#LoveLoudoun

Visitor Information Center
112 South Street SE, Suite 200
Leesburg, VA 20175
800-752-6118 | 703-771-2170

Wedding Professionals Forum Schedule


8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.  – Registration and Breakfast

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. – Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:40 a.m. – 10:25 a.m. – Panel Discussion: The Business Behind Running Your Business: What you need to know from a legal and insurance perspective to protect yourself and your company, along with local resources and how to access them.

Eric Byrd, Manager – Loudoun Small Business Development Program

Tim Sedmak, Vice-President & Senior Account Executive – Foundation Insurance Group

 Bob Weil, The Law Office of Robert J. Weil

Moderator: Beth Erickson, President & CEO – Visit Loudoun

 

10:25 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. – Break

10:35 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. – Panel Discussion: Under the Marketing Umbrella: Social media, campaigns, ad buys, and more – an overview of best practices and advice

Katie Barchas-Wilson, Chief Marketect – The Market Group

Rebecca Barnes, Publisher – Brides & Weddings Magazine & Director – Women’s Wedding Network

Josh Fertel, President & Founder – River City Marketing

Moderator: Allison Shannon, President & CEO – 37 Media & Marketing Group

 

 

11:20 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. – Panel Discussion: When Good Weddings and Events Go Bad: Stories from your peers about how they’ve salvaged difficult situations in real time.

Kevin Olivera, President – Olivera Music Entertainment

Stephanie Newberger, Owner & Founder – Stephanie Leigh Photography & Design

Joan Wolford, Owner & Founder – Savoir Fare Catering

Moderator: Dana Henry, Social Sales & Client Services Manager – Visit Loudoun

 

 

12:05 p.m. – 1:05 p.m. – Lunch Buffet & Prize Drawings

1:05 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. – Panel Discussion: Growing Your Business: Smart strategies for leveling up your business from women who have done just that – and then some!

Jessica Ashley, Founder – Jessica Ashley Events

Katie Fleury, Director of Business Development – Marigold & Grey

Terry Kaye, Owner & Lead Event Consultant – Terry Kaye Events

Moderator: Joan Wolford, Owner & Founder – Savoir Fare Catering

 

 

1:50 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Break

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Keynote Presentation: Effective Pricing Strategies for Wedding Professionals

Rebecca Marklin, Associate Director – WeddingPro

Crafting a pricing strategy in the wedding industry is an intricate balance of research, market understanding, and cultivating client relationships. Nearly 80% of couples said price is the most important thing for them to see in evaluating if they want to reach out to a vendor. The first step when thinking about pricing your services is knowing who your ideal client is so you can reach them. Once you have that understanding, you can use it to ensure your pricing is competitive, allowing you to guide couples through your sales process confidently. Join us for a deep dive into all things pricing, where we’ll go beyond the basics to help you enhance your pricing approach, attract your ideal clients, and boost your business’s profitability.

You’ll learn: 

  • How to express your value to clients in a way that resonates 
  • Techniques for building trust and confidently addressing price objections
  • The role of consumer psychology in shaping the perceived value of your offerings

 

 

Special Thank You to Our Sponsors:

wedding forum sponsors