Instructor Spotlight: Marissa Mortimer at Wagner College

Marissa Mortimer, creator of Lavish Occasions (www.LavishOccasions.com), is one of the most sought after event planners in the New York Metropolitan Area. Marissa realized her calling to plan outrageous and extraordinary events back in the early 90’s when she sang for wedding ceremonies. At the young age of 30, she is known for her commitment to surpass her clients' expectations and for creating intimate weddings and extravagant upscale affairs for a long list of clients, including many of Staten Island's elite.

Marissa’s experience as a wedding singer was what first exposed her to this industry and the love affair has continued ever since. She was named one of the ‘Top Ten Entrepreneurs under 35’ in Staten Island-Central New Jersey area by Industry magazine in 2005. A recent achievement was being selected to teach the Wedding Planning Institute’s How to Become a Wedding Planner course (www.WeddingPlanningInstitute.com) at the prestigious Wagner College to help current and aspiring wedding planners to gain industry certification.

“When I was young, my grandfather told me that no matter what I decided to do in life, to always aim high and I would be successful no matter what. I asked how I would know that it was really the best choice. He told me to ask myself two questions and I would know that I made the right decision. Ask yourself what you truly love to do and what would you do for free. If you have a matched answer, you know that you have made the right choice. That was the best advice I ever received,” Marissa states.

Always having a knack for detail and a flair for drama, Marissa began her journey by working with florists, photographers, and banquet facilities. Through college she planned pro-bono events and was involved with several charities.

Marissa founded and operates Lavish Occasions with the goal to work with each client to create a perfectly planned event for guests to continue talking about for months after the “Day Of”. She teaches her employees and WPI certification students to guide clients, making the process pain free, fun, and relaxing while giving innovative ideas that will amaze guests as well as save clients money.

Candidates for the wedding planning certification course at Wagner College can register by calling Sharon Guinta at 718-390-3221 or by visiting the Wagner College website at http://www.wagner.edu/external/weddingplanning. The fall session begins on October 15, 2008 and will meet each Monday and Wednesday from 7:30pm to 10:00pm for ten weeks. Tuition is $895 and includes classroom instruction, textbook, six months online curriculum and support access, and post-graduate job placement assistance.

Instructor Spotlight: Robert Meli at Saint Petersburg College

Robert Meli began his journey in the hospitality industry, and started doing event design simply by helping close friends and family plan the occasional dinner party and offering advice on home décor. From this came referrals and advice quickly became consulting. After years in the business, Rob still experiences great pleasure in transforming his client's dreams into reality. His originality along with his innate eye for color and design set the stage for what was destined to become his company Bella Rose (www.bellaroseevents.com), which is quickly becoming a recognized leader in the field of lifestyle design. Robert is acknowledged as an artistic visionary whose expertise, exceptional creative talents, and impeccable reputation have made him an extreme success throughout Florida.

Robert is sought after for his over the top original receptions and ceremonies which stray far from the average cookie cutter wedding. Robert has designed and produced weddings for clients who expect nothing less than perfection, including celebrities and high profile professional athletes. Bella Rose creates unforgettable weddings that allow couples to become honorary guests at their own wedding and creates a lifetime of blissful memories and cherished moments for them and their entire family. Regardless of whether a client wishes to create a black tie dinner at an exquisite hotel, steal away to an exotic destination for a wedding weekend, or gather friends and loved ones under a beautifully decorated canvas in a private backyard, Robert ensures that wedding dreams becomes reality.

“We work closely with our couples so they may enjoy the entire process of planning the wedding as well as the special day itself. Our clients receive the wedding that best reflects their true personality and style. From the wine to the music to the very last dance, every detail will be fine tuned to perfection,” says Robert.

Robert attended the University of Central Florida where he majored in Organizational Communications and Minored in Journalism/ Advertising. He believes in staying active in the wedding and event industry as well as giving back to the community.

Robert is the President of Wedding & Event Professionals of Tampa Bay, a Certified Consultant with the Association of Bridal Consultants, Active Dynamic Dad & PTA Board Member at Mc Mullen Booth Elementary School, an active Member of the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce, and holds a seat on the City of Safety Harbor Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Robert is also a certified instructor for The Wedding Planning Institute, a division of Lovegevity, which is taught at St. Petersburg College in Clearwater (www.WeddingPlanningInstitute.com). Robert lives in the Tampa Bay area with his wife and 2 beautiful children.

Candidates for the wedding planning certification course at Saint Petersburg College Center for Continuing Education can register by calling Jackie Addis at 727-341-3184 or by visiting their website at http://www.spcollege.edu/AC/lifelong/wedding.htm. The fall session begins on September 27, 2008 and will meet each Saturday from 9:00am to 2:00pm for eight weeks. Tuition is $795 and includes classroom instruction, textbook, six months online curriculum and support access, and post-graduate job placement assistance.

Instructor Spotlight: Elaine Deluca at Bronx Community College

Elaine Deluca thrives on making people happy. After several years of planning social events, she established her company, Exquisite Events (www.ExquisiteEventsNewYork.com), in 2002 to provide a personal approach to wedding and social event planning. Located in the historic village of Roslyn, NY, Elaine and her staff provide consultation and planning services throughout the New York tri-state area, with a specialty in planning tented weddings at area vineyards and estates. Exquisite Events was awarded the title of "Best of Event Planners" in 2007 by TheKnot.com, a premier wedding website.

In recognition of her wedding planning proficiency, Elaine's advice and expertise has been sought out by publications including Manhattan Bride, Long Island Weddings of Distinction and Newsday and the company's events have been featured in New York Magazine and Wedding Bells Magazine. Exquisite Events recently expanded its services to offer a collection of fine stationery and favors to complement weddings and wedding-related events of all styles.

"There is no greater feeling than making someone else happy. I consider it a privilege that couples allow me to become a part of one of the most special moments in their lives, and I always treat it as such, ensuring that every last detail is as perfect as it can be," Elaine says.

This will be Elaine's third semester as a Wedding Planning Institute instructor (www.WeddingPlanningInstitute.com), and she very much looks forward to educating and developing a new group of stellar wedding planners. Having planned over 200 weddings and social events with her team, Elaine will provide students with real life, practical advice and knowledge that would otherwise take years to acquire.

“With all the detail that goes into planning a wedding, it is very easy to become confused and overwhelmed, causing unnecessary stress and anxiety, leaving the couple unable to enjoy what should be one of the happiest days of their lives,” Elaine explains. “It doesn't have to be that way. Planning a wedding should be as fun and exciting on the first day as it is on the big day.” Her goal is to help students develop the skills and tools necessary to ensure that when a client looks back on the memories of their wedding, they’re all great ones.

Candidates for the wedding planning certification course at Bronx Community College Continuing and Professional Studies can register by calling Wendell Joyner at 718-289-5174 or by visiting their website at http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/cps/index_registrationbanner.html and entering course number ACE 6019. The fall session begins on September 30, 2008 and will meet each Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30pm to 9:00pm for eight weeks. Tuition is $799 and includes classroom instruction, textbook, six months online curriculum and support access, and post-graduate job placement assistance.

Instructor Spotlight: Shafonne Myers at the University of Richmond

Shafonne Myers is living her dream by helping others realize their dreams. While attending Mary Baldwin College, she coordinated all social events on campus through her direction of the Baldwin Program Board. That experience helped her further develop the leadership, creative, and organizational skills she brings to her clients as well as to her classroom students.

Since graduating from MBC, Shafonne founded and is president of Making Your Event Special (www.MakingYourEventSpecial.com), a top wedding and event consulting firm in Richmond. Continuing her tradition of bringing people together, she organizes bride and groom socials and workshops, as well as hosts Virginia’s first wedding and event planning radio talk show (Wednesdays at 7pm - www.makingyoureventspeciallive.com).

As a graduate Certified Wedding Planner and Instructor for the Wedding Planning Institute (www.WeddingPlanningInstitute.com), Shafonne tells her students and future planners to “Just get out there and live your dream”. In addition to her expertise, warm and bubbly personality, and meticulous attention to detail, she also offers internship programs to graduates of the program and helps in any way to ensure their success.

“So often students come through the program and doubt themselves, not thinking that they can make it. But I reassure them that if they got this far, then it is meant to be,” she says.

Shafonne and her staff at Making Your Event Special pride themselves on providing superb customer service as well as helping the community and future wedding planners to achieve their goals. She is the author of several articles on wedding planning featured in many local and national wedding industry publications and loves sharing her knowledge as well as providing real life experience with her classroom students.

Candidates for the wedding planning certification course at the University Of Richmond School Of Continuing Studies can register by calling 804-289-8133 or by visiting their website at http://deans.richmond.edu/scs/thinkagain and clicking on Career Development. The fall session begins in September and will meet each Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Tuition is $759 and includes classroom instruction, textbook, six months online curriculum and support access, and post-graduate job placement assistance.

Instructor Spotlight: Sherry Lopez at the University of New Mexico

Sherry Lopez has a passion for creating distinct events. She developed her attention to detail, grace, and style working on the event staff while attending Azusa Pacific University and discovered her love for the details that create events ranging from intimate luncheons to high profile weddings and events.

In 2003, Sherry opened her own company, Your Wedding Planner (www.YourWeddingPlanner.com), utilizing her keen understanding of what makes an event special: paying special attention to the flow, timing and execution of every detail, and the deep knowledge and vast resources of vendors to make each event a success.

Since then, Your Wedding Planner has become the company of choice for savvy, stylish clients in Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico. Dedicated to continuing education, Sherry has continued her education through many outstanding organizations such as International Special Events Society, The Association of Bridal Consultants, New Mexico Wedding Professionals, and The Wedding Personalities of New Mexico as well as instructing wedding planning certification students for The Wedding Planning Institute (www.WeddingPlanningInstitute.com).

As a wedding planning business owner and instructor, Sherry teaches students to “pay close attention to all details so an event is stress-free and filled with the memories a client deserves. Every event is tailor-made to fit the look and style of its clients, making it not ‘just another event’ but a memory.”

Sherry advises her students to work closely with clients throughout the entire planning process, utilizing an eye for aesthetics and a knack for creativity to design events that are tailored to the client’s tastes and preferences. Her ultimate goal with her clients and her students is to create events that are unique, organized, flawless down to the last detail, and unforgettable.

Candidates for the wedding planning certification course at the University of New Mexico can register by calling 505-277-0077 or by visiting their website at www.dce.unm.edu. The fall session begins on September 16, 2008 and will meet each Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. Tuition is $995 and includes classroom instruction, textbook, six months online curriculum and support access, and post-graduate job placement assistance.

Instructor Spotlight: Juanita Hozey at Piedmont Technical College

Juanita Hozey has always lived to help others. For two decades of her life, Nita dedicated herself to nurturing over ninety foster children in her home and shares that level of care and commitment with her wedding planning clients and her students at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, SC. Beginning with her own wedding, then her siblings, and eventually her foster children, she developed her love of wedding planning without the thought of opening her own business.

After her husband retired, Nita was initially content with raising their adopted son, loving their many grandchildren, and continuing their work with foster children. Her interest in wedding planning also continued as she noticed the lack of resources for brides in her small South Carolina town. She started her own business, Praise Unlimited Weddings (www.PraiseUnlimitedWeddings.com), by acquiring several florists. She quickly grew her wedding planning inventory of candelabras and floral supplies to include stores of linens, centerpieces, columns, tables, chairs, and tents.

Soon, Nita’s business was planning over twenty weddings each month during the wedding season. Harkening back to her love of helping others, Praise Unlimited Weddings also assists other wedding planners’ success with wedding rental supplies and vendor recommendations.
Nita brings many years of experience and her love of wedding planning to certification students this fall at Piedmont Tech (www.ptc.edu).

“Planning a wedding can be stressful, tedious, and sometimes overwhelming. Many Brides-To-Be do not realize a wedding planner can actually alleviate some of this stress - as well as help them to keep the cost of their dream wedding affordable,” Nita says.

Three years ago, Nita hosted her first Bridal Expo in her area. Since then, her bi-annual events have been such a success for vendors, brides, and wedding planners that other event locations have begun asking for her expertise planning their shows.

Understanding the importance of networking, Nita has helped develop her area’s reputation as being home to top of the line wedding vendors in catering, cake design, photography, wedding attire, and wedding planning. She looks forward to sharing her client and business building knowledge as well as providing real life experience with her classroom students.

Candidates for the Wedding Planning Institute certification course at Piedmont Technical College can register by calling Jeanne Hughston at 864-941-8400. The fall session begins on September 23, 2008 and will meet each Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm (except Thanksgiving week). Tuition is $795 and includes classroom instruction, textbook, six months online curriculum and support access, and post-graduate job placement assistance.

Attention: Wedding Industry Experts

Attention: Wedding Industry Experts! The Wedding Planning Institute, a division of Lovegevity, Inc. is currently accepting proposals from industry professionals who can communicate their expertise in the form of an online course. Industry experts will need to develop their course utilizing the latest trends, industry best practices, and time-honored traditions to provide instruction and valuable information to our students.

The Wedding Planning Institute is partnered with an extended network of over 1800 accredited colleges and universities worldwide. Industry Expert courses will be offered through our partner colleges as online training programs and the Industry Expert will provide training, advice, and feedback to students through our online curriculum system.

Jackie Young is the founder and owner of Every Little Detail, and a Wedding Planning Institute graduate. Jackie is a great example of a Wedding Industry Expert. As a professional in Project Management, Jackie created the Wedding Budget Calculator & Tracker, a professional tool that helps organize a client's timeline and budget. Through The Wedding Planning Institute, Jackie's Wedding Budget Calculator and Tracker is available to students around the world.

Teach with Us.

Wedding Industry Expert Course Developers gain the benefits of shared tuition revenue, enhanced awareness of the expert's core business, as well as networking opportunities throughout the WPI system.

The Wedding Planning Institute will also help make your course successful with various marketing efforts, such as press releases, advertisements, direct mail, and college course catalogs. WPI Instructor Courses will give your online class national and international exposure.

Click here to learn more or to submit a proposal.