Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum 12th Annual Classic City Bridal Show

This morning while surfing the web I came across a media release for a bridal show being held in Auburn, Indiana today. What makes this bridal show stand out to a wedding planner in Canada is that it's being held at the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Museum. Growing up I literally spent every Labor Day Weekend at that museum so it really holds a special place in my heart. I'm very lucky I didn't come across this press release sooner or I'd be in my car headed to Indiana. I can't make it this year; but if you happen to be in the area please stop by. Admission is only $5. It really would be a lovely place to host a wedding. The stair case that sweeps down into the grand hall would make the perfect entrance for any bridal party. I've included the media release below.

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum 12th Annual Classic City Bridal Show

AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

NEWS RELEASE - 01/12/10

For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Kendra Klink, Operations Director

January - 2010
260-925-1444 / kendrak@automobilemuseum.org

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum hosts 12th Annual Classic City
Bridal Show January 31, 2010

(AUBURN) - The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum's Classic City
Bridal Show is almost here. The bridal show attracts couples from the
tri-state area who are planning their dream weddings.

The Twelfth Annual Classic City Bridal Show will showcase products and
services ranging from lodging and travel, party planning and suppliers,
photographers, videographers, cake suppliers, caterers, entertainment hosts,
jewelers, clothiers, florists and decorating services, financial services
and other wedding-related products and services. The bridal show will be
held at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum on Sunday, January 31,
from noon until 5 p.m.

Admission to the show is $5 per person, which includes admission to the
museum's galleries. The annual bridal show will feature a professionally
produced runway fashion show at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. in the Main
Showroom. Jeannette from WAJI Majic 95.1 FM's "Majic in the Morning" show
from will emcee the fashion shows. The fashion shows will include dress and
tuxedo shops, and floral shops.

Those attending the Classic City Bridal Show may also check out the Auburn
Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum as a possible venue to host their upcoming
weddings, receptions or rehearsal dinners. The museum's banquet and
conference center accommodates events up to 500. The museum hosts many
affordable and memorable weddings and receptions each year. A museum staff
member will be on hand during the bridal show to answer questions, give
additional information, and check date availability for those interested.

WAJI Majic 95.1 FM is a sponsor for this year's Classic City Bridal Show.

Tickets for the Classic City Bridal Show may be purchased the day of the
show. Those planning to attend may also go online to
www.automobilemuseum.org to print out a
Classic City Bridal Show flyer that is good for four free admissions. Free
passes are available at participating vendors.

Museum Corporate Member Sponsors include: Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival,
Inc.; Auburn Inn; Betz Senior Living Campus; Brown & Brown Insurance Agency,
Inc.; Campbell & Fetter Bank; Community State Bank; DeKalb Financial Credit
Union; Do it Best Corp.; Douglas Morrow O.D.; Eaton Corporation; Gary A.
Scheumann, D.D.S. P.C.; Gene Davenport Investments, LLC; Goeglein's
Catering; Hampton Industrial Services, Inc.; Icon International; Joyce
Hefty, State Farm Insurance; MacAllister Machinery Co. Inc.; Mefford, Weber
and Blythe, PC; National City Bank Fort Wayne; Obsidian Enterprises;
Petroleum Traders Corporation; Steel Dynamics, Inc.; Therma-Tru Corp.; The
Hicksville Bank; Valenti Classics; and Wells Fargo. We appreciate all that
our sponsors support.

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum - where the world's finest cars
of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage and special
interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three
floors. The museum is located in the original 1930s national headquarters of
the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark.
Admission is charged, with group and family rates available. The museum is
open daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. year round. In 2010, plan a visit and bring
your family to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where
automotive history comes to life! automobilemuseum.org

Kendra Klink
Operations Director
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
Accredited by the American Association of Museums
1600 South Wayne Street
P.O. Box 271
Auburn, Indiana 46706
Office: (260) 925-1444 x 32
Fax: (260) 925-6266
kendrak@automobilemuseum.org
www.automobilemuseum.org

15 things to help your out-of-town wedding guests feel welcome

I truly believe that when you invite a guest to a wedding you should be treating them with the same hospitality that you would give them if you had invited them into your own home. With out-of-town guests this concept becomes even more important as you have not only invited them to your wedding; but they were kind enough to travel to a far off location to attend. I've compiled a list of 15 nice gestures that can be made to help your out-of-town guests enjoy their stay more.

1. Get a group rate at a nice hotel. This way they can all be together, mingle, and when you visit them they are all in one location.

2. Host a special out-of-town guests dinner to welcome them to your city/town.

3. Book a hospitality suite in the hotel the majority of guests are staying at. Fill it with snacks, drinks, magazines, newspapers, games for the kids, etc.

4. Hire a shuttle bus to take them to and from the wedding.

5. Offer them the opportunity to take a tour of the place they are visiting.

6. Create a welcome package that includes maps, information on local attractions, restaurant recommendations, and anything else you think they might find useful. Arrange with the hotel to have this package waiting for them in their room when they arrive.

7. Arrange for a gift basket or gift bag to be waiting in their hotel room.

8. Write them each a hand written card before they come to tell them how excited you are they will be traveling to attend your wedding.

9. If possible pay for all airline or hotel bills. Nobody expects this; but it is a very polite thing to do if you can afford it.

10. Purchase carbon credits in the guests name as a thank you for flying in to attend your wedding. This helps the environment and shows the guest how truly welcome they are. Have a card waiting for them in the hotel room saying "In honor of your joining us for our wedding we have off-set your travel by purchasing carbon credits in your name".

11. Host a little mix and mingle cocktail party in the hotel on the night your guests are arriving.

12. Get a hold of some discount coupon books for local attractions, shopping, and restaurants that your guests can use during their stay.

13. If you live in a city that is involved in the CityPass program then purchase them one. This will get them into various museums and attractions free. http://www.citypass.com/

14. Let the concierge at their hotel know the details of your wedding; such as where you are registered, the time-line, and where it is being held. This way if guests have questions the hotel staff is prepared with the answers.

15. if you live in the Greater Toronto Area area hire a Wedding Concierge® by Mindless Sophistication to oversea many of the above mentioned tasks and to field other requests your guests might have during their stay. A Concierge will personally be on call for your guests during their stay. Wedding Concierge® will be expanding to other cities so please be sure to ask if it's arrived in your city yet. http://www.mindlesssophistication.com/

Why use a Certified Destination Wedding Planner for my pre-packaged destination wedding?

One question I get a lot from couples looking to book a pre-packaged destination wedding is why should we book through a wedding planner instead of a travel agent? That is a very good question and I must admit if I wasn’t a wedding planner it’s a question I would also ask.

Here are 7 reasons why you should be using a certified destination wedding planner to book your pre-packaged wedding.

1.) We understand weddings. We can look at a resorts pre-packaged wedding and tell you if it’s a good fit for you. We understand weddings enough to properly work with the resort for any additions that might be needed.
2.) We often take trips to visit the locations just like your travel agent would. So we know the cities, countries, and hotels too.
3.) More importantly when we visit a location we are touring the wedding sites, reviewing the wedding décor offered, checking out the wedding menu’s. We'll even taste the cake if they allow us too. We’re focusing on the big day for our clients as well as the other services and accommodations. We're asking what extra's we can get thrown in for our couples and what are the legalities involved in getting married there. We know the questions to ask that a travel agent might not think of.
4.) We usually don’t have other travel customers. So we’re working exclusively on booking you the best wedding with your wedding day in mind.
5.) We have a special relationship with the resorts. They know us as wedding planners so they know the clients we send are there for a very special reason. This means they will sometimes include a little extra surprise for the couple.
6.) We've received special training in the destination wedding industry and should meet all the legal requirements to offer advice and sell wedding packages.
7.) And lastly, if a pre-packaged wedding isn’t a good fit for you. We know how to plan you a customized wedding. We’re wedding planners. We plan weddings. That is what we do.

Whether you choose a customized destination wedding or a pre-packaged destination wedding please consider using a Certified Destination Wedding specialist. You won’t be sorry.

Treat your wedding guests like royalty by hiring a Wedding Concierge®

Mindless Sophistication Wedding & Event Planning is pleased to announce our new premiere service Wedding Concierge®.

Wedding Concierge® is the first full service concierge service in Canada directed towards wedding parties. We created this service because we believe that when a wedding couple invites a guest to their wedding they wish them to be treated with the same hospitality they would receive if they had invited them to their home for a small dinner party.

Wedding Concierge® will mainly be used by couples to aid in making their out-of-town guests visit more comfortable; but concierges can also attend the wedding to assist all guests. A typical Wedding Concierge® could make hotel reservations, dinner reservations, book tours, arrange for transportation, supply information on major attractions around the city. We like to think of our concierges as wish-makers. As long as a request is legal our concierges will do their best to make it happen.

Wedding Concierge® can be booked either on a daily basis or as a complete package leading up to the wedding. Wedding Concierge® has been legally trademarked as a service with the federal government as a service to assure exclusivity for our clients. Other trademarks have been applied for and are pending internationally.

If you're interested in pampering your guests consider hiring one of our professionally trained concierges. This new service won't be limited to only the Toronto area. We're in the midst of hiring and training concierges in other select locations. Feel free to contact me to find out if Wedding Concierge® is available in your city yet.

For more information visit http://www.mindlesssophistication.com/