As always, a big shout out to our members that have made the news. Below you’ll find members that have been highlighted or otherwise recognized. Thank you to those that submitted news this month and thank you to our members that continue to push the outside of the envelope in some way.
We are very excited to announce that Melissa Fields has joined the editorial team of Utah Bride & Groom magazine, the premier authority on luxury weddings and the essential resource for brides planning their special day in Utah. Fields will serve as the editor-at-large for our 2022 publication and, in her role, will work alongside UB&G online editor Avrey Evans. Fields’ admiration for UB&G magazine and her in-depth knowledge of our state and community will drive the new issue’s dynamic content. Reach Melissa Fields at melissa@utahbrideandgroom.com and follow UB&G at @utahbridemag on Instagram and Facebook for the latest in Utah’s bridal news.
Ideaction Consulting brought Cassandra Key onto their growing copywriting team. She’ll contribute brand communication strategies, website copy, proposal writing and blog content. Cassandra brings with her a near decade of writing content for the wedding industries and others.
Leah Weinberg of Color Pop Events makes an appearance on Confetti Hour Podcast to discuss ‘The Core of a Wedding Pro’s Job.’ Rock Paper Coin was also featured in a roundup on Elizabeth Anne Designs about ‘Classic Wedding Traditions to Keep (and Some to Kiss Goodbye).’
Christie Osborne of Mountainside Media addresses analytics on several different platforms this past month. She shares ‘How Simple Market Research Will Make You a Stronger Marketer’ on Special Events, ‘How to Analyze Your Market for a Competitive Advantage’ on Bridal Business Bootcamp, and ‘The Key Metrics Every Event Pro Should Track To Evaluate ROI’ on Nace.
Jennifer Taylor of Jen Taylor Consulting discusses ‘How to Effectively Turn Inquiries into Profit-Generating Bookings’ on Timeline Genius. She also reveals ‘4 Areas To Rely On Software’ on GoodShuffle.
Renée Dalo of Moxie Bright Events is joint-hosting an innovative conference implementation workshop, Conference Confident, after Wedding MBA on November 11th at Park MGM. They are also hosting the 4th Annual “Welcome to Wedding MBA” Industry Mixer on November 8th to start Wedding MBA week off right.
Elizabeth Sheils of Rock Paper Coin breaks down for Special Events ‘The 4 Elements of a Successful Business Model (and How to Fill in the Gaps).’
Dixie Bagley of The Farm contributes her expertise to WIPA on how to ‘Nurture Your Relationships With Venues.’ She also gives Special Events some ‘Tough Love: Conversations You Don’t Want to Have With Your Clients But Should.’
Meghan Ely of OFD Consulting rounded up experts for her article ‘How to (Politely) Set Expectations with Clients as We Head Into Larger Events’ on Special Events and ‘Considering Increasing Your Guest List? Pros & Cons to Make Your Decision’ on WeddingChicks. She was also honored as NACE Speaker of the Year recently at NACE Experience.
Karely Brinton, Owner of Branding For Women, will be speaking at How To Build A Timeless Brand Brides Adoreworkshop this month. The workshop will be held at the Azaela Event Venue on September 7th from 6-8pm. She will teach about the non-design ESSENTIAL brand elements that wedding professionals often forget about. Karely specializes in brand strategy, messaging, and design. Follow this link to secure your seat for the event! Limited seating available.
Nikki McLeay, Owner of Loveland Studios and Nikki McLeay Photography, was awarded the best Wedding Photographer in 2021 by Nebraska Wedding Day Magazine during the Best Of Live event in Omaha, NE. This is Nikki’s second consecutive year taking home this award. See Nikki’s honor, and the full list of finalists and winners on Nebraska Wedding Day’s Blog https://neweddingday.com/best-of. “A picture is worth a thousand words, but Nikki McLeay Photography is an expert at capturing one word in particular: love. Your wedding day may feel like a blur, so immortalize all the moments of your special day with photographs that will last a lifetime. Nikki is based in Omaha, but will happily travel wherever you are to capture those memories filled with joy, laughter, and, yes, love.”
Pastor Pete from Elegant Vegas Weddings on 1 August 2021 performed the first wedding at the newly opened Resorts World in Las Vegas. Eric and Sheila Tsan of California and Pastor Pete met in January on the pre-opening Hard Hat tour and instantly bonded. The wedding was an elegant event in the Lily Ballroom with the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Las Vegas Strip. The evening dinner service was flawless and the guests danced into the night as they watched the lights of the Las Vegas Strip turn on thru the panoramic windows.
After 15 years in the industry, Jenna Porter of formerly “Jenna Noelle Photography” has spent the last year completely re-envisioning what this work means to her and has relaunched as Jenna Noelle Creative. Offering luxury photo collection premiers and a more elevated, boutique brand, she intends to sharply focus her energy on custom, emotionally impactful client experiences while making time to donate her photography services to international nonprofits. She has also launched a new brand, Endless Summers Collective, where she is currently offering her Lightroom Develop Presets, album templates, contract templates, mentorship services, and much more yet to be announced! All three of these new projects and her blog can be accessed here You can listen to her talk about her new mission, her experience in this industry (including the harrowing journey of last year), and advice for newcomer and plateaued creative professionals alike on this recent podcast. Jenna is based in Denver and New Orleans, but is experienced in international work and available worldwide!
Tatiana Valerie, owner and lead photographer at ArtVesta Studio recently participated as a speaker/educator at a Yelp For Business ‘Using Photos to Drive Sales’ webinar.
Tatiana Valerie was also selected to be a part of the 2021 Share the Green ELITE EIGHT award! After reviewing close to 200 video pitches, Tatiana’s video was chosen as one of the top eight picks. This award made her eligible to present a 10-minute business pitch to 60 fortune 500 companies during the Elite Eight Pitch Hour, a business initiative designed to advance diversity in the corporate supply chain.
Tatiana Valerie’s commercial work was also featured in SecretNYC , Guest of a Guest, and Cititour
TINSEL Experiential Design is very proud to have been named to the 2021 Inc. 5000 List of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The #Inc5000 ranks companies by overall revenue growth over a three-year period.
Feels great to be out on the town again! Rehana Bhaiji of Siblana Event Design introduced her new Marketing and Business Director Jill Alali to WIPA members and industry professionals at our magnificent Field Museum dinner and then at PartySlate’s rooftop evening soiree at Pendry Chicago in early August. Siblana has proven exemplary at providing bespoke productions for special events throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Siblana is most renowned for their exquisite artistry for South Asian-themed weddings, but their aesthetic is so versatile that they now attract a variety of clients who are looking to capture Siblana’s perfectly orchestrated luxury, sophistication, and elegance for their special event. This dynamic duo looks poised for an exciting expansion!
Digital Marketing Manager required for Ireland’s Leading Event Rental Group – Caterhire and its sister company Hireall are seeking a passionate Digital Marketing Manager to join their team and drive their “digital first” strategy. The candidate will play a key role in further developing the group’s websites and enhancing their e-commerce capabilities. This is a pivotal role in the group and a great opportunity to take ownership of the businesses digital marketing strategy. There will be flexibility on working hours and potentially the opportunity to work a shorter working week depending on experience. If you are energetic, with a proven track record in digital marketing we would love to speak to you. For more details contact gavin@caterhire.ie or see the full job description HERE.
A Tuscan countryside inspired wedding in Sunny California? Yes, please! Style Me Pretty brought out the exquisite in this recent shoot featuring dazzling suits and tuxedos from Friar Tux! Friar Tux wants to get you ready for the busy Fall wedding season in their suits and tuxedos. From gold velvet, caramel, dark green, to burgundy, Friar Tux brings out all the Fall style spice. Friar Tux has everyone covered through stores in Las Vegas and Southern California or shop online at FriarTux.com and StitchandTie.com. Remember nationwide shipping is available and you may schedule a Virtual Style Session with one of our expert stylists from the comfort of home.
Michelle Loretta, Founder of Be Sage Consulting and producer of Be Sage Conference, was recently awarded the ILEA ESPRIT award for Best Conference under $500,000. The 2020 Austin conference was themed The Vast & The Curious and connected attendees based on their vast experience and emphasized the importance of curiosity as businesses evolve over the years.
Lance Panton of MY DFW DJ – Weddings & Events has been named Favorite DJ in the 14th Annual Vendi Awards. The Vendi Awards, presented by The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP), honors excellence in The Dallas-Fort Worth Wedding Industry. AACWP, which nominates and selects The Vendi Award Winners, is a professional organization for trained or certified wedding planners. The organization provides support, resources and networking for wedding planners, as well as professional development, certification and continuing education.
