Evolve

I am in a unique position in the wedding industry. In my position as an editor of 3 wedding magazines and a wedding portal, I deal with industry vendors as my clients. As a designer with That Special Occasion, my clients are soon-to-be-brides. The former requires me to champion my industry colleagues whereas the latter necessitates that I look after the interests of the bride. I have to strike a balance which is not always easy.

The industry is always evolving. The expectations of couples vary, how vendors respond to these expectations change according to the circumstances. Suffice to say, the aim is to have a win-win situation for both parties. One thing is for certain though and that is, it is imperative that fellow industry colleagues support one another. Loyalty is earned. We may all run our businesses differently, we may have differing principles, but we should always stand up for each other. Only then can the industry progress.

Supporting one another means being open enough to accept the differences by which we run our businesses. One has to adapt to new business practices. One has to respect the artistry of the experienced, yet acknowledge the creative catalysts brought on by new entrants into the industry. In this day and age, one has to embrace technology more than ever, be willing to network and be confident enough to market oneself well. Truth be told, just relying on one's expertise is no longer sufficient. You either play along to market forces or be left behind. That's some food for thought I reckon.

Photo of gown by That Special Occasion, courtesy of Louis Pang Studio.

Venturing To Penang

A capsule collection of That Special Occasion wedding gowns is now available in Penang, either for rent or purchase at the spanking new Whizarts Wedding Photography Boutique Studio in Taman Permai. It is always a challenge delivering a service outside the Klang Valley where That Special Occasion is based, but with collaborative partners such as Ke Wynn and Alishia in Penang, we are confident that such a venture can be a success. We also take heart from the fact that we can draw from our experience in Kota Kinabalu where we have worked in a similar fashion with Louis Pang Studio for a number of years.

We have many good friends and industry colleagues in Penang and it was a pleasure to catch up with them at the official launch of Whizarts' new entrepreneurial endeavour yesterday. It is through their support that we hope to achieve some level of success there.

One thing is for sure, we will approach this venture with much gusto, putting our best foot forward as always.

Photo shot at Whizarts Wedding Photography Boutique Studio in Penang, Malaysia.

Reminiscing

I am often deluged by work ... ok, I am always deluged by work. For the most part it is by choice, at least subconsciously. I seem to go from project to project, bringing to fruition the many inspiring ideas that constantly come to mind. Thing is, I hate to see a good idea go to waste, which is why I keep striving to make good the brainwaves that I get so very often.

There are times however when I just need to rest this brain of mine, and funnily enough, these are also the times when I find myself being nostalgic, reflective, even melancholic. I tend to reminisce a lot when I am not on the go. Tender moments, thrilling escapades, moving encounters, all these experiences make up who we are. I am truly fond of re-living these memories, be it the good or the not-so-good, for they remind me that life is not all about work.

The photo that accompanies this post brings back wonderful memories of a carefree day in April 2008. How often do members of 3 different wedding-related companies - That Special Occasion, Pretty In White and Louis Pang Studio - get to spend a day together on a beautiful island, off the coast of Sabah? Not very often let me tell you. That's why I reminisce...

Photo shot by a stranger on Manukan Island in Sabah.