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Any member of ABC worldwide is welcome
to attend the Inland Empire ’s Regional Meetings. We meet every other
month at various venues throughout the Inland Empire . It will
typically include a fabulous meal presentation accompanied by an
educational program and endless networking. A fee will be charged to
cover the cost of the meal at our dinner meetings. We encourage you to
join ABC
- HERE'S HOW:
- Contact the Association of Bridal
Consultants at (860) 355-0464 or E-Mail Office@BridalAssn.com Ask for a
membership application. It's a good idea to call for your application
before you come to one of our meetings; you'll be that much closer to
joining. Membership dues vary depending on your type of membership
category, i.e. Wedding Consultant, Novice, and Vendor. You can also
join on line at www.BridalAssn.com
- When you have sent your application
and fees to the Association of Bridal Consultants, contact our local
Secretary by e-mail at info@InlandEmpireABC.com
You will then receive regular email invitations to our meetings and
special events.
- When your application has been
verified and approved, you will be informed by the ABC by mail - it may
take as long as 2-4 weeks - Please don't let that stop you from joining
us locally.
Categories of
Membership
- NOVICE ($185/year) plus first-year processing fee $35) Total: $ 220 first year
Someone who is just starting out to be
a consultant.
- CONSULTANT ($265/year) plus first-year processing fee $35) Total: $ 300 first year
Someone who provides the bride with
full-service wedding coordination, consultation and/or direction.
Please see membership
requirements. (*Three are
needed).
- VENDOR ($225/year) plus first-year processing fee $ 35) Total $ 260 first year
A wedding professional marketing
specific goods or services locally. Please see benefits of vendor membership.
- AUXILIARY ($170/year) plus first-year processing fee $35) Total: $ 205 first year
(Companies with at least one advanced member (any level above Novice /
initial member is at full price) can register additional members at
reduced auxiliary price.
(will be pro-rated and synchronized to match primary member renewal date)
- CORPORATE* ($550/year) plus first-year processing fee $ 35) Total $ 585 first year
For companies that market products or services to brides or wedding professionals nationwide/worldwide.
(Subject to ABC approval.)
Please see corporate
membership benefits.
**Call the office if your annual gross wedding-related income
is less than $2.5 million.
Click here for the on-line Membership Application.
If you would like us to mail you a copy of this information, please
provide your name and address here.
Standards of
Membership
(You must agree to these in order to obtain membership.)
Member will:
- Supply background information about
the member and his/her business, or other information essential to the
Association's responsibility to provide factual reports on the
profession.
- Cooperate with Association
activities and efforts to promote and improve the professionalism of
the bridal business.
- Respond rapidly and honestly to all
complaints forwarded by the Association.
- Supply, on request, the evidence on
which any advertising is based.
- Use the Associations name and logo
only as authorized.
- Pay all association bills in a
timely manner.
Code of Ethics:
Members will...
- Represent each client fairly and
honestly, providing all agreed-to services in a timely and
cost-efficient manner.
- Establish reasonable, proper fees
for services and provide written estimates to each client.
- Use honest factual
advertising.
- Deal with employees fairly, in an
unbiased manner
- Operate an establishment that is a
credit to the Association and the community.
- Disclose to clients any payment
received from suppliers.
For all levels, membership must be
maintained in good standing. Lapses in membership are not credited to
the time requirements for advancement.
Membership and Education
Synopsis
There are two tracks within the Association. If you start as novice
member, you need to complete three of the options listed in the
Membership Requirements Section to upgrade to Consultant level
membership.
Separate from this is the Professional Development Program track with
designations of Professional Bridal Consultant™, Accredited Bridal
Consultant™, and Master Bridal Consultant™, earned by completing
various phases in the Professional Development Program. It is possible
to be a Professional Bridal Consultant™ while still being a Novice
member.
Upgrading may be done at any time during your membership year. Dues are
pro-rated. Renewal as Novice member may be permitted on a case-by-case
basis.
The Association also offers a course called "Wedding As A Business",
completion of it can count towards upgrade to the Consultant level but
not towards Professional Bridal Consultants™. "Weddings As A Business"
is a course that assists you in writing your business plan. It covers
everything from fees to accepting the first bride. There is a test at
the end which is basically your business plan, but it is not necessary
for it to be graded. You can have it graded by the Director of the
Education for an additional fee.
Vendor Member Benefits
Vendors are those who handle part of the wedding. A florist,
photographer or caterer is an example of a vendor.
As a member, you can benefit from the networking system, and
educational programs. Working with other professionals who are members
of the same Association can only help your business grow.
Using these trademarked titles will show your brides that you are a
professional and understand their special needs.
Vendors can join just as a Vendor Member and need not progress through
the ranks.
Professional Wedding
VendorTM
Requirements:
- Renew membership at least once
either as a Consultant or Vendor member.
- Letters of recommendation:
- from three peers, one must be a
consultant
- from three brides you have
worked with in the last year
- Copy of your business plan
- Total of three out of four:
- copy of two ads promoting the
wedding aspect of your business
- copy of the promotional
material you send your brides
- media coverage not more than a
year old
- copy of a membership
certificate from another professional or trade association
- Processing fee
Accredited Wedding
VendorTM
Requirements:
- Three years cumulative Association
membership
- Three years as a Professional
Wedding Vendor™
- Attendance at one Business of
Brides (annual conference) or local seminar
- Letters of recommendation:
- from three peers, one must be a
consultant
- from three brides you have
worked with in the last year
- Essay on assigned topic
- Processing fee
Master Wedding VendorTM
Requirements:
- Six years cumulative Association
membership
- Six years as an Accredited Wedding
Vendor™
- Presenter at a state meeting of
Business of Brides (annual conference)
- Publication in a nationwide
magazine to the bride or to the trade
- Letters of recommendation:
- from three peers, one must be a
consultant
- from three brides you have
worked with in the last year
- Presentation of your maketing
material to a panel of Master Bridal Consultants during an annual
conference
- Processing fee
Networking Benefits
A principal Vendor membership benefit is the ability to network with
other wedding professionals, especially consultants. Bridal consultants
are always looking to expand their selection of reputable
vendors.
By expanding your own contacts through local networking meetings, you
increase your business opportunities by getting pre-qualified leads
from consultant members.
Corporate
Benefits
Direct links to the most
influential professionals in the wedding industry listing more than
50,000 names.
Access to the Association's
databases including the "hot list" of members.
Special rates for:
-newsletter inserts
-newsletter advertising
-stuffing services
-data bases on disk
Marketing program to help
develop your marketing program from people who have been in the
industry for almost 20 years.
Evaluation program that may
give you an endorsement to use in your marketing (additional
fee).
Media relations for press
releases to the media you select as well as referrals to the media in
response to queries.
Guidance in developing
promotional material.
Free listing in the
Association's newsletter twice a year.
Promote your special offers
to Association members*.
*Member names are only available to other members
For additional information on the association, please provide your name
and address here.
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Consultants
