Member News - July 2020

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. 

BreLuxe Beauty, just launched Online Beauty Sessions, giving clients access to a Live Beauty Pro, from Anywhere! They were recently published in New Zealand Weddings for their Bridal Hair and Makeup looks. To help navigate business, Founder Tara Bre has been uniting beauty companies across the country and created a FREE business beauty mini-series to help wedding beauty professionals elevate during this difficult time.

Best Made Videos® has launched a new wedding planning podcast called Best Made Weddings. This new wedding planning podcast features wedding planning roundtables from vendors tackling all sorts of topics like rescheduling your COVID-19 affected wedding, how to address saves the dates with reduced guest counts, livestreaming your wedding and more! The first wedding planner roundtable featured WIPA Seattle President BreeAnn Gale of Pink Blossom Events (https://www.pinkblossomevents.com/) and Director of Membership Rebecca Grant of New Creations Weddings (https://www.newcreationsweddings.com/) - https://youtu.be/uel7CsKHyAA

New episodes can be found every week at https://bestmadeweddingvideos.com/best-made-weddings-podcast-directory or on any major podcast platform.

Atlanta WIPA member Kirsten Ott Palladino, founder of Equally Wed and Equally Wed Pro, was awarded with an LGBTQ+ Leadership Award by the Georgia Diversity Council in June. She also delivered the organization's keynote address for the Georgia LGBTQ+ Unity Summit. 

The iconic Manor Vail Lodge has developed an all-inclusive Elopement Package for destination weddings in Vail, Colorado. The customizable package includes lodging, ceremony, dinner, amenity, flowers, officiant and photographer, 2-25 guests.

We are proud to announce that J.Wilbur Smith has become the President and owner of EventScapes, Inc. Following a 10 year relationship with CCP Meetings & Events, EventScapes will continue offering unique and steadfast services in the event design, décor and production industry. “As we continue through this unique season in the industry, we are focused on creating events alongside new and existing clients and look toward to a bright and fulfilling future,” shares J.Wilbur. “The passion of event design is at the heart of our EventScapes team – we look forward to serving you, and your clients, as our world turns toward a new normal.” Insta @EventScapesAtl - https://www.facebook.com/EventScapesAtlanta/

Carrie's Cakes was featured in the popular blog  wedding chicks . This article was written by our owner and gives couples 5 tips to simplify your wedding cake purchase.

Carrie's Cakes  won the best of state award for confection cakes under hospitality Utah best of State award of 2020 

Wedaways, founded by wedding industry veteran Renée Strauss & Pamela Goldman, is a travel concierge agency focused on weddings, honeymoons & romantic travel. The dynamic search engine features luxury properties that cater to the destination and honeymoon markets. A full range of services is available to wedding planners including 2 dynamic webinar series you won't want to miss.

The Wedaways Advantage™: Travel & The Business of Weddings - Join Wedaways founders Pamela Goldman & Renée Strauss, along with industry insider Kristen Seaholm for this dynamic series sponsored by the Viceroy Hotel Group. Attend all 3 for a chance to win 3 nights w/breakfast for 2, a special dining experience for 2, 2 SPA treatments & a special in-room amenity at one of the 4 Viceroy properties featured on Wedaways,

Thursday, July 2, 10 am PDT: Room Blocks Demystified

Thursday, July 16, 10 am PDT: The Value of Venue Sourcing

Thursday, July 30, 10 am PDT: Styled Shoots, Wedaways Getaways™, & More

Elizabeth Sheils, co-founder of Rock Paper Coin and senior planner with Bridal Bliss, was featured in a guest article on Special Events about Smart Ways for Event Pros to Grow Their Markets. Rock Paper Coin was also included in an article on Special Events about ‘Surprise and Delight’ Techniques to Boost Your Wedding Business. In addition, Bridal Bliss was included in two B2C roundups on WeddingWire about what to include in a virtual wedding and what to do if your wedding is moved to 2021. Elizabeth also spoke virtually on the topic ‘Mastering Email as an Event Professional’ for NACE Greater Broward + Palm Beaches about, as well as on ‘Turning Inquiries into Bookings’ for Tahoe Wedding Industry Professionals.

The multi organizational task force that was coordinated by Alan Katz of Great Officiants is temporarily on hold while some other task forces who are already imbedded with the city, county and state officials can work their magic. Once the word comes down on the details to bring back weddings Alan will be moderating a multi group summit bring together the top minds to explain the new requirements. Everyone in the wedding industry will be invited to the summit so they can understand how to re-open safely within the guidelines.

Alan Katz of GreatOfficiants.com has been helping couples in So Cal get their Marriage Licenses. They are safely Issuing them at their Long Beach office and wedding chapels or delivering then to couples at their homes or wedding. To get a marriage license it is a simple application and appointment process. Www.Greatofficiants.Com/marriage-license/marriage-license-application 

Tanya Pushkine aka The Vow Whisperer was featured on three podcasts in June: 

Betches Brides

The Big Wedding Planning Podcast 

The Bridetender

Floressence is happy to announce the launch of their online web shop. Delivery in the Seattle area is available Wednesday-Saturday, in sizes small to super. Featuring locally grown flowers and an artfully irregular vibe, Floressence arrangements are sure to bring cheer and joy!

Stich & Tie by Friar Tux was honored to be a part of Andrea and Ethan’s Virtual Wedding of the Year by David Tutera. Read more about this amazing couple’s story, David Tutera’s incredible vision and our fellow industry partners here. Get grooms dapper for their big day and check out this Friar Tux feature 8 Well-Tailored Looks For Modern Grooms in the Spring/Summer edition of California Wedding Day Magazine.

Friar Tux re-opened more stores last month in California and Nevada. For more information about safe store operations and current hours, visit FriarTux.com/reopen. For those who prefer to plan from the comfort of home, Friar Tux continues to connect with couples everywhere through Virtual Style Sessions

Ever wonder what the differences are between a suit and a tuxedo? Answers to that question and more on the new Friar Tux TikTok channel. Be sure to check them out!

BreeAnn Gale of Pink Blossom Events has been awarded "Best Social Event Budget Under $50,000" for Sahaee's 1st Birthday Party at the June 24, 2020 Virtual Emerald City Applause Awards celebrating 2019 events.

ONTHEMARC Events recently reopened the Longshore Pavilion at Norwalk Cove in Norwalk, CT. The 2.4-acre open-air property includes a 46’x105′ sailcloth tent with a solid wood subfloor, bistro lights, restroom facilities, a great lawn, a private beachfront and pier. Current restrictions in Connecticut allow for outdoor events of 100 guests or less. It's projected that this number will increase to 250 on 7/20/2020.  

Elizabeth Sheils of Rock Paper Coin was just named one of the top 25 young event pros by Special Events. She also spoke on brand consistency and growth with her co-founder Nora on the Talk with Renée Dalo podcast.

Jennifer Taylor of Jen Taylor Consulting gave advice NACE on ‘3 Tips for Developing A Strong Staff Training Program.’ She also spoke to Allseated on how to ‘Streamline Your Workflow to Improve Client Experience.’

Heather Jones of Wente Vineyards gave input on WeddingWire for ‘How to Build a Thoughtful Wedding Registry in the Time of COVID’. She also discussed on The Knot for 'The Real Meaning Behind "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace.”’

Kinsey Roberts of She Creates Business  sat down and spoke with This Week in Weddings on ‘Marketing Momentum with a Limited Budget.” Kinsey also gave advice on ‘Updating Your Policies and Procedures as a Venue Amid COVID’ to NACE.

Michelle Loretta of Sage Wedding Pros gave advice on Catersource on ‘Adapting Your Speaking Topics into Podcast Interviews.’ Michelle also gave input on Special Events for ‘Surprise and Delight Techniques to Boost Your Wedding Business.’

Christie Osborne of Mountainside Media guest wrote an article for Catersource Summer Digital Magazine discussing ‘Preparing for Recovery with Social Media Advertising.’ She also shared ‘Three Content Types in a Smart Social Media Strategy for Event Pros’ on Special Events.

Renée Dalo of Moxie Bright Events expanded on mindset during recovery recently for the Wedding MBA webinar ‘What’s Next for Your Wedding Business.’

Kevin Dennis of WeddingIQ gave advice to Catersource on ‘4 Ways Your Workflow Will Change Once You Return to Work.’ Kevin was featured on WeddingWire and shared ‘7 Wedding Traditions to Include in Your Virtual Wedding.’ He also shared on the WeddingIQ blog ‘Client Communication Apps You Didn’t Know You Needed.’

Oleta Collins, Founder and Owner of Flourishing Art Design Studio was featured on WeddingIQ for Prepping for the Unexpected: Dos and Don’ts for Weathering a Disaster.’ Oleta gave advice on Martha Stewart on which ‘Houseplants Really Purify Your Air’. She also discussed ‘Biggest Fall Wedding Trends for 2020’ on Generation Tux.

You can find Emily Sullivan of Emily Sullivan Events in the latest Catersource Summer Digital Magazine sharing how to ‘Celebrate the Big Day the Micro Way.’ Emily also gave insight on ‘The In’s and Out’s of Micro Weddings’ on Allseated.

José Rolón of Jose Rolon Events was featured on Now This News in the article ‘Single Father of 3 Slays TikTok.’

Meghan Ely of OFD Consulting was published on DWP Insider and shared ‘6 Tips to Promote Your Wedding Business Effectively in The Current Time.’ Meghan gave insight on Allseated about ‘The Ins and Outs of Micro Weddings' and contributed ‘Adapting Your Speaking Topics into Podcast Interviews’ to Catersource.

To respond to the needs of our clients and partners due to the impact of the coronavirus, Tinsel Experiential Design has crafted a series of timely service offerings to foster human connection, calling these solutions: Tinsel In Progress. Please check out our dedicated site and reach out if we can help. 

Tinsel Experiential Design founding partner Erica Taylor Haskins was featured in The New York Times for a piece titled ''Party Planners on Pause, Awaiting Revelry’s Return." The article shares real and vulnerable insights into the severe financial and emotional impact the coronavirus continues to have on our industry.

As alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, Tinsel partners Adette C. Contreras and Erica Taylor Haskins participated recently in the 2020 Hill Week, lobbying to state and local reps for additional aid and support for companies like ours during these difficult times. 

David Krieger of Krieger Entertainment was featured in the BizBash story “Can Socially Distanced Pop-Ups Help Bring Back Live Events?”

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