Master bridal consultant™ Pamela Duval, MBC™, CCS
Promised Hearts Inc., www.promisedhearts.com
www.2promisedhearts.blogspot.com, New Bern, N.C.Employees: Owner-operated with independent contractorsRevenue Breakdown: 40% day-of coordination, 30% officiating, 20% full-service, 10% other (rentals,
invitations, certificatesContact: 252.671.6939, promisedhearts@hotmail.com, Twitter (NCHeartWeddings), Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedInFamily: Married to Joe Cadorette for 11 years. Joe is a former Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) member and tip-certified bartender. My stepsons Joey and Brandon are grown and on their own. From a previous marriage, I have a stepdaughter, Deanna, and two beautiful granddaughters, Mackenzie and Kimber. Joe and I have a guard cat, Boston, and a sweet pug, Belle.Education: Most of my education was an extensive amount of continuing education classes.The Business: We offer wedding and event planning, officiating, rentals, invitations, and Sandals honeymoons. I created my own line of designer wedding keepsake certificates, PH Wedding Certificates (www.WeddingCertificates.blogspot.com). Promised Hearts also produces a bridal show. This was our fifth year.
Getting Started: I started helping friends and family with weddings years ago, but I knew that if I wanted it to be a business, I needed formal training. After searching all of the different programs, I joined the ABC in 2005. I finished the training before I took my first paying client. Five years ago, I left my full-time job to open a shop. The shop stayed open for three years, but due to the economy, I now work from home.Goals: Our goal is to keep growing and helping others, changing with the times, improving in knowledge, and mentoring new planners.On the ABC: I joined the ABC in 2005 and never regretted it! The ABC has a local and national support team, great training and seminars, and wonderful associations with other companies.On Achieving MBC™ Status: I received my MBC™ in 2012. I believe it’s important to always learn and better myself, so it seemed a natural progression to try for the MBC™ designation. I am still amazed and thrilled to have the title. I feel blessed.Other Memberships: I am a Certified Sandals Specialist, member of the New Bern Chamber of Commerce, co-director of the ABC Local Networking Group, and charter member of the Eastern North Carolina Wedding Association (ENCWA). I also have ordination credentials through The Ministerial Seminary of America, and I am a member of the American Association of Wedding Officiants. I am past vice president with North Carolina’s Wish Upon a Wedding and a past instructor for the Wedding Planning Institute’s Wedding and Event Planner Course.Mentors: My mentors are the nameless people who stay in this business year after year, with positive attitudes, a sense of humor, warm and friendly demeanors, and who are always giving of themselves to help others. This is what I strive to be.Inspiration: I try to surround myself with positive, down-to-earth people. I get a lot from my team. We get together and discuss past events and have strategic-planning sessions. I research, look at Pinterest, visit other blogs, websites, and magazines (not all wedding-related). Inspiration and ideas are everywhere!Marketing Strategy: Marketing is more than just putting an ad somewhere and having business cards. Things need to be coordinated and you need to develop a plan for your area. Be willing to try new things, but give it time. Be willing to accept that some things won’t work. Try changing something, your wording or photographs, and try again. Don’t discard the whole idea until you are sure. Be available, attend local events, get noticed, and network with other wedding professionals.
On Staying Fresh: I attend ABC meetings, local seminars, and try to take some time off each year to spend with family and friends.Ideal Client: My bride is the never-before-married young woman, who wants some things traditional and some things different, and a lot of fun. She is the bride who needs someone with experience and who knows the local arena.Reading Now: Don’t Let the Blonde Hair Fool You by Tonya Shadoan and EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey.Hobbies: I like to window shop, spend time with my family and try new gluten-free foods.Words of Wisdom: Be yourself. Don’t force things upon yourself that you do not like—you won’t be good at it. Hire that job out. Be sincere. If you are not, it will eventually show. Give unto others—it always comes back!On Giving Back: I have supported several local community projects: the Heart Ball, the Merci Clinic Ball, the Alzheimer’s Support Group, Operation Ball Gown, and the Coastal Women’s Forum. I also support Brides Against Breast Cancer and Wish Upon a Wedding.
