Who would have thought the mafia could help plan your big day? Well, this isn't your typical mafia - it's the Wedding Mafia, a local membership organization of wedding vendors and brides. This elite group of vendors gives wedding advice and ideas to help you plan your dream wedding. It is on a smaller and more educational scale than traditional wedding shows, which will give you the opportunity to mingle with local wedding professionals.

The Wedding Mafia (or "the Mafia" as it's called) started in December of 2006 by Michael Bambino, owner of Michael Bambino & Co. It focuses specifically on the Cincinnati bridal market and features local wedding vendors. "Our team spent one year researching local wedding vendors and created focus groups of past and current brides," says Leigh Ann Miller, director of the Wedding Mafia. "We researched local, regional and national trends to build an organization that would help and support brides in their wedding planning process." 

The Mafia offers several bridal events throughout the year. This year it will host two cocktail party-style bridal shows and five "Wedding 101" events. The Mafia also will play host to a bachelorette party as well as a charity auction this summer. "Brides coming to our bridal shows will receive complimentary drinks and hors d'oeurves, real wedding ideas, entertainment, and the opportunity to mingle and talk with some of the best wedding vendors in the city," Miller says.

Around 100 Cincinnati vendors are part of the Wedding Mafia. There are 22 wedding categories for vendors, including traditional wedding vendors such as photographers, bakeries, venues, videographers and entertainers as well as vendors that help build the bride and groom's future as husband and wife. However, there is a limit of five vendors per category to ensure they have the best wedding professionals in each category.

"We are unique to the wedding industry because we are a members-only organization limited to five vendors per wedding category," Miller says. "Vendors have the opportunity to speak with a smaller numbers of brides in a more intimate setting. Brides are invited to bridal shows and seminars where they can ask questions and get wedding ideas from the professionals."

For 2009, membership is free for brides in addition to receiving free admission to all "Wedding 101" events. Member brides will also receive e-mail blasts about all upcoming wedding events.

For more information on the Wedding Mafia or to become a member, visit the Mafia's Web site.

PHOTO CREDITS:
First Photo
Courtesy of YourWeddingMafia.com

Second Photo
Courtesy of Leigh Ann Miller

Katie Sayers
		About the author:
		Katie Sayers is a Cincy Chic staff writer and PR intern. Send her an e-mail at ksayers@cincychic.com.
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Last update: 23-02-2009 18:56

Published in : Magazine Items, Social