Wedding Business Resource Center - Industry Associations

Wedding and event associations meetings and programs throughout the year are an excellent opportunity for personal and professional development, networking and building relationships with other colleagues in the wedding business.

Bridal Consulting/Wedding Planning & General Purpose Organizations

• Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) - dedicated exclusively to serving wedding professionals worldwide.
• International Live Events Association (ILEA) - serves as an umbrella organization bringing together the different disciplines involved in the special events industry.
• Association for Wedding Professionals International (AFWPI)
• American Academy of Wedding Professionals (AAWP)
• Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants (ACPWC)
• Association of Certified Wedding Consultants (ACWC)
• Bridal Association of America (BAA)
• iWed - International network of Wedding & Event Designers
• Jersey Shore Wedding Association - a group of wedding professionals dedicated to promoting the New Jersey shore region and networking among members
• June Wedding, Inc. - An Association for Wedding & Event Professionals
• Society of Wedding Planners - a private club of wedding and event planners from the Philadelphia/Main Line and Southern NJ area
• Weddings Beautiful Worldwide (WBW) - Homestudy certification program for wedding planners and wedding planning since 1954.

Bakeries/Wedding Cake Designers

• Retail Bakers of America (RBA)
• New Jersey Bakers Association (NJBBT)
• BakeryNet
  • BakeryNet's Wedding Cake Trends

Bridal Jewelry/Engagement & Wedding Rings

• American Gem Society (AGS)
• Jewelers of America (JA)

Catering/Banquet Facilities/Reception Sites/Restaurants

• National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) - serves catering professionals and the vendors and suppliers that support them.
  • National Assocation of Catering Executives - New Jersey chapter
  • National Assocation of Catering Executives - Philadelphia chapter
• National Restaurant Association
• New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA)

Clergy/Officiants

• National Association of Wedding Officiants - Wedding Officiant and Minister services and information for the United States
• National Association of Wedding Ministers - dedicated to serving and bringing together all persons whose ministerial specialty is marriage and the celebrations, ceremonies, and rituals that are performed in accordance with this very important life passage

DJ Entertainment / DJs / Disc Jockeys

• American Disc Jockey Association (ADJA) - National, non-profit association for professional mobile and night club DJs and KJs.
• National Association of Mobile Entertainers (NAME)
• New Jersey Disc Jockey Network (NJDJN) - a proud network of professional DJs servicing the NJ, NY, PA and CT areas.

Florists/Floral & Event Design

• Society of American Florists (SAF) - National trade group for florists, wholesalers, growers, importers and shippers offering networking, marketing, public relations, education, etc.

Limousines/Wedding Day Transportation

• National Limousine Association (NLA)
• New Jersey Limousine Association (NJLA)

Make-up Artistry

• The Powder Group - creates and presents innovative events for makeup professionals and consumers who share passion for the art of makeup. Events offer a diverse range of topics that combine artistic and business skills, personal growth, and creative thinking.

Party Supplies & Rentals/Tents

• American Rental Association of New Jersey

Photographers

• Professional Photographers of America (PPA) - the premier international trade association for professional photographers.
• Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI)
• Professional Photographers Association of New Jersey (PPANJ)
• Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) - a professional organization composed of photojournalists and documentary-style wedding photographers from around the globe. Leading the way in Wedding Photojournalism, the WPJA represents the most discriminating talent around the world technically, creatively and visually. Qualified members hold industry-leading standards, skills and business integrity.
  • New Jersey Wedding Photojournalist Association - New Jersey wedding photographers of the WPJA

Videographers/Video Production

Wedding and Event Videographers Association (WEVA)

• Listing of New Jersey WEVA Members
• Listing of New York WEVA Members
• Listing of Pennsylvania WEVA Members
• North Jersey Videographers Association (NJVA)
• Professional Videographers of Central Jersey Association (PVCJ)
• Greater Philadelphia Videographers Association (GPVA)
• New York Professional Videographers (NYPV)
• Tri-State Professional Videographers Association (CNYPVA)

Chambers Of Commerce (while not wedding-specific, they provide excellent opportunities to network locally with other business owners)

• Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
• New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
  • New Jersey Local Chambers & Associations
• North Jersey Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey

Associations for Women Business Owners

• New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO)