WIPA Phoenix

Phoenix Chapter - Wedding Industry Professionals Association www.wipa.org

Our mission is to provide industry leading education for our members, produce inspirational networking events and advance the ethical standards of the wedding industry. Our founding board worked with a diverse group of WIPA members to develop the professional conduct and code of ethics to achieve the highest standards of excellence.

08/23/2026

WELCOME TO WIPA! ✨ Where curiosity turns to community. Where questions are given answers. Where connections become friendships.
Where ideas are shared, experiences are celebrated, and there’s always a seat at the table for you.

Our Q3 event was such a beautiful reminder of what WIPA is all about: bringing our wedding community together to learn, connect, collaborate, and have a little fun along the way.

Whether it was your first WIPA event or one of many, we hope you walked away with a new connection, a fresh perspective, and an even greater appreciation for this incredible community we get to be part of.

Here’s to continuing to learn from one another, cheer each other on, and make this industry even better together. 🤍
Venue + Beverage: Desert Botanical Garden
Planning + Design: Arizona Wedding & Event Planners + Destination
Photography: Arizona Wedding Photographer
Videography: Justine & Steven | Global Wedding Photo & Video
Bartending: Pour Masters | AZ Bar Service 🍸
Catering: Fresh From The Kitchen Catering
Content Creation: The Wedding POV
Production/Photobooth: Elite Mobile Entertainment | Arizona Wedding DJ
DJ: DJ Thomas Dean | Arizona DJ + Destinations
Stationery + Signage: Arizona Wedding Signage + Rentals
Florals: PJs Flowers
Vinyl: SHOUT! Custom Dance Floors/Event Graphics
Rentals: Captivate Event Rentals
Rentals: Event Rents Phoenix
Ice Cream: Ivory indulgences
Jewelry: Love, Georgie Personalized Gifts
Panel of Industry Experts: Jennifer Thye Pour Masters | AZ Bar Service 🍸 SoHo63 | Arizona Wedding & Event Venue Caesars Republic Scottsdale, a Hilton Hotel

05/21/2026

This Is Not Your Average WIPA Event

Not every education event changes the way you show up in your business.
This one might.

WIPA Phoenix is bringing wedding pros together for a day designed to inspire real connection, meaningful visibility, and a whole lot of fun.

Join us at the newly renovated Kimpton Miralina for an unforgettable Q2 education event featuring Meghan Ely and beautifully designed by Shine Events.

✨ Real education with real takeaways
✨ A speaker who actually keeps you engaged
✨ Gorgeous spaces to connect with industry friends
✨ A poolside hangout for registered guests and their families after the event
✨ And yes… an insanely discounted resort stay

This isn’t about chasing attention.
It’s about building the kind of presence people remember.
📍 Tuesday, June 9, 2026
📍 Kimpton Miralina - Scottsdale, Arizona
📍 WIPA Phoenix Q2 Education Event
And honestly? Between the education, the resort vibes, and the pool gathering after… this may become the WIPA event everyone talks about all year.

Tag your wedding bestie below 👇

Registration link in Bio

EVENT PARTNERS
Venue: Kimpton Miralina
Planning: Shine Events
Speaker: Meghan Ely
Photography: Brittany Nemec Photography
Videography: Serendipity Cinema
DJ: DJ Broc Barton
Stationery: Arch and Arrow
Florals/Centerpieces: LUX Floral
Linens: Nuage Designs
Rentals: Epic Party Team
Rentals: Divinity Event Productions
Rentals: Hazel Grove Rentals
Embroidery Station: Arizona Stitchworks

05/12/2026

Stop chasing the spotlight. Start building the reputation.
Join WIPA Phoenix for Building Visibility with Purpose, Not Performance, an intentional Q2 education experience with Meghan Ely at Kimpton Miralina.
Meghan will invite wedding pros to look past surface-level accolades and lean into a more aligned, thoughtful approach to being seen, known, trusted, and remembered in this industry.
Tuesday, June 9th, 2026�10:00 AM to 1:00 PM�1:00 PM to 1:30 PM Members-Only Q&A with Meghan Ely�Kimpton Miralina | Scottsdale, AZ
And because we like a little education with a side of actual fun, we’re making this one a full WIPA getaway.
Registered attendees will receive access to a special overnight room rate at Kimpton Miralina:
$79 per night plus tax�$10 resort fee�Parking included for overnight and day guests�Limited King Rooms available for Monday, June 8th and Tuesday, June 9th
Stay one night, stay both, bring the family, make it easy.
Then, keep the connection going Wednesday afternoon with a relaxed pool gathering, complimentary cabanas provided by Kimpton Miralina, and food and beverage available individually.
Early Bird Pricing: Members $85 from 5/11 to 5/15�Normal Pricing: Members $95 and Future Members $195�At The Door: Members and Future Members $230
Hosted by �Designed by Jessica with
Register early. Book your room early. Let’s make this the biggest WIPA Phoenix registration yet.

05/06/2026

Meet your planner and event organizer for WIPAs next event on June 9th, 2026!

Jessica Gelder is the founder and creative director of Shine Events, a boutique wedding planning and design firm known for its refined aesthetic and highly personalized approach. Based in Arizona and working with clients nationwide, Jessica creates elevated celebrations that feel thoughtful, seamless, and genuinely reflective of each couple she works with.

She is known for taking on a limited number of weddings each season, allowing her to stay closely involved in every detail—from the early planning stages through the final moments of the wedding day. Her approach is both organized and intuitive, blending strong creative direction with a calm, steady presence that clients quickly come to rely on.

Jessica’s work is rooted in the belief that no two weddings should ever feel the same. She draws inspiration from her clients’ stories, the setting, and the overall experience she wants to create—always paying close attention to how a space feels as much as how it looks. The result is a collection of celebrations that are cohesive, intentional, and effortlessly executed.

Whether planning a wedding at an iconic property like the Arizona Biltmore or designing a more intimate, custom event, Jessica is known for creating an experience that feels personal, elevated, and truly enjoyable from start to finish.

At the heart of Shine Events is a simple idea: the planning process should feel just as meaningful as the wedding day itself—collaborative, well-guided, and, most importantly, fun.

04/29/2026

Wedding pros, meet your June 9th speaker: Meghan Ely!

Meghan is the owner of OFD Consulting, a longtime wedding industry speaker, writer, PR expert, and past national president of WIPA. For more than 17 years, she has helped wedding professionals understand publicity, visibility, and the kind of credibility that actually moves a business forward. Her clients have been featured in outlets including The New York Times, Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, People, Architectural Digest, Bridal Guide, and Style Me Pretty. She was also named one of Eventex’s most influential wedding professionals and honored as the 2025 Educator of the Year by RSVP Club.

For our June education event, Meghan will be leading:

Building Visibility with Purpose, Not Performance
In an industry built around beauty, polish, and the occasional “Best Of” badge that somehow appears everywhere at once, this conversation is going deeper than surface-level accolades. Meghan will guide us through a more intentional way to think about visibility, one rooted in alignment, strategy, and the kind of social proof that attracts the right couples, not just more noise.
We’ll be talking about today’s media landscape, how to evaluate publicity opportunities with more strategy, and how to build visibility that feels honest, purposeful, and useful for the business you are actually trying to grow.

Tuesday, June 9th, 2026 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM Kimpton Miralina 7200 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
Hosted by Kimpton Miralina Designed by Jessica with Shine Events

Save the date, bring your questions, and get ready for a conversation that will make you rethink what visibility should actually be doing for your business.

weddingexperts

04/15/2026

Good conversations tend to happen around a table.

Join us for our next WIPA Phoenix Connections Dinner on April 29th at 6:30 PM at The Vig in Mesa. This is a members-only evening designed for real connection, great conversation, and a more intimate way to spend time with fellow wedding pros in our community.

Space is limited to 8 members, so if you would like to join us, be sure to reserve your spot early.

WIPA Phoenix Connections Dinner
April 29th
6:30 PM
The Vig
1744 S. Val Vista Dr.
Mesa, AZ 85204

We are looking forward to a relaxed night of good food and even better company.

04/14/2026

Arizona wedding pros, this is your sign.

WIPA Phoenix membership drive is here, happening April 13th through 17th, and it is the perfect time to join a community built on connection, education, and real support within the wedding industry.

If you have been thinking about becoming a member, now is the time. Join during the membership drive and save $50.

WIPA Phoenix is made for wedding professionals who want more than just another networking group. It is a place to build genuine relationships, stay sharp, grow your business, and be part of a chapter that truly shows up for one another.

Membership Drive: April 13th to 17th
Save: $50

Come be part of it.

Photos courtesy of:

04/11/2026

Andrew is the storyteller behind The Ember Edit, a wedding photo + video studio rooted in honest, artistic moments. As Director of Community Engagement for WIPA Phoenix, he’s ready to help connect and uplift our local wedding community.

04/08/2026

WIPA on film! Thank you for capturing some incredible film shots!

Huge thank you to our event sponsors:

.kt

04/07/2026

Save the date!! Our next event is right around the corner at the beautiful Kimpton Miralina! June 9th, 2026

Address

Phoenix, AZ

Website

http://www.wipa.org/

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