The Perfect Wedding Guide/Karen Buck

Positive Images by Rettberg wants to acknowledge one of the best known professionals on the Maryland wedding scene, and a publication that is without peer in advertising for vendors in any wedding related fields. We are of course speaking of Karen Buck, and The Perfect Wedding Guide.

Because of the territory she covers, most wedding professionals have been approached by Karen to be advertisers in PWG. When one meets Karen, they find a warm, personable professional who always considers advertisers as partners in a win-win relationship in the quest to be successful in the wedding industry. Her relationship building skills are superb, and she endeavors to learn what each of her prospective clients goals, and concerns are.

In a recent interview we turned the tables on Karen and thought you might enjoy learning that all of her success in her business has been earned through hard work, perseverance, and drive.

Karen Adler at one time had dreams of being an Olympic figure skater, and actually attended the University of Delaware to foster that goal.As fate would have it, she returned home with aspirations dashed, but new avenues soon opening.

In 1988, the national figure skating championships were held in Baltimore, and Karen wanting to stay connected to the sport, put together, sold ad space, designed, and published the souvenir program for the competition. She quickly realized that she not only had a talent for the publishing business, but that she loved it.

On her own, Karen borrowed $20,000, went to Omaha Nebraska, and bought the first Wedding Pages franchise, and brought it to the Baltimore market.She sold her first ad space to a local bridal gown shop for $610. Within six months she was out of debt and established as a successful marketer of wedding industry advertising.

During the years that followed, Karen worked her way up to regional sales manager for Wedding Pages, and came into contact with national sales director Jay Buck. I think we all know how that team tuned out!

Wedding Pages became part of "The Knot" organization, and both Karen & Jay moved out of that corporate structure and looked into a new publication on the scene called The Perfect Wedding Guide.

Opportunity in this market was abundant, and PWG was built into a powerful organization through the driving ambition of the now Mrs. Jay Buck.

At one time, the Buck's controlled six PWG franchises throughout the country, plus launching the Baltimore, and Southern Pa. editions.

The franchises were eventually sold and today PWG in Maryland concentrates on its core business here.

Currently the book boasts of 350 advertisers, publishes three times a year, with a total print run of over 47,500 copies. There is hardly a wedding related business in the metro area that does not have a copy of PWG on its premises. In fact there are over 700 points of distribution!

Karen is complemented by a staff of nine employees, and together they also represent PWG at over 50 bridal shows per year.

Jay also publishes Modern Babies, PWG's sister publication.

Karen also promotes education and networking opportunities to all wedding professionals through the Professional Wedding Guild. A wonderful series of luncheons at prominent locations throughout the area. These are must gathering for anyone wishing to stay successful in today's fiercely competitive climate.

Never one to rest on past success, Karen is moving forward with an exciting new advertising adventure that will appeal to today's media savvy bride,and the vendors trying to reach them.

That new enterprise in concert with Comcast Cable will be unveiled at this month's guild luncheon in Annapolis on April 28.

Karen lists her greatest strength as relationship building, and as Positive Images by Rettberg can attest to over the years, it truly is her truest attribute. We encourage anyone looking to tie on to a winning position when it comes to marketing their own wedding business, check out The Perfect Wedding Guide at http://www.maryland.pwg.com/, and contact Karen Buck or her excellent staff to further the growth of their own businesses.

The Hotel at Turf Valley/ http://www.turfvalley.com

Positive Images by Rettberg,Maryland wedding photographer, works at many great locations in the State, but there are not many that offer brides and grooms the array of services and amenities that The Hotel atTurf Valley does. Carol Sirchio, Catering Manager, and Jenny Betlejewski, Director of Catering [pictured on right] oversee an operation that caters affairs from 35 people to several hundred. Turf Valley has a beautiful outdoor garden with a gazebo for an outdoor ceremony, or multiple ballrooms that can be set up to accommodate any size service. The outdoor area also boasts of several spectacular settings for photographs; another reason we at Positive Images by Rettberg enjoy shooting there.

The support for bridal couples and their families and guests is unparalleled. The hotel fields 171 comfortably appointed guest rooms, a fantastic restaurant, and a luxurious spa.

For the golfer there are two championship courses.

If you are looking for an all inclusive package when planning your happiest day, let The Hotel at Turf Valley put its 30 year plus reputation of excellence to work for you.

Contact the Turf Valley sales team at 410-465-1200 or visit their website:

http://www.turfvalley.com/ to learn best how they can make your once in a lifetime event one to remember for the rest of your lives!

Juliets Bridal

Positive Images by Rettberg has had a wonderful relationship with Juliets Bridal for the better part of two decades. One thing that Juliets has prided itself on is customer service, and under current management, that tradition is alive and well.

Juliets was bought in 2000 by the family team of Laura Barnaba [in photo above]her sister Catherine Showalter, and their mother, Judy Muhl.These ladies bring a warm and caring atmosphere to a very personal, yet demanding business.

Emphasizing strong customer support, and backed by popular lines of quality gowns, featuring Anjolique, Pronovias, and Maggie Sottero, Juliets has secured such a following that over 90% of their clients come from the referrals of satisfied clients.

Further evidence of the respect they have earned, Juliets has won the coveted Knot magazine "Best Of" in the bridal shop category for years 2007 thru 2010. An award that is a testimonial to the loyalty they have garnered from brides willing to take the time to cast a vote for a favored vendor.

Juliets works to accommodate special orders in the gown lines they handle, and to serve clients better, they urge setting up appointments for fittings, though they will assist walk-ins if they are able.

The average cost of a wedding gown at Juliets is in the $1,000 range, but pricing obviously varies with the brides tastes.

Juliets offers convenient hours:Tuesday and Thursday 10-8, and Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10-5.

Check out their website at http://www.julietsbridal.com/, or call 410-882-0520.

Positive Images by Rettberg, Maryland's premier wedding photographer gives its strongest referral to the ladies who make Juliets such a success story, and one of Maryland' leading gown shops.

Embassy Suites/Baltimore-Hunt Valley

One of the finest locations Positive Images by Rettberg has worked at over the past several years is The Embassy Suites in Hunt Valley, located at 213 International Circle in Hunt Valley Md.

Under the direction of their new Director of Sales, Colleen Wolfe, the hotel is once again aggressively pursuing the wedding reception market.

Ms. Wolfe comes to the hotel with a strong sales background rooted in her previous Marriott position. With assistance from her senior sales manager, Sherry Octaviano, Colleen is determined to make Embassy Suites a destination for couples in the market for a beautiful and different reception experience. The ballroom can handle up to 250 guests with a dance floor, and the beautiful Atrium located in the center of the hotel is a magnificent backdrop for photography. It also is a great setting for the cocktail hour, or even the wedding ceremony itself. Conveniently located off of the Shawan Road exit of I 83, and with the convenience of a hotel setup, Embassy Suites will once again be a must do wedding experience.

Positive Images by Rettberg encourages the prospective bride and groom looking for a unique and

dynamic location for their wedding reception, should give Colleen Wolfe a call.

Embassy Suites Baltimore/Hunt Valley...410-584-1400. Colleen's direct line is-410-527-4782.

The website is http://www.embassysuites.com/.

Reverend Alberta Eaton

Many weddings in the region are held at non- denominational locations. Positive Images by Rettberg,being a leading wedding photographer in Maryland, is frequently asked how do you choose a minister when not having your ceremony at a church or other religious venue.

To that end we interviewed Reverend Alberta Eaton, a 12 year veteran of doing ceremonies all over Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.These are the States Rev. Eaton is sanctioned to perform ceremonies in.

The search for ministers such as Reverend Eaton begins with a call to her at, 410-256-5330, or checking out her website at http://www.revalbertaeaton.com/. The initial consultation is done at her home or mutually agreeable location. Couples can bring their own ideas of the vows they would like to say, or, solicit Rev. Eaton's assistance in their formation. She can also design a ceremony and email it to her clients for their editing or approval.

There is much flexibility, so couples can incorporate any religious beliefs they may have into the service, and even have a denominational minister, or Rabbi participate in the ceremony with her.

She works closely with the other clergy person to make the sacred event seamless, and meaningful to the couple.

Reverend Eaton does require a contract for her service, and fees can range from $400 to $750, depending on distance traveled, and any other special circumstances. While the average ceremony lasts twenty minutes, their are no time constraints involved.

Positive Images by Rettberg has worked with Reverend Eaton on numerous occasions and has found her services personal, heartfelt, and dignified.

She has our strongest recommendation.