         |
Benefits of Membership How the Wedding Association works for you
Peace of mind for your clients: For brides who may not know your reputation first-hand -- especially those "destination" couples who don't live in our area -- Association membership is a reassuring sign of your commitment to high ethical standards in your business practices. Code of ethics: Members are entitled to use the Association's Code of Ethics in all marketing materials. This has a notable advantage from the bride's point of view: she can be assured that the Association's Standards Committee stands behind your work. Both you and your clients are protected by an impartial mediation process, conducted by your business peers, in the event of a dispute. Networking opportunities: Build your referral networks through the Association's monthly networking events. Get to know fellow wedding vendors in a non-pressured environment. Free lunch meetings: Your dues include admission to two business luncheons each year. The program features expert guest speakers addressing important topics of interest to our business. Topics have included the economic impact of weddings on our region, updates on the Wilmington Convention Center, presentations from the Convention & Visitors Bureau and the City of Wilmington about event promotion in our region, and advice for small businesses on thriving in a challenging economy. The member's rate for these events is a 33% saving over the admission price for non-members. Online networking tools: The Association makes it easy for members to communicate with one another. Our dynamic, database-driven website includes a members-only forum for discussion of business topics. Members can send emails about business topics to all other members, or just to those in a particular business segment. The website also makes it easy to find contact information for individual colleagues. Business development classes: The Association sponsors seminars and education sessions on topics of interest to small business owners, as well as technical seminars on topics pertinent to individual professions. While open to non-members, these sessions are offered to members at reduced cost or no cost. Online archive: Other resources for the benefit of wedding vendors are posted periodically in the members' section of the website. These include facts and statistics about the regional wedding trade. Marketing: A portion of the Association's dues income is designated for marketing projects. As directed by our Marketing Committee, these initiatives have two primary objectives: 1) Campaigns in out-of-town markets promoting the Cape Fear region as a destination for weddings. 2) Raising awareness of the Association and its standards for members among potential brides and grooms. A common voice for the wedding industry: The Association's Public Affairs committee is a lobby for the interests of our business. We speak for wedding venues and vendors before local governments, developers, and other bodies. |
Web site administered by Cape Fear Images, Inc. | 5621 Athens Lane | Wilmington, N.C. 28405