Association of Bridal Consultants

Benefits of ABC Membership

Education
A major benefit of Association membership is the Professional Development Programme. This programme allows you to establish your credentials through comprehensive distance education. Through education and experience, members
can increase their recognition ultimately to Master Bridal Consultant™ or Master Wedding Vendor.™

Association Logo
The ABC logo is widely recognized as a symbol of professionalism and excellence. It links you with an international organisation and indicates you uphold the Association's Code of Ethics and Standards of Membership. Novice members may not use the logo but may identify themselves as members. Other members are encouraged to use the logo on all their marketing materials.

Media Relations
The Association has been quoted by all major television networks in the US and in the print media worldwide. As membership increases in the UK, increased media exposure will result. This publicity helps members through increased name and logo recognition. While the media needs comments from the international headquarters level, they often prefer local opinions and ABC provides members' names to the media. Also, you can get press releases sent by the Association to your local media for important activities of joining, renewing, participating in meetings, completing phases of the Professional Development Programme and achieving advanced designations.

Referrals
As a direct result of advertising and publicity, as well as listings in various books, many brides contact the Association for referral to a wedding professional. The Association emails consultant-level members the bride's contact information and sends a brochure to the bride describing the benefits of using a professional. This attractive and informative color brochure on glossy white card stock is also available to members for their use.

Annual Conference
The Association's annual conference starts the second Sunday in November. The theme and location change each year. A variety of seminars and general sessions address all experience levels. Participants find the networking with wedding professionals from different parts of the world to be just as important as the strong educational content.

Networking
In areas with ABC Local Networking Groups, members benefit tremendously. California currently has ten Local Networking Groups (LNGs), with two more in the works. As membership in the UK increases, we can establish LNGs in different areas. This is how it works: Each group has at least two, but not more than three, co-directors who work together to organise regular networking meetings. Some groups have monthly or quarterly meetings, but most groups meet bi-monthly -- usually every other odd-numbered month, thus avoiding the holidays in December. These meetings, which include education as well as networking, are an extremely valuable benefit of membership; therefore, nonmembers are invited to attend just one meeting prior to joining.

Our first ABC UK Local Networking Group (LNG) was established in London in 2007. The first ABC London LNG meeting was held 30 Oct 2007 at the Four Seasons Hotel London. If you would like to be put on the invitation list for future meetings, email abcukbranch@aol.com with your name and full contact information.