In an industry that is ever-changing, we owe the evolution of the wedding business to our resident disruptors: those professionals who are going against the norm and pushing the industry in a new direction.
So who are we keeping an eye on in 2017? Here are some of the top disruptors in our industry and what they’re doing to transform the world of weddings each and every day.
Rrivre Davies, Rrivre Works Inc.
In addition to running his own burgeoning rental company, Rrivre Davies is also a distinguished celebrity designer and current vice president for the Wedding International Professionals Association. Davies is making waves in the industry as he aims to foster a collaborative and creative industry for all event professionals. Look for him in the coming year to bring fresh ideas to the burgeoning group, which has seen record membership over the past year.
Joanne Jiang, LadyMarry
As the founder of wedding planning app LadyMarry, Joanne Jiang is looking to "marry" the wedding industry with the booming technology industry. Jiang is a forerunner in wedding technology and is always looking for the newest way to meet millennial couples’ needs--be it through a mobile app or an online community. Her innovative app is changing the future of wedding planning, as it makes the process easier and more accessible for on-the-go couples who can stay organized with no more than their smartphone.
Kevin Dennis, WeddingIQ
Owner of a major lighting and event design firm in Livermore, Calif., and prolific speaker, Kevin Dennis has turned his well-rounded expertise in weddings into a resource for other event professionals. In addition to serving as immediate past president of the Wedding International Professionals Association and current chapter president of NACE Silicon Valley, Dennis recently took over the ownership of WeddingIQ, a blog that aims to educate and connect wedding professionals. With a focus on bettering the industry as a whole, he looks to serve as a one-stop resource for all things weddings by bringing in a diverse portfolio of experts to share their insight.
Bethel Nathan, Ceremonies by Bethel
In a time where unity and acceptance are of utmost importance, Bethel Nathan is a strong proponent of marriage equality and incorporates her values into her work as a wedding officiant. In addition to being an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights, Nathan also shares her time with women’s rights foundations. She also co-owns an officiant association that continues to raise the bar for the wedding industry with their custom ceremony services. She has been a champion for equality and serves as a reminder to all wedding professionals of what this business is all about–love.
Fabrice Orlando, Cocoon Events Management Group
With a focus on luxury destination weddings, Fabrice Orlando of Morocco-based Cocoon Events Management Group is pushing innovative designs and is taking luxury destination weddings and putting them on the map. Because of his penchant for garnering new and unique design ideas, Orlando took home the 2016 Designer of Excellence award at the annual WIPA Awards and continues to push the boundaries of the wedding industry.
These are just some of the many professionals who are pushing to transform the wedding industry for the greater good. We can all take a page from their book and look for ways to alter the industry for the better – whether it’s through small everyday tactics or through major groundbreaking strategies.
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding marketing and wedding PR firm OFD Consulting, which specializes in getting wedding professionals their brides. She is a highly sought-after industry speaker and serves as a public relations adjunct professor for Virginia Commonwealth University.
Photo by Aaron Watson Photography
