Hey everyone! As you know, my name is Danielle and I am the owner of Danie Marie Events. I am a Master Certified Wedding Planner and Ambassador through The Bridal Society, the leading Wedding Planning Certification Program in the world, and the largest membership of Certified Wedding Planners & Venues. We, at The Bridal Society, know how important hiring an educated Wedding Planner or Coordinator is. The Bridal Society is a wedding planner lifetime membership and certification program focused on raising the standards in the industry and ensuring that all couples have an opportunity to have the wedding day of their dreams.
Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Joey Mac Dizon, owner of The Mobile Cigar Lounge.
Welcome, Joey! Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.
Tell me a bit about your company.
The Mobile Cigar Lounge is 100% Veteran-owned and operated by myself and two of my partners. The company was founded in September of 2018 through our combined love for cigars and the unique experience it provides. We wanted to bring the sense of camaraderie that we got in the military along with that memorable experience to the civilian aspect. Special celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, and retirements. It's pretty amazing how cigars and their scents can take people back to some fond memories - maybe it was your grandfather or father who smoked cigars when you were younger and the smell just transports you back to a good place.
Thank you all for your service! We salute you. What inspired you to enter the wedding industry?
We didn't enter the wedding industry until 2020. We did close to 160 events in 2019 but it was a mixture of social events, pop-up events, and some weddings. We shifted our focus to weddings to help enhance the client experience. We wanted more couples to have that signature cigar experience. We went from 12 - 14 weddings in 2019 to 60 weddings in 2020.
What is the one common myth about your profession that you want to debunk?
A lot of brides think that the cigar lounge will "steal" the whole crowd off the dance floor during the reception. We just want our clients to trust us. There is always a portion of the crowd that doesn't dance anyway.
We are there for the last two hours of the reception, the formalities are done and everyone is having fun. Desserts are out. Chocolate goes well with cigars. Sweets go well with cigars. Let those guests grab their piece of cake and head outside enjoy a glass of whiskey, have a smoke and they'll head back inside. We promise we won't steal the crowd.
See, I love having these conversations because I learn something every time! I had no idea that cigars go well with chocolate and sweets in general. Thanks for that gem!
What is the one thing you wish you had known when you began your career?
That's such an interesting question to me because I always want to know more. I am always striving to improve. I'm still new in the industry and my focus is to never stop learning. We always want to know what our clients like and how we can continue to make our experiences better.
And, how big is your team?
Right now we have a team of 40 people. Four are full-time and the rest are part-time. It's a mix of veterans and first responders.
I love that! How many weddings do you take per year?
This year we will finish with 430 weddings.
Did you say 430 weddings?! I cannot even imagine! 🤯
Yes, 430 weddings and 720 events in total for the year.
Out of 430 weddings for this year, how many would you say you do with a hired Certified Wedding Planner?
Not enough. 😂 I would say maybe a third of the weddings.
Can you tell me why you prefer working weddings when a Certified Wedding Planner is hired by the couple?
Having a planner will alleviate the stress for the clients and other vendors, creating timelines and keeping everyone organized. You need a professional in each area to provide the best service for the clients.
Can you describe a situation a Certified Wedding Planner saved the day?
Just seeing the planners going above and beyond - fixing plates for the couple, making sure they have drinks, bustling dresses when needed. The attention to detail that comes with having a planner is so worth it.
I know you operate mainly in the Tri-State area, but where else do you service clients?
I always say "You call, we haul". We are available nationwide for any city and state.
Joey, thank you so much for joining me today and bringing light to the cigar world. What is the best way for clients to contact you?
Check out their reviews on Google, Wedding Wire, and The Knot.
If you are reading this today and you are interested in earning your certification in Wedding Planning, The Bridal Society is the very best decision you could ever make. The members of this organization feel more like family than colleagues. The Bridal Society provides lifetime FREE membership once you complete your certification, which includes countless benefits. Visit www.thebridalsociety.com for more information. If you would like to receive an exclusive discount code, message me!
Again, my name is Danielle owner of Danie Marie Events. Join me next time when I’ll be talking to another amazing wedding professional!
Tell me what you think below or if you found this helpful. If you have any questions about The Bridal Society or would like to book a certified event/wedding planner, contact me for a free consultation.
Happy Planning!
xo
~Danie Marie
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