I Do Vow To Coordinating Services

After viewing a fabulous marketing plan created by two very talented guys, I am moving forward with rolling out I Do Vow To not just as an added service to Fete Perfection but it's own entity. I can't wait to see the finished product and services but look for the I Do Vow To website and marketing materials targeting urban environmentalists that get excited about having a fabulous wedding but who are energized by making a positive difference in the lives of others long after their wedding.

I was able to preview the ad campaign which centers around I Do Vow To and can see this particular campaign will tug at heartstrings across the country. I can't wait! If all goes as planned this should be up and ready by June 21 - just before I head off to Engage:09 in the Cayman Islands.

part!02: the inspiration

So what was my inspiration as a result of my attendance at engage!08: the encore? Simply put, "I Do Vow To". How did engage!08: the encore bring about such an inspiration? It started with a question I posed to Carley Roney and David Liu, founders of The Knot, the largest and most successful wedding planning website in the world.

As a wedding planner and owner of my own business, Fete Perfection, I am cognizant of concerns couples have about excess and waste and benevolent causes when planning their wedding. I asked Carley and David if they would consider featuring stories about wedding professionals who do more than provide goods or services to couples. For example, I am well acquainted with many wedding pros who donate their time to building homes and schools in third world countries, or contribute a sizable percentage of their fee towards community service projects, benefits or charities. And I work with vendors who are committed to minimizing waste, minimizing harm to the environment and giving back to community as thanks to their good fortunes.

Although Carley and David agreed my suggestion is good, the focus of their publication is to provide inspiration and updates on wedding trends, planning tools and useful new ideas to their brides. They didn't see stories about some of these benevolent vendors fitting their audience needs.

At first I thought, "oh well, I tried" but after hearing encouragement from a number of the engage!08 attendees, I thought "oh well...I'll try again! After returning home I began researching and developing my idea into what is "I Do Vow To" helping engaged couples and wedding planners to positively impact community through thoughtful planning and educated decisions. My goal is to meet the needs of couples who want to work with those wedding professionals who build homes or schools for the underprivileged, or those who sponsor a child through World Vision. My goal is to find florists and caterers who will work to find the freshest ingredients from local sustainable farms or purchase flowers, when possible from local cooperatives or small local greenhouses so jet fuel isn't consumed sending flowers from South America.

For now "I Do Vow To" is my newest blog and with continued research and networking look for "I Do Vow To" the website and team of wedding consultants dedicated to helping couples committed to making a positive difference locally and globally while planning their wedding.

Thanks to Donna von Bruening of DVB Photo for all the great candid photos posted here.

Why "I Do Vow To"

With a very uncertain economy and even shakier sense of life as we know it, our confidence and security are being tested daily. Gas prices are up, gas prices are down, global warming threatens human existence...not to mention terrorism threats and the daily roller coaster we call the stock market.

I have been meeting with many couples who want to go beyond just planning their wedding. They want to show gratitude for their blessings as well as wanting to contribute in some small or large way to leaving a smaller carbon footprint, reinvesting in the local economy and improving the lives of others. They want their wedding to represent an awareness of the greater good, in addition to having one heck of a good time.

So, why "I Do Vow To"...we want to meet the needs of these couples and wedding professionals who recognize the opportunity to make life just a little better for those less fortunate than themselves. For example, one of my favorite photographers does more than photograph weddings - he donates a minimum of four weeks every year to building homes or schools in third world countries. He also sponsors a child for an annual membership fee in the name of the couples who hire him to photograph their wedding.

After extensive research, networking and hand-selecting vendors, I have put together this opportunity which I believe will fulfill the needs of those couples who feel a commitment to making a lasting impact to community in big or small ways. Every couple who contracts with "I Do Vow To" will have the benefit of choosing other wedding professionals who are committed to making a global difference as well.

Watch for additional posts as "I Do Vow To" adds additional professionals to our recommended list of vendors and new ideas we would love to see catch on.