This year's Ohio Association of Bridal Consultants conference will take place at the beautiful Marriott Key Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and promises to be a spectacular learning event for wedding vendors in the Midwest. This year's conference features industry leaders in the wedding industry and our keynote special guest, Diann Valentine, celebrity wedding planner and host of WE entertainment's show, "I Do Over." 

Marriott Key Center is on the north side of Key Tower on St. Clair between E. 6th and Ontario.

Conference Agenda

Friday, April 20 – Seminar Day, Huron Room

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Novice Class (taught by Joyce Smith, MBC)

3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Social Media 101 (taught by Julie Albaugh, Wedding Marketing Online)

Saturday, April 21 – Planner & Vendor Conference, Ballroom A, B, C

8:00 a.m.Breakfast and Check-In for Vendor Conference

8:30 a.m. Welcome & FAQs for the weekend (Kathy Piech-Lukas, ABC Local Networking Group Coordinator for Cleveland and owner of Your Dream Day and Dream Day Café)

8:45 a.m. "How to Have a Great Day at a Bridal Show" (Laura Zaleski, Ohio Bridal Events)

9:30 a.m. Break

9:45 a.m. "How to Win & Lose Social Media Followers in 10 days" (Julie Albaugh, Wedding Market News)

10:30 a.m. "Doing an Effective Television Interview and Creating Relationships with the Media."

11:30 a.m. Break

12:00 noon Lunch and "Charge What Your Worth" (Brigid Horne-Nestor, MBC, I Do Boutique)

1:30 p.m. Break

2 p.m. "Working effectively as a vendor team with your brides." (Peter Merry, Past National ADJA president and author of "The Best Wedding Reception… Ever" and Liz Daley, ABC)

3 p.m. "Doing an Effective Print Campaign" (Tony Jurkovich, JBH Publishing; Publisher of Weddings in Cleveland, Akron Canton Weddings and Southwest Ohio Weddings)

4:00 p.m. Extended Break

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Meet & Mingle with Diann Valentine, celebrity event planner and host of "I Do Over" on weTV network. Cash bar & light refreshments will be served at the cocktail-style event.

Sunday April 22, Planner Conference, Ballroom A, B, C

8 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:15 a.m. "New Service for Wedding Planners at Catans Fashions" (Brenda, Catans Fashions)

8:30 a.m. "Selling to the Bridal Market" (Rick Brewer, Get More Brides)

9:15 a.m. Roundtables (10 minute meals style)

--Effective Networking (Jamie Rapavy, Wedding Professionals of Columbus)

--Working out of a home office (Jean Neuhart, Weddings from the Heart)

--Latest equipment for photographers & complimentary headshots (Jonathan Koslen, New Image Photography)

10:00 a.m. Doing an off-premise wedding (Scot Pickel, Everything Tented)

10:45 a.m. Break

11 a.m. "Weddings Versus Corporate Events, Are They Really That Different?" (Dora Manuel, Viva Bella Events)

12:00 noon Lunch and Panel of the Masters: Joyce Smith, MBC; Brigid Horne-Nestor, MBC; and Stephen Stawicki, MBC to discuss ABC, benefits, the points system, education, experiences, etc.

1 p.m: Lunch / Hotel Check Out / Bridal Gala at Marriott Key Center / Break

Consultants are the VIPs this weekend and will be in the front rows for Patrice Catan’s and Diann Valentine’s presentation so there is no need to worry about having a good seat.

1:30 p.m. ABC planners and vendors to take their seats in front rows of the presentation room.

1:40 p.m. Kathy Piech-Lukas of Your Dream Day Café to introduce Patrice Catan, Cleveland wedding legend and owner of Catan’s Arts & Crafts and Catan Fashions

1:45 p.m. "Perfecting the Look" (Patrice Catan, Catans Fashions and Pat Catan’s Craft Centers)

2:05 p.m. Kathy Piech-Lukas to introduce guest speaker Diann Valentine

2:10 p.m. Diann Valentine, celebrity wedding planner, author of "Weddings Valentine Style," and host of weTV’s "I Do Over."

3 p.m. Conference concludes.