photo and a part of your important day? Can you work things out or are you willing to lose years of friendship and or family communication? That's the BIG question. Once you ask the question, you have to be willing to deal with the consequences. Many emotions fly high when you ask your nearest and dearest to stand up. Some may be friends while others might be family. How do you weigh it out? Some of these attendants may be that "type" that somehow becomes envious of your engagement and happiness and they may go ballistic. They may blow things off. They may be the only one who refuses to wear the same dress. YUCK. WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE! Do you know what Peggy says? Attendants role at the wedding: Attends the rehearsal and dinner, bridesmaids luncheon if applicable Supervises the children in the bridal party if applicable Assists the bride at the reception as requested Participates in activities such as the line-up or bouquet toss Gives an individual gift to the couple or contributes to the couple with the rest of the bridal party. Did you READ that? I have to say, I've stood up in 13 weddings. I've never had this expectation. So remember what I said about etiquette? Gals we have not been living up to our part! I think the maid of honor has kind of taken over all of this... What is the maid of honor's responsibility you ask? Helps the bride select the BM's attire Helps address invites and place cards Organizes the bridesmaids gift to the bride and often organises the luncheon for the girls. Holds the grooms wedding ring and the brides bouquet during the ceremony. Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate Helps the bride during the reception(gathering guests for the cake cutting, dancing and bouquet toss). Snap Snap on this one... Helps the bride get into her going-away clothes and takes care of the bride's wedding dress and accessories after the reception. Have you guys done this? I'm not trying to start trouble, but if Peggy says so... I'm not even getting into the role of the best man, you guys would laugh. The list is even longer than the maid of honor. I swear it! Do you have any good stories about asking someone to step out or possibly step in at the last minute??? The LAST ISSUE...ARE YOU READY! COMMITMENT CEREMONIES I know this is good right? I have picked some pretty good subjects this year! So, the times have changed and well, you can play old school, but if you do play it, play fair. You can't say NO to one subject and yes to another especially if you are talking about what's right (What society thinks)or what you think. Here's the deal, society places these thoughts of what is socially acceptable. Doesn't mean it's right. The truth is SAME SEX MARRIAGE is being approved monthly in different states. For those who don't agree, keep your thoughts to yourself. If you were made to make these decisions for all of us, heck we'd call you G-D. I'm not sharing my thoughts on this board, I don't agree or disagree. It's not my place. You can't help who you fall in love with and that's just the way it is. There are several NON GAY friendly places out there what can we do? I just received a call from a fan Saturday who mentioned she was having a great time planning her wedding, but her cousin who is gay was already being turned down by venues. They told her once she completed the paperwork that "they don't do that sort of thing". I asked her what sort of thing was she doing...She said nothing she wants to get married? Robin, forgive me for my anger during our call. I was completely taken off guard and completely appalled that some of the venues you mentioned were also venues that we recommend. I don't know what to say. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be judged for my preference on sex, color etc. The only piece of advice I have is tell your cousin there are several gay friendly locations and I will personally see to it that she finds them. Call me back! Peggy "posts" that this is the way to go. There is no law that states you have to announce your type of relationship with a venue or vendor. How extensively you go into it is your decision and not mandated by law. But sadly these venues can decide whether or not to partake in this type of ceremony. You can waste your time and make yourself unhappy just by fighting it. I know it's wrong, and I know these "folks" need to wake up cause it's the year 2009! That saying you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, may still stand with this one. In time, this is going to change. Hey look, we have our first African American President. I know several people who disagreed with this, but it happened and well, it's time to move on. What are your thoughts?

GOOD CHEAP FINDS!!!

2009-04-15T10:10:00.000-07:00
I thought I would try something new...I know you are all affiliated with The Knot or Wedding Channel but for those who have no time....I have found some awesome great steals! First of all, did you know Macy's on 34th (NYC) in Demetrios Bridals has thousands of designers under $2,000??? I sure wish I had these deals when I was getting married!Is their negotiations? In my book ALWAYS! Ask away even another 10% may save you on tax and alterations ladies! GO GO GO To Macy's! If you see Donna you tell her Samantha Goldberg sends her best! Another GREAT place to buy mineral makeup WITHOUT CHEMICALS. Preservatives, proparabyns etc. Just plain natural! Go to www.eyeslipsface.com! The companies name is ELF and they sell mineral makeup for 70% less than Bare Minerals/Essentials. Great for blotting when you get flush or sweaty! Great for the bridal emergency kit and did I mention all other cosmetics are $1????? I have used them and I have to say I hate TV makeup...This works wonders when I am on air! In person people think I have added some "special" treatments to my regimen...NOPE it's ELF! If you look online for coupons you can save even more! TRUST me ladies, this is the BOMB! Can you tell I am an ELF fanatic? Yes, it's been like every week! I have makeup until I am 45 easy! Don't forget to read my newest update in Bridal Guide which should be up tomorrow! It's another juicy one! My how I love the controversy! Ha!

201 Bride Event @ The Brick House on April 22nd!

2009-04-14T16:41:00.000-07:00
I just wanted to invite you to an amazing event I'm involved with on April 22nd at The Brick House 179 Godwin Ave in Wyckoff, NJ 6pm! This AMAZING event is going to begin at 6pm featuring many great vendors and some speakers including yours truly! I will be discussing some great ways to desgin your wedding and ways to work with any budget. I will also be covering some great new trends that you may not have thought of! Come and enjoy the great ambiance of vendors who are ready to assist you and people who may have a few great words to share! You can visit the website for more information and to register. There is a minimal entrance fee of $25 for a bride and a guest, but what you will experience is worth it! I heard they have some FAB bags with freebies and great vendor info! Just something you should know! Remember you must register at www.201bride.net I look forward to seeing everyone! Please stop by my table for some great ways to stay organized and learn about my newest relationship with the Hilton Family Brand Hotels and Guestiquette! What's Guestiquette you ask? I guess you'll have to come by and ask me! xoxo Sam

What Is It Like Being A Wedding Planner?

2009-04-14T16:08:00.000-07:00
There's not a day that goes by where someone emails us on how to get into the business. The truth of the matter is not how, but why? For some it might be that you planned your own wedding and believe you have a knack for the industry. While this may be true, planning someones wedding from outside the comfort of your family and friends may be different...OK. REALLY DIFFERENT! I'm not kidding. For others it may be that you want a change of career and this may seem like a happy industry to work in. What would I suggest one does to get training and become accomplished? I think it starts with proper training at a school, certification programs such as the ABC/ISES or possibly another established planner who can take you in and teach you the ropes. While some planners may have you work on things that you feel are tedious and a waste of time, just know that that planner has done this as well. Anything you work on with another planner you will encounter on your own. It's a process and it's not for everyone. When I started in events 18 years ago, it was not working with weddings. I started in the field of sales and events with the professional beauty industry. I have to take a deep breath when I think of how exciting it was to watch hair models or new make up trends strutting down the aisle from an event we put together. The music was pumping and you just want to get up and dance with them! It wasn't about pleasing the client, it was about bringing awareness to the public by entertaining them using funky hair goop and music to describe what this "goop" was going to do for their clients and their business. My clients were the public, but also for stylists. It was amazing how people were attracted to my design and how they began to want this for themselves. I designed and orchestrated many great events that were sold out. I think for me, that was an incredible feeling. I had amazing teams and without them, it would never have been the same. It wasn't until 1999 that I began to dabble in private affairs on the side. Weddings, birthdays and all kinds of great events. Like I mentioned in the beginning, I wasn't thinking of weddings when I began this adventure. Do you really end up being what you say you want to be at age 5? I think I wanted to be a housewife! I am a housewife that is true, but I also work enough hours to hold a different life on the side! I look back at the last 10 years and 1000 weddings later, and still wonder what tomorrow may bring! This last week I was approached by an agent who felt my life story was worth going on stage...So I began to think how would I begin this process and would I like it? Bottom line, would it hurt to try? I guess you will have to wait and see huh? One thing you must know about me, I have learned that to not try is a failure. I don't want to feel I have failed in life. While there have been events in the last few years where I wished things would have been different. But at least I tried! So for those who may be afraid, remember, to not try makes you a failure. This industry is not for everyone. But it doesn't hurt to try! Best of luck to you all! Sam

Cheater???

2009-04-10T17:33:00.000-07:00
What’s Your Definition of a Cheat? Cheating. One small word with BIG implications. Remember in high school when you caught your boyfriend kissing another girl (who just happened to be your best friend) and you thought you might actually die? I do. The image is burned into my memory, and the sting, still fresh. Cheating is a subject that never gets easier, and the impact, never recedes no matter how old you are. Now, if you’re a star of the silver screen, the stakes are even higher. If you discover your significant other has cheated, or you’ve cheated yourself, chances are millions are sharing in what’s now become a very public humiliation. (A word of advice to celebrities—it’s actually not OK to have sex with your nanny while you’re married. If you have a pre-nup that says it’s OK, that’s your business. But, otherwise, there’s no good excuse.) This goes back a few years, but do you remember when Woody Allen cheated on Mia Farrow with their adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn? Wow—that was a doozy. Now they’re married. Imagine, though, for just one second what it felt like for Mia Farrow to be betrayed by not only one member of her family—but two—and one of them her child? Don’t think she saw that coming when she accepted Woody’s proposal. How about when Jude Law cheated on fiancé Sienna Miller with his nanny? I mean, Sienna is beautiful and successful—why would he stray? And then the nanny went on to spill all the beans to the tabloids, including how good Jude is in the sack. And after all that, Sienna took him back. They’re no longer together today, but their relationship did outlast the scandal for quite some time. The one celebrity cheating story that really irked me was Shania Twain’s husband of 14 years who cheated with his secretary Marie-Anne Thiébaud, who was SUPPOSEDLY Shania’s close friend. Ouch. Ladies, I am never one to judge because this is truly a subjective issue, and there are many cases where women and men reconcile in the aftermath of a cheating scandal. All I am saying is every situation is unique and we should never judge someone else for their ability to forgive, nor should anyone be judged for a decision to kick a cheating mate to the curb. What would you do if your partner cheated? And, have you ever thought about what your personal definition of cheating is? For instance, would you consider a one-night-stand cheating? Or do you believe an intimate emotional connection with another is a far greater crime? I would say for me, a passionate kiss signals an intimate connection and represents the worst form of cheating. As far as I’m concerned, sex can just be sex. I’m not saying it’s right, but for me, it’s just not as intimate as kissing. I would consider a kiss to be the ultimate deal breaker. So, what would be your deal breaker? For that matter, have you or would you ever consider reconciling with a partner who cheated? Dying to hear your answers… Until next time....

PLANNERS BEWARE! SCAM

2009-04-07T13:56:00.000-07:00
PLANNERS BEWARE THIS IS A SCAM. IT COMES IN MANY FORMS. USUALLY THIS COUPLE STAYS CONSISTENT WITH BEING RELOCATED FROM ENGLAND TO CHGO, NY NJ ETC... IF YOU RECEIVE AN EMAIL LIKE THIS IGNORE IT! ERASE IT! DO NOT RESPOND! THEY MAY EVEN SEND YOU A PICTURE OF A NICE COUPLE. MAKE A COPY OF THIS EMAIL AND SAVE IT... Hello! Thanks for your response, we appreciate ! We would definitely love to work with you!! Well i'm used to calling David my husband because we are getting married and nothing's changing that fact 'cause we have come a long way together..... My husband and i will be arriving in town on the 24th of May 2009 because we would like to finish our work here and also like to spend so time with our family and loved ones before coming as we might not be chanced to spend as much time with them after our BIG move. Actually it was a friend of mine in Spain who just got married in the State that referred me to the Website i viewed your advert and eventually visited your website and to our surprise you got a great chance of working with us as your style is preferably intriguing.. We will be needing a wedding planner to work with us as we are foreigners to enable a wonderful and memorable event, we need customized full planning package because our work schedule is pretty tight and there will be no way to do the planning from here without your support as a professional planner so for this reason, we need you. This is a list of Vendors we will be needing for our event; a photographer , a videographer, an MC, a florist, a make up artiste for all the ladies in the bridal party and myself, caterer, cake, a DJ , invitations for our US guests, save the dates and we are expecting at most 50 guests . Our theme colors are Light pink and Royal blue . Our total budget is $25,000.00 , our wedding commence 6pm to 11pm , ok . Our entertainment band will be coming in from Port Au Prince , Republic of Haiti , It's a french coupe de calien band, they're marvelous. Also, we would like you to know we prefer the reception and ceremony to take place in a location for the convenience of our guests and would love the ceremony to be in a garden setting and the reception in an indoor location in Chicago or surrounding areas because the weather is unpredictable at this time of the year. We would like to know how much you'll need to make our day a wonderful one as we will only need you to work within our budget to prevent any disappointment or breech in agreement in future, we just need to know the exact amount you require to be sure the planning cost is within our budget and then we can start making arrangements for your deposit needed for you to get started? Please feel free to ask anything else as you should know time's not on our side, and remember it will be better to contact us via email for now okay and don't hesitate to let us know if you are willing to help... Have a wonderful Day! Thanks, Jess & David

What Happened To The New Website Sam?

2009-04-06T17:37:00.001-07:00
Long story...I am making it short. We were having some difficulty with the hosting company and we decided it was best to go back to this web design until everything is ready to go! Be on the look out for something very exciting! xoxo Sam

Next CAES 100 Series Class April 18th 2009 Summit NJ

2009-04-05T12:51:00.000-07:00
Hello Aspiring Planners! We are ready to announce the next date of our beginners course in wedding planning! April 18th 2009 Location Samantha Goldberg & Co in Summit NJ Times: 9:30am to 4pm Supplies needed NONE! Fee $999.00 We now accept ALL credit cards, Pay Pal, Money Orders, Personal Checks and Cash. Info about the class can be read under the education link www.samanthagoldberg.com I have expanded this class due to our having to cancel May's class. I've decided after 10 weddings in May, you may find me laying across the conference table begging for mercy. We probably won't get much done. Not even with Duncan Donuts my partner in crime. Pink frosted of course! We do have some spots open. We will have 20 in this class and are currently at 13. Call Lacey Borman Cohen today to register at 908.219.4028 or email her at Lacey@samanthagoldberg.com I want to say how excited I am that we are going to have some Hilton employees present! Please contact Samantha directly if you are under the Hilton Family Brand. Look forward to a FAB class. Yes, we are role playing, and yes you will need to do a few presentations. But we'll do it together and we will conquer the fear! xo Sam

Advertisers!

2009-04-04T10:36:00.000-07:00
I am sorry I have been unable to answer the question of any form advertising on our site. As you can tell, we have been literally everywhere. I have received the sign off on where I can allow this. Please contact Lacey Borman-Cohen about specifics. 908.219.4028 Out Home page is only set for Bloomingdales, Hilton and Bridal Guide sorry!!! Stats are available to you, however you will be asked to sign a non disclosure before the numbers are released to you. ***Not all applicants will be approved. Hospitality brands such as hotel chains will not be approved, Magazines that compete with the Bridal Guide market will not be approved. We also do not participate in ANY adult entertainment advertisment. I look forward to speaking with some of you. Thank you for your patience. Samantha Goldberg

Cheating and Marriage?

2009-04-04T10:19:00.000-07:00
What’s The Point of Tying the Knot If You Can’t keep Your Hands To Yourself? I know that cheating is one of the most controversial subjects out there when it comes to marriage. It becomes even more subject to issues when you’re in the spot light. Did you know that cheating is one of the top 3 reasons why people divorce? This couldn't possibly surprise you. It’s not like in high school where your first boyfriend kisses another girl who just happens to be your best friend. This did happen to me! I felt like I was going to die inside. Do you remember the first time you had a guy cheat? I still feel that stab in the gut today! Your tummy full of magic from a man... was now filled with stomach acid and pain. Don’t worry girl friends I am so covering this subject! It just has to be one of the next ones. OK...Back to my selective ADD form of writing Ha! I have to ask, if you’re a silver screen celeb, you have millions watching you, why would you want this type of attention? They say any attention in the media is good. I can’t see how someone being announced to millions as a cheater can be anything positive when your speaking in PR terms. I’m a reality TV personality for the Style Network and other channels. I watch every move I make because I know how critical my audience is. I’ve now taken on the role as a spokesperson for Hilton Family Brand Hotels/weddings and the author and creator of content for “Guestiquette” a portion of Hilton, and a web site which tells brides and grooms what is appropriate when it comes to etiquette. I wish I could add on to my advice it’s not OK to have sex with your nanny while you’re married. If you have a pre-nup drawn up that says this works, that’s your business. But for those of us who do believe in monogamy. Please don’t torture us with the “I just don’t know how it happened crap, OK? It's like stealing, how did the Coach key chain end up in your purse? I have so been there and men and women don’t always use the right part of their body. Agreed? The heart and hormones have a mind of their own at times. Now this is taking us back a few years, but do you remember how Mia Farrow got wind that Woody cheated with an adopted daughter? I mean what is wrong here? You do the right thing; you adopt to save someone from uncomfortable means. I don’t care if they are Miss Freakin Universe. How does one drop so low? Looks are superficial and we’ll the fact that Woody married her afterwards? Something is definitely wrong with him. He married his adopted daughter. You know what, the saying in Hollywood what happens in HW stays in HW? Do they have a vaccination for this? The next Nanny cheater was on Sienna Miller…She’s beautiful she’s successful and yet Jude cheated with the Nanny. I have to tell you. Maybe you need a Nanny that can only have the job if she’s 500 pounds and has no teeth? Oh and preferably under 5Ft. This nanny even admitted that he is good in the sack. Lady..quit telling us how [passionate he is (as listed in US magazine). He screwed up. He's lucky Sienna isn’t Lorena Bobbitt. The one story that really IRKED me was the woman that Shania Twain’s husband of 14 years allegedly cheated with, his secretary Marie-Anne Thiébaud. She was SUPPOSEDLY a close friend of Shania’s family. People noted about this and even showed the public a picture of Shania and the other woman, and said that “Shania considered Marie-Anne one of her best friends” and that their families even vacationed together. Hello Friends! You don’t cheat with your friend’s husband!!!! One last question, Do you think Brad Pitt did cheat with Angelina during the filming of Mr and Mrs Smith? Don't worry, I do not know Brad personally. I have friends that do. LOL..I also have friends who are great freinds with Jenn Aniston and Jon Mayer. Jenn, I hope you know the last break up with Jon was for the right reasons. What you are hearing is really true! You made the right move! Stay away. He's not mature. Ladies as you can tell this is a subject that I am highly against. I want to hear your thoughts. What do you feel it means to be cheated on? Is having sex once considered cheating? If you had an opportunity to decide what would be considered the worst form of cheating how would you rate the act if it was a kiss, intercourse or oral sex? Out of the 3 subjects which one would be the worsttype of cheating for you? I would say for me kissing. Sex can be just sex. I’m not saying its right; it’s just not as intimate as kissing. In my opinion, a kiss would be the deal breaker married or not. That is passion and I know you gals know what mean. This makes the butterflies. Not the sex. Has this ever happened to you? Men, if you are reading this, what makes you do it? Why would you cheat??? No blaming it on insecurity either! Give us the REAL dish! Until next time! XOXO SG By the way, did you know we have over 60 admitted followers in a matter of 2.5 months. My stats show that over 10,000 per month read it! THANK YOU to everyone for peeking in from time time. You can make up a name. Join in the fun! Let's get some juicy subjects out there..You are always going to help someone!

WE'RE IN FORBES!!!!! YAHOOOOOO!

2009-04-03T09:12:00.000-07:00
Business Wire FORBES.COM Hilton Family of Hotels Teams up with Wedding Planner and TV Star Samantha Goldberg to Launch... 03.31.09, 10:00 AM EDT Hilton Family of Hotels has teamed up with Samantha Goldberg, celebrity wedding planner and star of the Style Network's "Whose Wedding is it Anyway," to create a new wedding planning Website, "Guestiquette". The online wedding resource will shed light on tricky wedding guest etiquette topics, provide guidance on working with a hotel, offer tips on making out of town guests feel welcome, and offer access to the Hilton Family's signature online group booking tool at HiltonFamily.com/guestiquette for brides to book and manage their guest hotel accommodations online. Samantha Goldberg, wedding planning expert, is the voice of Guestiquette. The website covers topics such as: Yahoo! Buzz-- "I'm Engaged, Now What" - Help in getting started planning a wedding including tools for guests' hotel accommodations, an easy-to-use budget tracker, tools for guest hotel accommodations, a straightforward, manageable timeline and more. -- "How to Speak Guestiquette" - Answers to common guest etiquette questions that trip up many couples while planning their wedding. -- "Making Guests Feel Welcome" - Simple ways to help guests feel appreciated for being present on the big day, including tips from real brides and advice on what should go into welcome letters and baskets. "Tough questions about modern-day guest etiquette threaten to trip up every bride and groom: Who gets to invite guests and who doesn't? What do I pay for and what do my guests pay for?" says Samantha Goldberg, celebrity wedding planner and television personality. "The language of 'Guestiquette' is tricky, so I teamed up with the Hilton Family of Hotels to provide brides and grooms with this much-needed, helpful advice for planning their weddings." Brides also will have access to the Hilton Family of Hotels' online group booking tool, which allows today's busy but tech-savvy brides and grooms to plan, book and manage their wedding blocks (five to 25 rooms) online with real-time inventory across the Hilton Family of Hotels, with 24/7 booking access. After brides or grooms book their wedding block online, they receive a call from the catering or sales team of the hotel offering additional assistance and support. The couple also receives immediate access to a tool that allows them to review which guests have booked rooms and which guests need a gentle reminder, as well as a tool that lets them create a personalized Webpage for their wedding and include a direct link to allow guests to book their room in the couple's hotel block. Comment On This Story "At Hilton Family of Hotels, we've seen an increase of 211 percent in brides who plan, book and manage their wedding room block online through Hilton's group booking tool," said Bob Brooks, vice president - eSales Strategy and Performance, Hilton Hotels Corporation. "In addition to providing couples with easy online tools to book and manage their wedding blocks, our new Web site, Guestiquette, provides them with guidance on the ins and outs of working with a hotel and making out-of-town guests feel not only welcome, but right at home."

I found This In The NY Times.....Brides and Grooms That Fire Their Planner..

2009-04-03T07:38:00.001-07:00
While sometimes you just don't click with your planner, here's some reasons of why this may happen. You may have a bride or groom whose not going to be happy with you no matter what you do. At this point I would say it's not personal. Just not a good match...Actually it is personal, they just don't like your personality. It has happened to all of us....TRUST ME. Have you ever walked into a room and you know some one is checking you out with the evil eye, they don't even know you, but you can feel they already hate you? Why? How? Good question! I do have an issue with this article in that it never tells the side of the planner. It may not be a good personalty match, but this has NOTHING to do with the planners ability. It doesn't mean you are bad at what you do. So when you guys get down about a couple going elswehere, I want you to remember, it's not always your issue. It's theirs! Heck, we have a few clients who get upset for various reasons. Maybe they are having a bad day, maybe their finances are going downhill and our fee is adding more fuel to the fire. If that's the case, to let them go is not always a bad thing. Your also going to hate my suggestion. Find a way to make your fee less expensive. Why lose a client over a few $$$. Your job is to keep them calm. Isn't it? In the 18 years where I've saved clients tons of money, no matter how hard I worked on their account, it was never hard enough. I wasn't allowed to have a cold, I wasn't allowed to reschedule. This was mmost apparent when I fell ill with Heparin. This couple didn't care, they said they came to NJ for me and I wasn't there. Did I deliver? I certainly did! I realized we've had a few clients who just didn't care. They hired us for one reason. That was to make their wedding perfect. Well since there is no such thing as perfection. I don't need to tell you, I broke the chain of perfect! I survived and so will all of you who write to me asking why people get mad at you for things that are out of your control. Why do clients fire planners? For the same reason you may let them go...Bad timing, bad fit it's just plain bad. Isn't your and the clients happiness why you are doing this anyway? Think about what I am saying when you begin to beat yourself up over a client yelling at you. No one has the right to make you feel like you are bad news...And you know how I feel about people who treat others w/o respect in this business. Like Donald Trump says "YOUR FIRED"....It may hurt now, but your both better off in the end. When you lay in bed at night thinking of why this happened or worrying they may fire you all you are doing is wasting your energy on something that is going no where. Do you guys remember the Star Jones issues? I mean she very well might have been a nightmare, she fired many planners and florists. Maybe the ones she chose were not her speed? Savvy? Or maybe she was a beast as they described her. No one will know but Star and who she worked with right? Now onto the article.... SAYING “I do” to a wedding planner can be the second most important vow a newly engaged couple makes. With people marrying later, more women working and weddings growing ever splashier, many couples are hiring planners to help sort through the dizzying choices concerning the location, invitations, flowers, photographers, color schemes, D.J.’s, bands, lighting, place cards, centerpieces, cakes and fog machines, to name a dozen. But as the wedding planning field expands, some couples are finding that planners, like a broken engagement, can cause heartache. David Mandel of Los Angeles, an executive producer of the HBO program “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and his bride, Dr. Rebecca Whitney, hired and dismissed two consultants because they were “planzillas.” “It was like we had this mutual enemy — our wedding planner,” Mr. Mandel recalled. “We were not sleeping well. It was beyond miserable.” The first, who Mr. Mandel said was “very well known in Los Angeles,” dropped out of sight for a month after the first meeting with the couple. The second tried to steer them to a hotel in Palm Springs with which she frequently did business. The proposed wedding approached $1 million, “hundreds of thousands of dollars more than we originally thought,” Mr. Mandel said. “She was getting 20 percent of whatever our wedding was going to cost, so she was negotiating in her best interest, not ours.” Finally, Mr. Mandel and his bride, a pediatrician, found a third planner they liked. They were happily wed last New Year’s Eve in New York, at Cipriani 42nd Street. The couple’s experience was not all that rare, as even some wedding planners acknowledge. “I’ve been doing this my whole life, long enough to know that some of us in this business are a little full of ourselves,” said Marcy Blum, a New York planner who got in on the ground floor of the field in 1986, when the number of planners nationwide was fewer than a thousand. “In fact,” she said, “a lot of wedding planners are entering the field with no training, so buyer beware.” The average cost of a wedding is now $27,852, Condé Nast Bridal Media says. Typically, the planner — there are about 10,000 in the United States, according to Gerard J. Monaghan, a founder of the Association of Bridal Consultants — receives about 20 percent of the total. Others charge a flat fee, from several hundred dollars to as much as $100,000. Selecting a planner, or as they often prefer to be called, a wedding coordinator, can be tricky, especially if just what she or he can bring to the banquet table is not spelled out. “A couple should sit down with a planner before hiring that person and ask a lot of questions,” said Leslie Price, an owner of In Any Event in New York. “Both sides need to fully understand each other’s expectations.” Many couples use planners because they want to avoid the headache of directing an event that can quickly metamorphose into something along the lines of a major awards show. Jacqueline C. Gordon, a homemaker in Derwood, Md., grew tired of the “checking and re-checking” of “every little thing” when her first daughter married. So, for her second daughter’s wedding, she hired a planner, and, as a result, she said, “I basically showed up.” But the experience of Jennifer Rudin and Glen Pearson was far different. “We just didn’t connect with our planner on any level,” said the bride, the director of casting and talent development at Disney Theatrical Productions in New York. The couple, who were married in September 2005 at the Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel and Spa in Pasadena, Calif., said the hotel required a planner, and recommended one. The couple say they sat with her in a bar at the hotel and flicked through photos of other people’s weddings, while she pitched themes (Hawaiian? Italian?), colored margaritas and her brother, the fantastic wedding photographer. “It was always about her,” Ms. Rudin Pearson said, “never about us.” In the end they dropped that planner and chose one of their own.

2009-04-02T20:18:00.000-07:00
I wanted to share some of the gossip about my marriage to Hilton! It's everywhere! I could not be more pleased with the response from the media! Thank you to everyone for your emails. I am very excited to say the least! This was on www.hotelchatter.com Alright, we'll admit it: we watch the Style Network. And not just for re-runs of "How Do I Look" — yes, we watch "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway," the wedding show that pairs wedding planners with brides in a start-to-finish look at all the drama behind a ceremony and reception (much classier than Bridezillas, we assure you). And now Hilton Hotels has tapped one of our fave famous Wedding Planner regulars from the show, Samantha Goldberg, to team up with the chain to launch Hilton's brand new online wedding resource, Guestiquette. The site covers everything from modern-day wedding etiquette to — and this is big — an online group booking tool for brides to book blocks of rooms for their guests. Among the biggie gems of advice the site provides is the "I’m Engaged, Now What?" feature. You know, you've got a rock on your finger, but the next steps aren't quite as crystal clear. Here's where the site's "easy-to-use budget tracker, tools for guest hotel accommodations, and a straightforward, manageable timeline" come in. There is tons of advice all around the site, which we appreciated — though it was a wee bit Hilton-propaganda-heavy at times. Um, for example, it encourages you to register to ask your guests to give you Hilton Honors points as a wedding gift. Yeah. I know it's a lot of Hilton, but that's the point! It's an incredible chain! xoxo SG

Better TV and Wedding Disasters

2009-04-01T06:00:00.000-07:00
I thought you may want to hear some fun juicy celeb gossip.... While we all tend to think we're the first ones to have a specific problem..I can almost say 95% of the time you are NOT alone... http://www.better.tv/bettertv/?lid=1404866201 I will be joing Better TV once again in May! Get ready for some celebrity looks for less... xo Sam

HEY 2009 Brides!!

2009-03-29T10:02:00.000-07:00
I wanted to say THANK YOU for your well wishes with Hilton! It has been an amazing opportunity for me. I do hope I deliver what you have been asking for and that is an easier time planning your wedding! I have been working on a better more efficient program in the office. We grew and now it's time to get back to work! I know that's my job too! Especially for our clients and new ones on their way! We have been so excited with our new space in Summit. Sometimes it takes a move to really cause some excitement. (Not that we haven't had enough!) I just feel this is exactly what we needed to get to the next level! What do you think about the website?? I know, it's not as quirky as before. However, things have changed and I do have act somewhat normal for the public! Ha! I will still be the Sam you have always said you loved! However, I am working with one of the largest hotel chains in the world! I AM SO EXCITED!!! How do you express that on TV? Should I jump on a couch like Tom Cruise? Sadly, I would do something like that! I know you are wondering what I have been up to with media...I am writing like crazy. Yes, I am taping wedding shows, but am trying something different this year. I really do want a chance to show you the "designer side". I promise to keep feeding you info for our favorite brides on a budget. I think about it everyday and soon you will see quite a few really awesome ideas we've designed for some brides. It does not look budget by any means. Obviously that is the goal! If you gave me $20K and I made it look $10,000, we'd have some serious problems now wouldn't we? This year has MANY options with colors and ways to save money... I want you to think of the items I've listed until my next posting OK? I will have photos shortly. Colored glass, candles, crystals and textured linens. I also want you to think less is more, Weddings on a Whim, and let's get rid of the round table! Remember those tents with the ugly silver legs showing at your wedding? I am going to show you ways to cover them so inexpensively! Your going to say...Wait why didn't I think of that?.. Def think smaller wedding cakes and cupcakes with fancy designs...Think of tear drop crystals draped in your centerpieces. Is it expensive? NO! OH and one last thing! I started something new in house..I am ready to announce... I have now donated my services to underprivileged brides who deserve to have all of the wonderful things that you had! Things that you will never use again... We are in need of... ANYTHING WEDDING RELATED! Wedding Dresses Shoes Veils Purses Envelope Boxes Costume Jewelery Tuxedo's Shoes ANY DECOR!!!! ANYTHING BRIDAL RELATED! We will have a store front. This will be a rental facility. All items donated are tax deductible. Brides in need will be responsible for the small fees such as dry cleaning etc...Small rental fees do apply! We are waiting for grant money, but someone has to pay the bills for now! Please inquire at our Summit location! Contact Samantha directly 908.219.4028 Let's give what we can this year! Many people lost their jobs while planning a wedding and some don't even have a dress! If you are a planner, makeup artist,stylist, florist etc who would like to donate time in assisting brides please inquire! Our business is thriving and sometimes giving back is good karma! Let's all do what we can! A BIG THANK YOU to the many bridal shops who have already sent us samples etc...I will be discussing several of our larger donors on my upcoming appearances on TV! Wait until you hear what we have been given. I am so proud! XOXO SG

Hilton Family Hotels and Samantha Goldberg Tied The Knot!

2009-03-27T12:25:00.000-07:00
It's official! The long and treacherous secret that I have kept to myself is out! I am proud to announce my partnership with Hilton Family hotels globally. I will be working along with Hilton to provide all brides with the latest news in how to book and plan your wedding on line. I have developed time lines, budgeting tools and even answered a lot of the crazy etiquette questions that come up from time to time. This tool is REALLY amazing and will even allow you to book hotels for your guests with different price points and keep track of whose booking! We didn't have great tools like this years ago and I am so excited to be a partner in bringing the next step to you! We now have brought back the fun in planning your special day! No stress!!!! I have linked a magnificent tool for you...Meet Guestiquette! Your brand new partner in crime while planning your wedding! Enjoy! http://www1.hilton.com/ts/en_US/landing/Guestiquette.html?WT.mc_id=1HF2RE3guestiquette4HFguestiquette5PromoPage xoxo SG Don't forget about my celebrity blog on www.bridalguide.com. I will still continue to serve you the latest dih on celebrity weddings and other various tools!

WE HAVE EXPANDED!!!!

2009-03-22T16:35:00.000-07:00
I am sure you are aware I always have my hands into something! I can't sit still and am always thinking of what I can do to change this industry into something that's less stressful, spontaneous and more like me...Just GO FOR IT! That pretty much sums me up. I SO WANT THIS! Most that know me can say.... I am the type who says yes even when the odds are high! I will take any chance, if it means I'm bringing my business to the next level. What does that mean exactly? Who cares? It's all good! If can get the bride whatever she wants at anytime...I am pleasing our best customer! I would like to introduce you to "Weekday Weddings"!! Weekday Weddings is ONLY for the Bride and Groom who can fly on a whim, can say I do with a weeks notice and can just let the pros do their magic! If this is you, please contact Samantha Goldberg directly at her Summit location 908.219.4028. This program is only for the Monday-Thursday bride! Sorry weekend girls! By the way, did I mention my "Weekday Brides" save at least 50%? Sorry I forgot the small MAJOR detail! We have the vendors who have worked with some of the most prestigeous affairs! I was so TIRED of hearing my clients couldn't afford it! Now they can! You'll have to work with Samantha Goldberg & Co. and Gold Events LLC (Budget Brides)for the Friday,Saturday and Sunday affairs! We have officially split as of Friday March 20th! We are still under the same roof, but are growing quicker than ever! I wouldn't be surprised if we did have a separate location sometime this year! 2 locations could get old after a while! Did I mention we are no longer in Chester! We have moved a bit East and are doing quite well in our Summitt location and our NYC review office!It's enough, for now! Congrats to all staff involved in this project! We have officially started with 22 fantastic and SUPER SPONTANEOUS Brides as of March 9th 2009. We look forward to your call! My only question is JUST HOW spontaneous are you??? Let us determine that! Vendors please contact Samantha directly for more information. Destination locales outside the tri-state areas are applicable.

Bridal Bloopers #2! Granny In NJ Double Dips!

2009-03-21T09:34:00.000-07:00
I wanted to thank everyone for sending such fabulous bridal bloopers! They could have happened to you or someone else. I feel these are great stress relievers when your planning a wedding for yourself or someone else! 1, Granny in NJ Double Dips. This one is mine! Without going into specifics I was working at a recent Bar Mitzvah. The night was fabulous everyone was having a great time. When dessert was revealed low and behold they brought out the monstrous chocolate fountain. Everyone is grabbing rice crispy treats, marshmallows etc...Once this station has been tackled, they move on to another sweet station. This included all but one person. Granny. She was having the time of her life, cute as a button enjoying the fountain like it was her first time trying chocolate. I smile at her and she begins to cough. She pretty much coughs up in a napkin something worse than a hair ball. I had lost my appetite at this point and knew it wasn't going to get any better with her standing next to that fountain. It wasn't until she touched a marshmallow licked off the chocolate and dunked that sucker right back into the fountain. Well anyone who knows me, can assume I had to stop this. I took a walk over to her and said, Ma'am, there is no double dipping with the fountain. She replied "excuse me, I did not take double". I said this wasn't about taking anything, it was about putting something in her mouth and adding bacteria back into the fountain. Her response was: The chocolate is warm and it should have no problem getting rid of any bacteria! It's days like this where you know your not going to convince anyone.I'm not going to try any fountain again. That's one way to take dessert out of a diet! Now here is a good one from an East coast bride! 1. Sarah J in Washington DC tells us on her wedding day she was so cautious of staining her gown. It was a bit out of the budget and well, she wanted to save it for her daughter someday. Sarah had set up a children's table for her guests. While she was sitting down she didn't look at what was underneath her. It was a red marker UNCAPPED! She tried every remedy to fix this. It only got worse. It basically looked like she had her period and stained through the dress. She was so angry with people coming up to her and saying "sweetie you may want to go to the rest room"...She grabbed the microphone from the band and announced to everyone that the red spot was not her period, it was from a red marker! LOL How embarrassing. I hope you are laughing about this now Sarah. You had no control over what happened to the dress. People may have not believed you , but we know the truth no worries! At least it wasn't brown right? Thanks for sharing with us! Brides watch out for red markers!

Wedding Dress Remedies ...Could Work For Bridesmaids Too!

2009-03-21T08:30:00.000-07:00
I just wanted to thank everyone for your comments on the "Food Fixes Everything" blog. I enjoy doing research on the Internet. it's a dangerous tool. I usually control myself to an extent! Well, now I do! Too much research is NOT good thing TRUST ME!There are certain things you are better off not knowing. 3 RULES WHILE USING THE INTERNET: 1. If you are pregnant DON'T read the websites for possible complications. I promise you will suddenly assume you have all illnesses. Why get more crazy? Your hormones will do a great job on their own. 2. If you are getting married stay away from time lines. You will soon rely on them as a lifeline. You do want to make it to the altar right? This could be a deal breaker. Most people will remind/nag you way before anythings due...When you get engaged everyone around you becomes a wedding professional. 3. Never drink or take drugs before typing an email. It's worse than drunk dialing. You can't take back an email once it's sent. At least if you dial you can use drinking as an excuse with your slurring. WEDDING DRESS EMERGENCY FIX LIST!!! Use soda water for red wine stains….dab do not rub. Soda water for dirt due to photos being taken outside. Grease Baby Powder or chalk to absorb water stains or to cover stains you cannot get out. Great for grease...Leave powder on for about 5-10 min and shake access off Lipstick stains Make up baby wipes being a mom works wonders! Lighter fluid on white dresses can work for lipstick also Ink Hairspray and dab with Q-tip or use chalk to cover stain Blood Use your own saliva (enzymes clean...if you do not have cleaner) on Q-tip or wet a towel preferably white with 1 part hydro peroxide 9 parts water…and dab. This is only good for a white dress. When the stain breaks down, try just cold clean water. Remember to dab and not rub in. Silk dresses use baby powder not anything else…Use a piece of chalk to cover stain if you cannot absorb it. Tears in dress Use dress tape or double sided sticky tape trim off any loose thread and fold over to make a clean hem. Can you see through your dress outside? Opaque hose in the pantie area with or without footie.. Zipper stuck quick fix… Try rubbing soap or a candle around the area that is stuck..The wax or soap can provide lubrication and not destroy the dress in the process. Tear in veil Use dress tape…Do not try to sew it, you can see the threading! Cut is an option if you can. Other options use clear double sided sticky tape or super glue.

Did you know that food always saves the day??

2009-03-15T20:33:00.000-07:00
Interesting Remedies!! 1. Budweiser beer conditions the hair 2. Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish 3. Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes I wonder if its good for mopping the floors? 4. Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair 5. Elmer's Glue - paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads if any (same ingredients in Biore nose strips) 6. Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea 7. Sunburn - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water 8.. Minor burn - Colgate or Crest toothpaste (Colgate and Crest are going to love this one!) 9. Burn your tongue? Put sugar on it! 10. Arthritis? WD-40 Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too 11 Bee stings - meat tenderizer 12. Chigger bite - Preparation H 13. Puffy eyes - Preparation H ( I have tried this and it does work! I also suggest this for pimples that are very painful! 14. Paper cut - crazy glue or chap stick (glue is used instead of sutures at most hospitals) 15. Stinky feet - Jello !( You can just use the plain gelatin... 16. Athletes feet - cornstarch! 17.. Fungus on toenails or fingernails - Vicks vapor rub (Vics is also good for when you have a chest cold or cannot stop coughing, rub vics on soles of feet and leave socks on over night. We tried this with Sydney and it was awesome! 18. Kool aid to clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet. (Wow, and we drink this stuff) Coke (not diet) can also remmove rust from a car. 19. Kool Aid can be used as a dye in paint also Kool Aid in Dannon plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it and it won't hurt them if they eat it! 20. Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a coffee filter paper 21. Sticking bicycle chain - Pam no-stick cooking spray 22. Pam will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby 23. Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls 24. When the doll clothes are hard to put on, spr inkle with corn starch and watch them slide on 25. Heavy dandruff - pour on the vinegar ! 26. Body paint - Crisco mixed with food coloring. Heat the Crisco in the microwave, pour in to an empty film container and mix with the food color of your choice! 27 Tie Dye T-shirt - mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak 28. Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda and cup of milk of magnesia , soak for 20 min. and let dry, will last for many years! 29. A Slinky will hold toast and CD's! 30. To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate toothpaste 31. Wine stains, pour on the Morton salt and watch it absorb into the salt. 32. To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax stain, it will absorb into the towel.Be careful, you may want to try a regular cotton towel first.It does work! You all know I am not suzy homemaker, but this was kind of fun! 33. Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with Peanut butter! 34. Baked on food - fill container with water, get a Bounce paper softener and the static from the Bounce towel will cause the baked on food to adhere to it. Soak overnight. Also; you can use 2 Efferdent tablets , soak overnight! 35. Crayon on the wall - Colgate toothpaste and brush it!Colgate wins again! 36.. Dirty grout - Listerine 37. Stains on clothes - Colgate toothpaste 38. Grass stains - Karo Syrup 39. Grease Stains - Coca Cola , it will also remove grease stains from the driveway overnight. We know it will take corrosion from car batteries! 40. Fleas in your carpet? 20 Mule Team Bora! x- sprinkle and let stand for 24 hours.. Maybe this will work if you get them back again. 41. To keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add a little Clorox , or 2 Bayer aspirin , or just use 7-up instead of water. 42. When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever wondered which is the freshest, so you 'squeeze' for freshness or softness? ( I dont care I still will always be a squeezer! Bread and bagels. Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day has a different color (It's almost like days of the week underwear! If it's Sat and it's red you know it's Aunt Flo who decides to come over when she pleases! Look at the twist ties... They are: Monday = Blue Tuesday = Green Thursday = Red Friday = White Saturday = Yellow. So if today was Thursday, you would want a red twist tie; not white which is Fridays (almost a week old)! The colors go alphabetically by color Blue- Green - Red - White - Yellow, Monday through Saturday. Very easy to remember. I thought this was interesting. I looked in the grocery store and the bread wrappers DO have different twist ties, and even the ones with the plastic clips have different colors. You learn something new everyday! Enjoy fresh bread when you buy bread with the right color on the day you are shopping. Don't forget Gatorade for Migraine Headaches!!! PowerAde won't work. If you have a dehydration migraine this may not work so well. Go for the narcotics instead. Ha! I love this! I am going to post bridal gown remedies in a few days! xox Sam

BRIDAL BLOOPERS WOW...

2009-03-14T20:04:00.000-07:00
This post is for planners and various vendors in the wedding industry. Every time I say nothing surprises me anymore in this industry, I always seem to find things that just blow me away. You can never say you've seen it all! I have a question for you. If you are just starting out and want to achieve the best reputation, referral letters and testimonials are extremely crucial to your success right? I was sent this blog posting from a friend of mine this evening. If I wasn't doing a very good job with a client, I certainly would do anything I could to ensure it never gets out there. If you were to find that someone had something REALLY bad to say about you in a public forum, you wouldn't want to advertise it. Or would you? Well, this planner obviously thinks differently and wanted this to be known. If you are a blogger you do have control of what posts go up. This posting is from an anonymous bride who obviously had a bad experience with her planner. Read on.... I am amazed that this company can boast of any successes. The service provided to me was nothing short of a catastrophe. From reserving hotel rooms for the wrong dates, signing contracts that I had no knowledge of and making promises that were never kept. I would never recommend this business to anyone that wants a successful stress free event. I would warn you to approach with caution. You have to check and double check everything that is done and that makes your job twice as difficult when the expectation is to alleviate and delegate some responsibilities to enjoy yourself. I guess if you WANT a bad reputation you would list it on your own blog. I mean if someone has negative things to say, you'd want it on your site right? Pick up your jaws ladies!This is real! If you want people to know your a bad planner this is the way to get it done from one planner's point of view. Each week we will be featuring best blooper and blog stories. If you have found something entertaining send it my way! I know we can always use a good laugh right?

I know You Have Been Trying to Reach Us....

2009-03-14T08:50:00.000-07:00
I had a BIG problem last week. Someone got pissed at me for blowing off their wedding I am known for this.....I finally admitted the truth about the show "Missing Pieces"....It makes perfect sense now! This is how it happened! Well, I caught that stinker for starting such rumors! Our computers have been down and we're going to have everything set by Monday....In the meantime, look for this idiot...He has caused us terrible issues at the office!!

We have another CAES 100 series on March 21st 2009

2009-03-13T18:22:00.000-07:00
CAES 100 BEGINNERS MARCH 14th Hello Aspiring Planners.... I know you guys have been calling and I am so sorry about the class being SOLD OUT... BUT.....I have GREAT news....When our team looked over the applications, it seemed as though some planners were more experienced than others. I decided to separate them into another class. So the good news is I now have 3 more openings!!! Maybe 4!!! If you have been moved you were already contacted about this. So for those planning on the 14th you are still coming! Now I have even better news....I am teaching this class ALONE! I have narrowed the class to 8 students. This is going to allow me for the first time to actually sit with you and teach you sales aspects and planning information. March 21st will be the first class where sales is now incorporated into the training. HOW TO SELL YOURSELF!!!! That is a VERY important tool when working with a bride. They have to LOVE YOU!!!! I am not sure if you are aware, I have been in sales training for over 13 years. My teams all over the US have had a close ratio of 90% and higher. When you have completed this class, you will be assigned a wedding 3-6 months after the course which will allow you to make up for $500 of the class fee. BEST NEWS....IF YOU SIGN UP IN THE NEXT WEEK...I will take off $100 from your enrollment fee. Class fee is $899 for anyone who signs the week of March 9th until the day of the class. Mind you, we only have 3 spots left...Maybe 4...We now take all credit cards! Can't wait to see everyone on Saturday! Another added bonus....I have some supplies for you that will blow you away....Just a free bonus on me.. I can't believe I get to participate with you guys!!!!! I normally stand and teach!!! I have Breakfast, Lunch, snacks coffee and maybe a bubbly beverage to celebrate when we complete the class! I think you guys need to watch out for me with that bubbly stuff Ha! SG Call us 908.450.9766 The class is in Summit 12 Bank Street Suite 201 Summit NJ 07901 908.219.4028 or just email me goldbergsamantha@aol.com Fee $999 unless you pay before the date shown.

Have You been a Victim of a Re Giifter????

2009-03-12T17:37:00.000-07:00
The Gift That Keeps On Giving...? I cannot tell you how many showers I’ve been to where the bride and her guests have all experienced that VERY awkward moment when she opens a gift in front of everyone—in the tradition of bridal showers—which she SO obviously dislikes. Cringe. That’s the only word to describe everyone’s reactions as we all watch the bride struggle to feign happiness. It generally makes for the stuff of good laughs later on, but sometimes I really do wonder what makes some people veer off in crazy directions when buying a shower or wedding gift. I mean, it seems so simple and turnkey, just buy what the bride chose for herself! Save yourself the hassle of searching for the “perfect” gift as well as the possibility of being the perpetrator of one of those awful cringe-filled moments. As soon as the ring makes it on to our fingers, we’re told to register so that people can buy us gifts we WANT. Most brides do this diligently, but inevitably end up with those crazy off-the-wall gifts that they would have never chosen. When I registered, my husband and I literally fought over the gun, and then he took off through Bloomingdales scanning everything in sight to prove the point that no matter how many, or how diverse the items on our registry were, people were still going to get us whatever THEY chose. But, don’t be disheartened at this prospect ladies—or even if you’ve experience it already, because one bride’s trash will be another person’s treasure. And so my favorite ladies in white, I introduce you to the Re-gift! (I know—it’s so controversial!) For the gift you cannot return, or the one you cannot understand why someone would ever buy you, or the one that has no receipt and no box to indicate where it came from—what do you do? You open up shop! These items, amongst the others just like them, are now part of the inventory that will become your re-gift closet. Ladies (and gentlemen), this is how your grandmothers started those magical closets where you could find a last-minute gift for any occasion. Call it the misfit boutique. That’s what we called it in my house. There are other ways to cut down on these unwanted gifts for those of you who simply don’t have the closet space. You could start by getting creative with your registries. Group gifts are a good answer…you can ask your guests to contribute to one large gift you’d like, such as your wedding album or video, and the dollar amount can be kept confidential. Some couples are even setting up bank accounts where guests can contribute—and again keep their monetary donations anonymous—for something like a down payment on a home for the couple. Every dollar counts people! Not that I am an instigator, well OK, maybe I am, but I just have to ask about some of the crazy, out-of-the-box gifts you have received that left you wondering how and why. Think celebs don’t encounter this kind of thing—or maybe at those price points nothing is too shabby—well, I will tell you, they absolutely do get horrible gifts—just more expensive ones. I cannot divulge my sources on this one…but trust me. I hate to be so catty—but I am dying to know the worst gift you ever received, and whether or not you have the makings of a re-gift closet? Come on…we're amongst friends, and who am I really going to tell? Xoxo SG