$#*! Happens – Are You Protecting Yourself?
Mark Kingsdorf, MBC™

This is $#*! that happens all the time in dealing with your clients. A lot of it can be eliminated if you are clear and establish boundaries and policies with clients from the beginning of your relationship. This session is NOT LEGAL ADVICE – it’s helpful hints we have learned to include in our client agreement.

All About the Dress: Budgets, Bustles, Bags and Boxes
Sally Lorensen Conant, Ph.D, MWV™

Should your bride buy a sample or a pre-owned gown? Are there good bustles versus bad bustles? How do you prepare a gown for travel? This refresher course will review gown care basics from hanging the gown to helping brides avoid the hazards of bathrooms, outdoor venues, bad weather, and red wine disasters.

Are Their Clients Being Dazzled with Your Work?
Mark Kingsdorf, MBC™

There are planners out there taking your packages, text, photos and event CLIENT REVIEWS! Learn how to know if people are stealing your information, what to do about it and why stopping them is SO IMPORTANT!

Become the Webmaster of your Domain
Heather Canada, ABC™ and Elisa Delgardio, ABC™

There are ways that you – yes, YOU – can update and enhance your internet presence at little or no cost. This is a< non-technical look at what can be a daunting, technical task. Learn how search engines work, how to improve your placement, what HTML really means, and how to make changes without crashing your website.

Bridal Show Boot Camp – A Crash Course for Bridal Show Success
Elise Enloe, MBC™

Too often companies exhibit at bridal shows because a show producer sold them a “deal” or “package” and promised them “lots of brides.” Understand trade show concepts, techniques and tips to maximize ROI on your bridal show investment.

Dancing in the Rain
Robyn Martin, ABC™

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Whether you are challenged by start-up, a difficult client, a difficult vendor, shifts in the industry, or a myriad of other issues, you will learn to put away your umbrella, recognize your challenges as opportunities, and dance in the rain.

Destination Weddings: What’s Hot and What’s Not
JoAnn Gregoli, MBC™

Joann Gregoli, MBC shares current trends in destination weddings – are they here to stay or just a fad? Learn how to guide brides in the selection process and learn what makes a location undesirable.

Forum with the President
David Wood

Session for members over 10 years, MBCs, MWVs, ABCs, AWVs, state and country coordinators.

Gay Weddings are Good for Business
Bernadette Coveney Smith

“What’s the difference between a straight wedding and a gay wedding?” Gay wedding trends have evolved into “gay wedding traditions.” This interactive workshop will outline these traditions, discuss etiquette, wardrobe and include tips for marketing to gay and lesbian couples.

Green Weddings & Events: More Clients, Less Impact
Kate Harrison

In 2010, green weddings were the number five wedding trend globally, with 46% of couples looking to include eco-friendly elements in their wedding day plans. Kate L. Harrison, author of The Green Bride Guide, offers dozens of tips and tricks to green a wedding on any budget, without sacrificing style.

How to Think Like a Wedding Editor
Rebecca Crumley, The Knot

When you are published, not only are you acknowledged by your peers and clients, but most importantly, future brides and grooms take notice. So what goes into creating a successful real wedding submission?

If You Can’t Beat ‘em, Join ‘em – ALL NEW Spousal/Partner Session
Bill Waterman and Tammy Waterman, ABC™

Why is your spouse/partner always so busy? How can you help them and be a part of their success? Learn critical skills to contribute to wedding business success while spending quality time together.

Pairing Wine with Food the Italian Way
Annette Tuxen, PBC™

This session won’t make you a wine expert but it will help you avoid wine errors – and hopefully make you appreciate wines. Learn what to look for when selecting wines for weddings; learn the correct order in which to serve wines, and get tools to pair the right type of wine with the right food.

Planning Weddings to Charm and Dazzle
Gloria Boyden, MBC™ and Lovelynn Jensen, ABC™

This hands-on seminar will show you tricks on how lifestyle, hospitality, décor and staging can be achieved on any budget. From Platinum to Tin – with your expertise, your clients can have it all!

Sharing My BFF (Business Friendly Forms)
Judy Alden, MBC™

Whether you’re new to the industry or have been in it for ten or more years, this session will share new ideas for organization and minimum of 25 different BFF (Business Friendly Forms) that you can take back to your office and begin using immediately.

The Art of Directing an Entertaining Wedding Reception
Peter Merry, WED™, and Elisabeth Scott Daley, ABC™, WED™

Learn to “audition” entertainers to find the “diamonds” in a pit of “cubic zirconias.” Discover unique entertainment options, discuss how the MC role is pivotal to the success of a wedding celebration, and Peter and Liz will share proven tips for more effective teamwork with entertainment professionals.

Tired and Ready to Quit? Rediscover Why You Fell in LOVE with Your Business
Tonya Shadoan, MBC™ and Mary Dann

Can’t stand the thought of working another Saturday? Feel like the new planners are popping up every day? Do you need more JOY and less STRESS in running YOUR business? Discover tips to prevent burn-out and rediscover your LOVE for the business.

Teddy’s Top Twelve Survival Tips for Business
Teddy Lenderman, MBC™

This session will focus on 12 points for surviving in the wedding business. We will share a tip and then illustrate with a true story why that “tip” is important or what we learned from that experience. Practical, down-to-earth advice with some humorous tales tossed in, it has something for all levels, especially novices.

What Makes a Good Contract or How to Stay Out of Trouble!
Renee Grannis, MBC™

What are the most important factors that make up a contract? How do you effectively cancel a contract? And when do you make that decision? Walk away with several examples of contract formats. What is legally non-refundable?