Letter

Filmmaker Frank Capra once said, “Don’t follow trends, start trends.”Ask most top trendsetters in any industry about how to find the latest trends and that’s likely the answer you’ll receive. Our approach to this issue of Wedding Planner Magazine, the design trends issue, was to explore the idea behind where trends derive as well as share some of the latest ideas from trendsetters around the world. We hope you’ll enjoy the sources for inspiration as well as the varied trend ideas and stunning photography.Speaking of trendsetters, we were fortunate to obtain a one-on-one interview with wedding industry pro and reality TV star David Tutera. We asked David questions you won’t typically hear in his other interviews. Why? Since we represent you, we wanted to explore branding, social media, and other business-related questions from David’s perspective, bringing you tips to use in your own businesses.And speaking of our readers, we asked for submissions of best Real Weddings from 2015. From among the many received, we chose five we think represent the best in design, imagery, creativity, and story.In thanks, we bring you this issue, packed with a wealth of information to help you, rejuvenate you, and bring you inspiration—with articles about co-sharing office space, making DIY work for you, self-publishing, ways to handle losing a sale, how to work well with others, and South African weddings.Whether you are reading this for the first time at the Association of Bridal Consultants’ Business of Brides conference or getting it fresh from your mailbox, we think you’ll agree that, cover-to-cover, this is one of our best issues yet!