Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) 2023 Educational Conference

Last week, I had the privilege to attend the Association of Bridal Consultants annual educational conference in San Jan, Puerto Rico. It was an amazing week filled with education, networking and inspiration. The amazing photos below were taken by the official conference photographer, Jesart Photos

Host Hotel - La Concha Resort

Host Hotel - La Conca Resort

General Session Ballroom

Welcome Reception

Welcome Reception Entertainment

Tuesday Lunch

Tuesday Lunch

Tuesday Lunch

Miss Dorothy Heart Award Presentation

Opening General Session

My Fellow Master Wedding Planners

Keynote Speaker David Tutera

Me, with David Tutera

Wednesday Breakfast

Wednesday Lunch

Wednesday Lunch

Perla - Farewell Party Location

Farewell Party Entertainment

Farewell Party Entertainment

Farewell Party

Farewell Party

Continuing education is so important! Conference topics included business management, legal and tax topics, marketing, and so much more. There is always something to learn!

The ABC World of Weddings conference is also a great way to reconnect with fellow wedding planners from around the world. Connections like these are invaluable! It’s so great to have a network of people to reach out to, whether it’s business related or not.

ABC Florida State Conference Recap #BeBoldABC

This week, I had the pleasure of working with my dear friends and fellow Master Wedding Planners Carmen Mesa of Carmen Mesa Events and Tammy Waterman of Special Moments Event Planning to produce a fabulous conference for wedding professionals. The Association of Bridal Consultants' Florida State Conference is always a labor of love, but hearing each and every attendee walk away saying how much they had learned makes it all worth it! Here's a little recap: Saturday night, we treated our amazing speakers to a fun evening at Sweet Pete's and The Candy Apple Cafe and Cocktails.

Sunday morning kicked off with brunch, where I got to tell everyone some interesting facts about Jacksonville. (#ILoveJax)

(thanks to Rose of Sharon European Florist for the centerpieces, Beachview Event Rentals for the chairs, and PRI Productions for the super cool Jacksonville backdrop)

After brunch, we went into our general session room for lots of great educational content:

• Steve Kemble -Revitalize and Re-Energize Your Brand

• Lauren Sarnoff Atwaters, Ten23 Designs - Creating a Unique Event Experience

• Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting - From Stressed to Streamlined: Creating an Organization Syste that Works

• Tamatha Cain, Choux Cake Studio - Emergency Wedding Cake Fixes

• April Knight, Jos. A Bank - How To Tie A Bow Tie and Fold A Pocket Square

• Donnie Brown, Donnie Brown Weddings and Events - Reading the Red Flags: Don't Let This Happen To You

And then it was on to the poolside cocktail reception! The weather could not have been more amazing. As event planners, we always worry about the weather when planning outdoor events - especially in August in Florida! But there was not a drop of rain that day, and the breeze made the rooftop deck quite comfortable.

Day 2 of the conference started with a casual breakfast. How cool are these centerpieces from Rose of Sharon European Florist?

And the Omni Hotel Jacksonville staff created the letters "ABC" out of the parfaits!

For Tuesday's lunch, each speaker was assigned a table. Lauren from Ten23 Designs created these adorable signs with their names! She also made tons of other cute decor pieces that were used throughout the conference.

Monday's educational sessions were just as amazing as Sunday's:

• Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting - Attaining Expert Status: How to Become on Expert Industry Leader

• Susan Southerland, Just Marry! - Selling to Couples at Every Planning Phase

• Charlene Shirk, C. Shirk Productions - Pitch Perfect: How to Deliver A Great Media Interview

• Bryan Glynn, BGPictures - Critical Website & Internet Tips for Your Business and Making $$ with YouTube

• Donnie Brown & Steve Kemble - Social Media As Your PR Consultant (Round Table)

Sadly, it was time to say good bye to all of our friends, new and old. These little snack packs had water, chips, and sweets for the drive/flight home.

It was an amazing (and exhausting!) three days, and I am so thankful for everyone that attended. Want to see more photos? Check out the ABC Florida Facebook page.

ABC Florida Shine Conference 2014

I had such an amazing weekend last week! Not only did I get to attend the Association of Bridal Consultants' Florida State Conference - shine - but I also got to speak at the event. Here are a few images from Day 1 of the conference, taken by fabulous photographer Claire Pacelli. If you've wondered what happens when a group of wedding planners get together for continuing education, here's a little peek:

My fellow speakers, along with the conference co-chairs: Sharon Baragona, A Chair Affair; Kelly McWilliams, Weddings By Socialites; oh hey, that's me!; Mark Kingsdorf, ABC Florida State Manager; Coach Jenn Lee; Brian Joyce and Richard Streitler, Flourish Floral Productions; Elisa Delgardio, A Flair For Affairs

Oh, and did I mention, another fellow speaker: celebrity wedding planner Donnie Brown?

There are so many more fabulous photos, but this one I think is my favorite:

"The Speaker Selfie." This beauty was captured by Kelly McWilliams (and posted to Instagram) after we posed for a more formal group photo. Love it!

If you work in this industry, and you aren't attending conferences like this, you are missing out! And if you are a bride or groom, as your wedding professionals what they do for continuing education. It makes a huge difference!

Breath of Fresh Art Fundraiser

Weddings aren't all we do around here! I was happy to serve on the planning committee for the Breath of Fresh Art fundraiser last night. The event benefited Wish 2 Breathe, a National Foundation for Transplants' campaign in support of Jacksonville resident Lindsey Miller. The campaign's goal is to help raise money for expenses related to Lindsey's double lung transplant and the lifelong care she will need as a result. The fundraiser was held at one of Jacksonville's newest event venues - The Fountain View Room. Several area restaurants and caterers donated food stations for the event, including Nippers Beach Grille, Davoli's Catering, Renna's Pizza, Red Elephant, Flippin' Good Cookies, and Edgewood Bakery. PRP Wine International also offered wine tastings to the events' guests.

The event also featured a silent auction (with some heated bidding at the end!) as well as an art exhibition by two local artists -  Mobarick Abdullah III and Adam Brett. It was a fun night for a great cause!

ABC Business of Brides 2013

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending the Association of Bridal Consultants' annual conference, Business of Brides. It's one of the highlights of my year to see friends from around the world, and learn and grow with them.

I got to spend time with wedding planners from Latin America, Canada, Japan, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and the list goes on and on. But even better was getting to spend four days with my direct competition. You read right, there were four wedding planners from Jacksonville attending the conference. And not only did I share a hotel room with one, I spent a total of eight hours in the car round trip with them.

I'm very proud that our town has such a great wedding community. While we are competitors, I see these wonderful ladies as allies. In fact, one of them, Tanya Hendricks of Southern Charm Events, and I did a presentation together. It was called "Playing Nice: Cultivating Alliances Not Animosity," and focused on building relationships while focusing on your own business instead of worrying what everyone else is doing. It was a huge hit, and I met some terrific ladies that came up to share stories after the session.

I also got to spend time with Monica Bernhardt of To-Doers Event Planning, and my fellow Master Bridal Consultant Lisa Burnett of Elegant Weddings By Lisa. While we see each other at local networking events, we don't often get to spend that much time together, and it's always great getting to know these ladies a little bit better.

The conference theme, Palm Beach Chic, was inspired by Lilly Pulitzer, so lots of bright colors greeted us at each breakfast, lunch, and break. With the exception of one - The White Party, a welcome reception where everyone donned their white resort casual wear for a great cocktail party. The bar from Just Bars was an amazing focal point - I can wait to use one of these at an upcoming event!

And the speakers - wow! Matthew Robbins of Matthew Robbins Design was our design speaker. As a contributing editor for Martha Stewart Weddings, he had lots of great insight on finding inspiration for an event theme. Plus he shared photos from his own wedding!

We also heard from Susan Southerland, who we are happy to have as a top-notch Florida wedding planner - she owns Just Marry! in Orlando. She is a phenomenal speaker, and all-around great person.

And lastly, we were reminded of our brilliance (his word, not mine) by Simon T. Bailey. If you haven't read his books, go buy them now. I'll wait. I think that all of us in that room have made changes (some significant) that will affect our lives forever. If you ever have the chance to hear Simon speak, don't hesitate.

But in addition to these fabulous keynote addresses, there were over 25 amazing breakout sessions. I attended "Modern Jewish Weddings," and "Are You Ready for the Storm? Disaster Preparedness for Wedding Professionals," both of which gave me great information to bring back to our team.

I can't say enough about how great it is to be in a room of 300+ wedding professionals from around the world. Every year, I come back energized and renewed, and ready to tackle the year ahead. If you are a wedding planner and aren't an ABC member, or you are a member that doesn't attend conference - call me! I'd love to share more about the experience.

Bridal Show This Sunday!

Looking for a great way to meet lots of wedding professionals in one place? Stop by the Premier Wedding Expo this Sunday! We have been proud to help produce these great events for many years, and they keep getting better.

• Over 100 exhibitors
• Great discounts and prizes will be available for brides planning their weddings
• Each bride gets a bridal bag when entering the show

The event runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the UNF University Center (12000 Alumni Drive). Tickets are $10 at the door, but if  you purchase the online in advance they are only $7! Be sure to visit the show's website, www.TicTocEvents.com, to learn more.

Blueprint for Wedding Success

Announcing our newest seminar, Blueprint For Wedding Success!  Join us for an afternoon of valuable tips and information from Master Bridal Consultant, Heather Canada. Topics include:

Basics:

• Selecting a date
• Themes/color schemes
• Budgeting
• Choosing locations

Ceremony:

• Interfaith weddings
• Traditions

Reception:

• DJ vs Band
• Meal types
• Bar

Extras:

• Favors
• Invitations
• Personalization

Followed by individual Q&A with Master Bridal Consultant Heather Canada. Plus:

• Receive worksheets to help plan (and budget!) your wedding
• Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and desserts by The Perfect Pear Catering Co.

Tickets are only $15 per person, or two tickets for $25.  Plus, clients of First Coast Weddings, Avalon Hall, and The Perfect Pear get a special discount! (Ask us for details.) Seating is limited, so sign up today at http://weddingblueprint.eventbrite.com.

Premier Bride New Issue Reception

Diva's Night Out

I had the pleasure of attending the launch party for "Diva's Night Out" last weekend, and let me tell you, what a great way to spend an evening with your girlfriends!

The event started with some yummy hors d'oeuvres and "adult" punch provided by our host, The Omni Hotel Jacksonville.  While we were mingling, some ladies got their makeup done by Patricia Kozack, while others enjoyed a quick, sassy photo session with Jennifer Brum of Peek Romance Photography.  Then it was time for the real fun!

Lynn Maxey of VIP Women’s Dance Parties led the group in some basic belly dance moves, followed by a sexy chair dance demonstration.  But ladies, this isn't just for fun - talk about a work out!  Lynn actually teaches these classes for fitness - one hottie in the group lost a whole dress size after just a few weeks working out with Lynn.

Following our dance lesson, we got to hear about some of the exciting (no pun intended) products from Sugar and Spice Passion Parties.

And of course a diva party wouldn't be complete without some treats!  Edgewood Bakery provided a yummy cake for us to enjoy.

These parties will be great for bachelorette and birthday parties - check out the website for more info!

Pictures of Hope: Naomi Williams

Earlier this week, we learned some heartbreaking news about friend and wedding photographer Naomi Williams... please read the information below:

Just one month ago, 29-year-old wedding and portrait photographer Naomi Williams of Ponte Vedra Beach was living a normal life; watching her 2½-year-old son Jake grow bigger by the day, running a successful studio and together with her husband Nik of 8 years, they were looking for a bigger home and hoping for a little brother or sister for Jake.

That was before everything changed. What started as a pain in Naomi’s back led to several tests and surgeries and then, the verdict: Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma - a type of skin cancer which has spread from its original site to other parts of the body, in Naomi’s case into her spine, pelvis and lungs.

The emotional burden of this grim discovery and the journey ahead is difficult enough. We can all offer words of support and our heartfelt prayers, but there’s something equally powerful we can do for Naomi, Nik and Jake. Like so many other, the Williams family lives on dual income. Obviously, Naomi is unable to work causing a financial burden that this young couple simply can’t concentrate on right now.

Pictures of Hope is a collaborative response initiated by family and friends of Naomi Williams. We are trying to raise funds for Naomi and her family who have just begun a very tough and challenging journey. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of currently approved treatments - such as Chemotherapy and Radiation - for Stage 4 Metastic Melanoma are very limited. Should Naomi’s body not respond to her current treatment, she and Nik will be seeking alternative treatment programs abroad which have had greater rates of success but are not covered under insurance.

In addition to this website initiative, we have also designed an event called Picture A Cure which is aimed at raising awareness of skin cancer - so that other families can be reminded of the importance in taking measures in disease protection, living in the moment, and planning ahead if disaster should strike. Picture A Cure is scheduled for June 13th 2009 and will help raise  funds for Naomi and for skin cancer research. Tickets will have a suggested donation value of $50 per person. Due to space considerations, a limited number of tickets are available. If you’d like to request a ticket, please email your address and your desired number of tickets to: info@naomiwilliams.com.

Please join us as we support an incredible woman who has had a huge impact on so many lives - through her work as a wedding and portrait photographer, as a mother, wife and as a friend.

Please join us in sending your prayers and well-wished to Naomi and her family, and visit the website at http://fornaomi.com/.

New Forum For Jax Brides and Grooms

At The Wedding Party, we are always looking for new ideas!  We had a bride recently mention how nice it is to talk to other brides to share ideas and tips, which sounded like a great idea to us! So we created a new group on Meetup.com just for you.

We have set up an online community where you can post messages in the forum, but we will also host monthly meetings.  These meetings will NOT be sales pitches - the wedding professionals of The Wedding Party will be available to answer any questions you may have, but the whole concept is to bring brides together with other brides!

Our first in-person get-together will be held next Wednesday!

When: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Where: The Wedding Party office, 8640 Philips Highway, Suite 8, Jacksonville

More Info: http://www.meetup.com/Jacksonville-Brides-Grooms/

Click here to check out
The Jacksonville Brides & Grooms!

Liz Stewart Floral Designs Grand Opening

Well, the term "grand opening" isn't really correct - it was however, the grand opening of Liz Stewart's new studio on Third Street.  What a big change, literally!  Liz, Tiffany, Shae and the rest of their team have so much more space at their new location! The studio is breath-taking!  I am so jealous, although I know a lot of hard work went into creating the space.  Here are some snapshots I took:

Bride Wars!

Tonight Melanie and I joined some of our favorite wedding pros to watch Bride Wars. Unless you live under a rock, I'm sure you've heard of this wedding-themed movie staring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson.

The premise of the movie is that two best friends who have been dreaming of their wedding days all their lives are accidentally booked on the same day at The Plaza.  Hopefully a far-fetched occurrence, I'm sure, and one that wedding planners will ensure never happens after this movie!

The movie was great, and if you haven't seen it yet I'd highly recommend seeing it with your best girl friends. Thanks to Christine Hoffman at TPC for coordinating our outing! It was great spending time with Chris, Nicole from Sharon Batten, Monica from To Do-ers, and Cate from TPC.

An Excellent Open House

It was a great night last night as The Wedding Party, Jacksonville's only wedding mall, welcomed dozens of brides and grooms to our open house.  The passion and energy that you feel walking through the doors of The Wedding Party really lets you know that all the businesses inside strive for excellence in everything they do.  If you missed it, watch the blog for announcements about the next one! The food by Serenatea was delicious - especially the Pina Colada dip!  (these are my snapshots, stay tuned for pro pics from Kevin Winter!)

I could eat a hundred of these truffles!

Ham rolls, stuffed olives, sausage wraps, oh my!

And of course to top it all off, fabulous wedding cake from Simply Delicious!

These cake truffles live in the freezer just two doors down from my office...very dangerous indeed!

Another fun treat for the night: a photo booth!  This is "glamour girl" Kimberly, a former client and now friend, goofing off for the camera.  I would highly recommend this for a wedding, birthday party, any even really!  This one from Photobooth To Go, a division of Dan Harris PhotoArt.

There is so much more to write about!  But I'll wait to get Kevin's photos...

Cheryl & David (09.14.08)

So Cheryl and David weren't technically married on 09.14.08.  They actually renewed their wedding vows today, 36 years after they originally exchanged rings in Hawaii.  It was a touching ceremony (that I actually got to perform!) to reaffirm their love for each other.

Cheryl is the best wedding officiant in town, so it was interesting to see her on the other side of the ceremony!  She surprised David with a performance by Prince Pele's Polynesian Revue, beginning with the Hawaiian Wedding Song.  The show ended with Cheryl, her sister, and I getting a hula lesson!

I feeling truly honored to take part in this special day!

Open House at the Wedding Party

You are cordially invited to attend anOpen House Reception to explore Jacksonville's first wedding mall

It's like a bridal show every day!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm 8640-8 Philips Highway, Jacksonville

Fletcher Class of 1957 Reunion

This weekend, I took a break from the normal wedding scene to help with the Duncan U. Fletcher High School Class of 1957 Reunion. My next-door neighbor happens to be the committee chairperson, so our meetings consisted of me walking a few steps to her front door or stopping at the mailbox to chat while I walked my dogs! The reunion weekend kicked off Friday evening with a reception at the brand new Courtyard By Marriott in Jacksonville Beach. Lisa, Emma and their staff did a great job making sure everything ran smoothly, even though the hotel only opened two weeks ago! The poolside hospitality suite was the place to be Friday, since the weather was the best we've had in weeks!

Saturday night was great fun, with a dinner-dance at Marsh Landing Country Club and balloon decor by The Balloon Construction Company. The band included two classmates, one of which played with Elvis Presley, so it goes without saying that the joint was rockin'! Photographer Jean Moree of Endless Memories captured some great shots, including a wonderful group shot of all the classmates.

The 50th reunion was even newsworthy enough to garner coverage by the local newspaper, The Florida Times-Union.  Congratulations, class of '57!