At every Academy, our panel of expert educators rotates, depending on the city, state, and time of year! We are currently building a ‘gals wedding planning weekend’ full of education, hands on tools, and of course fun!
In 2016, we hosted the Dairing Bride Academy at The Epping Forest Yacht Club. It was a perfect Sunday and I owe it all to these smiling faces, our incredible panel of vendors!
Each educator takes on a particular topic that is directly related to their field of expertise! I like to refer to them as sessions, just like in school! Their lesson is paired with a presentation, planning tools and tips, and best part, is that the Q&A session lasts the whole time. You don’t have to wait until they are done to ask your most burning question!
Lauren Grove, owner and editor of The Every Last Detail was up first. Her topic was one that she is very passionate about and one that as a newly engaged bride, a topic that needs to be tackled first! The dreaded Budget. For 45 minutes, Lauren broke down a personalized planning tool, gave tips on how to bring up this topic with family members, all the while taking questions from eager brides wanting to know more! 
After Lauren finished her session, Emily Waters, social media maven and owner of Emily Grace Designs, showed the attendees different sites and tools online that make their wedding planning process so much easier! Believe it or not, there is more than Pinterest to help you!
Ashley Steeby Photography and her sweet husband James, shared with our attendees important ways to include your photographer in the planning process, what things to think about when creating your wedding day timeline, and ways to work with them by NOT sending them pinterest poses.
Jacob & Courtney, the Husband and Wife team behind DJ Jacob Towe, spent the better part of the hour talking about lighting, creating ambiance, and developing a plan to make your guests feel comfortable and the party to keep going so your guests stay until the end of the night!
Bonnie Melin, owner of Ruby Red’s Floral & Garden touched on working with your wedding florist, important questions to ask, when favorite flowers are in season, how to stretch your floral budget, and using decor to enhance tablescapes!
Up next was Cassie, ow
ner of Flaire Weddings and Events. She was one of our attendee’s favorite speakers! Not only did Cassie share some beautiful inspiration, but she shared with the Brides-to-be all about how to make their wedding personalized and purposeful! Wedding details are more than just perfect pinterest details! It is making something that reminds your guests of the couple and the love they share!
The last speaker of the day was Heather O’Brien, the incredibly creative custom invitation designer behind Heather O’Brien Designs! From creating your custom wedding suite, to the etiquette of the wording, Heather shared some great insight for the girls to take note and apply to their own wedding!
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