Wedding Fair generated business

Editor,

On behalf of the Circle P Ranch Vacation Rentals, LLC, we thank the Lake County Leader for sponsoring Wedding Fair 2006. This was our first time involved with this type of event and it proved to be successful. We happened to be the "only" lodging made available to the visiting brides and their families.

I took a few moments to visit the other vendors and was quite surprised that there were not more local businesses involved. Many vendors were from outside areas — Kalispell, Bigfork and Missoula to mention a few.

I am involved with the Polson Chamber of Commerce and as I visited the other tables I was again surprised that these businesses were not a part of the Chamber.

Along with the confirmation of their reservations, my guests are sent a Chamber Directory for their use as they plan their visit around the Polson area.

They may be here for a wedding, family reunion or vacation. Any and all information I can provide to make the final details easier, I will do just that. My wedding guests in June were unable to locate a local photographer, caterer or chair/table rental business through the directory I provided. So I went the extra mile and located several from the event this past weekend and forwarded the information to them.

I cannot express enough that your local Polson businesses should be listed with the Chamber. Give it a try for a year, but to be listed in the directory you must act now. Your business will always be on the Chamber website, where I direct guests to visit as they confirm their traveling plans. I provide an example of wedding date vs. car show weekend (no lodging). I like to inform Polson visitors to check the current events calendar so there will be no conflicts of lodging, catering, etc.

I also learned at the Wedding Fair that we had another cruise charter company who also have a "White Dove Release" for which I often get requests. Not a member, so how are Polson visitors to know? I will do my best to forward business your way. However, I owe the Chamber listings the first opportunity.

A very special thanks to Liz and the staff at the Leader for a great job putting together this event. If you did not attend or have a Wedding Fair booth, you may have lost some local business that Bigfork, Missoula or Kalispell received. Thank you, Danelle Kraude, for your help … very much appreciated.

Many thanks to the Leader.

Patty and Mike Prather

Circle P Ranch Vacation Rentals, LLC

Polson