The first Wedding Industry Conference was held at The Ballroom at Tanglewood in 2023. The hosts were Bridal Extravaganza Show and Visit the Venues. The sponsors were The Ballroom at Tanglewood, Ventura's Bridal Fashions, and Weddings Unlimited.
The annual Wedding Industry Conference was held on September 12 and September 13, 2023. The event took place in the Ballroom at Tanglewood. There were many entrepreneurs in attendance who were ready to hear about wedding planning and business advice.
On Tuesday September 12 there were two different classes that took place. The speakers were Lorie Speich, CEO/ wedding business coach, and Shannon Tarrant, co-founder of Orlando’s Wedding Venue Map. Lorie led the Wedding Planner Mastermind class and Shannon led Wedding Venue Mastermind class. Lorie talked about various aspects of wedding planning. She went over on how to attract clients, communicating with clients, and how you can help guide them throughout their wedding planning experience. She went over business and wedding insurance and why they are extremely important. Shannon went over advice and tips for venues. She provided the audience with examples of how to connect with clients and how to provide a unique experience for them.
On Wednesday September 13 there was a full day conference with seven speakers. Shannon Tarrant started the conference with her speech “Under the Influence.” She talked about how to get customers, referrals, and how to make passive income with affiliate marketing. She also explained how some features on Instagram can be used to build closer relationships with other businesses. Up next was Ian Jose Ramirez, co-owner of Madera Estate, with his speech “Leads, Leads, Leads!” Something that stood out from his speech was his terrific tips on how to get reviews from clients.
The third speaker was Nayri, a wedding fashion expert, with her speech “Dominate Social Media.” She shared her social media tips and an example of what a posting schedule can look like. She used the phrase “reflective work” to describe being intentional and setting time aside for your social media posts and work. She talked about the importance of a healthy work life balance and being intentional with what you do and your time. Next, Kirksey Gregg, founder of Kirksey Gregg Productions, started his speech, “Beyond the Trends.” His speech included his own firsthand experiences and how he has dealt with certain situations. He provided invaluable information for working with clients. He also explained why saying no to a client that isn't the right fit might sometimes be the best option for both you and the client.
Craig Howard, owner of Ballroom at Tanglewood, gave his speech titled “The Keys to Successful Sales and Management.” He had amazing advice for venues and vendors. After him Renee Pool, partner/ general manger House of Hough, started her speech “Leadership Mastery.” She provided a lot of knowledge about leadership and building a positive work culture.
Next was Alex Leon, co-founder of Weddings Unlimited, with his presentation “The Couple Connection.” Alex and his wife shared advice they learned from their personal experiences. They also talked about their company, how and why they started it, and what makes their company different.
Shannon concluded the conference. Besides the conference being educational it also provided attendees with the opportunity to network. There were some people who already knew each other, and many who connected for the first time. The room was filled with excitement for future possibilities, growth, and new connections.
Thank you to our sponsors: Ventura’s Bridal Fashions, Weddings Unlimited, The Ballroom at Tanglewood, Visit the Venues.
