the publication for wedding planners, professionals & designers

May/June 2012 Volume 2, Issue 2
UK National Wedding Show 2012

UK National Wedding Show 2012

Vintage Style Reigns Supreme By Rachel Cripps-Gervais, PBC™, An English Rose, Luxury Lifestyle Weddings Photos courtesy of Rachel Cripps-Gervais, PBC™ Something old was definitely in the air at the UK National Wedding Show 2012, held in February in London. In fact, everywhere in London, whether the local High Street store...
2012 Business of Brides

2012 Business of Brides

The Wit and Wisdom of Donnie Brown By Beth Erickson Attendees at this year’s Business of Brides will be in for a treat when keynote speaker, celebrity wedding planner, and Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) member Donnie Brown takes the stage for “Kick Up Your Heels—And Your Events: Taking Weddings...
Be the Driving Force for Tented Success

Be the Driving Force for Tented Success

By Kim King Smith, ABC™, Kim King Smith Events, Edinburgh/Indianapolis, Ind. Twinkling lights. Fresh air. Outdoor revelry. Tented weddings are a gorgeous way to celebrate a momentous day. But to make a tented affair an event to remember, the professional bridal consultant must work closely with vendors to create a...
Meet our Advisory Board Members

Meet our Advisory Board Members

Have a question for one of the Board Members, please comment below! Click on thumbnail to view full size
Color Trends 2012 - The Color Evolution

Color Trends 2012 – The Color Evolution

What do the 2012 Olympics, The King’s Speech, and the royal wedding have in common? Each is part of the recent cultural influences that continue to shape color trends. According to Leslie Harrington, executive director of the Color Association of the United States (CAUS), emerging color palettes are about evolution...
Details Create Lasting Memories in Wedding Ceremonies

Details Create Lasting Memories in Wedding Ceremonies

By Bonnie Pickett Cinderella is apt to dance in a prospective bride’s memory as she plans her wedding day. Whether in a church, a synagogue, or a gazebo, no matter if it’s formal or informal, it is her time to be the princess at the center of the celebration. Unlike...
Green Weddings

Green Weddings

  A Trend That’s Taking Root By Kate Harrison, Green Bride Guide Did you know that the average wedding produces 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of carbon dioxide? With 2.2 million weddings a year, the impact of weddings on the earth is undeniably significant. Today’s generation is increasingly...
Business of  Brides 2011

Business of Brides 2011

Charmed by Details Dazzled by Inspiration By Gloria Boyden, MBC™ Inspiration was everywhere at the Association of Bridal Consultants Business of Brides 2011 conference in Baltimore. Attendees were impressed with the grandeur and elegance of the historic Tremont Hotel, where they networked among peers, gained new business ideas, and were...
ABC Accreditation Program

ABC Accreditation Program

What It Means to Be a Master By Lois Pearce, MBC™, Master Panel Facilitator 2011 What does it mean to “master” your profession? It means having your finger on the pulse of the wedding industry. It means going above and beyond in quality and service to your clients. It means...

Seeing Gold Through the Glitter

Mining Future Business Around Present Brides By Sharon Naylor, Author, www.sharonnaylor.com You treat your brides like diamonds, but did you know there are precious gems surrounding her? Yes, the four or so bridesmaids—and the moms—are potential future business. Each of these ladies might book you to plan weddings, bridal showers, wedding breakfasts, rehearsal dinners, baby showers, anniversary parties, and the list goes on and on. So, make it your goal to polish your interactions beyond the bridal couple. Your image and future business depend not only on impressing your current brides, but on everyone around her as well. Here are a few tips:
The Top 25 Design Trends for 2012

The Top 25 Design Trends for 2012

By Beth Erickson Rustic Chic Adding rustic, natural elements with an upscale flair to indoor or outdoor weddings is increasing in popularity. This rustic chic style is illustrated with flea market finds that complement the modern attire, floral, linens, and food. Think mason jars filled with homemade jelly as take-aways,...
Military Wedding is Massive Success

Military Wedding is Massive Success

21 Couples, 39 Vendors By Stacey Gitten, Hitching Post Public Relations “On May 22, I remarried my best friend and hero. I was greeted by 20 other eager brides. We all shared the same stories, so we weren’t strangers because we share a bond that cannot be broken. During the...
Attending Bridal Conferences?

Attending Bridal Conferences?

Here’s What to Do—and What Not to By Frank J. Andonoplas, MBC™ Bridal shows are a great opportunity for wedding consultants to meet new vendors and see new trends—all under one roof. Still, as with any social event, there are rules of etiquette that must be followed to avoid the...
Floral Shows Inspire with Glorious, Entertaining Displays

Floral Shows Inspire with Glorious, Entertaining Displays

By Pamella Pride, Epicure of Design From artistic interpretations of themes to lavish displays of floral elegance and extravagance, quality flower shows capture the hearts of floral and garden enthusiasts each year. Here are highlights from two of the most recent top shows in floral display and design. 2011 Newport...
Small Bites to Family Style, Catering Trends Create Savory Comfort

Small Bites to Family Style, Catering Trends Create Savory Comfort

By Beth Erickson Since the dawn of time, food has brought both nourishment and pleasure. In pursuit of culinary delights to satisfy our cravings, we have explored the world, savoring the succulent tastes of food from different countries and cultures. For those who haven’t traveled, the world comes to us...
Destination Weddings 2011 - The Experience of a Lifetime

Destination Weddings 2011 – The Experience of a Lifetime

by Beth Erickson Destination weddings used to be synonymous with elopement. Times have changed. True, destination wedding couples still run off to wed, but they do so with their guests and to any location that’s not home. Today’s destination weddings take place on beaches, in castles, at ancient ruins, in...
Protect Yourself—Promotional Photos With Identifiable Clients Require Model Releases

Protect Yourself—Promotional Photos With Identifiable Clients Require Model Releases

By Howard Kier photography – Magical Moments Photography If a photograph of a person is hung in a corridor as decoration, it is considered art. But if that exact same photograph is hung in the exact same location and used as an advertisement, another set of rules comes into play....
Royal Wedding Fever Sparks Flurry of Trends

Royal Wedding Fever Sparks Flurry of Trends

By Sonia Abrams Photography shutterstock Royal wedding fever swept the globe on Friday, April 29. In the months leading up to the wedding, speculation was rife surrounding the style, flowers, and of course, the dress.  The media filled hours of airtime second-guessing the style and color scheme.  When the wait...
Miss Dorothy Penner Heart Award and Scholarship: Inspiring Commitment Fueled by Passion

Miss Dorothy Penner Heart Award and Scholarship: Inspiring Commitment Fueled by Passion

The wedding industry would be nothing without passion—both the passion of the bride and groom and the passion of wedding planners and consultants whose goal is to make the wedding day a testament to love. Miss Dorothy Penner, MBC™, a long-time Association of Bridal Consultant (ABC) member from Louisville, Ky.,...
Copyright and Usage Licenses: Staying on the Right Side of the Law

Copyright and Usage Licenses: Staying on the Right Side of the Law

By Howard Kier It happens all the time. You are involved in planning a perfect wedding. The clients love the results. A few days later, you look at the photographer’s website and see the stunning photos. Whether you planned the event, provided the floral, linens, or another special part of...
Tented Weddings: Canvas Creations from “Easel” to Aisle

Tented Weddings: Canvas Creations from “Easel” to Aisle

by Beth Erickson Just as an artist’s canvas is stretched on its frame and primed for paint, so, too, is the canvas of a tent—awaiting only resolute brushstrokes and blushes of color to transform it from blank to beautiful. “Unlike using an existing banquet facility, a tent can be considered...
Be Charmed by Grace and Dazzled by Diann in Baltimore

Be Charmed by Grace and Dazzled by Diann in Baltimore

By Elise Enloe, MBC™ Combine Grace Ormonde and Diann Valentine as the featured speakers along with some incredible breakout sessions and you have this year’s Annual Conference from Nov. 6-8 in Baltimore. Keynotes will “charm” and “dazzle” Born in the Azores and raised in Rhode Island, Grace Ormonde became interested...
Giving Back - The Ripple Effect of Doing Good

Giving Back – The Ripple Effect of Doing Good

By Beth Erickson – Photo ©Photo Images of Northbrook, Ill The gods called it fate. The Buddhists call it karma. Most of us today say, “What you put out is what you get back.” What is it? It’s the simple recognition that we are part of something bigger than ourselves,...
Color Trends 2011: Stunning Colors to Inspire Creativity

Color Trends 2011: Stunning Colors to Inspire Creativity

By Beth Erickson Today’s color choices paint a spectrum that seems greater than the rainbow glimpsed by Sir Isaac Newton when he first shone white light through a prism more than 300 years ago. not only is the range of color stunning, but the names are inspired—from sunflower and burnt...
Latest entries
UK National Wedding Show 2012

UK National Wedding Show 2012

Vintage Style Reigns Supreme By Rachel Cripps-Gervais, PBC™, An English Rose, Luxury Lifestyle Weddings Photos courtesy of Rachel Cripps-Gervais, PBC™ Something old was definitely in the air at the UK National Wedding Show 2012, held in February in London. In fact, everywhere in London, whether the local High Street store or Liberty’s on Oxford Street...
How to Distinguish Yourself in a Saturated Market

How to Distinguish Yourself in a Saturated Market

Pond Full? Don’t Jump Out—Stand Out! By Rebecca Richman, PBC™, The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants Bringing in over $40 billion dollars a year, the wedding industry is naturally attractive to entrepreneurs, but now, the market is arguably oversaturated. With the pond so full and the competition steep, it’s more important now than ever to...
Real Wedding Florida

Real Wedding Florida

ABC member planner: Christine Terezakis, ABC™, Dreamday Couture Wedding Planning & Event Design, Palm City, Fla., 772.426.9954. info@dreamdaycelebrations.com, www.dreamdaycelebrations.com.
2012 Business of Brides

2012 Business of Brides

The Wit and Wisdom of Donnie Brown By Beth Erickson Attendees at this year’s Business of Brides will be in for a treat when keynote speaker, celebrity wedding planner, and Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) member Donnie Brown takes the stage for “Kick Up Your Heels—And Your Events: Taking Weddings to a Whole New Level”...
Seven Steps to SUCCESS

Seven Steps to SUCCESS

By David Brownlee, CEO, CASHWEDDINGGIFT As small business owners, we know how important it is to find marketing strategies that will grow our customer base. We also know how challenging it is to find those new markets and turn those new contacts into new customers. Finding new market opportunities boils down to what I call...
Stephen Stawicki, MBC™

Stephen Stawicki, MBC™

The Wedding Connection, www.theweddingconnection.net, Huntington Woods, Mich. Employees: 2 full-time Revenue breakdown: 60% ceremonies, 15% consulting/coordinating, 15% counseling, 10% baby namings and funerals Contact: 248.543.7396, info@theweddingconnection.net, Facebook, LinkedIn
Be the Driving Force for Tented Success

Be the Driving Force for Tented Success

By Kim King Smith, ABC™, Kim King Smith Events, Edinburgh/Indianapolis, Ind. Twinkling lights. Fresh air. Outdoor revelry. Tented weddings are a gorgeous way to celebrate a momentous day. But to make a tented affair an event to remember, the professional bridal consultant must work closely with vendors to create a map for success—and then remain...
Real Wedding Kentucky

Real Wedding Kentucky

ABC Member Planner: Jeannie Smith, PBC™, with assistants Ashley McDonal and Teaque Smith, AshBy Wedding & Event Planning, Elizabethtown, Ky., 270.300.7879, jeannieg72@hotmail.com, www.ashbyweddingevents.com.

Letter – Volume 2, Issue 2

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”- Abraham Lincoln We couldn’t agree more. And that’s why this issue of Wedding Planner Magazine is targeted toward your success. Wedding professionals, more than most, know that when we set our minds to it, we can do anything. Thinking...
Meet our Advisory Board Members

Meet our Advisory Board Members

Have a question for one of the Board Members, please comment below! Click on thumbnail to view full size
Take Your Business to the Cloud

Take Your Business to the Cloud

Add a little drama to your life with event lighting

Add a little drama to your life with event lighting