Letter – Volume 4, Issue 1

Color matters. Mother Nature provides inspiration for all of our color choices, from the bright, carmine red of the cochineal bug to the soothing azure of a summer sky. Not only does Mother Nature show us stunning colors, but she knows how to put them together as in the case with the black, brown, gray, orange, pink, and blue hues that combine to create the lovely American lady butterfly. Though wedding planners and pros aren’t exactly Mother Nature (though they might often wish they had control of the elements), they can come a step closer by learning the art of the color wheel. Knowing how to use it to determine what colors are harmonious or complementary goes a long way toward planning the perfect day for couples. Find out more on page 8. Then see what the top 2014 color trends look like in two stylized shoots created especially for Wedding Planner Magazine.Next, turn to page 18 for the first in our three-part series on same-sex weddings. OFD Consulting’s Meghan Ely writes about the political and cultural environment that is opening a new market for wedding planners and changing the face of weddings. This series also highlights some of your responses to Wedding Planner Magazine’s same-sex weddings survey.Also in these pages, you’ll discover how to keep your business operational while you are away, tips for how to work with wedding DJs, five effective industry strategies for your business, and more. And don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 2014 Business of Brides Conference and Resort Getaway to Sandals Whitehouse Resort in Whitehouse, Jamaica. Not only will this be an opportunity to learn from the best in the business, it will also be a chance to network, relax, and recharge. Visit www.BridalAssn.com for more information.And finally, thank you for reading and enjoying Wedding Planner Magazine! This issue marks our 3rd Anniversary. We look forward to many more. Keep reading, and keep sending your wonderful story ideas and submissions to editor@weddingplannermag.com.