I have a tough one...about 25% of my brides come from the states and Europe. They come to get married in

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Permalink Reply by Sandra Aaron on February 20, 2010 at 9:14pm

As a Jew and destination wedding planner I am very surprised by your question. Israel has some very talented bakers. The only thing I can think of is that these brides want to taste the cake before ordering it and aren't using a wedding planner who is aware that it's OK to visit a country before the actual wedding date; to do things like taste cakes and visit potential venues. I also know that here in Canada at least many travel agents seem to book entire weddings for people. It's great they can do that; but they aren't experts in planning weddings so perhaps you should try making contact with some of the bigger travel agencies that specialize in group travel for mitvah type parties. It wouldn't hurt to try to network with various wedding planners around the world too so you can refer brides to each other. It's funny because I can understand shipping some items to a country; but the cake is not one I'd have thought of. It's commonsense that If you can get a cake in most other countries in the world; you can get one in Israel.

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Permalink Reply by sharon peled on February 21, 2010 at 7:16pm

Hi Sandra,
Thanks for your insight.
A few years back it would have been very difficult to find a quality wedding cake in Israel, the wedding cakes have been revived by private (rather than hotel) cake decorators, I'm writing this because many destination brides aren't aware of the fact that there are wedding cakes in Israel..... (in my experience)
I'd love to contact the big travel agencies that specialize in group travel as you said, as well as wedding planners around the world, I don't know who to contact because I'm not familiar with them, I'd be really grateful if you (or anyone else) could point out some prospects. I'd love to talk to you personally, about working together,

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Permalink Reply by Sandra Aaron on February 21, 2010 at 9:16pm

Sharon, do you have Skype on your computer? I would be happy to brainstorm various ideas with you.

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Permalink Reply by Glen Shevlin on February 21, 2010 at 12:40pm

It sounds like you have a basic marketing issue. You need to develope relationships with others in the trade in that area. The word will spread once it gets started.Internet marketing and developing a presence in areas both online and off line where the brides are is a big part of it. I don't have the local knowledge to advise on that part of the program. Developing relationships with vendors in the areas that your target market comes from is also a good start.

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Permalink Reply by sharon peled on February 21, 2010 at 7:20pm

Hi Glen,
thanks for your input, I am aware I should develope a relationship with others, how do you do that when you don't know them or have any leads? it feels to me like "dating"- except here I don't know the guy I want to date, so how do I arrange to meet him? ((metaphorically of course)

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Permalink Reply by Glen Shevlin on February 21, 2010 at 8:13pm

Hi Sharon, I assume that you are based in Isreal and dealing with Jewish weddings in Isreal by people from outside the country.

If that is the situation you need to target areas in North America that have large Jewish populations. Toronto, Montrel and New York immediatly come to mind.

I can help you in the Toronto area we are based in the Greater Toronto area. The issue from what I can gather is the lack of knowledge of services available to people traveling to Isreal .

Do you have a website ? and an e-mail outside of this forum we can use?

you can reach me at glen@distinctiveexpressionsinc.com drop me a line and we will see how we can help you.

Glen

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Permalink Reply by Sandra Aaron on February 21, 2010 at 9:12pm

Sharon, I am also based in Toronto so can help you with information on that community and since destinations is one of my specialties maybe find you some contacts in other areas. I thought of it after; but I would also contact the Jewish Agency in Israel for assistance since they deal a lot with tourism to Israel and can arrange for special trips to Israel of certified wedding planners so the planners can see what is available there for destination weddings.

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Permalink Reply by Adrienne Sasson on February 25, 2010 at 2:46pm

Sharon,

You might want to post on sites that are visited by Anglos in Israel. Some of those sites are Tanglo and Janglo. These sites get a lot of hits because the "Anglos" are always looking for different businesses which cater to the Anglo taste. I would also begin relationships with event planners (not just wedding planners) in Israel as well as abroad. Many of the event planners are planning events for "mixed" couples (Israeli marrying non-Israeli) and the non- Israeli born spouse may want that "just like home" wedding cake. Also, there are 1000's of wedding venues in Israel. Take some yummy cake samples as well as your photo album. Get your foot in the door.

B'hatslecha!

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