PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: October 5, 2026

The International Association of Wedding Planners, doing business as the Association of Bridal Consultants (“ABC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit www.abcweddingplanners.com, become an ABC member, participate in our programs or events, enroll in educational offerings, communicate with us, subscribe to email or SMS communications, or otherwise interact with ABC.

By using our website or services, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with ABC.

Information You Provide to Us

We may collect information you voluntarily provide, including:

  • Name

  • Business or organization name

  • Mailing or billing address

  • Email address

  • Telephone or mobile number

  • Professional title

  • Website and social media information

  • Membership information

  • Professional credentials, certifications, designations, and industry experience

  • Account login information

  • Communication preferences

  • Event registration information

  • Course and educational program enrollment information

  • Applications and submissions for ABC programs, designations, awards, speaking opportunities, publications, or other initiatives

  • Survey, form, or feedback responses

  • Communications you send to ABC

  • Payment and transaction information

  • Other information you choose to provide

If you submit information for publication in an ABC directory, magazine, website, award program, professional profile, or similar public-facing resource, some of that information may be publicly displayed as described at the time of submission.

Payment Information

When you purchase a membership, course, event registration, product, or other service, payment information may be processed by third-party payment processors such as Stripe or other providers used by ABC.

ABC does not need to directly store complete credit or debit card numbers when payment information is securely processed by our payment provider.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically through cookies, analytics tools, and similar technologies. This information may include:

  • Internet Protocol (IP) address

  • Browser and device type

  • Operating system

  • Pages viewed

  • Referring website

  • Date and time of visits

  • Website interactions

  • General geographic information derived from an IP address

We use this information to operate our website, understand how visitors use it, improve the user experience, measure marketing effectiveness, and maintain security.

2. How We Use Your Information

ABC may use personal information to:

  • Create and manage membership accounts

  • Process membership applications and renewals

  • Administer professional designations and certifications

  • Provide educational courses, webinars, mentoring, and professional development programs

  • Process event registrations and administer conferences, meetings, networking events, and other ABC programs

  • Process payments and transactions

  • Respond to inquiries and provide customer or member support

  • Send membership and account-related communications

  • Deliver newsletters, publications, educational information, and organizational updates

  • Send marketing and promotional communications when permitted

  • Administer surveys, awards, contests, applications, and submissions

  • Maintain member and professional directories

  • Manage partnerships and corporate-member relationships

  • Operate and improve our website, programs, membership benefits, and services

  • Analyze engagement and program effectiveness

  • Protect against fraud, misuse, security threats, or other prohibited activity

  • Maintain appropriate business and financial records

  • Comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements

  • Establish, exercise, or defend legal rights

  • Carry out other purposes disclosed to you when information is collected

3. Email Communications

ABC may send emails concerning your membership, transactions, courses, event registrations, professional programs, customer-service requests, or other interactions with us.

If you subscribe to or are eligible to receive marketing communications, we may also send information about ABC programs, education, events, membership opportunities, industry resources, partners, and other relevant opportunities.

You may unsubscribe from marketing emails by using the unsubscribe link included in those messages.

Please note that opting out of marketing communications does not prevent us from sending necessary transactional, membership, account, registration, or service-related communications.

4. SMS Communications and Mobile Information

If you provide your mobile phone number and opt in to receive SMS communications from the Association of Bridal Consultants, we may use your mobile number to send text messages related to customer care and other communications for which you have provided consent.

Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.

You may opt out of receiving SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to any message. For assistance, reply HELP.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. SMS opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.

Your consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of purchasing goods or services from ABC.

Please review our Terms & Conditions for additional information regarding ABC's SMS program.

5. How We Share Information

ABC does not sell your personal information.

We may disclose personal information when reasonably necessary to organizations that help us operate ABC and provide our services.

These may include providers that assist with:

  • Website hosting and website management

  • Membership and account management

  • Email communications

  • Payment processing

  • Event registration and administration

  • Educational programs and learning platforms

  • Customer relationship management

  • Forms and surveys

  • Data storage and cloud services

  • Analytics

  • Information technology and security

  • Professional, accounting, legal, or administrative services

These providers may access information only as necessary to perform services on our behalf and are expected to appropriately protect the information they process.

Business and Legal Disclosures

We may also disclose information when:

  • Required by law, subpoena, court order, or other legal process;

  • Necessary to protect the rights, property, security, or safety of ABC, our members, users, or others;

  • Necessary to investigate fraud, security incidents, or violations of our agreements or policies; or

  • Connected with a merger, acquisition, restructuring, financing, sale, or transfer of all or part of ABC's operations or assets.

SMS Information

Regardless of the provisions above, mobile information and SMS opt-in consent will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes.

6. Member Directories and Public Profiles

ABC provides opportunities for members and other industry professionals to be featured in directories, professional listings, publications, websites, awards, articles, and other ABC resources.

If you provide information specifically for a public profile or publication, the information identified for publication may be visible to members, consumers, industry professionals, search engines, or the general public.

You are responsible for ensuring that information submitted for public display is information you are comfortable making publicly available.

7. Events, Photos, Video, and Media

ABC hosts conferences, meetings, educational programs, networking events, webinars, and other activities.

Photography, audio recording, or video recording may occur during ABC events. Separate event registration terms, releases, or notices may apply regarding the use of attendee images, recordings, or likenesses.

Information you provide during registration may also be used to administer the event and communicate important information regarding your participation.

Where an event involves hotels, venues, travel providers, sponsors, or other independent organizations, information may be shared when necessary to fulfill services you request or as otherwise disclosed during registration.

8. Educational Programs and Professional Designations

If you participate in ABC educational programs, certification programs, mentorship programs, professional designations, or other professional-development opportunities, we may maintain information concerning your participation, completion, credentials, continuing education, designation status, and related professional achievements.

Certain professional credentials or designation information may be publicly displayed when appropriate to verify or promote professional qualifications.

9. Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to provide website functionality, remember preferences, understand website usage, improve performance, and measure marketing effectiveness.

Some cookies are necessary for the website to function. Others may be used for analytics or other purposes.

Your browser may allow you to block or delete cookies. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

Third-party services used on our website may also use cookies or similar technologies according to their own privacy policies.

10. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our website may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties, including educational providers, hotels, resorts, travel suppliers, corporate partners, event providers, social networks, or other organizations.

ABC does not control the privacy practices of independent third parties. When you leave our website or interact directly with another organization, its privacy policy and terms apply.

We encourage you to review the privacy practices of any third-party website or service before providing personal information.

11. Social Media

ABC maintains a presence on social media and other third-party platforms.

If you interact with ABC through a social media platform, the platform may collect information according to its own privacy policy. Information you choose to post publicly on social media may also be visible to ABC and other users.

12. Data Security

ABC uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

However, no internet transmission, electronic system, or method of data storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of account credentials and should notify ABC if you believe your account or information has been compromised.

13. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

  • Provide memberships, programs, and services;

  • Maintain professional designation and educational records;

  • Complete transactions;

  • Maintain appropriate business, tax, accounting, and legal records;

  • Resolve disputes;

  • Enforce agreements;

  • Meet legal or regulatory requirements; and

  • Fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.

When information is no longer reasonably necessary, we may delete, anonymize, or securely retain it as required or permitted by law.

14. Children's Privacy

ABC's website and services are primarily intended for adults and industry professionals.

We do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13 without appropriate parental or legal consent.

Some educational or student programs may be available to individuals under 18. Where appropriate, participation may require permission from a parent, guardian, school, or other authorized party.

If you believe a child has provided personal information to ABC inappropriately, please contact us so we can review the matter.

15. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

Depending on where you live, applicable law may provide you with rights concerning your personal information.

These may include the right to request:

  • Access to certain personal information we maintain about you;

  • Correction of inaccurate information;

  • Deletion of certain information;

  • Information about how personal information is used or disclosed;

  • Withdrawal of certain consent; or

  • Other rights provided by applicable privacy law.

Some information may need to be retained for legitimate business, professional credentialing, transactional, contractual, security, or legal purposes even after a deletion request.

To submit a privacy request, contact us using the information at the end of this policy.

We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests.

16. U.S. State Privacy Rights

Residents of certain U.S. states may have additional rights under applicable state privacy laws.

Depending upon the law and whether it applies to ABC, these rights may include access, correction, deletion, portability, and information regarding certain disclosures of personal information.

ABC does not sell personal information.

If you submit a request under an applicable state privacy law, we will evaluate and respond to the request as required by applicable law.

You will not be discriminated against for exercising privacy rights provided by law.

17. International Visitors

ABC is based in the United States and serves a professional community that may include individuals outside the United States.

If you access our website or provide information from another country, your information may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in the United States or other locations where our service providers operate.

Privacy laws in those locations may differ from the laws in your country.

Where applicable law provides specific privacy rights or requirements, ABC will address requests and obligations in accordance with applicable law.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, services, technology, or legal requirements.

When we update the policy, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.

If changes are material, we may provide additional notice where appropriate.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

19. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or would like to submit a privacy request, please contact:

Association of Bridal Consultants
International Association of Wedding Planners
PO Box 2
Gibsonville, NC 27249
United States

Email: Members@abcweddingplanners.com
Phone: 336-690-5510
Website: www.abcweddingplanners.com