Professional Wedding Guild Luncheon at Hilton Garden Inn!

Once a month, except in December, Gail Galloway of the Perfect Wedding Guide hosts the Professional Wedding Guild luncheons in the Triangle and in the Triad areas of North Carolina. I have been enjoying these luncheons for years. These luncheons are such great opportunities to meet and get to know my colleagues in the wedding industry at a non-wedding setting. The luncheons are held in different venues each month. The latest luncheon was on February 23, 2011 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Triangle Town Center in Raleigh.

This was my first time at this site. It is a lovely setting for a small wedding and reception and/or rehearsal dinner. They have a fully equipped restaurant and the food was delicious!

Our vendors contributing to the luncheon are announced on a card on each table. My friend, Reverend Robin Renteria, had a great idea for the three of us ministers--herself, myself and Reverend Barbara Lodge--to contribute a large box of Godiva chocolates for a door prize. Get it? "God"-iva? And there is the word "diva" as well! How clever she is. Thanks, Robin!

The two women on the right represented the Hilton Garden Inn. On the left is their colleague from the Holiday Inn. Apparently both hotels are owned by the same owner. Thank you for posing for me, ladies.

Amanda Scott with A Swanky Affair (wedding planner) and Monica Bishop with Bedford Blooms exchange business cards.

Kate Mejaski with This Little Light Photography is talking with Lisa Jacobs, wedding planner.

In the foreground Bradley Junell, DJ, speaks with Barbara Lodge, wedding officiant. In the background, Amanda Scott and Lisa Dupree find out about each other's business. Lisa is a cruise and vacation specialist with Expedia Cruise Ship Centers.

Lisa and Monica with Bedford Blooms exchange their business cards. 

 Brian McGuire of McSound Productions was our DJ and sound man for the luncheon. Thanks, Brian.

Gail Galloway, our hostess, tries unsuccessfully to hide behind Randal Quantas whose DJ name is Qfocus. Randal is with K2 Productions.

Diane McDaniel with Unity at Long View Center chats with Karen Bishop of Bedford Blooms.

Our honored speaker for the event, and a delightful person to chat with, is Tammy Elliott, President/CEO of  the Perfect Wedding Guide national. Her talk was on the 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Wedding Professionals. Her talk was inspiring and quite engaging. Thanks, Tammy, it was an honor to meet you!

Professional Wedding Guild Luncheon at Hilton RTP.

Can you believe that this is ALL cake? It is amazing! Not only the bottle but the packing material, the box, the labels, the cheese, and the knife! It was donated by Simply Cakes. This was the door prize at the November luncheon of the Professional Wedding Guild sponsored by the Perfect Wedding Guide of NC.

The Professional Wedding Guild luncheon was held this month at the lovely Hilton RTP in Durham also known as The Mansion on the Hill.

I have done many weddings here. The most recent one was out on the patio.

Here is a wedding out on the front porch of the hotel.

This is a wedding in the Magnolia Room and the guests sat in a configuration in the round.

This wedding was in the Magnolia Room with a different seating configuration.

We were warmly welcomed by Devon Schwartz (right) who is the Catering Sales Manager of the Hilton RTP and Danielle Oberlender (center) who is Director of Catering. On the left is my good friend and colleague, Rev. Robin Renteria.

Tim Oxendine with Diamond DJ Entertainment, Blue Diamond Limousines and Sedans, and Diamond Bodyguard Protection Agency, was our speaker. He spoke on safety. In the photo above he is talking with Megan Donahoe of Wyndham Garden Hotel.

This is the group this month. In the background you can see Kevin Seifert of Kevin Seifert Wedding Photography taking photos of this event.

Gail Galloway, our hostess, was surprised with a bouquet of flowers and a plaque of thanks that says "Thank you for all your support and dedication to the wedding industry" from all the Perfect Wedding Guide vendors.

Fresh Affairs furnished all the pretty centerpieces.

I snapped a quick photo of Jerry Dillard of Jerry Dillard Photography who is a regular at these luncheons, as am I. He is celebrating 40 years of wedding photography and is not used to being the subject of the picture! Congratulations, Jerry!