wedding planner

Wedding Planner MAGAZINEMAY/JUNE 2016

OUTDOOR EVENTS...AUTHENTICITY...AVOIDING SALES TURNOFFS...STAYING AHEAD IN THE INFORMATION AGE...LEADERSHIP SERIES

Inspired by the Association of Bridal Consultants

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INVITE FAMILY & FRIENDSAND THE HONEYMOONIS FREE*, TOO!

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J A M A I C A • A N T I G U A • S A I N T L U C I A • B A H A M A S • G R E N A D A • B A R B A D O S

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED

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SET UP A MARKETING PLAN TODAYCONTACT KIM SARDO,

SR. DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT(978) 281-1119 OR

[email protected]

M O R E Q U A L I T Y I N C L U S I O N S T H A N A N Y O T H E R R E S O R T S O N T H E P L A N E T

THE WORLD’S ONLY

★

★★★

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5-STAR LUXURY INCLUDED® HONEYMOON

WHEN EVERYTHING’S INCLUDED YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A THING

SAN 33557_Bridal_er.indd 1 3/7/16 11:55 AM

Italian Oceanview Penthouse 1 Bdrm. SkyPool Butler Suite w/Balcony Tranquility Soaking Tub™ at Sandals LaSource Grenada

*Visit www.sandals.com/disclaimers/weddingplannermayjune2016or call 1-800-SANDALS for important terms and conditions.

SANDALS FREE* BEAUTIFUL BEGINNINGS WEDDING WITH A THREE-NIGHT STAY OR MORE!

WEDDING

INVITE FAMILY & FRIENDSAND THE HONEYMOONIS FREE*, TOO!

& HONEYMOON*

J A M A I C A • A N T I G U A • S A I N T L U C I A • B A H A M A S • G R E N A D A • B A R B A D O S

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED

@ weddingmoons

When you’ve found the person you want to share the rest of your life with, you want to fi nd the perfect place to enjoy the honeymoon of a lifetime. And at Sandals® Resorts, you’ll fi nd endless ways to enjoy your new life together at the world’s only fi ve-star Luxury Included®

resorts. From our exotic and romantic Love Nest Suites®, every land and water sport including waterskiing and unlimited scuba diving for certifi ed divers, to premium spirits and Gourmet Discovery Dining at up to 16 outstanding restaurants—experience all the indulgences of the world’s most decadent honeymoon. At Sandals, love is all you need because everything else is included and unlimited!

SET UP A MARKETING PLAN TODAYCONTACT KIM SARDO,

SR. DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT(978) 281-1119 OR

[email protected]

M O R E Q U A L I T Y I N C L U S I O N S T H A N A N Y O T H E R R E S O R T S O N T H E P L A N E T

THE WORLD’S ONLY

★

★★★

★

5-STAR LUXURY INCLUDED® HONEYMOON

WHEN EVERYTHING’S INCLUDED YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A THING

SAN 33557_Bridal_er.indd 1 3/7/16 11:55 AM

http://www.sandals.com/disclaimers/weddingplannermayjune2016

mailto:[email protected]

4 WEDDING PLANNER MAGAZINE

WEDDING PLANNER MAGAZINEvol 6 issue 2

FEATURES8 A Peek Inside Outdoor Events20 NACE Recaps the Highlights of Catersource 201626 Out of the Dragon Lady's Den: A Lesson in Effective Leadership28 Conferences and Trade Shows Offer Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

REAL WEDDINGS25 Philadelphia27 Nevada

COLUMNS15 Industry Insight: Success Means Being 100% You 19 Business Basics: 7 Strategies to Avoid the Dreaded Sales Turnoff22 Master Profile: Heather Canada, MWP™24 Seasoned Professionals: Staying Ahead of Trends in the Information Age

IN EVERY ISSUE6 Letter7 Contributors12 Industry Best Practices16 ABC News18 ABC Column23 Ask the Experts

9 © Gary Nevitt Photography


MAY/JUNE 2016 | VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2

PUBLISHERSNancy Flottmeyer, PWP™, and David Wood

EDITORBeth Erickson

CREATIVE DIRECTORNancy Flottmeyer, PWP™

SOCIAL MEDIAAlicia Seachord

CONTRIBUTORSDonnie Brown, CWP™Merryl Brown, CWP™

Adam MuellerMilena Santoro, CWP™, CMM, CMP, PIDP

Shelby Tuck-Horton, MBC™ Doug Quattrini, CPCE

PROOFREADERKim Seidel

PHOTOGRAPHERSGary Nevitt Photography Gin and Sake Productions

Mueller Photography Peter Gordon Big Day Out Weddings

Shea Roggio Photography The McCartneys Photography Zach Mathers Photography

ABC CORPORATE SALES

Dena Davey

Wedding Planner Magazine, inspired by the Association of Bridal Consultants, is published bi-monthly by Wedding Planner Magazine LLC, 400 Main Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601. Phone: 608.796.2257. Fax: 608.796.2253. Email: [email protected]. Visit: www.WeddingPlannerMag.com. Copyright 2016 Wedding Planner Magazine LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced with-out written permission from the publishers. Wedding Planner Magazine does not necessarily endorse the claims or contents of advertising or editorial material. Printed in the U.S.A.

Wedding Planner Magazine ISSN 2160-3286 is published bi-monthly by Wedding Planner Magazine LLC, 400 Main Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601. Circulation is 4,000. Advertising is accepted; corporate ABC members receive a discount on rates. Annual subscriptions are $36. Periodical postage paid at La Crosse, WI and at Eau Claire, WI. Post-master send changes to Wedding Planner Magazine, 400 Main Street, La Crosse, WI 54601.

Beth [email protected]

Nancy Flottmeyer, PWP™Publisher/Creative [email protected]

David M. Wood, Publisher/President, Association of Bridal Consultants

In the great outdoors, anything can happen. Weather is mutable. Accidents happen. Unforeseen circumstances are right around the corner. The only given is that nothing is certain. And this is precisely what makes the planning and coordination of outdoor events exciting.

In this issue of Wedding Planner Magazine, you'll get to see the beauty and explore the unpredictable elements and details behind four outdoor weddings from Idaho to Ireland and from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania. Find out about the preparations and alternate plans as well as the challenges and how they were overcome.

And speaking of overcoming challenges, Milena Santoro, CWP™, shares her journey of self-reflection from being viewed as "Dragon Lady" to emerging as a leader and mentor in the second part of our three-part series on leadership. We also have articles that feature seven fabulous tips that help you avoid the dreaded sales turnoff, explore the latest buzz-worthy trend of authenticity, discuss the importance of continuing education, and highlight what it takes for seasoned professionals to stay current in the Information Age. And, for a little comic relief, check out this month's two-page spread of Industry Best Practices. We asked and you overwhelmingly responded with your craziest, strangest, most unbelievable things that have happened to you at your events. You won't want to miss it!

And speaking of what not to miss, you're not going to want to miss one minute of this year's Association of Bridal Consultant's Annual Conference in Dallas Nov. 6 - 8. You are guaranteed to experience amazing networking, a highly charged and creative atmosphere, and an unforgettable experience! To register, call 1-860-355-7000 or visit www.ABCAnnualConference.com.

letter

WEDDING PLANNER MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARDTonia Adleta, PWP™, Aribella Events - Frank J. Andonoplas, MWP™, Frank Event Design - Alan Berg, CSP, www.AlanBerg.com - Donnie Brown, CWP™ Donnie Brown Weddings and Events - Merryl Brown, CWP™, Merryl Brown Events - Mark Kingsdorf, MWP™, Mission Inn Resorts - Carmen Mesa, MWP™, Carmen Mesa Weddings and Events, Inc. - Shelby Tuck-Horton, MBC™, Exquisite Expressions and Events

UPCOMING ISSUE: DESTINATION WEDDINGS - THE STAGES OF BUSINESS - STAYING RELEVANT - LEADERSHIP SERIES

Wedding Planner MAGAZINEMAY/JUNE 2016

OUTDOOR EVENTS...AUTHENTICITY...AVOIDING SALES TURNOFFS...STAYING AHEAD IN THE INFORMATION AGE...LEADERSHIP SERIES

Inspired by the Association of Bridal Consultants

© The McCartneys Photography

http://www.ABCAnnualConference.com




http://www.WeddingPlannerMag.com



http://www.AlanBerg.com

WEDDING PLANNER MAGAZINE 7

contributorsCelebrity wedding planner DONNIE BROWN, CWP™, of Donnie Brown Weddings and Events is considered one of the leading wedding and event planners in the industry. He has helped transform the land-scape of how we see weddings and is sought after for his expertise

and trend-setting ideas. He starred in “Whose Wedding is it Anyway” on the Style Network for 14 seasons, has been profiled and quoted in every fashion and wedding magazine on newsstands, and has authored one book and has a second coming out next year. See his "Sea-soned Professionals" article on page 24.

MERRYL BROWN, CPW™, and Merryl Brown Events designs and produces spectacular experiences and events that are unparalleled in their creativity, integrity and attention to detail. With a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, Merryl

Brown is a multilingual former international banker with American Express Bank and Bankers Trust in New York. Merryl Brown Events’ creative event solutions and total event management strategies have garnered multiple industry awards. For this issue, Merryl takes on avoiding sales turnoffs on page 19.

ADAM MUELLER is the owner and portrait décor artist for Mueller Photography in La Crosse, Wis. With a lifelong passion for the art of photography, his work reflects the latest in photography trends and best practices. Find out more at www.muellerphotography.net

and in his article on industry conferences on page 28..

MILENA SANTORO, CWP™, CMM, CMP, PIDP, is an author, speaker, educator, and president and CEO of MS Productions, Inc., with offices in Canada and Europe. She has more than 20 years of experience and a background in hospitality, culinary arts, floral and

interior design. Discover her journey to leadership on page 26.

SHELBY TUCK-HORTON, MWP™, is president at Exquisite Expressions and Events, Inc. in the Washington, D.C. area. She has been planning weddings for 25 years and is the Association of Bridal Consultants’ State Manager for Maryland and Washington, D.C. She is an ad-

junct professor at Prince Georges Community College in Maryland and is also a certified life and business coach. Authenticity is on her mind, and she talks about what it means in business on page 12.

DOUG QUATTRINI, CPCE, began his career with the ARAMARK Cor-poration as an account manager and later became a member of its Higher Education national support team, developing and implement-ing catering training programs for the United States and Canada. He

joined the Feastivities Events team as an event producer in November 2012, selling, planning, and executing customized off-premise events in the Philadelphia area. Quattrini is a National Association for Catering and Events National Education Committee member. Learn about the Catersource conference from him on page 20.

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OUTDOOR EVENTS | BETH ERICKSON

RED LETTER EVENT PLANNINGCOEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO

Date: July 18, 2015Guest count: 182Budget: $70,000Vendors: Fleurtations Floral, Event Rents, Nu Jack City (music), Zach Mathers Photography, Killer Creations Video, Hayden Lake Country Club, and Lake City CakesLabor: The year-and-a-half planning for this wedding was done via 12 meetings using Skype and email while working with an 11-hour time difference. The bride was originally from Chicago and the groom from Coeur d’Alene, but both now live in Dubai and wanted their wedding lakeside where the groom grew up. This was a true destination wedding not just for the couple but for most of the family and friends. The hotel rooms were blocked during one of busiest week-ends of the year, and we had to coordinate shuttle bus transportation for the ceremony and reception. It took a four-person crew five hours to set up the tent. This does not include hours of time ahead of delivery cleaning and inspecting all equipment required, countless checks and double-checks, and many hours of training per crew member. Rentals: One 40’ x 100’ frame tent with fabric treatment liner, leg drapes, and one solid wall along the 100’ side of the tent facing the parking lot.Challenges: The biggest challenge was long-distance planning. While Skype is great, it was still absolutely necessary to do have one weekend in person to knock out the details. The in-person weekend was intense, three days of meetings back-to-back but com-pletely productive. As for the site, the dance floor had been installed for an event prior to the wedding, so Red Letter Event Planning had to ensure it stayed in position. Other challenges included that it was a high-volume weekend for the rental companies, with sever-al large events requiring a large crew.Logistics: Outdoor tent set up can be challenging and include: ease of access to delivery site, ground conditions, weather conditions, other events to work around, etc. The tent rental company inspected the

A PEEK INSIDE OUTDOOR EVENTSGo behind the scenes in four outdoor events. Discover the details, logistics,

and hours involved in putting together these magical weddings.

locations well ahead of the installation to try to circumvent any problems. This included a thorough site inspection of all new locations, several months ahead, where the crew tested the soil conditions for stake-ability, checked for overhead obstructions, etc. The size of

the tent was changed halfway through the process because the guest count increased, and the client wanted the dance floor under the tent due to the expected hot summer. The change in tent size required a new schematic.

© Zach Mathers Photography


ARIBELLA EVENTSEXTON, PA.

Date: Sept. 27, 2014 Guest count: 122 Budget: $75,000+Vendors: Gary Nevitt Photography, Stables at Fox Crossing (venue), Provence Catering, Total Table (linens), Something Different and Forget Me Not Vintage Rentals, Eventions (lighting), 3 West (entertainment), Tommy Guns Band, EventQuip (tent), Secrets Limousine Logistics: There were at least eight site visits prior to the wedding—two for the clients, one for the caterer, two for the tenting/lighting companies, and three for decor/design. As with any tented event, the tentative weath-er call was made five days prior, and the decision was made four days prior to install as scheduled. Sailcloth tents are beautiful but are more for shade than rain, so our rain plan in-cluded the possibility of bringing the sailcloth tent into the horse-training arena.Outdoor details: We had pre-ceremony cocktails (including manned horses with which guests could interact). The ceremony was held in the barn. Guests walked a luminary-lit path to the field for the reception in a sailcloth tent. The custom-stained floor complemented the rustic charm, creating a defined space while reflecting the natural elements. There was also a catering tent, just behind the main tent, between a small stable for power and water access and genera-tors as well as a portable luxury restroom trailer.Labor: There were 22 hours for the set-up for the planning and design team. During the course of two, 10-hour days, a six-person EventQuip crew installed a 3,000-square-foot sailcloth tent with a custom-stained wood floor throughout. Rentals: Everything was rented, including the tent, generators, lighting, fans (delivered at the last minute due to a spike in temperature), farmhouse tables, mismatched vintage wooden chairs, chandeliers in the barn, Irish lace runners, linen napkins, mismatched china glassware, flat-ware, bar set-ups, dance floor, and staging, etc. Challenges: This was the first wedding on this property. As a working equestrian farm with a history dating back to the 1800s, the challeng-es were nearly endless. Not only were there standard weather concerns, but the team had to ensure the wedding production did not interfere with the day-to-day operations of the farm or be overly disruptive to the horses. Although the farm is a beautiful, 30-plus-acre farm, there were only two to three options for the reception tent to be kept in close proximity to the ceremony location.

© Gary Nevitt Photography

© Gary Nevitt Photography


DOOR COUNTY EVENT PLANNERSSISTER BAY, WIS.

Date: August 7, 2015Guest count: 225Budget: PrivateVendors: Door County Event Planners, The McCartneys Photography, T&K Sports Fields, Sperry Tent, Baylake Electric, One Fine Day Pro-ductions (video), Flora Flowers Shop, Thyme Catering, Horseshoe Bay Farms (venue), 136 (cake), Door County Ice Cream Factory (ice cream station), Sonny’s Pizza (late-night food), Door County Trolley, Dynasty from ACA Entertainment (band), Chris Miller Photo BoothLabor: Many people worked together to make this event a perfect success. There were more than 400 hours put in prior to the wedding.and more than 70 staff people involved—from those who delivered the rental equipment to the wait staff. On the wedding day, there were 35 staff people on site.Rentals: There were two tents—one 60' x 120' Sperry tent for the reception and the other a basic white tent for the kitchen. We brought in wood farm tables mixed with tables with linens. There were chiavari chairs, china, glass wear, etc. The barn venues were not used. Instead, they set the atmosphere. Challenges: The largest challenge was the storm that hit the week prior to the event. It took out more than 10 trees at the ceremony location. Landscaping had to be done, and trees had to be removed without using any heavy equipment on the lawn where the ceremony was to take place. The lawn needed to be in perfect condition.Logistics: The event planning started in fall 2015. At this time, H&K Sports Fields did the leveling of the lawn. In spring 2016, the process of laying the sod, cutting back trees, and laying stone quarry wash for walkways began. On August 1, the lights were hung on the barns to outline their structure. On August 5, the Sperry Tent was set up. Bay-lake Electric brought in two power panels. On August 6, the rental equipment from Arena arrived and the bathroom trailer was delivered and leveled. Then, on August 7, signs were placed on the property to direct guests.





WATERLILY WEDDINGSBRAY, IRELAND

Date: August 19, 2015Guest count: 62Budget: €83,000 (approximately $93,330 USD)Vendors: Peter Gordon Big Day Out Weddings (photography); Dro-moland Castle (venue); Carrig Coaches (transportation); Bishop Pat Buckley (celebrant); Co-ordination Made Easy (ceremony seating); Carouse (music); The Flower Den; Big Day Films (videography); Cakes by ElmaDetails: Outdoor seating was needed for the ceremony as was a train-er for the horse and hounds guest welcome after the ceremony. Rentals: There were 62 white resin foldable chairs for ceremony seat-ing, rustic stands for floral, and 24 votive candle holders for the tables. Two horses and 30 hounds were also rented for a post-ceremony bridal procession.Labor: Planning began in July 2014, 13-months prior to the date. There were 40 planning hours and six set-up hours as well as two hours involving the horse and hounds on the day.Challenges: As the weather in Ireland is so changeable, making a call on whether ceremonies are indoor or outdoor always occurs at the eleventh hour. So, at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the wedding, it was all systems go for the outdoor set up. The ceremony was at the furthest point away from the entrance to the Walled Gardens in Dromoland Castle. Logistics: The biggest logistical challenge was ensuring the perfect timing for the arrival of the horse and hounds—all 20 of them—and keeping them quiet during the ceremony. Thankfully, the horseman was skilled. The horses and hounds arrived during the ceremony, and the horseman got them into position. The animals met the bride and groom, plus other guests, at the end of a long tunnel entrance to the outdoor terrace garden where the ceremony had occurred. The design of the outdoor space and control of the dogs by the horseman facilitated this whole piece, which came together perfectly.

© Peter Gordon Big Day Out Weddings




INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES

“The craziest thing that ever happened at a wedding is that a dad drowned in a pool in Jamaica, and we had to revive him! He did live but was in the hospital hours before the cer-emony began. He called and asked if he could attend. We had him arrive via ambulance and with a nurse so he could see his son get married. I responded by running to the villa, overseeing his recovery, and getting him the best hospital in Jamaica. I did not alert the groom, who was playing golf, until I had assessed the situation. The key is to remain calm, assess, and don’t push the panic button until you have to.”- JOANN GREGOLI, MWP™, ELEGANT OCCASIONS, NEW YORK

“At a wedding in the late 1980s, the priest, photographers, groomsmen, groom, and myself all wore bulletproof vests, because the groom’s mother had threatened that if the couple married, she would come in and ‘blow us all away.’ I was pretty much scared (beyond belief). My reaction, when I was told the Monday before the Saturday wedding, was to call the local sheriff. He loaned me the vests, because the mother had a ‘history of violence.’"- TEDDY LENDERMAN, MWP™, BEARABLE WEDDINGS, TERRE HAUTE, IND.

“En route to the wedding reception, we found ourselves stranded on a flooded highway. With bumper-to-bumper traffic behind us, and four-feet of deep water ahead, there was no way to get to the venue. The thought of missing the reception felt downright awful. We arrived more than two hours late, and luckily for us, so did the wedding party. We stayed a few extra hours for free to capture the reception as planned.”- ASHLEY BIESS, ARTISTRIE CO., CHICAGO

“The tent at a particular wedding was pitched on a slight incline. A storm left a river running under the dance floor. My staff at the wedding, and the caterers, spread almost 20 bags of mulch around the yard to soak up water. The DJ moved three times to avoid elec-trocution, but the bride, groom, and her mother did not let anything ruffle them or let the water spoil the day. Instead, they enjoyed the day, setting the tone for guests, too. The cater-er and I still refer fondly to the day as the ‘mulch wedding.’”- GWEN WILSON, PWP™, NUPTIAE, THE WEDDING & EVENT PLANNERS, RANTOUL, ILL.

“The bride’s mom was fighting with all of the bridesmaids, so she locked herself and the bride in a room at their house and cut off all communications with everyone. Meanwhile, the groom, groomsmen, family, and guests were all waiting at the venue for the ceremony to begin. Three hours after the scheduled ceremony start time, the bride, bridal party, and mom finally arrived. As they exited the limo, the bride’s mom and groom’s sister got into a fist fight, and a brawl broke out between the bride’s and groom’s families! The police were called, and the guests retreated inside the venue. While the police were breaking things up, we opened the bar for the guests and had the caterer serve the food. Shortly thereafter, we calmly organized the ceremony to take place in the reception room. Remarkably, the families and wedding party went through the ceremony as though nothing had ever happened.” - CHRISTINE TEREZAKIS, MWP™, DREAMDAY WEDDINGS & EVENTS, PALM CITY, FLA.

WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST, MOST UNBELIEVABLE, STRANGEST THING TO HAPPEN AT ONE OF YOUR EVENTS, AND HOW DID YOU RESPOND?


INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES

“The New Year’s Eve wedding was over, and my team was staying in the hotel at which the event and guests stayed. As I was lying in bed unable to sleep, a man walked past my window—but I was on the 16th floor! What happened was that the groomsmen were pretty smashed and had somehow gotten a window open and were daring each other to walk this tiny little ledge. To say the least, when I called hotel security, they didn’t want to believe me. I had to pull the wedding planner thing and drop a manager’s name to get them to respond. I know my aching feet, which is why I was still awake, saved someone’s life that night!”- ELISA MACKENZIE, MWP™, ELEGANT EVENTS, CINCINNATI

“We had a caterer get stuck for five hours on the interstate due to a manhunt. Police were checking each vehicle—and the catering truck had all of the reception tables on it! We threw an impromptu pre-ceremony cocktail hour party and moved the quartet onto the lawn. All of the vendors onsite pitched in to place the reception decor in a flurry, and when the guests arrived, no one had any clue!”- LAURA HELM, ASHTON EVENTS, LAKELAND, FLA.

“I received a call from the florist, an hour and a half before the ceremony, telling me that the van with all of the ceremony and reception flowers had been stolen. I quickly called all of the florists I have built relationships with, and they gave what they could to make the arrange-ments the way the bride wanted them and transport them to the locations on time. The bride had no idea.”- ARIELLE GAVIN. WEDDED PERFECTION, LLC, COLUMBUS, OHIO

“We once had a drunk person, from another wedding at our same hotel, stagger into our event and pass out alongside the bar after trying to order a cocktail! As he went down, he broke several of our crystal candleholders. Needless to say, we were mortified! We called security and did our best to hide the man from public view using a tablecloth. Soon after, we instituted an emergency action plan for our team. It was a wake up call for us to always be prepared for the unexpected!”- MERRYL BROWN, CWP™, MERRYL BROWN EVENTS, SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.

“We were 30 minutes into the reception at an outdoor ven-ue when there was a huge explosion about a mile away and everything went dark. It turned out a tree had fallen and hit a transformer, leaving us without power. By flashlight, we escorted guests to their cars—about a half-mile walk. Mean-while, we contacted the bride’s favorite restau-rant and arranged for them to make enough space for the party to continue there.”- STEPHANIE ASPINWALL, PRETTY ENTERTAINING, BRISTOW, VA.

“At the rehearsal, our groom was very sick. The next morning, as the bride arrived to get ready, we asked how the groom was feeling and, to her knowledge, all was well until they found out an hour later that the groom was at the ER and was awaiting surgery for appendix removal. We delayed the wed-ding ceremony and served dinner as guests arrived to allow the groom to arrive after recovering.”- MICHELLE KAISER, TOWN SQUARE, PAOLA, KANSAS

“The strangest thing that has ever happened at one of my events was at a Sunday, daytime wedding near a park a few years ago. The wedding was a success, and the guests were de-parting, when I was alerted that there was a homeless woman hounding guests for money in the parking lot. Since she had a steak knife in her back pocket, people were concerned. Before my [911] call could be connected, a police car came flying up be-side the building. He stepped out of his car and pointed a shot-gun at the woman and yelled, ‘Get down on the ground!’ She did so, and he proceeded to remove the knife and handcuff her. All of this occurred as I, the bride and groom, and the guests stared in shock. The groom said, ‘Well, it ain’t a real party until the cops are called!’”- STACI MANDIKAS, UNIQUE WEDDINGS & EVENTS, TAMPA, FLA.

“During one wedding, a three-tier cake plummeted to the bottom of the fridge, the bride’s grandfather passed away the morning of the wedding, and the grandmother collapsed while standing in the buffet line, later carried out in a stretcher. My team was outstanding—we contacted our preferred bakery to completely repair the cake, offered to reschedule the wedding at no additional cost due to the death, and entertained the guests while Emergency Medical Services facilitated the pickup.” - STEPHANIE HAFER SHAAK, READING PUBLIC MUSEUM, READING, PENN.

“My couple stood at the altar exchanging vows, elated by the emotion of all their efforts leading up to this moment. My phone rang. The reception venue was evacuated due to an electrical fire. It held all of our event’s needs minus catering. I had one hour to move venues, coordinate vendors, re-establish a timeline of the evening’s events, redirect guests, and tell the bride. Success!”- JODI GAGNÉ, AWP™, SIMPLY PERFECT, TORONTO

“Having performed a lovely wedding ceremony with the bride’s and groom’s family and friends in attendance, I immediately drove to the post office to mail the marriage license, as I usually do after each ceremony. Upon arriving home, my phone rang. It was the groom. He wanted to know if I had mailed the license, which I had. He was upset and wanted to retrieve the license because he wanted an annulment! The couple had lived together for five years before their wedding day. I told him that once I pronounced them husband and wife, they were married. He understood but planned to call his attorney to see what could be done. The reception was still in progress, and the bride had no idea what had transpired. It was crazy!”- ANNAMARIE WINTERCORN, MWP™, ELEGANT WEDDINGS & EVENTS, STUART, FLA.

“One bride asked if she could have black swans on rhinestone leashes. I explained that was possible only if she had a 'swan wrangler' in charge of clean up. The other and most recent [strange request was] a bride who asked if her very large pet turtle could be her ring bearer. My answer was, ‘Of course!’ The turtle's favorite snack was rose petals, so that is how he made his way down the aisle!”- BRENDA J. MORRISON, PWP™, BAVARIAN INN, SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V.

WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST, MOST UNBELIEVABLE, STRANGEST THING TO HAPPEN AT ONE OF YOUR EVENTS, AND HOW DID YOU RESPOND?


In the world of weddings, trends come and go. Sometimes, what’s hot one day is not so hot tomorrow. Buzzwords flit around like bees flying

from one flower to the next. In the past few years, there has been much buzz about the evolvement of a new trend—being authentic in business. We hear about authenticity everywhere. Unlike wedding and business trends that come and go, authenticity may be here to stay. Studies have proven that authentic businesses inspire, influence, and prosper. These successful business owners have learned to incorporate their core values, mission, and purpose throughout their businesses.

More than ever, authenticity and transparency are important to success. Consumers love working with people and businesses that are transparent. Millennials—the 18- to 34-year-old age group—are especially this way. This is important because millennials are projected to be the leading consumer group in the next few years. They value authenticity, transparency, and honesty in the people and businesses they support. They are highly values-driven and buy from companies who integrate the beliefs, values, and causes they support. They con-nect with people before buying from their business. Operating from authenticity is paramount to doing business with millennials.

WHAT IS AUTHENTICITY?Staying true to who you are, what you do, what you believe, and what you value is what authenticity is really about. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines authentic as “real or genuine; not copied or false.” Simply stated, the authentic you is your real self, complete with unique qualities and characteristics. It is who you are at the core of your being.

THE KEY TO AUTHENTICITY IS TO JUST BE YOUHave you ever tried to imitate the qualities of another person—per-haps a successful person you admired? It’s then that we quickly learn that being ourselves works far better than trying to be a copy of an-other person. I learned this lesson myself when I first started teaching in a college. I tried to emulate my own college professor. However, the traits that I admired in her were way too stuffy for me. It was when I began expressing my true self that my course became one of the most popular in the college.

In the past, having a business persona that was different from your personal one may have worked. In most cases, your personal life was private. However, today, being authentic in your business means blending your personal and business life together to create genuine transparency. It can be a little scary to put yourself out there in a per-sonal way, but it is rewarding in the freedom you gain from living and working authentically. A word of caution, however: Be careful about over sharing about your personal life. There are some details in your personal life that should remain private.

STRUCTURE YOUR BUSINESS ACCORDINGLYBeing authentic makes it easier for consumers to know the person with whom they are doing business. So, instead of creating a persona and a business to fit the needs, desires, and expectations of the client you want to attract, why not structure your business around your pas-sion, core values, and what is most important to you? By doing so, you align yourself with the clients and vendor partners who understand your vision and appreciate the values you have woven throughout your business. Working with vendor partners with similar values, makes it easier to refer potential clients to one another. People love working with people who have similar values, beliefs, and causes.

LET YOUR UNIQUENESS SHINEIn the world of weddings, you can easily get lost in a sea of sameness. Many wedding companies use the same colors, the same fonts, the same copy, and offer the same types of services. When you allow your unique and authentic self to shine through, there is no one else like you. Why not stand out from the crowd? The more you leverage your unique qualities, the more valuable you become to your clients. They identify with you, your values, and your mission and are willing to do business with you and generously pay you for those services.

Being authentic allows you to be 100 percent you and share your goals, values, and mission while operating a business that inspires, influences, and is prosperous. WPM

Shelby Tuck-Horton, MBC™, Exquisite Expressions and Events, Mitchellville, Md.

INDUSTRY INSIGHT | SHELBY TUCK-HORTON, MBC™

SUCCESS MEANS BEING 100% YOUAuthenticity is all the rage. It's not a persona you can adopt or something you learn. Rather, it's about being who you are and running your business in a way that conveys your true self.


ASSOCIATION OF BRIDAL CONSULTANTS MEMBER NEWS

AchievementsShary Armstead, CWV™, L. Armstead & Company, Hyattsville, Md., was a winner in two categories at the State Meeting’s table-top design contest—winning the People’s Choice Award and placing second in the $300 and over table value category.

The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists has an exclusive partner-ship with www.PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, which links to all mem-bers as well as other promotional material. For the second year in a row, its display was featured in the Education Marketplace at WeddingWire World 2016, Feb. 9-11, at Gaylord National Event and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. All of its members are now listed on www.Cind-abella.com and www.MyOneEvent.com, both Australian-based wedding websites with directories for the United States and Canada.

Dalia Atisha, CWP™, The Event Planner, Inc., Royal Oak, Mich., presented a webinar on "Ethnic Weddings" to Association of Bridal Consultant members. The presentation focused on the dynamics of ethnic weddings and what a wedding planner with no experience planning ethnic weddings needs to know.

Lynda Barness, MWP™, I DO Wedding Consulting, Philadelphia, participated in a reading and book signing for her book, I DO: A Wedding Planner Tells Tales, at the Barnes & Noble in Ritten-house Square in Philadelphia.

Tracy Dapp, PWP™, Inked Events, Sa-lem, N.H., was the winner of the 2016 Wedding Wire Couples Choice Award and the 2016 Best of Salem Award in Event Planning.

Pearlice Diggs, PWP™, P3 Weddings & Events, Hope Mills, N.C., received the 2016 Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice Award.

Grand Expectations Events, Eaton, Ohio, is pleased to announce that Kendra Ingram has received the designation of Certified Wedding Planner™ from the Association of Bridal Consultants.

Rabbi Andrea Frank, The Jewish Wedding Rabbi, Bronxville, N.Y., did a webinar for Association of Bridal Consultants members on Tuesday, April 12. It was called "Mastering the Intricacies of Jewish Wedding Ceremonies."

This month, Hallak Cleaners, Hackensack, N.J., and New York City, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Although Hallak Cleaners is a full-service couture dry cleaner, it has a specialized bridal depart-ment providing services, such as alterations, gown cleaning, finishing, heirloom restoration, and preservation.

Alan Katz, Great Officiants, Long Beach, Calif., has been approached by a reality show producer to do a show based on him. They are

currently in production making a special "sizzle reel" to be shopped to the various networks. The show will focus on the creative, themed weddings that Katz does. Katz has been down this road before on four different occasions but feels that this time may be the one that captures the fun and creative aspects of his business.

Staci Mandikas, UNIQUE Weddings & Events, Tampa, Fla., was re-cently awarded the “NACE Chapter Event of the Year” for the Tampa Bay Chapter of the National Association of Catering & Events.

Cindy Morley, AWP™, Eventful Moments, Palm City, Fla., and the local Martin County Parks and Recreation Facility pulled together a Love & Jazz under the stars event at The Mansion at Tuckahoe. More than 75 guests fell in love under the stars at what will now become an annual event.

Sasha Souza, MWP™, Sasha Souza Events, Napa, Calif., has launched the Consultancy for Creatives. This full-year program is mix of mentor and business consultant. It caters to anybody looking to reach the next level in their careers and includes an onsite event apprenticeship, depend-ing on the level of mentoring. Get more information at http://www.sashasouzaevents.com/consultancy-forcreatives.

Jan Wilder, CFD, TMF, FlowerFusion, Costa Mesa, Calif., will be induct-ed into the American Institute of Floral Designers as an AIFD at the National Symposium in Anaheim, Calif., in July. Wilder has also been nominated by Orange County Hot List for Best Wedding Flowers.

MediaFrank Andonoplas, MWP™, Frank Event Design, Chicago, had a “Frank-ly Speaking” advice column featured in the Windy City Times on Feb. 10 and in the Windy City Times Wedding Guide in Spring 2016.

The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists regularly has tips featured on www.Brides.com. In addition, they were featured in a blog post on Uncle Bob’s Self Storage about “How to make your wedding dress last beyond a lifetime.”

Melisa Imberman, CWP™, The Event of a Lifetime, Millwood, N.Y., was interviewed by Westchester Weddings Magazine for the article, “Planning a Meaningful Wedding,” in its 2016 issue.

Gail Johnson, MWP™, Gail Johnson Weddings & Events, Decatur, Ga., was featured in the articles “Wedding/Bridal Experts on Food Trends" and "Financial Advice for Newlyweds” in Long Island Bride & Groom’s March issue and in “40 Black Artists, Designers, Chefs, and Entrepreneurs” in Design Sponge.

Lynn Wheatley, CWP™, Lasting Impressions of Tulsa, Tulsa, Okla., was interviewed for the business section of Tulsa World.

http://www.PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com

http://www.Cind-abella.com



http://www.MyOneEvent.com

http://www

http://www.Brides.com

Annual Meeting Focuses on Strategies and Award of Excellence

Members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists (AWGS) from the United States, Australia, Canada, and Mexico, met Feb. 25 - 28 in San Francisco to discuss marketing strategies with wedding industry experts. Featured speakers at the conference included BB Webb, author and owner of the award-winning Carl House event venue in Atlanta, Andy Ebon of The Wedding Marketing Blog, and Kathryn Hamm, publisher of www.GayWeddings.com. Webb is an ambassador for www.TheKnot.com and both Ebon and Hamm are recognized as education experts by www.WeddingWire.com.

A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the sixth annual Jack Barth Memorial Award of Excellence. Initiated by Linda Stokes-Barth, in remembrance of her late husband and his achievements in the dry cleaning industry, the award recognizes a member of the AWGS for advancement, promotion, and development of industry standards for wedding gown care and for outstanding contributions and service to the AWGS and its members. Last year’s honoree Sharlene Thum of Five Star Wedding Gown Specialists in San Antonio, presented the award to Kermit Engh of Fashion Cleaners and Omaha Lace in Omaha, Neb. In 1992, Engh purchased Fashion Cleaners, which had been in business since the early 1940s. Later, he acquired Omaha Lace, known for processing bridal gowns and heirloom items. He has worked to combine the two companies as well as his FRSTeam restoration business into a premium brand defined by passion, ser-vice, and innovation.


Stephanie White, Amorous Weddings and Events by Stephanie, LLC, Mesa, Ariz., has had her styled photo shoots and work featured in Arizona Weddings Magazine online, www.Martha Stewart.com’s Big Day, XAAZ blog, and Bride World (above).

DesignationsThe Association of Bridal Consultants congratulates the following members who achieved designation January – February 2016:

PROFESSIONAL BRIDAL CONSULTANT™Misato Nakamura, United StatesRyo Takamizawa, Japan

http://www.GayWeddings.com

http://www.TheKnot.com

http://www.WeddingWire.com

http://www.Martha

ABC officeUPDATES


ASSOCIATION OF BRIDAL CONSULTANTS MEMBER NEWS ABC DIRECTOR LISTINGPresident, David M. Wood III

Co-Founders, Gerard J. Monaghan and Eileen P. Monaghan

Director of State Managers, Beverly Ann Bonner, APR, MWP™ [email protected]

Director of Operations, Elayne Anderson [email protected]

Director of Social Media, Candice Benson, MWP™ [email protected]

Director of Education, Gloria Boyden, MWP™ [email protected]

Director of Marketing, Dena Davey [email protected]

Creative Director, Nancy Flottmeyer, PWP™ [email protected]

Director of Ethnic Diversity, Lois Pearce, MWP™ [email protected]

Member Services, Annemarie Steiner [email protected]

Member Services, Nicole DaSilva [email protected]

ABC Office1.860.355.7000, fax 1.860.354.1404, www.BridalAssn.com, 56 Danbury Road, Ste. 11, New Milford, CT 06776.

ABC CODE OF ETHICS Our ABC members agree to:• represent each client fairly and honestly,

providing all agreed-to services in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

• establish reasonable and proper fees for services and provide written estimates to each client.

• use honest, factual advertising.• deal with employees and clients fairly, in an

unbiased manner.• disclose to clients any payments received from

suppliers.• operate an establishment that is a credit to the

community.

THE ABC SETS ITS SIGHTS ON DALLAS!By Carmen Mesa, MWP™, ABC Annual Conference Planner, Carmen Mesa Weddings and Events, Cooper City, Fla.

Donnie Brown, CWP™, Donnie Brown Weddings and Events in Dallas, and I have been busy plan-ning an exciting and fun educational experience for you at The Adolphus Hotel in Dallas for the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) 2016 Annual Conference, Nov. 6-8. Program updates will be posted as we finalize them, so be sure to refer back to the conference website at www.ABCAn-nualConference.com, our ABC Business of Brides Facebook page, and www.BridalAssn.com.

You can look forward to experiencing a four-diamond luxury service and dining experience, along with gracious Southern hospitality during your stay. The multi-million dollar renovations at The Adolphus are exceptional.

We received an unprecedented 70 speaker proposals! The Speaker Selection Committee had a long and difficult task in front of them, but we are confident that the selected speakers will provide valuable educational content for all! Steve Kemble will be the designer and host of our Sunday opening reception. The event will be a Black and White Masquerade Ball. We encourage you to wear black and/or white, and of course, a “fabulous” mask! Our goal is to make this party more spectacular then you’ve ever experienced at an opening reception before. It was clear from the beginning that Steve had to design this party, as only he can.

We are busy working on the Monday offsite gala and have multiple venues from which to choose, so stay tuned for more information on this annual blockbuster. And you’re going to

want to stay at least through Wednesday, because the Tuesday night offsite is a “must see.” We will host a heavy hors d’oeuvres cocktail party at the world famous, historic 6th floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. There, you will be able to walk on the grassy knoll and experience history in a way you may never have before. Along with live enter-tainment, and live broadcasted election returns, you will experience the museum in VIP fashion.

Stay tuned for continuing updates on the all new and improved ABC Annual Confer-ence. If you haven’t registered yet, don’t wait too long, because it will sell out. See you in Dallas! WPM

Carmen Mesa, MWP™Donnie Brown, CWP™

P.S. Start preparing now! For the history of Dallas, visit www.visitdallas.com.










http://www.BridalAssn.com

http://www.ABCAn-nualConference.com



http://www.BridalAssn.com

http://www.visitdallas.com


There is nothing quite like the thrill of booking a sale. We work hard to get in front of new prospects, and when we do, we have our sights set on closing the deal. There are, however, mistakes that we all make, whether we have been in the events industry for years or are new to the profession, which can result in sending potential clients packing. While making mistakes is just a part of learning and growing both as a person and as a professional, the hope is that we will make a mistake once, and learn from it so that it doesn’t happen again.

Here are seven things you can do to avoid the dreaded “sales turnoff”:

1. Be patient. Do not rush to book prospective clients. Take the time to build trust and make a real connection with them. When eager to make the sale, professionals often move too quickly, not taking the time that is needed to establish trust. This is a surefire way to lose a sale.

2. Be appropriate. Carry yourself with an elegant demeanor. Do not be overly familiar too early on in the process. It is okay to be funny, but know the limits. Show yourself to be a person of integrity, quality, good taste, and good sense.

3. Be smart. Do your homework before you meet with people. Know to whom you are talking. Do some research and have a sense of who they are and what they do. Find out everything you can about your prospective clients before you meet them. There is nothing worse than not knowing your audience when you are trying to tell them why they should work with you. If you have not done your due diligence, you can easily put your foot in your mouth and lose the sale.

4. Be quick. If prospective clients call or email you to ask a question,

7 STRATEGIES TO AVOID THE DREADED SALES TURNOFFMaking a sale is crucial to business and, while we all make mistakes, there are ways to avoid those missteps and turn prospects into profits.

BUSINESS BASICS | MERRYL BROWN, CWP™

Practice + Prospects = Profits!

get back to them immediately. Your response time sends a strong message about how the rest of their working relationship with you will go. It is a real turnoff to prospective clients when it looks as if their needs are not important to you. On this same topic, always be on time. Punctuality is everything. If you are late, it tells clients that you do not value them or their time and is a surefire turnoff.

5. Be clear. Don’t underestimate or overestimate what your prospec-tive clients know about the wedding planning process. Take the time to explain things in laymen’s terms. Don’t use industry jargon. Be clear, concise, and direct. Read facial cues to know if your client looks bored, confused, or excited and use this information to inform the direction of the conversation.

6. Be confident. Clients want to know that you are confident in your ability to deliver a great event. If you appear insecure or nervous, your prospects will question your professionalism and capabilities.

7. Be quiet. Do your best to listen to what prospective clients have to say. Don’t talk too much. Ask questions, and let them talk about themselves. Don’t interrupt. Allow clients to tell you what they are seeking so that you have a clear grasp of their vision. Once you have made the sale, stop talking. The easiest way to lose a sale is to keep talking after you have made it!

If you can master these tips, you will be well on your way to closing sales with your prospective clients. The more practice you have speak-ing to clients, the easier it will become to book the events that you want for your business. You can do it! Practice + Prospects = Profits! WPM

Merryl Brown, CWP™, Merryl Brown Events, Santa Barbara, Calif.


If you missed Catersource this year, you missed a lot! For the first time, Catersource

used an Ambassador program to assist at-tendees. The ambassadors were experienced event professionals who were familiar with the conference and used their expertise to guide people. Their jobs began prior to the confer-ence, with social media posts highlighting the program and events. While onsite, they worked the crowd, explained the benefits of the Catersource mobile app, helped attend-ees choose the right classes, and offered overall support. They also participated in education sessions by introducing several of the speakers.

POPALOOZA INDUSTRY AWARDSThe annual ACE Awards, Event Solutions Spotlight Awards, and ICA Catie Awards were held during the day in yet another first, combining into the POPalooza Industry Awards Celebration on Tuesday, March 15. The awards were preceded by a champagne brunch reception featuring trendy and inno-vative brunch bites, along with a Bloody Mary and mimosa bar.

EDUCATION AND ACTIONThe keynote speaker on Monday, March 14 was Doug Lipp, former head of the Disney University Training Team. He shared many sto-ries about what customer service means and how to bring service “magic” to your team. In addition, Kendall Collier was honored as the Michael Roman Lifetime Achievement recipi-ent, and King Dahl was honored as the Event Solutions Hall of Fame inductee.

Monday also featured two distinctly different events. By combining education and action, David Beahm shared his unusual insights into the event industry at the Leadership Lunch and was followed by the annual “Off Premise” event, an interactive exploration of a venue.

This year’s site, Tao Restaurant and Night Club at the Venetian, was brought to life by Catering Creations and Catering by Design, who combined forces on the event, providing exciting food stations and serving concepts throughout the four-story nightclub.

DESIGN SPARK LIVE COMPETITIONIn the Design Spark Live competition, veteran event designers David Caruso and Bob Russo competed against each other to bring to life what’s hot in event trends. They delivered many design vignettes. It was a stiff competi-tion but, in the end, Caruso took the top nod.

WEDDING INDUSTRY EDUCATIONOn the education front, there was a great deal to interest wedding industry professionals:

Bernadette Smith presented about how to at-tract same-sex couples to your wedding busi-ness. The point of this session was that even if you’re LGBTQ-friendly, same-sex couples may not know they can trust you. She taught the principles of LGBTQ marketing, specific nuances to the Q and millennials, and how to attract LGBTQ couples without alienating your current client base.

Robin Selden of Marcia Selden Catering & Event Planning in Stamford, Conn., led a session titled, What the Bride Wants Now...is to Eat. Trends in Wedding Menus and Pre-sentation. This focused on the trends that are on the menu for today’s bride and groom. It included a discussion of whether more brides are choosing seated dinners, classic buffets, or cocktail stations for their receptions.

Selden and Albert Manzo, with the Brownstone in Patterson N.J., also led a panel discussion called Bridging the Gap Between Today’s Wedding Couples and Your Company. The panel shared how successfully communicating

with millennial wedding couples and industry vendors can make or break the relationship. They said that being open and honest with your pricing and services will help increase solid bookings and help you discover ways to better position yourself within your market by offering pricing and services to potential clients of all income levels.

Sasha Souza, an event designer with Sasha Souza Events in Napa Valley, Calif., led a session titled, Wedding Details and How to Design a Wedding for Future Clients. Using the photography of previous events can teach you how to be a better designer. Souza taught that using better visuals can refine your design skills by showcasing your work through the eyes of your peers and potential clients.

DON’T FORGET THE FOOD AND TRADESHOWAnd don’t even get me started on the amazing food you get to sample at Catersource! Stars of culinary excellence pulled out all of the stops to share their best creations with the audience. Tasting bars included, "Chocolate Tasting, a Heavenly Experience" and "Microgreens, Herbs and Sprouts." James Keating of JK Culinary and River Mill Event Center in Columbus, Ga., presented a session called, "Totally Scrumptious Vegan and Gluten-Free Appetizers."

The dynamic tradeshow also included tasty morsels to sample as well as the latest prod-ucts and services available to our industry. The interactive discussions with vendors allowed attendees to understand their options in order to make smart buying decisions. All-in-all, this year’s program delivered great ideas and valuable nuggets that attendees could apply to enhance and grow their busi-nesses back home. WPM

__

Doug Quattrini, CPCE, Feastivities Events, Philadelphia

NACE RECAPS THE HIGHLIGHTS OF CATERSOURCE 2016

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EDUCATION: I have a Bachelor of Arts in public relations and busi-ness administration from Flagler College, St. Augustine, Fla.GETTING STARTED: My background is in venue catering sales. I worked at hotels and country clubs prior to starting my business, so it was a natural progression. Since there were not many wedding planners in my area at the time, I decided to give it a go and spent a year putting all the pieces in place to start my company. During that time, I made connections with other wedding professionals, and signed up for the Association of Bridal Consul-tant’s (ABC) Professional Development Program. I incorporated my business in November 2002 while working part-time as the membership director at a country club and then went full-time shortly after.ON THE ABC: The ABC seemed to have the most well-known repu-tation in the industry. I have remained a member because my fellow members constantly inspire me.BUSINESS CHANGES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS: Our services have remained consistent, other than price changes. My team focuses on coordination-only weddings, while I focus on full-service clients. During the past five years, we have increased the number of coordination-on-ly weddings but keep full-service bookings limited to provide top-notch service to those clients.ON EVALUATING SUCCESS: It’s wonderful to get hugs and thank you notes from clients after their events, but I evaluate success by my reputa-tion within the industry. When I was selected as the National Association for Catering and Events Planner of the Year for 2014, it was an amaz-ing and unexpected honor. To be nominated by my peers and to win amongst tough competition is the highlight of my career to date. ONE BUSINESS MISTAKE: We have all made the mistake of booking a client we shouldn’t have. Not all clients are the perfect fit for us, and we need to recognize the signs before signing a contract. I have learned that when I have a gut feeling that I should walk away from a potential piece of business, I should not try to make it work. The situation will only get worse, and it’s a disservice to yourself and your client to let that happen.MENTORS: My mentor is my mom. She has always been successful in her career, while remaining present in the lives of her family and friends. She is generous, caring, and dedicated—all qualities that I hope I have learned from her!INDUSTRY INFLUENCERS: I consider every one of my fellow Master Wedding Planners™ a positive influence!

MASTER PROFILE

MASTER WEDDING PLANNER™ HEATHER CANADA, MWP™ | First Coast Weddings and Events, Jacksonville, Fla.

ABC MEMBER SINCE: 2002 EMPLOYEES: 5 independent contractors REVENUE: 50% consulting, 50% day-of coordination CONTACT: 904-739-8003, [email protected], www.firstcoastweddings.com SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter.com/firstcoastwedd, Instagram.com/firstcoastwedd, Facebook.com/firstcoastweddings, LinkedIn.com/in/heathercanada

information

INSPIRATION: Inspiration can be found everywhere if you look for it—fashion, movies, books, non-wedding magazines, nature, homes—you just have to look up from your phone/tablet/computer long enough to see it.MARKETING STRATEGY: Marketing is not about sales; it’s about relationships. A majority of our business comes from referrals, so we work hard to maintain great relationships with our fellow wedding professionals. STAYING FRESH: Taking time off is crucial. As business owners, it’s easy to overlook the need for vacations and family time. Attending conferences is also very important—not only is it a chance to learn something new, but it’s a great time to connect with others who share the same struggles and joys you do.IDEAL CLIENT: Our clients tend to be college graduates working on post-graduate studies or with demanding careers who have parents that contribute to wedding expenses; have classic style infused with modern and unique touches; are organized and detail-oriented; and are willing to spend a bit more money for superior quality. They want their wedding to be a fun experience that reflects their personalities; has a formal look that is comfortable not stuffy; and is unlike anything their friends have done.FAVORITE BUSINESS BOOK: My favorite business book is not a published book, but a notebook full of notes that I have taken at conferences over the years. It’s a record of things I’ve learned, ideas I’ve heard, and people I’ve met at more than 30 conferences—and it’s priceless to me! READING NOW: Hotel Ponce De Leon: The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Flagler’s Gilded Age Palace by Leslee F. Keys.FAVORITE BOOK: The Bible is my source of inspiration—whether han-dling a difficult client, needing to focus my attention when so many things demand it, or seeking a simple reminder that I am not alone in a struggle. God always shows me the answer.ADVICE: Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. Be yourself, and don’t try to be everything to everyone. GIVING BACK: I love speaking at industry events, as well as one-on-one with others in the industry. I help with initiatives like Wedding World Changer Day, which is dedicated to wedding professionals and engaged couples giving back. I also volunteer for events at my church.


http://www.firstcoastweddings.com

Alan Berg, CSP www.AlanBerg.com

Merryl Brown, CWP™ Merryl Brown Events

Frank J. Andonoplas, MWP™ Frank Event Design


“I have never struggled to find unique ideas. This is what our company really excels at. I find ideas by reading a lot of design and décor magazines, going to museums, listening to music, seeing movies, looking at art, design, and architecture books. I fill the well whenever I can so that I have a lot of creative inspiration to draw from when something new comes along that requires my creativity. Keep a journal with you at all times to jot down ideas as they come to you. Leave room for photos to paste in or sketches if something great comes to you. Train yourself to be on the lookout for inspiration wherever you are.”

- Merryl

“I like to include something unique and personal in every wedding I create. I obtain the information I need by asking lots of questions and always listening to the clients' vision. Using ideas that are unique and personal to your couple will make the design process less stressful.”

- Shelby

“I love coming up with new ideas and finding fresh concepts for cli-ents. After all, every client is differ-ent and should have a wedding that is unique. But I find that many brides select what they can see. And they tend to settle on things you have done in the past. The best you can hope is to convince them to freshen up used ideas to make them a little different.’”

- Donnie

“Honestly, I really don’t. I have a very long question-and-answer session with my clients at the first meeting. It gives me insight into what makes them tick—what they like and, most importantly, what they don’t like. From there, I use my expertise, creativity, and resources, which I am constantly learning and updating, to design their wedding into an experience that will be unforgettable for them and their guests. But this is where you, as the wedding consultant, need to do homework. Know the new products and services. Know what is trending. Know what different services cost. This way, you are already on the cutting edge and can detail the wedding in a unique way. But it takes a lot of time and a lot of money to do this. So the choice is up to you.”

- Frank

“Ask them some of the things they wish they’d have done differently when they were starting out.”

- Alan

“I always think we learn by our mistakes, at least I do. So I always would love to know, ‘What was your biggest wedding nightmare, and how did you solve it?’”

- Frank

“I am always interested in finding out what new software, apps, arti-cles, books, or online classes other industry professionals have found to be helpful to their business.”

- Merryl

ASK THE EXPERTS

Q: “WHEN CREATING A ONE-OF-A-KIND WEDDING, DO YOU STRUGGLE TO FIND OR SUGGEST UNIQUE IDEAS?”- Lisa Kenward, PWP™, Lisa Kenward Events, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Donnie Brown, CWP™ Donnie Brown Weddings

and Events

Shelby Tuck-Horton, MBC™ Exquisite Expressions

and Events

Q: “WHAT IS THE ONE MISTAKE COORDINATORS MAKE THAT AFFECTS YOU, AND HOW WOULD YOU REMEDY THIS?”- Brittany Geisler, Sugar Branch Events, Irvine, Calif.

Q: “WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU’D ASK OTHER INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS?”- Brittany Geisler, Sugar Branch Events, Irvine, Calif.

“One mistake coordinators/planners make is not investing in professional development. Being a successful wedding planner requires more than just being passionate about weddings. When one of us looks good in this industry, we all look good, and when one of us looks bad, we can all look bad. One way I try to remedy planners stepping into the industry with passion but no knowledge is to tell them about the benefits of becoming an Association of Bridal Consultants' member. On a local level, I teach affordable, introductory classes at the community college.”

- Shelby

“They offer dangerously low plan-ning fees and then get kickbacks under the table to supplement. The client thinks they are getting a good deal, but the vendors doing the kick-backs are charging the client more. It is underhanded and bad business. And those of us who operate in a transparent manner, lose quality business from it. There is no remedy

other than to educate clients, when they consult with you, on what to expect. Hopefully, you can show your business savvy, gain the trust of the client, and eliminate these types of unethical practices in the process.”

- Donnie

“The one mistake so many make is that they hang out their shingle before they truly are ready to be in this industry. So many do their own weddings, throw a mitzvah for one of their children, and poof, they are an event planner, with no training, no industry education, and without having done an ounce of research. Then they charge a very small fee, which is attractive to many, so they are hired, but they go out and make a lot of mistakes. When this happens, not just their business but our industry as a whole gets talked about and compared to this experience. This hurts experienced, successful consultants. Yet, pros-pects need to understand, ‘Buyer beware! You get what you pay for.’”

- Frank

http://www.AlanBerg.com


The difference between seasoned wed-ding professionals and the young up-

and-comers is experience and advanced training. The youth, and those new to the industry, are continually trying to hone their skills to create a competitive atmosphere in their companies and grow their name in the industry. Where youth has an edge is in information dissemination. They have spent their entire lives trading information elec-tronically. So, clearly in this day and age of immediate information sharing, it is easy for them to learn about and share trends quick-ly and efficiently. It is an area where the older folks are trying constantly to keep up.

THE INS AND OUTS OF DESIGN INTEGRITYMany people, from clients to professionals, lift ideas from social media sites like Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter; replicate it; and call it their own. It makes today’s proprietary de-signs nearly impossible to hold onto. What I tell people all the time is that if they are going to look at other people’s designs and utilize them, they should try to make the designs different enough to actually own their finished product. That is not always easy to do. Cou-ples are also looking at these social media outlets for inspiration. And they often want exactly what they see in the images. It forces professionals to duplicate other’s designs,

even if we don’t want to do that. I encourage clients to allow me some freedom to alter the finished product in a way that makes it fresh, while keeping the basic structure in mind. After all, a wedding should be as unique as the couple’s personalities. However, that is not always possible.

MAINTAINING A MARKETABLE PRESENCEAs a result of these design conflicts of interest, I spent a great deal of time fighting the possi-bility of joining Pinterest. I felt it was a breeding ground for illegal photo credit theft. But, after a time, I realized that I had no choice. My brides were and are looking at it. Therefore, I had to as well. I’ve learned that Pinterest is a great tool for showcasing your taste in a marketable way. People who are looking at you and your work will examine your pins and determine whether you are a good fit for them. So, from a marketing standpoint, having a Pinterest presence can be a major advantage.

So how do you make it work for you? Maintain a page for your business that shows your taste, style, and what appeals. Try not to junk it up with those unhealthy foods you are hoping to make. If you have pages like that, make them private and show only the things that improve your brand. As for our clients, we suggest they create wedding inspiration pages and make

them private so their friends don’t see. Then, they can invite us as collaborators. When they pin things they like for their wedding, we either like it or not. This is a great way of commu-nicating with the client whether or not what they are seeing and admiring is right for their wedding. When clients hire us, they want to be of the same mind. And this is a great way to do it. This type of communication feels like we’re in the Information Age without texting or picking up the phone.

When setting up pages in Pinterest, make sure you create different folders for different types of items—such as flowers, gowns, photographers, cakes, food, etc. That way, followers can visit these pages and see what you like.

STAY CURRENT TO STAY COMPETITIVEFor those of us who have been around a while, we must compete just like those who are less seasoned. We must wrap our heads around social media and electronic com-munication so that the kiddos of the world don’t elbow us out of the market before we’re ready to leave!

Live long, and keep pinning—and posting.

Donnie Brown, CWP™, Donnie Brown Weddings and Events, Dallas

Staying Ahead of Trends in the Information Age

SEASONED PROFESSIONALS


REAL WEDDING | PHIL ADELPHIA

PLANNER: Lynda Barness, MWP™, I DO Wedding Consulting, www.idoplan.com, [email protected] OF TIME IN INDUSTRY: 11 yearsPHOTOGRAPHY: Shea Roggio PhotographyBUSINESSES INVOLVED: Clair Pruett Studios (videography), Ruby the Fox (stationery/signage), Magnet Studio (save-the-dates), Linda Carol Gray (calligraphy), EBE Paris (music), Rabbi Robin Frisch (officiant), Beautiful Blooms (lighting), Frannie’s Fancies (floral/decor), Vie (ven-ue/catering), Philadelphia Sightseeing (transportation), Margate Moonlight (signature drink), Diane’s Water Ice, Chicago Factory (cake topper)WEDDING DATE: June 27, 2015GUEST COUNT: 281THE COUPLE: Though the couple is interfaith, they chose a Jewish ceremony. The Rabbi crafted a beautiful one that combined many traditions. The couple wrote and read their own vows, which was such a personal, humorous, and moving experience for them (and for all). INVOLVEMENT: Consulting, plus wedding-day directionINSPIRATION: Butterflies were the inspiration. The bride’s maternal grand-mother passed away when the bride was nine. The grandmother knew she was dying and wanted to help make some sense of it for her grand-daughter. She told her granddaughter that she would always be there for her—that when the girl saw a butterfly, she would know her grandmother was watching over her. As it happened, a butterfly appeared at the ceme-tery, and this was proof positive for the family.“AHA” DESIGN MOMENT: Definitely, I was inspired by the butterflies when I first heard the story.MOST UNIQUE DESIGN ELEMENT: The butterflies! To an onlooker who didn’t know the story, it appeared that there was simply a butterfly motif. The bride’s aunt, during the ceremony, explained the significance of the butter-flies. Paper butterflies hung inside the chuppah and from the ceiling in the

ballroom and they were on the escort cards and in the bride’s bouquet (along with a photo of her grandmother). There was supposed to be a live butterfly release, but there was a torrential rainstorm and the ceremony had to be moved inside. Regardless, the butterfly memories were aloft in the heart of the bride.COLOR PALETTE: Black and white BUDGET: Unavailable STAFF HOURS: Approximately 25PLANNING TIME: Seven months. There were many, many details, and the timeline was 32 pages long (including the backup information for the team).NUMBER OF MEETINGS: Three face-to-face meetings were involved, plus many phone calls and more than 700 emails.SET UP/STRIKE DETAILS: It was originally to be an outdoor wedding, but rain required us to set-up indoors. This, of course, meant that there had to be a major turn of the room while guests were at an adjacent cocktail reception. The venue team and florist did a stellar job, including vacuuming the remains of the confetti poppers on the carpet. REVENUE BREAKDOWN: 100% planningBIGGEST CHALLENGE: The bride had her heart set on an outdoor cere-mony and a butterfly release. Unfortunately, the rain was torrential. When the bride and her entourage arrived at the venue, the bride stepped out of the trolley and fell, so when she walked in, she was upset, wet, and scared. She went to the bride’s getting-ready room and took off her slightly wet and stained dress. I used chalk to get lots of grey marks covered, and the dress looked better. The bride made a terrific recovery and walked down the aisle as if nothing had happened.LEARNINGS: I will carry a small bathrobe in my emergency kit. When the bride took off her gown after she fell, I gave her my jacket to cover up! WPM

black, white, and butterflies

http://www.idoplan.com



I think you should know this,” says my hus-band Giovanni. “I’ve just heard your staff

referring to you as the ‘Dragon Lady.’ Think about it.” Those two words, “Dragon Lady,” exploded in my head like a detonated mine, scattering my thoughts and emotions in all directions. Who me? Me? I was their mentor, their employer, and I thought, their friend. My feelings ran the gamut from being hurt and offended to unbelieving. I certainly needed to think about it.

It was at this time that my staff and I were in the midst of organizing details for a large event. All of us, I thought, had been success-fully collaborating on ideas and specifics, so this workforce revelation and judgment really shook my self-perception. I started to consider which of my behaviors or attitudes could have given rise to the harsh title.

The self-reflection was painful. Earlier in the day, one of my staff had been sharing an idea. This was one of my quieter employ-ees, one who needed encouragement to contribute her ideas, which were usually well thought-out but hesitantly conveyed. I remembered impatiently grabbing a pen from her hand to sketch out and expand on her idea, as I thought she was taking too long to express herself. What happened was that she just stopped talking. Yet, were my ideas better than hers? Had I effectively taken over ownership of her ideas and silenced her contributions?

Another recent scene entered my mind. A newer employee was brought to tears, because she hadn’t done the background checks we needed. Did the problem lie with her? In truth, no. I hadn’t communicated exactly what we needed but had presumed, erroneously, that she would know. I hadn’t thoroughly considered what information she needed for her on-the-job training, nor had I delegated with clear instructions. So here were two instances. In one, I had

prioritized my ideas over supporting a staff member’s and was micromanaging rather than encouraging. In the second, I hadn’t enabled a different staff member to work effectively. Although I thought I was being a good mentor, I realized that I was focusing on the job at hand rather than enabling my staff to do their jobs. Enabling was my job. and I knew that I needed help in becoming an effective leader.

THE PATH TO MEANINGFUL MENTORINGConsciously, I began learning about effec-tive leadership. One of the first things that became evident was that leadership isn’t about managing tasks. Rather, it involves empowering others so tasks are managed. I needed my staff to carry out the work at hand. My role was to empower them through five power-raising actions—modeling ethical behavior, inspiring, searching for improve-ment, enabling them to do their jobs, and encouraging and recognizing their efforts.

As a result of my own leadership research and changes, my role became that of a mentor, and there was a shift in perception for both my staff and myself. It became “our business” rather than “my business.” Our successes and reputation were dependent on how all of us did our jobs. In a broader context, our successes and reputation also reflected and supported our industry.

I spent a great deal of time considering the mentoring process. Individual strengths in our staff needed to be highlighted and recog-nized, while areas of weakness needed iden-tification and support. As a leader, I needed to be more available and open to new ideas. So, we scheduled a series of meetings to follow up on ideas, tasks, and new learnings.

OVERCOMING FOUNDERITISEntrepreneurs often have difficulty in releasing power after establishing their business. I could relate. My company was my “baby.” I had envisioned it, established it, and grown it. I

wanted to keep control of decision-making so that the business could reflect my vision. However, this didn’t empower my staff. We couldn’t grow if I had too much personal responsibility to work effectively.

There is a name for this studied phenomenon. It’s called “Founder’s Syndrome” or Founderi-tis. As a business grows, it becomes increas-ingly impossible for the founders to keep total power, influence, and decision-making. This causes a wide range of problems. For me, I decided to consciously release power and avoid micro-managing. Establishing a succes-sion plan meant empowering my staff with education and experience to step into other roles as needed.

SLAYING THE “DRAGON LADY”"Think about it,” Giovanni had said. The way I have worked with my staff has changed con-siderably. Encouragement has made a huge difference. We started habitually recognizing and giving each other specific and timely credit for our accomplishments. Our work sat-isfaction and happiness increased. But there is another great benefit from this journey. I’ve come to recognize that tasks will always be there, but what is important is how am I with others. It is not the “doing” that is important, but the “being.” I’d like to think that the Drag-on Lady has retreated into her den—never to be seen again.

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?We all have a “Slaying the Dragon” story. These personal stories help us discern our own skills and abilities and become effective leaders. The challenge is to shine the light on ourselves in a way that highlights our strengths, so we can build upon them and encourage our own hearts and those of others. What’s your story? Share it with me at [email protected] or on Twitter @santoromilena.__Milena Santoro, CWP™, CMM, CMP, PIDP, MS Pro-ductions, Inc., Canda and Europe

OUT OF THE DRAGON LADY'S DEN

LEADERSHIP SERIES

A Lesson in Effective LeadershipThis second article in a three-part series focuses on facing obstacles to leadership through self-reflection.

“


REAL WEDDING | NEVADAPLANNER: Archel Rolwing, Archel Rolwing Events, Las Vegas, www.archelrolwingevents.com, [email protected] IN INDUSTRY: 6PHOTOGRAPHY: Gin and Sake ProductionsBUSINESSES: MEET Las Vegas (venue), Soundfusion (DJ/MC), All Events Productions (videography), Peachy Keen Unions (officiant), Superior Events (catering), Events with a Twist (bar), Next Level Events (rentals), Girl Who Drew You (caricaturist), Frankie’s Ice Cream (ice cream truck)WEDDING DATE: May 20, 2015GUEST COUNT: 120THE COUPLE: This fun-loving couple was dedicated to wedding DIY proj-ects and committed to creating a unique wedding design. Although they envisioned a creative event design concept, they still took suggestions from their professional vendors, namely their coordinator and venue. The trust between the client and us helped the creative details come to life.INVOLVEMENT: Wedding-day coordinationINSPIRATION: This wedding had circus and carnival elements—with a classy, live theater-style flair.“AHA” MOMENT: When first reviewing the design details with the client, it seemed too elaborate—and too difficult to pull together. Even the bride was a little worried. When I was at the clients’ home looking through the items she put together, seeing her completed projects, vintage items, and signage, I could see how everything was going to come together. It became a clear vision and was really exciting! MOST UNIQUE DESIGN ELEMENTS: Reception centerpieces were a mis-matched mix of simple floral and pinwheels in various metallic gold vases and vintage tin cans; gold frames in various sizes with photos of the couple from childhood to now; metallic gold animal figurines; rolls of carnival ride tickets; red metal hearts with marquee lights; and over-sized dice. The client also rented our large chalkboard with marquee lights and hired the artist to draw an intricate design. The artist surprised the couple with a colorful portrait of them in their wedding attire on which guests signed their well wishes. COLOR PALETTE: Jewel tones, metallic gold, black, and redBUDGET: $15,000STAFF HOURS: 15-20 hours with 10-12 hours on the event dayPLANNING TIME: The client invested countless hours over five to six months planning.MEETING HOURS WITH CLIENT: ThreeSET UP/STRIKE DETAILS: We had a long inventory of items to set up and strike. We made certain the clients reviewed and approved our set up list. Two assistants worked with me in the hours leading up to the event, including meeting the vendor deliveries. Because MEET Las Vegas is a large space, there was plenty of room in their empty showroom (the wedding took place outdoors) to spread out and group all items. And, since the venue was available, they were amazing enough to allow us to store all items in there until the couple could come back in the follow-ing days to pick up. Not many venues allow this.REVENUE BREAKDOWN: 100% day-of coordinationBIGGEST CHALLENGE: The biggest challenge was handling the many details and ensuring everything was placed exactly where indicated. HINDSIGHT: The floral was scheduled for only one delivery location (the bride’s hotel, across the street from the venue), so we were tasked with picking up the reception floral there since the bride and bridesmaids needed their personal bouquets for detail photos and pre-ceremony shots. Although it was only across the street, it proved complicated to transport the floral (in our SUV and using a small handcart). We learned it’s best to invest in proper deliveries. LEARNINGS: Don’t be afraid to do what’s different! It makes an event memorable for the couple, their guests, and the vendors. Also, I learned that “non-traditional” doesn’t mean it has to be less elegant or classy. You can incorporate non-traditional elements without compromising the elegance and charm. WPM

circus and carnival elements with a classy, live theater-style flair


http://www.archelrolwingevents.com



FEATURE

As any business owner knows, to be successful and in demand, you have to stay in front of the trends and provide clients with ser-

vices and products they cannot get from everyone else. To do this, we business owners and entrepreneurs need to educate ourselves on the trends in our industry and the trends outside of our industry. Attending a conference in your area of expertise is one of the best ways to do this. A commitment to continuing education keeps our businesses in a leading position in the market. For my business, Mueller Photography, my goal, since the beginning, has been to provide clients with the best products and services. They look to me for the latest in wedding photography—both in their photographic images and accessory prod-ucts, such as canvas prints, albums, and more. A few times each year, I attend photographic and wedding industry conferences. This helps me provide clients with what they desire. Most recently, in March, I attended the annual Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) conference. This conference brings together more than 10,000 professional photographers from around the world. It is an incredible opportunity for professionals to gather and share ideas, techniques, and experiences. FOCUS ON CREATING LASTING RELATIONSHIPSThe hot topic this year was near and dear to my heart. Everyone was talking about building relationships with their wedding clients. This is

one of the most rewarding things about business. We’re not just plan-ning or photographing someone’s wedding—we’re creating a lasting relationship. Couples who enjoy their experience with the photogra-phers, planners, and other businesses involved in their wedding will think of them for referrals and future business as their family grows. DISCOVER NEW AND EXCITING TRENDSThe WPPI conference also allows photographers stay in front of the latest photography trends. This year’s conference featured new lighting and camera techniques from international and master photographers. These techniques help photographers work toward being able to provide in-studio quality images no matter what the lighting conditions. The right mix of equipment and techniques to create these high quality images is critical. With the latest generation of lights, photographers can take gorgeous images no matter the lighting. From sparklers, fireworks, sunsets, and dark reception venues to those shot in bright noontime sun, we can give clients fantastic photographs with incredible lighting. MAKE CONNECTIONS AROUND THE GLOBEMaster classes provide new, artistic insight and ideas for enhancing the creative process and keeping photography on the cutting edge. Round table discussions with business owners from many countries create oppor-tunities to share ideas, thoughts, and suggestions to provide clients with a better all-around experience. These smaller meetings let attendees make connections with these other professionals. Having friends around the world comes in especially handy when you do destination weddings. You never know when you may need an extra set of hands or someone who knows the area to scout out the best locations for photography. DISCOVER NEW PRODUCTS Photography skills and classes aren’t the only reason to attend, howev-er. Along with the abundant learning opportunities, the WPPI confer-ence has a massive trade show, which is filled with an international blend of companies. Beautiful and unique boutique items to provide clients are always on display. Offering these items, which couples can’t get elsewhere, provides an advantage over other photographers. This year’s trade show featured contemporary and sophisticated albums with a variety of cover materials, unique designs, and specialty papers. The Mystique Album—discovered at a trade show last year—is a great example. It features multi-colored graphics that pop off the cover, along with three-dimensional texture. It is a gorgeous album for a special bride. This year, custom-printed wine boxes were showcased. They open on three sides and have photos and text printed on the outside and in-side. Unique wall décor is also perfect for clients—whether single wall art pieces or groupings. Three-dimensional art walls are a perfect example. Truly custom, these are gallery-worthy pieces. GAIN INCREASED BUSINESSBeing able to see new products in person is priceless. And every year, I aim to implement at least three new ideas or products discovered through trade shows and conferences. When my clients love the new products, it means more referrals and repeat business, which in turn, means more income and an increase in my business. Aren’t these the goals of all business owners and entrepreneurs? WPM

__Adam Mueller, Mueller Photography, La Crosse, Wis.

CONFERENCES AND TRADE SHOWS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURS

© M

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Wedding Planner Magazine subscribers, register by June 30, 2016 and save $50 on an all-inclusiveregistraion package. Use code WPM50E16 at checkout.

For more informaaon and to register visit www.nace.net/Experience2016.

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The “Miss Dorothy” Heart Award The Miss Dorothy Penner Heart Award for Passion and Excellence to the Wedding Industry is the only award presented by the Association of Bridal Consultants. It honors a member who has demonstrated a “passion for the wedding industry.” ABC Members are nominated by their peers and are judged by the Miss Dorothy committee. The winner will be announced at the ABC Annual Conference in Dallas. Deadline is August 15, 2016

“Miss Dorothy” Heart Award applicationwww.bridalassn.com/DocLib/MissDorothyHeartCover.pdf

“Miss Dorothy” Scholarship applicationwww.bridalassn.com/DocLib/MissDorothyScholarshipCover.pdf.

The “Miss Dorothy” Scholarship This scholarship is for Novice members only. It allows them to attend this year’s ABC Annual Conference in Dallas. The winner will be notified on Sept. 1, 2016, and will be announced at the conference. The award must be used for the 2016 conference. Deadline is July 31, 2016.

CONSULTANTS: NOMINATE YOUR MENTOR, YOUR PEER, OR YOUR INSPIRATION!

NOVICES: EARN A SCHOLARSHIP TO ABC ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Questions? Contact Committee Chair Teddy Lenderman at [email protected] or 812.239.0991. Dorothy Penner, MBC™, was a passionate member of the ABC who believed fully in continuing education and the annual ABC Annual Conference.

THE “MISS DOROTHY” HEART AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP

http://www.bridalassn.com/DocLib/MissDorothyHeartCover.pdf

http://www.bridalassn.com/DocLib/MissDorothyScholarshipCover.pdf


WEDDING PLANNER MAGAZINE Periodical400 Main Street

La Crosse, WI 54601ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Committee: Donnie Brown, Carmen Mesa, MWP™, and Steve Kemble

Aldolphus Hotel Dallas skyline

ABC Annual ConferenceNOVEMBER 6-8, 2016—DALLAS

Register today!

www.ABCAnnualConference.com or 1.860.355.7000

http://www.ABCAnnualConference.com

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