Media Kit
For PR inquiries, call (202) 706-7953, extension 0
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In this Media Kit Company Fact Sheet ....................................................................................................... Page 5 Get to Know the Howerton+Wooten Events Team ................................................ Pages 6 & 7 We Know Washington DC! .............................................................................................. Page 9 Who Are Howerton+Wooten Events’ Clients? ............................................................... Page 11 Print Buzz ...................................................................................................................... Page 12 Online Buzz ................................................................................................................... Page 13 The American Couple and Their Wedding .................................................................... Page 15 Client Testimonials ........................................................................................................ Page 16 Our Conferences and Speaking Occurrences (as of 02/14/2014) ......................................Page 18 2014 Blog Editorial Calendar (as of 02/10/2014) ............................................................... Page 19 Contact Howerton+Wooten Events ............................................................................... Page 20
Howerton+Wooten Events 15480 Annapolis Road, Suite 202 (PMB 200) Bowie, Maryland 20715 (202) 706-7953, extension 0 kawania@hwevents.com www.hwevents.com For PR inquiries, call (202) 706-7953, extension 0
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Company Fact Sheet Howerton+Wooten Events, LLC is an event management boutique renowned for creating ultracreative, “high touch” conferences, weddings and events. The event team is experienced at designing and managing weddings and events globally. Headquarters – Howerton+Wooten Events is based in Bowie, Maryland. The idea of Howerton+Wooten Events began when Kawania directed her first wedding for a fellow cable television executive in 2006. The company’s official launch was August 13, 2007. Founder – Kawania Wooten, CMP, is an event planning natural. She started planning her siblings’ birthday parties at the ripe old age of 12, and she got the “meeting planning bug” in college when she oversaw roundtable discussions for her sorority. Kawania sustained her passion for the next 17 years as a planner of high-end conferences and special events for non-profits and foundations. For years, she has been the “go to” event planner her fellow event planning colleagues. The Team – The team is a committed group of experienced event professionals, who are creative, adventurous, organized, and good-natured. Our Promise – We promise to provide our clients with an unmatched value for the investment they make in our services. We’ll go the extra mile to exceed expectations, and we will work to ensure that our clients achieve their event goals. We promise to listen carefully, communicate openly, and work tirelessly to capture our clients’ style with professionalism, creativity, and classic good taste. Meetings/Conferences – Kawania’s primary expertise lies in full-service conference management, starting with pre-planning to on-site execution to post-conference review and evaluation. Each of these phases incorporates the firm's use of best practices and expertise. Special Events – Kawania’s experience at the National Cable Telecommunications Association (NCTA)* ignited her passion for event planning. At NCTA, she was given the opportunity to design and manage intimate events for CEOs of networks, such as Showtime, Discovery, and BET. For years, she planned a highly lauded holiday party at the Smithsonian Castle, and a foundation dinner in Manhattan for the industry’s leading media moguls. *NCTA is the principal association for the U.S. cable industry, representing operators serving more than 90% of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. Weddings – The Howerton+Wooten Events team believes that the genuine care of a couple’s needs is one of the company’s highest missions! A wedding is more than a special event – It is one of the most significant events in a couple’s life. The team’s creativity and keen attention to the smallest detail are the primary reasons for the team’s sustained success in the luxury wedding industry.
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Meet Our Team Kawania Howerton Wooten, CMP (aka Kay) Principal Consultant kawania@hwevents.com My favorite part of a wedding is right before our bride walks down the aisle. After I check her veil and fluff her train, I instantly get a lump in my throat. This is a special moment for her and I am honored to be a part of it. My favorite person in the world is Chris Wooten. I was voted Miss Congeniality in three different teen pageants, but everyone considers him the nice guy. Go figure. In fact, everyone on our team is nice -- we wouldn't have it any other way. My daily mantra is "love & soul always." If you do what you love every day, you will feed your soul. I pour my heart and soul into every wedding I plan. I want your wedding planning experience to be memorable for all of the right reasons.
Hana Pugh Associate Consultant and Wedding Day Coordinator hana@hwevents.com To me, there is nothing sweeter than seeing cultures and old traditions intertwine with music and modern wedding decor. What I love the most, perhaps, is the idea of friends and family together on the dance floor celebrating love and good music. I consider my style to be trendy, but it’s juxtaposed with classic touches. I live for the idea of vintage influences complementing current trends. And, I live for themed parties – My current obsessions are rustic chic and inspirations from "The Great Gatsby” I will make your wedding day shine! I will bring trends, professionalism and a classic style to your special day.
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Meet Our Team Marlo Smith Associate Consultant and Wedding Day Coordinator marlo@hwevents.com When I was young, I would enjoy roaming the aisles of craft and fabric stores. Perusing the patterns and textures of the numerous raw materials really got my creative juices flowing. In fact, creativity is one the main reasons why I love wedding receptions – This is where all of our ideas, sketches, and special touches are morphed into something romantic, fun, and beautiful for our couples. When people ask me about my personal style, I describe it as “simple and pretty straight forward.” I eat foods that I enjoy, I dance to music that gets my body moving, and I love wearing clothes that make me feel good. Come to think of it, wouldn’t you want your wedding to be like that?
Christopher Wooten MBA Associate and Set-Up Supervisor christopher@hwevents.com I’m the guy on your wedding team. While Hana, Kay, and Marlo are taking care of your wedding dreams, I’m working behind the scenes to ensure they have everything they need. You may see me on your wedding day, but I doubt it’s during the ceremony. My goal is to ensure that your reception set-up exceeds your expectations. I guess you could call me a “family guy.” My wife and son are the most important people in my life. That’s why your housewarming invitations, holiday party invitations, and your baby announcements are my favorite part of your wedding. It makes me feel like we helped create your family. And, I’m honored that we are a part of that.
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We “Know” Washington DC! We have been working in Washington, DC for a combined 25 years! As a result, we’ve developed long, healthy relationships with some of THE BEST vendors and venues in the area. In fact, we stopped calling them vendors a long time ago. They are our creative partners. We make sure you benefit from our “creative partner” relationships too. Here is a sampling of some of the fantastic photographers we have worked with on Washington DC area weddings and events! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Allison and Chris Britton Photography Anne Lord Photography Charlie Shin Photography Daniel McGarrity Photography FootPrint Fotos Gabe Aceves Photography James Roy Fine Art Photography K. Thompson Photography Leonard Poteat Photography Love Life Images Michael Clark Photography Michelle Lindsay Photography Morningstar Photography Natarsha Wright Photography Rodney Bailey Photography Sandi Foraci Photography Stephen Bobb Photography Tony Richards Photography Tunji Sarumi Wedding Photography
For PR inquiries, call (202) 706-7953, extension 0
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For PR inquiries, call (202) 706-7953, extension 0
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Meet the Howerton+Wooten Events Couple Our couples are sophisticated. Howerton+Wooten Events couples are busy professionals, who are well-traveled and well-versed in music and the arts. Most of the Howerton+Wooten Events couples grew up with professional parents – They are more than likely not the first generation in their family to graduate from college. 100% of Howerton+Wooten Events’ couples have earned a bachelor’s degree and 75% have earned advanced degrees. Our couples are typically too busy to plan weddings, so they take great care in researching the best wedding vendors. They also take great care in selecting a superb wedding reception menu that everyone will enjoy. Yes, Howerton+Wooten Events couples are foodies!
Our couples are devoted to their guests. Our couples take the happiness of their wedding guests seriously. They know their guests have traveled a long way to see them marry, so they make a solid effort to ensure that their guests experience a warm, welcoming, and intimate environment (even if their guest count reaches 400).
Our couples reside within AND outside of the Washington DC metropolitan area. Howerton+Wooten Events couples may not always live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, but they have some type of local connection to the area. Over the years, Howerton+Wooten Events weddings featured couples that resided in Atlantic City, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Manhattan. In 2009, 99% of the Howerton+Wooten Events couples married in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, but only 57% actually lived in the Washington DC metropolitan area.
Our couples are diverse. The team at Howerton+Wooten Events specializes in multi-cultural and interfaith weddings, and it shows. • • • •
50% of the Howerton+Wooten Events Weddings feature Multi-Cultural Couples 38% of the Howerton+Wooten Events Couples participate in Dual-Faith Weddings The team at Howerton+Wooten Events fully believes in marriage equality for all. English is the first language for most Howerton+Wooten Events couples, but it is not the only language they speak.
Our couples are happy! Howerton+Wooten Events, LLC was a finalist for the “Capital Style Magazine” Reader’s Choice Award, a recipient of The Knot’s “Best of Weddings” award in 2013 and 2011, and Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice Award in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009. All of the awards are given as a result of the positive feedback received from brides and grooms.
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Buzz in Print
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On-‐Line Buzz
340 Likes
2.7K Followers
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1.7K Followers
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255 Followers
We “Know” Washington, DC We have been working in Washington, DC for a combined 25 years! As a result, we’ve developed long, healthy relationships with some of THE BEST vendors and venues in the area. In fact, we stopped calling them vendors a long time ago. They are our creative partners! The team Howerton+Wooten Events makes sure that their clients benefit from those “creative partner” relationships too. Here is a sampling of some of the fantastic photographers we have worked with on Washington DC area weddings and events! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Allison and Chris Britton Photography Anne Lord Photography Charlie Shinn Photography Daniel McGarrity Photography FootPrint Fotos Gabe Aceves Photography James Roy Fine Art Photography K. Thompson Photography Leonard Poteat Photography Love Life Images Michael Clark Photography Michelle Lindsay Photography Natarsha Wright Photography Rodney Bailey Photography Sandi Foraci Photography Stephen Bobb Photography Tony Richards Photography Tunji Sarumi Wedding Photography
For PR inquiries, call (202) 706-7953, extension 0
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The American Couple and Their Wedding This year, 1 out of every 64 Americans will get married. That is the equivalent of more than 2 million weddings taking place in a year. Today’s brides and grooms are more sophisticated than ever before, have a higher education and more career opportunities. Because of these factors, women are marrying later and the average age of a bride is now 27. Half of America’s couples say they spent more on the wedding than they planned. The average cost of a wedding (from ceremony to reception) is $27,000. Source: Fairchild Bridal Group
The Planning Behavior of the American Couple Reasons why a professional wedding consultant is needed – ♦ 48% of American couples wish they could take a leave of absence from work to be able to plan their wedding on a full-time basis. ♦ During an average 14-month engagement, eight hours a week is spent planning. ♦ 53% find planning interfering with their work or studies. Top concerns of American couples – ♦ Going over budget - 65% ♦ Forgetting a crucial detail - 50% ♦ Not having a fun reception - 39% ♦ People not showing up - 25% Source: Association of Bridal Consultants from Bride's Magazine reader survey
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Testimonials “EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE, went away with memories of the most awesome wedding they ever attended. You were the driving force that made everything seem to flow so smoothly and without a hitch.”
-‐‑-‐‑ Carmen S. (mother of the bride)
. . . And, you were so right about how Andrew would feel about the service. While on the honeymoon he turned to me and said, "I didn't quite get why we were getting a coordinator, but now I don't see how we could have done it without them." -- Courtney F. (bride)
“ . . . On the day of our wedding, your team pulled our event together in a very personal way, making us feel as though not only did we hire professionals, but people who had made our interest their own.” -- Gregory H. (groom)
“I love Kawania Wooten; I call her my “Wedding Mom.” She was fantastic to us and treated us like family. I'm normally really high strung and I like to micromanage to a detrimental degree. Handing the reigns to Kay helped me enjoy my day. Bonus points: We didn't really care about special cake knives, so Kay lent us the ones from her own wedding.
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-- Marisa K. (bride)
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Our Conferences and Speaking Occurrences (As of February 14, 2014)
Kawania Wooten of Howerton+Wooten Events teaches Special Events, Strategy, and Leadership at the Prince Georges Community College in Largo, Maryland.
Kawania Wooten of Howerton+Wooten Events is guest speaker for a Public Relations class at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. Kawania speaks on the topic of Public Relations events.
Howerton+Wooten Events is scheduled to manage the housing and logistics for the legislative conference for the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO. 2014 marks the seventh year that Howerton+Wooten Events has managed this conference.
Howerton+Wooten Events is scheduled to manage the registration for a clinical healthcare conference and the annual meeting for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. 2014 marks the second year that Howerton+Wooten Events has managed the conference registration for the conference and the annual meeting.
Howerton+Wooten Events is scheduled to manage the logistics and marketing for the Machinery and Technical Specialties ID Seminar for the American Society of Appraisers. 2014 marks the third year that Howerton+Wooten Events has managed this conference.
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Blog Editorial Calendar (As of February 25, 2014)
March 2014 Primary Blog Posts will focus on Washington DC
April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 Primary Blog Posts Primary Blog Posts will Primary Blog Posts will will focus on Flowers focus on Summer focus on Beauty Entertaining
July 2014 Primary Blog Posts will focus on Diversity
August 2014 September 2014 Primary Blog Posts will Primary Blog Posts will focus on Fall focus on Entertaining Relationships/Etiquette
October 2014 Primary Blog Posts will focus on Music
November 2014 December 2014 Primary Blog Posts will Primary Blog Posts will focus on Holiday focus on Organization Entertaining Tips and Tools
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Connect with Us
Howerton+Wooten Events, LLC is a full service event management firm with weekday office hours (9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.) We are also available on non-event Saturdays (9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) If you need to meet with a member of the Howerton+Wooten Events team during non-business hours, please contact us to set-up a meeting. E-Mail
kawania@hwevents.com
Telephone
(202) 706-7953 For PR inquiries, please dial extension 0 If you are on a deadline or if you call during non-business hours, please call Kawania Wooten at (301) 807-4747.
In Person
In the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area The Howerton+Wooten Events team is available for speaking opportunities, inperson discussions, and/or interviews.
We would like to thank Allison and Chris Britton Photography, Leonard Poteat Photography, Love Life Images, Michelle Lindsay Photography, and Anne Lord Photography for the use of their photographs.
For PR inquiries, call (202) 706-7953, extension 0
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For PR inquiries, call (202) 706-7953, extension 0
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