Shadowland staff had an amazing opportunity last month to travel to Las Vegas for the Wedding Merchants Business Academy (WMBA). Executive Director Nicole Beltz and Event Coordinator Cheyenne Galbraith spent the week there attending classes and furiously taking notes to better improve our couples’ experience at Shadowland. After sitting down with them and reviewing the highlights of the conference here are some things we learned to advance our brand and be better equipped to give our couples the day of their dreams!

What was the purpose of this conference and who was invited?

The purpose of this conference was to meet with other wedding vendors and pros to discuss the business aspect of the wedding industry and to discuss new and upcoming trends. Anyone in the wedding industry was invited to attend and there were over 2,600 people present.

What sorts of classes were offered?

There were classes in marketing, technology, legalities, time management, social media, and inspirational classes, handling stress and productivity, international trends, and classes in how to break into the same-sex marriage market.

What are some tips you learned?

Social media is huge, it’s not going away and it’s one of the most important marketing tools in today’s society. Those planning and handling weddings keep getting older and more seasoned, but the clients are staying around the same age group, so it’s imperative to keep changing and evolving to be able to relate to them and stay current and fresh. Along those lines, it’s so important to continue to educate ourselves in the wedding industry, keep on top of trends all in an effort to make our couples the happiest and have a thriving business.

Why was it important for Shadowland to attend?

It gave our whole staff a renewed excitement for our jobs, even those who didn’t get a chance to attend. After a busy summer when we are all so tired it made us ready and geared up to start looking forward to the next season. Also, with all the great venues in the area and the amount of weddings Saint Joseph hosts every year, anything Shadowland can do to stand out will only help the business flourish.

Would you recommend other wedding pros to attend this conference next year?

Absolutely, it was well worth the money spent and the time away from the office during peak season.

What are some trends we will be seeing in the wedding industry in the coming season?

Wedding industry pros will be seeing more personality of the couple shining through in their wedding details. There will be lots of DIY projects to reflect the couple’s history together and their unique stories. Social media will continue to be a tool in helping couples plan; between Instagram and Pinterest, they have a clear vision of what they want from their day.

Nicole and Cheyenne absolutely loved their week in Vegas and brought back a renewed vibrant spirit to the Shadowland crew.

Photos: Shadowland Staff