Elyn Rahman - Bridal Library Founder & CEO
Elyn has been creating weddings and special events for two decades. She has been fortunate enough to design and plan over 1,000 weddings and has become friend, mother, sister, mentor and educator to those who she has worked for, with and on behalf. Her passion for 'all things weddings' and 'helping couples create that beautiful forever memory of their big day' is what is most important to her.
Her background in sales and marketing, along with business and design has come in handy. She has built two successful businesses and recently sold her award winning event planning business A Charleston Event. Along with representing The Bridal Library as Founder, she owns two other companies, Press The Dress (a wedding gown hand-pressing, cleaning and preservation service in the Carolinas) and Ecru Luxe (a luxury destination weddings and honeymoon service).
When she is not busy lecturing and working on her book, Elyn keeps her planning to a minimum each year. The rest of the year, she plans the Bridal Library training conferences and seminars with some of the finest wedding professionals in the nation.
Educating and training and as a respected industry leader among her peers, she continuously looks for ways to bring wedding professionals together through networking, work and education. Her training specialty lies in leading by example and presenting discussions on professional ethics in the wedding industry, along with teaching others how to created flawless weddings and events in a cost-effective way within a tough economy. Accolades include being voted Best of the Knot, Bride's choice Awards, Best of Weddings. She is also a member of AFWPI (Association of Wedding Planners International), the CBA (Charleston Bridal Association) and the OC (Optimist Club Local Myrtle Beach Chapter). She is the founder of Giving Back Cheer, a non-profit to raise charitable funds for those in need each year through various events. She has been featured in Bride Magazine, Charleston Weddings, The Wedding Guide and has made several television appearances.
Her background in sales and marketing, along with business and design has come in handy. She has built two successful businesses and recently sold her award winning event planning business A Charleston Event. Along with representing The Bridal Library as Founder, she owns two other companies, Press The Dress (a wedding gown hand-pressing, cleaning and preservation service in the Carolinas) and Ecru Luxe (a luxury destination weddings and honeymoon service).
When she is not busy lecturing and working on her book, Elyn keeps her planning to a minimum each year. The rest of the year, she plans the Bridal Library training conferences and seminars with some of the finest wedding professionals in the nation.
Educating and training and as a respected industry leader among her peers, she continuously looks for ways to bring wedding professionals together through networking, work and education. Her training specialty lies in leading by example and presenting discussions on professional ethics in the wedding industry, along with teaching others how to created flawless weddings and events in a cost-effective way within a tough economy. Accolades include being voted Best of the Knot, Bride's choice Awards, Best of Weddings. She is also a member of AFWPI (Association of Wedding Planners International), the CBA (Charleston Bridal Association) and the OC (Optimist Club Local Myrtle Beach Chapter). She is the founder of Giving Back Cheer, a non-profit to raise charitable funds for those in need each year through various events. She has been featured in Bride Magazine, Charleston Weddings, The Wedding Guide and has made several television appearances.
Nora Richardson - Branding Expert, Spot-on Branding
Nora D. Richardson, owner of Spot-On Branding, is a brand identity expert, specializing in creating strong brand identities for business owners and entrepreneurs across a wide variety of industries. Nora has a passion for encouraging brand alignment and brand evolution whenever beneficial to business growth, so much so that she created her unique Brand Alignment Package to better advise business owners on comprehensive brand strategies
ExperienceWith over 15 years of experience creating effective branding strategies, Nora also has an equally experienced eye for detailed and purposeful graphic design: from logos to packaging, advertising to website design – and everything in between. Nora’s dual-sided experience in both branding and graphic design allows for superior quality brand components that enhance visibility, create an emotional response from ideal clients and strengthen foundations for business growth.
Take it from Nora: “The difference between a graphic designer and a brand identity designer is simple: the graphic designer only provides what they think may be right for the company, while the brand identity designer knows what is best for the brand, and therefore the best option for the big picture: continuous company growth.”
Nora has designed for a range of businesses from small business to Fortune 500 companies including Kahlúa, Olympics, Northwest Airlines, and Water Missions International.
ExperienceWith over 15 years of experience creating effective branding strategies, Nora also has an equally experienced eye for detailed and purposeful graphic design: from logos to packaging, advertising to website design – and everything in between. Nora’s dual-sided experience in both branding and graphic design allows for superior quality brand components that enhance visibility, create an emotional response from ideal clients and strengthen foundations for business growth.
Take it from Nora: “The difference between a graphic designer and a brand identity designer is simple: the graphic designer only provides what they think may be right for the company, while the brand identity designer knows what is best for the brand, and therefore the best option for the big picture: continuous company growth.”
Nora has designed for a range of businesses from small business to Fortune 500 companies including Kahlúa, Olympics, Northwest Airlines, and Water Missions International.
Karen Spalviero - Master Floral Designer, Keepsakes Events
Karen Spalviero is the owner and head designer at Keepsakes Florist and Events in Charleston South Carolina. She is a certified master floral designer and seasoned professional in the art of wedding design. She has created designs for over 2,000 weddings and still looks at each and every wedding as if it were her first.
Juggling wedding season, valentine's day, mother's day and other special occasions is what Karen does best. She does so knowing the 'end result' will be satisfied clients with smiles on their faces.
At the helm of a busy wedding business, Karen has consistently retained honors of recognition by the Charleston Business Journal, Who's Who in Business, Best of the Knot, Bride's Choice and Best in Weddings, among just a few. She accredits her success to 'listening to what the client wants' and being able to deliver within realistic budgets, which in turn, brings the knowledge that he business has not only survived, but remained one of the most sought after florists in the Lowcountry for their reputation.
Karen will be sharing some tips of the trade on working with your florist during wedding season and tricks planners can use to create their own cost effective designs.
Juggling wedding season, valentine's day, mother's day and other special occasions is what Karen does best. She does so knowing the 'end result' will be satisfied clients with smiles on their faces.
At the helm of a busy wedding business, Karen has consistently retained honors of recognition by the Charleston Business Journal, Who's Who in Business, Best of the Knot, Bride's Choice and Best in Weddings, among just a few. She accredits her success to 'listening to what the client wants' and being able to deliver within realistic budgets, which in turn, brings the knowledge that he business has not only survived, but remained one of the most sought after florists in the Lowcountry for their reputation.
Karen will be sharing some tips of the trade on working with your florist during wedding season and tricks planners can use to create their own cost effective designs.
