Four wedding professionals share how one industry event created connections, strengthened relationships, and demonstrated the power of ABC membership.
In the wedding industry, we often talk about networking, collaboration, and professional growth. But what does that actually look like when wedding professionals come together to put those principles into action?
For four members of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC), a recent experience at the Plan It Expo at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City offered a meaningful answer.
In the latest episode of ABC Weddings Unveiled, ABC President Veronica Foster welcomes Tonya Ettinger, Myrna Garcia, Cassandra White, and Allison Teixeira for an engaging conversation about their experience representing ABC at the event.
Their stories offer an important reminder: the true value of professional membership extends far beyond the resources you receive. It includes the relationships you build, the experiences you embrace, and the opportunities you create.
Four Professionals, Four Unique Journeys
One of the most interesting aspects of this episode is the diversity of experience each woman brings to the wedding industry.
Tonya Ettinger — Building a Family of Wedding and Event Businesses
With 26 years of industry experience, Tonya operates multiple businesses serving the Pittsburgh area and beyond, including wedding planning, event rentals, entertainment, and travel design.
What began as a DJ business with her husband evolved into a family-operated collection of wedding and event services.
For Tonya, the Harrah's experience was about bringing people together, contributing her expertise, and creating relationships that could support future business growth.
Myrna Garcia — A Second Career Built Around Love
After 40 years in education, Myrna transitioned into the wedding industry and established Times of Your Lives.
Today, she specializes in destination weddings, travel advising, and officiating.
Myrna particularly values the opportunity to meet couples face-to-face, hear their love stories, and build genuine personal connections.
During the expo, she also reconnected with an industry professional who began supporting her social media visibility immediately after the event.
Cassandra White — Taking the Leap Toward Greater Opportunities
Cassandra is the lead wedding planner behind CW Weddings and Event Planning, a business established in 2006 that is transitioning toward a stronger destination wedding and travel focus.
Balancing her wedding business with a career as a registered nurse, Cassandra understands the challenges of finding time for professional involvement.
Yet she believes that participating in industry opportunities is essential to business growth.
Her advice to hesitant professionals is simple: take the leap, show up, and challenge yourself to grow.
Allison Teixeira — Creating Experiences Beyond the Ordinary
With 27 years of experience, Allison began her career operating a bridal salon in Maplewood, New Jersey.
A designer and master seamstress, she later expanded her work into wedding and event design.
Her philosophy centers on creating memorable experiences that address clients' needs while transforming their ideas into something extraordinary.
Allison also helped coordinate the ABC members' participation in the expo, demonstrating how leadership and collaboration can bring professionals together around a shared goal.
Collaboration Over Competition: The Power of Working Together
One of the strongest themes throughout the conversation was the importance of collaboration.
Rather than approaching the expo as individual businesses competing for attention, the ABC members combined their talents and resources to create a shared experience.
Tonya contributed draping materials, while other members brought their own skills, preparation, and support.
Although some participants had not worked closely together before, they came together as a team.
This collaborative approach demonstrated something especially important for wedding professionals: we don't always need to build opportunities independently.
Sometimes the strongest results come from sharing knowledge, combining resources, and supporting one another.
Why Collaboration Matters
For wedding planners, designers, and destination wedding specialists, participating in consumer shows can involve high costs and preparation.
A collaborative approach can provide opportunities to share responsibilities, increase visibility, and develop relationships with professionals who offer complementary services.
It also allows participants to learn from one another in a real-world environment.
At Harrah's, these women didn't simply represent their individual businesses. They represented a professional community.
And that distinction matters.
The Value of Face-to-Face Connections
In an increasingly digital world, wedding professionals spend considerable time communicating through websites, emails, social media, and virtual meetings.
But there is something uniquely valuable about meeting people in person.
For Myrna, speaking directly with engaged couples was one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience.
Those conversations allowed her to hear their stories, understand their personalities, and begin building trust.
The event also provided opportunities to meet new wedding vendors and reconnect with familiar industry colleagues.
These relationships can become valuable resources when coordinating future events.
After all, a successful wedding depends on more than the planner. It depends on the strength of the entire professional team.
When Networking Becomes a Business Opportunity
The Harrah's experience wasn't simply about exchanging business cards.
It created opportunities for continued conversations and potential business development.
During the podcast, Veronica shared that an engaged couple who attended the event's wedding panel had contacted ABC and expressed interest in speaking with the four participating members about their services.
Members also received the event's lead list for follow-up.
Although a lead is not a guaranteed booking, these opportunities demonstrate the potential value of participating in industry events.
For wedding professionals, the work doesn't end when the expo closes.
Following up, maintaining relationships, and turning initial conversations into meaningful connections are essential next steps.
Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone
Perhaps one of the most relatable moments in the episode came when Cassandra described herself as an "extroverted introvert."
Despite her professional experience, she acknowledged that putting herself out there doesn't always come naturally.
Her message to other ABC members was clear: don't allow hesitation to prevent you from pursuing opportunities.
This is particularly relevant for professionals who may feel uncomfortable attending networking events, speaking on panels, or participating in wedding shows.
Growth often requires us to try something unfamiliar.
And sometimes, the people standing beside us make that experience easier.
Beyond Business: Building Community
Not every memorable moment at an industry event involves business development.
For Tonya, one of the highlights was dancing and enjoying the moment with her fellow participants.
For Allison, the expo's cake-smash activity provided an unexpected and entertaining experience.
These moments brought personality, laughter, and connection to the event.
They also highlighted an important aspect of professional relationships: people build stronger connections when they have opportunities to interact beyond formal business conversations.
The wedding industry can be demanding. Having a professional community that offers encouragement, friendship, and shared experiences can make a meaningful difference.
The ABC Connection: Education, Advocacy, Revenue, and Networking
At the Association of Bridal Consultants, our work is built around four pillars:
Education: Learning from fellow professionals, participating in industry discussions, and gaining exposure to new approaches.
Advocacy: Representing the professionalism and value that wedding planners and event specialists bring to the industry.
Revenue: Exploring potential business opportunities through consumer engagement, referrals, and industry partnerships.
Networking: Building relationships with professionals who can provide collaboration, support, and future opportunities.
The Harrah's experience brought all four pillars together in a practical, memorable way.
It demonstrated how membership can become an active part of a professional's business development strategy.
Your Next Opportunity Starts With Participation
If there's one message wedding professionals can take away from this episode, it's that opportunities are often created through participation.
You don't need to have the largest business, the longest résumé, or the most outgoing personality to get involved.
You simply need to be willing to take that first step.
Attend a meeting. Volunteer for an industry event. Participate in a collaborative opportunity. Introduce yourself to another professional. Follow up with someone you've met.
Every meaningful connection begins somewhere.
And as Tonya, Myrna, Cassandra, and Allison demonstrated, showing up can lead to new relationships, renewed confidence, and possibilities you may never have anticipated.
Listen to the Full Episode of ABC Weddings Unveiled
Hear directly from these four ABC members as they share their experiences, favorite moments, professional insights, and advice for fellow wedding professionals.
Episode: Beyond the Booth: How ABC Members Turned Collaboration Into Opportunity
[EMBED PODBEAN EPISODE PLAYER HERE]
Get Involved With ABC
The Association of Bridal Consultants provides wedding professionals with opportunities to connect, learn, grow, and elevate their businesses.
Whether you're interested in education, professional designations, networking, destination weddings, or new business opportunities, ABC offers a community committed to helping professionals move forward.
Visit www.abcweddingplanners.com to explore membership and upcoming opportunities.
ABC Weddings Unveiled — Where Creative Passion Meets Profit.
