Greetings!

Sharpen Your Skills - Back to Business!

As summer winds down and the wedding season (finally) becomes a little quieter, August is our moment to regroup, re-strategize, and sharpen our skills. This month's newsletter—“Sharpen Your Skills – Back to Business”—is your roadmap to elevating your professional game going into fall.

“ABC is more than education—it’s a lifetime of membership, community, and opportunity. In August, we’re focusing on preparing you for your busiest seasons ahead.” - Veronica

Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence to step into your fall wedding season stronger than ever.

What You’ll Find Inside This Month

1. Career Courses Are Open

A refresher on our Certified Wedding & Event Planner and Destination Certification programs—designed for serious professionals who want to advance their career. Plus, don’t miss highlights of our new Destination Wedding Designation Track!

2. ABC Points System Refresher

Learn how points work this year, we've updated the points grid for those earning Certified and Professional Designations. These points are your path to increased designations, peer recognition, and exclusive ABC awards!

3. Member Spotlight

Hear directly from a member whose certification rebooted their business. How they applied new tools—and how you can do the same.

4. Upcoming Webinar Series

Get the inside scoop on our upcoming Wedding Wednesdays webinar lineup for August through November. From marketing strategy to legal essentials, each session is a mini-masterclass.

Why Sharpening Now Matters

• Business Resets: August is the perfect time to refine proposals, update vendor sourcing, or rethink workflows before peak season.
• Stronger Client Experience: Certified training doesn’t just make you more attractive—it gives you systems that increase satisfaction and referrals.

What You Can Do Today

• Enroll in a course now so you can implement learned items later.
• Register for upcoming webinars you haven’t yet added to your calendar.

We strongly encourage you to use August as your strategic reset. Whether it’s enrolling in an educational course, attending a webinar, or simply updating your ABC profile, remember: ABC isn’t just what you take—it’s what you give back, and how you grow.

Warm August regards,

Veronica M. Foster, MWP

President, Association of Bridal Consultants

• Aug 5th - ABC Florida (Tampa Area) Coastal Conversations (In Person)
• Aug 6th - From Novice to Ninja: Level Up Your AI Skills To Get More Done In Less Time (Online Event)
• Aug 6th - ABC MD/DC: Rooted & Resilient: Growing Your Business In Changing Times (In Person)
• Aug 6th - ABC Georgia Membership Drive (In Person)
• Aug 12th - ABC NC Venue Tour - Raleigh Area (In Person)
• Aug 20th - Turning Converstations Into Contracts (Online Event)
• Sept 9th - Getting Legally Married in Puerto Rico (In Person)
• Sept 10th - Sandals Training - Back to Basics (Online Event)
• Sept 17th - Finding Your Voice to Pursue Your Dreams (Online Event)
• Sept 22nd - Certified Wedding & Event Planner Certification Course - Universty of Texas - Arlington
• Sept 23rd - Fall Members At Large Meet Up (Online Event)
• Sept 25th - New Member Onboarding (Online Event)
• Sept 27th - The Implement Experience - Boston, MA (In Person)
• Sept 28th - NC State Fall Meeting - Let's Profit (In Person)
• Sept 30th - ABC Florida (Orlando) - Spilling the Chai (In Person)
• Oct 17th - The Implement Experience - Atlanta, GA (In Person)
• Nov 3rd - 5th - World of Weddings (In Person) New Orleans!!
• Dec 18th - New Member Onboarding

Be sure to click the link and attend!! Get out there and network!

Please note, to respect the speakers and time of the members who are on the webinar during their lunch hour, registration for events stops at the time the webinar begins. If you wait until the last second to register, you may need to watch the replay, so register early. In addition, we will stop at 100 registrations per online webinar.

How Certification Has Grown A Member Business

For many wedding professionals, becoming certified isn’t just about having a title—it’s about unlocking opportunity. For ABC member Melissa, founder of Bloom Events & Design in Dallas, Texas, certification through the Association of Bridal Consultants was a turning point that helped her transform passion into profit.

From Side Hustle to Six Figures

Melissa began her career planning events for friends and family. Like many creatives, she had the heart for service but lacked the structure to scale. “I was saying yes to everything but didn’t have systems,” Melissa shares. “I wasn’t charging what I was worth, and I was constantly burned out.”

That changed when she enrolled in ABC’s Certified Wedding & Event Planner (CWEP) course.

“The course helped me build a real business—from contracts to pricing to timelines. It gave me the confidence to charge more and the tools to deliver better service.”

Within a year of completing the course, Melissa had:

• Doubled her average booking fee
• Gained five new vendor partnerships
• Hired her first assistant
• Joined her first FAM trip to the Caribbean
• And—most importantly—established a sustainable workflow

Why Certification Matters

Certification isn’t about just checking a box. It’s about mastering your craft and showing clients and colleagues you take your business seriously. ABC certification:

• Builds Credibility – Clients feel confident working with a planner who’s been professionally trained.
• Creates Structure – From contracts to workflows, you gain a process that scales.
• Boosts Visibility – Certified planners are highlighted in the ABC Member Directory, invited to exclusive programs, and preferred by many venues and travel partners.
• Increases Referrals – Other vendors, educators, and ABC members feel confident referring certified professionals.

A Community That Supports You

Melissa didn’t just grow because of the course. She grew because of the ABC community. “Every time I had a question—someone in the ABC Facebook group had the answer. When I traveled, I met ABC members in other cities. That kind of support changed the game for me.”

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever wondered if certification is “worth it,” Melissa’s story is proof that it can be the catalyst that moves you from uncertain to unstoppable.

“ABC gave me the framework, the confidence, and the connections to grow. I’m not just a better planner—I’m a better business owner.” - Melissa

Now’s your moment to take the next step in your ABC journey

The newly updated ABC Points Grid makes it easier than ever to track your progress and elevate your designation from Registered to Certified to Professional Wedding Planner/Vendor—and beyond.

“Advancing your designation doesn’t just elevate your status—it shows clients and colleagues that you’re committed to excellence, professionalism, and continued growth.”

— Shelby Tuck Horton, MWP, VP Education

What’s New in the Points Grid?

Updated categories for education, leadership, and travel bookings!

More ways to earn points through webinars, blog contributions, magazine articles, and speaking engagements. New also is the split in points - Accredited & Master Points Grid will be coming soon!

Simplified layout for easier tracking!

Why Advance at all?

✔️ Gain more credibility with clients

✔️ Be recognized on the ABC website

✔️ Get invited to speak, write, or lead

✔️ Increase your value in the industry