Founder & CEO, The Bridal Society

Lead Instructor & Master Certified Wedding Planner, The Bridal Society

Laurie Hartwell

Laurie Hartwell has almost 3 decades of experience in the wedding industry, teaching certification conferences and planning weddings across the country. She has earned many awards over the years planning weddings for celebrities and other elite clientele and recently won "Most Helpful Mentor" at the National WEDDI AWARDS for all the help she gives to wedding planners all around the world. Laurie has a passion for the wedding industry and strongly believes in continuing education and raising the standards in the wedding industry. She and the entire staff at TBS are proud to have a 100% satisfaction rating!

Co-Instructor, The Bridal Society

Owner & Master Certified Wedding Planner, Southern Sparkle Weddings & Events

Krisy Thomas

Krisy Parker Thomas, owner of Southern Sparkle Wedding & Event Planning, is a Senior Certified Wedding Planner through The Bridal Society. She is also the 2016 Wedding Planner of the Year. Southern Sparkle is an award-winning wedding planning team with locations in Nashville, Jackson, and Memphis, Tennessee. Southern Sparkle’s work has been featured in wedding publications and blogs such as Better Homes & Gardens, MidSouth Bride, MOD Weddings, Classic Bride, Ruffled Blog, The Wedding Playbook, Southern Bride Blog, and the list goes on. Southern Sparkle was also named one of The Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville Wedding/Event Planners. Krisy is now a co-instructor for The Bridal Society's certification conference.

Vice President, The Bridal Society

Philip Hartwell

Philip Hartwell began his career in the hospitality industry in 1984 with the Walt Disney company. He went on to work with the Hilton Hotel corporation, and he served as the Vice President of a national medical supply company before joining The Bridal Society in 2009. His primary responsibilities include maintaining relationships with key influencers in the wedding industry. He also oversees all aspects of community outreach and works with universities across the country to bring The Bridal Society's program to their campuses. As the husband of our founder and CEO, Laurie Hartwell, Philip shares her passion for bringing a higher level of professionalism and cooperation in the wedding industry.

Director of Community Relations, The Bridal Society

Valerie Martinez

Valerie is a graduate of New Mexico State University, with a Bachelors in Hospitality and Restaurant, and Tourism Management.  She has worked in several different areas of her field, from Entertainment Performer, Hotel Operator, Front Desk, Reservations, Food and Beverage, and finally finding her passion as the Venue Catering Manager specific to Weddings at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. Valerie has been working in the wedding industry for a little over six years now and is a Certified Venue and Wedding Planner through the Bridal Society.  She loves what she does, and focuses on the details of every wedding. Finding a connection with her clients and making them feel at ease, is what makes their wedding day a truly memorable experience.  

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Copy Editor, The Bridal Society

Owner & Editor, Noteworthy Revisions

Kylee Madison

Kylee Hartwell is our go-to copy editor. She is the owner of Noteworthy Revisions. Her passion for language, communication, and storytelling in any form has fueled both her creative and business ventures throughout her life.

Membership Concierge & Retreat Committee Team, The Bridal Society

Owner & Certified Wedding Planner, Just Planned Events

Joel Parra

Joel Parra is the owner of Just Planned Events which is based in Boston, Massachusetts. He holds a B.A. in Business Management from Emmanuel College and an M.B.A from SNHU. In addition, he is a Certified Wedding Planner through The Bridal Society and the Membership Concierge for the organization. With over five years of experience in the wedding industry, he has planned weddings throughout the country but his home base in the New England region. His focus is on one goal, and that is to create, plan, and execute spectacular, love-filled events that bring happiness and joy to his clients and their loved ones.

Partnership Manager, The Bridal Society

Owner & Certified Wedding Planner, Make It Perfect Wedding and Event Planning

Katy Blackburn

Katy Blackburn is the owner of Make It Perfect: Wedding and Event Planning’ and is certified by the Bridal Society. She graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Hospitality Management. She has always had a passion for event planning and wanted to come back to her hometown of Auburn, Alabama to do event planning full time. Katy has seen every aspect of the event industry and will be able to make your event come to life and be a dream come true. An organized, flawless, and stress-free event is the goal of Katy with each of her events.

Retreat Committee Team, The Bridal Society

Owner & Certified Wedding Planner, Melanie Page Events & Design (MPED)

Melanie Thompson

Melanie is the Owner and Founder of Melanie Paige Events & Design (MPED), an Award Winning Wedding Planning Firm, as well as a Certified Wedding Planner through The Bridal Society.  With over 5 years of experience,  she has done weddings all over the country. MPED's work has been seen in publications such as Aisle Society, Wedding Chicks, Hey Wedding Lady, Coastal Bride, Grey Likes Weddings, and the list goes on. She has been awarded WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award and the 2017 Wedding of the Year Award through The Bridal Society.

Retreat Committee Team, The Bridal Society

Owner & Certified Wedding Planner, Everlasting Events & Design

Kyla Miller

Kyla was never able to read between the lines because she was always too busy making sure the lines were straight. It is this attention to detail, along with her creative imagination, and concept design that has contributed to her success in the event coordination industry.   Her time at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale added to her knowledge of the creative elements necessary to make your event unique.  Over the past 10 years, Kyla has proven that no event is too small, too big, or too challenging, to execute with excellence. She took her event planning skills to the next level in 2015 when she became a Certified Wedding Planner through The Bridal Society. Kyla believes in giving back and currently serves on the board of Total Life 180, a non-profit with the heart to help individuals find their true purpose in life; and she also a member of her church’s event team, where she has coordinated events for

their 1000+ congregation.  Kyla has 2 daughters, Gabriella & Nyah, who are blessed to have a mom that has set the bar pretty high when it comes to birthday parties.  Kyla said her “I do” to her honey, Stan, 12 years ago in Central Florida where they currently reside.