LOCATION: vision cal quarter-acre yet strikingly events. so every website
PHOTOGRAPHER & STYLIST Cover photo and inside photos by Michele Slaughter of Shella Bella Studios, a full-service boutique photography and graphic design studio specializing in modern beauty and glamour portraiture for women of all ages. Michele has a deep passion for creating unique and artistic bridal, senior high and women’s portraits that reveal the beauty within every woman. She strives to ensure that your portrait session is tailored just for you. Michele is involved in every step of the way guiding you through the total experience from beginning to end! (SEE AD ON PAGE 7)
MODEL: A big thank you to Shannon Castro, cover model for our bridal issue. Shannon is the manager of Pets Life Naturally in Palmetto. She and her husband, German, were married three years ago and she was excited to wear her wedding gown for the cover.
LOCATION: Heartwood Retreat Center strives to make your vision for the perfect event possible with flexible options. A magical quarter-acre meditation garden, koi ponds, a rustic 2,600 square foot yoga center with media center, tea room, and a backyard zen firepit, as well as a romantic wedding arbor and bridal walk, a beautifully lit 40-foot event tent with adjacent dance floor, tables and chairs for 120, linens, centerpieces, and decorations make this an affordable, yet strikingly unique venue for special celebrations or corporate events. Heartwood strives to honor each guests’ individual style so every event is intimate and personal. Visit their new weddings website at www.heartwoodweddings.com. (SEE AD ON PAGE 7)
HAIR & MAKEUP: Thank you Tammy Lopez (left) and T’ea Parra (right) of STUDIO 64 Salon in Bradenton for providing expert hair and makeup for our cover model. STUDIO 64 is a full-service salon for the entire family. Schedule a session for your entire bridal party or special occasion. Visit them online at www.mystudio64.com (SEE AD ON PAGE 5)
PLEASE SAY “I saw it in Manasota Metro Woman Directory!” • 3
For deals from our advertiser deals, find us online!
www.manasotametrowoman.com
SEPTEMBER 2014
VOLUME 5
Information and Resources for Active Women in Sarasota & Manatee Counties
MANASOTA METRO
WOMAN MAGAZINE
Welcome to the Special Wedding & Event Planning edition of Manasota Metro Woman full of great tips and sources to help plan your big day or special occasion from start to finish.
You don’t have to be a bride to enjoy this issue! Inside you’ll find many new advertisers who can help you look and feel your best every day...not just on the big day! The kids are finally back to school, so it’s time for moms to take some well-deserved time for themselves ... get pampered, visit a spa or go shopping.
Have a night out on the town or enjoy some quality time with your girlfriends and check out some local events like The Gal Expo. Love networking? Manasota Metro Woman’s 1st “Smart, Sassy, Strong & Classy!”
Women’s Gala & Speed Networking Event is Sept. 24. It’s perfect excuse to get out your heels and spend a fun-filled afternoon mingling with other local women in business. See pages 30-31 for details.
As always, I encourage your feedback and contributions to make this YOUR magazine and trusted guide!
Sincerely,
Kristi Quigley Lovelace, Owner/Publisher
P.O. BOX 110141
Bradenton, FL 34211
PHONE 941.773.5978
kristi@metrowomanmag.com
WEB
www.manasotametrowoman.com
manasotametrowoman
ADVERTISING SALES
Kristi Lovelace, Publisher
kristi@metrowomanmag.com
Jennifer Mayforth, Sales Rep
sales@metrowomanmag.com
Manasota Metro Woman™ This Directory, in part or whole, is not to be reproduced or copied without written permission from Hidden Values, Inc. The Manasota Metro Woman® Directory and it’s publishers are not responsible for the accuracy of the information provided, or the action of our advertisers. Readers should verify advertised information with advertisers. The Manasota Metro Woman® Directory is a registered trademark of Hidden Values, Inc., Dallas, TX. We are expanding our network of Directories. For more information on bringing a Directory to your city, please visit us at www.hiddenvalues. com or call us at 1.800.960.6788.
When picturing your wedding day, you always want to look your absolute best. Brides dream of every tiny detail that will make their day perfect. One detail that simply can never be overlooked is your skin. Everyone wants to have perfect glowing skin as they walk down the aisle.
It is never too early to develop your unique skin care plan for your perfect day. Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields have created a skin care regimen to help you do just that.
RODAN + FIELDS CAN GIVE YOU THE PERFECT SKIN YOU’RE DREAMING ABOUT.
It’s always a great thing when you use and believe in a product. It’s always better when other people feel the same way.
Rodan + Fields was a feature in Modern Luxury Brides magazine, with a specific focus on our Macro Exfoliator. Stacey Roney, founder of Beauty on Call, elaborates on her experience with the Macro Exfoliator.
“The No. 1 request we get from brides is that they want their skin to glow. This athome tool delivers results unlike anything I have seen in my 25 years in the beauty industry. Busy brides appreciate that in five minutes once a week, it rids your skin of 5 million dull skin cells,” said Roney.
Beautiful, luminous skin should be an important goal for every Bride-to-Be in
preparing for the most important day of her life. Mothers of the Bride and Groom, the Groom and Wedding Party can all be “picture perfect” on this memorable day. Contact me and I can help you achieve the healthy glow you desire.
The average Manasota bride invests over $2,500 on wedding photos. The way that the bride and groom are posed can change the mood and feel of the photographs, hopefully communicating the joyful emotions of the day. A good photographer can help create that during the photo-shoot, but what about during the wedding itself?
Wedding participants should be aware of their posture during the ceremony and reception as these moments are often the ones that result in everyone’s favorite shots. Good posture will help the wedding party appear more confident, attractive, healthier, and thinner; all things that are difficult to correct after-thefact.
Local wedding photographer Sally Ullman says, “I try to coach my brides and educate them about how posture affects the end results. Photoshop can only do so much, and it can be quite costly to edit each photo. There’s no substitute for great posture.” Good posture will have another benefit for the bride during an exhausting day filled with overwhelming emotion: good posture can help increase energy levels and reduce stress.
HERE ARE THREE TIPS TO IMPROVE POSTURE BEFORE THE BIG DAY:
1) PLAN: Bad posture is something that happens little by little over time. It didn’t happen overnight, and it won’t be fixed overnight. Allow enough time for change to take place.
2) GET EXPERT ASSISTANCE: Some massage therapists are postural specialists and can help manually relax and release overtightened muscles. A personal trainer can help
identify muscle imbalances that are causing poor posture. It can be impossible to stand up straight when the chest muscles are shortened and the back muscles are weak. Dr. Keri Rowe of Rowe Family Chiropractic says, “Posture can be changed! Patients who seek chiropractic care and also see a bodyworker not only have better posture; they have less stress and better health!.”
3) MAKE LIFESTYLE CHANGES: Setting up the home and office environments to encourage proper posture is essential. If the bride slouches all day at work and then sleeps in the wrong position, she will undo a lot of the work she’s done with her posture team. The Internet is a great resource for finding out how to set up an ergonomic work station and find inexpensive necessities such as pillows and lumbar supports.
PLEASE SAY “I saw it in Manasota Metro Woman Directory!” • 13
When meeting with our clients, the one common denominator we hear every time, is that they want to make the maximum impact – a wow factor – while still adhering to the budget they have set.
To get the most bang for your buck, focus on the aspects of your event that your guests will really notice. The best way to capture attention, set a mood and provide a luxurious and memorable experience is the use of lighting. Nothing transforms a room quite like lighting. Uplighting your event space is the most effective way to do this.
Typically, LED uplights are programmed to your specific wedding/event colors and remain set on these colors, static, for the duration of the event.
However, a trend we are seeing more and more of is an intelligent lighting package that actually transforms the mood of the party throughout the night simply by changing the colors gradually or a complete change of color at different points throughout your event. This kind of lighting can make you feel like you are at different parties all in the same night!
Whether you are planning an intimate affair in a small space, or an extravagant party for 500, event lighting, simple or lavish, will not only transform your space, but also the moods of your guests!
You will never forget your first dance, the moment in each other’s arms on your wedding day, your honeymoon, and for the rest of your life.
We know how important your wedding day is and we want to help you make it even more special. Our customized wedding dance program gives you the confidence and skill to perform a variety of dances. When that magical moment arrives, your friends and family will be amazed by your elegance, style and grace.
Please call our studio at 941-921-6651 to schedule your free wedding dance consultation.
Honeymoons too often take a backseat to the arrangements and plans of the actual wedding, but you owe it to yourself to give honeymoon planning greater and more careful attention. After all, while the wedding is mainly for your family and friends, the once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon that follows is a private getaway for you and your new spouse to celebrate your marriage. Though you may spend a portion of your vacation relaxing and reflecting on this major life change, the honeymoon is most of all an opportunity to enjoy being a newlywed, spending quality time with your new spouse, and experiencing a romantic and exciting getaway. Let Land and Cruise assist you.
Honeymooners have endless options. Following months of wedding planning, couples often retreat to a luxurious resort that caters to their every need, while others trek to an adventurous escape from their day-to-day lives. Whether a beach vacation or a safari, the honeymoon should reflect your joint personality and wishes.
Keep in mind that perfect honeymoons don’t just happen, and planning requires thoughtfulness, patience, careful attention to details, and a lot of decision-making along the way. The more homework you do before leaving for your honeymoon, the more you will enjoy your special vacation.
With today’s economy, couples are left with a staycation-type of honeymoon. With our
Honeymoon Gift Registry, http://www.landandcruise.com/pages/registry you can register for your dream honeymoon and friends and family can deposit money into your registry as their wedding gift to you. They can even pick portions of your honeymoon like a couple’s massage, spa treatments, airport transfers and more. Make this a retreat of a lifetime with the help of your friends and family.
Find out more by visiting our website at www.landandcruise.com or contact Lori Guerin for more information: lguerin@cruiseplanners.com, 941-773-3415/941-778-9141.
Remember the Internet is for looking… Land and Cruise is for booking.
SEPT. (multiple dates) S.W.A.T (Successful Women Aligning Together) Networking Meets monthly for luncheons in Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Manasota, Nokomis and Anna Maria Island. See website for dates/times/location details. Network and build relationships. Meet other women in business, learn marketing techniques, make contacts and build your business. Info: 941962-0884, swatnetworking.com.
SEPT. 13 4th Annual Locks of Love Fundraiser at Boutique Out East Salon & Spa
2559 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Lakewood Ranch, FL, 3-5 p.m. A fun-filled event for Locks of Love, free blunt cut with donation, raffles, prizes, food & drinks. Info: boutiqueouteast.com, 941-746-1500.
SEPT. 14 Cut-A-Thon for Eric Buchanan @ Blue Door Spa & Salon
5234 E. State Road 64, Bradenton, FL, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Mini-manis, chair massages, bouncy castle, face painting, music, food & drink. Event to raise money for a double lung transplant procedure for Eric Buchanan, a 32-year-old who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Info: 941.747.0111.
SEPT. 24 “Smart, Sassy, Strong & Classy”Women’s Gala & Speed Networking Event
The Devyn, 7113 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 10 am - 2 pm Presented by Manasota Metro Woman. Vendor booths, sponsorships and tickets available now. See pages 30-31 for more details. Info: 941-773-5978, kristi@metrowomanmag.com, manasotawoman.com.
SEPT 30 Sexy, Savvy And Successful! A Woman’s Guide On How To Start A Business, Gain Financial Freedom and Buy More Shoes! with Toni Nelson. Hilton Garden Inn, 8270 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Noon–1:30 pm Cost: $20 non-members includes lunch. Info: Deb Shuck, 941-685-0250, womenownersoffl.com
To include your event in our publication, please email kristi@metrowomanmag.com. Events must be submitted no later than the 10th of the month prior. You may also add your events to our online calendar for free at www.manasotametrowoman.com.
Kara Schlick is no stranger to big tasks or bigger marketing requests. As the co-founder of Physician Marketing and Management, when a client asks Kara for the impossible, she says, “how can I do it even better.”
Dr. Sean Castellucci of Urology Partners, suggested to Kara that he would like to see a MEN’s health fair done in this area. Her first response was, “It won’t work, men don’t get up on a Saturday and go to a health fair.”
As people in the community know, give Kara a challenge and she will make it happen. “Go huge or go home, Na JUST GO HUGE” Kara says with a smile.
The men’s health fair, quickly morphed into the GUY expo where fun meets health. At the event, Kara’s team brought in everything a GUY likes (Lamborghinis, Porsches, trucks, guns, sports, poker, Harleys) and paired them with medical practices. Bullseye Gun Range was paired with The Eye Associates offering free eye screenings. Harley Davidson was paired with The Hearing Centers of SWF, they shared the same client and it was a great match. Bradenton Skin Cancer Center was partnered with the fishing Charter company. Each fun vendor had a partner in the medical field, that way, a man could enjoy what he loved and oh by the way, get health screenings along the way.
The expectation was for 1,000 men to attend, but after 3,000 entered, they stopped counting. With the enormous success, requests for a woman’s event, that was just as fun and just as big started pouring in.
The GAL Expo Saturday, October 4 from 11am to 4pm at the Bradenton Convention
WHERE | Bradenton Convention Center
WHEN| Saturday, Oct. 4
TIME | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
WEB | www.thegalexpo.com
MORE INFO|See ad on back cover
Center, come see what Kara will bring….. Hint, it starts with free daycare, includes food, wine, shopping, extreme couponing classes, dancing, sports and all the health you can take! A portion of the proceeds will go to Center for Building HOPE and Brides Against Breast Cancer. Grab a girlfriend and make a spa day of it. www.thegalexpo.com
5905 53rd Ave. East (River Plaza) Corner of SR 70 and Caruso 941-704-5722
Mon/Tues Closed Wed-Fri 11:30-6:30 p.m. Sat/Sun 10-3 p.m.
Vendor Booths: $115 each
Tickets: $45 each
Sponsorships Available From $300-$850
A portion of the proceeds will go to a charity to be decided by our sponsors. If you or your business would like to donate raffle items for charity or giveaways, please contact kristi@metrowomanmag.com. For more information about the event, call 941.773.5978 or visit our Facebook Events page.
I have been on a long journey of researching many different treatments and skin care lines that fit my vision in an effort to find, what I believe, is the perfect match. We believe our body’s have the ability to heal and repair….with a little boost. Proper skin health education combined with a good regimen always provides results. We are on a mission to empower everyone to take care of their skin without surgical/medical intervention.
Our philosophy is based on a clinical approach to skin care. Many factors, including eating habits, life-style, stress, hormonal changes, etc., contribute to skin conditions. These factors are explored with our clients and together we formulate a skin care program to address individual needs.
Bellagena’s treatments are designed to deliver results. During our consultations we develop specific protocols based on the individual client to ensure they are receiving the best service. We use Image Skincare which is an evidence based line, providing professional skin care products and effective skin care solutions.
