Events of Distinction

11/24/2021

08/23/2020

It is a gross understatement to say that COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on weddings that were scheduled to take place this year – adversely affecting both the couple and their service providers. In an article appearing in The New York Times this weekend, Joyce Scardina Becker provided some guidance to couples who are struggling with a postponement or cancellation of their wedding.

For many couples whose wedding plans were derailed by the coronavirus crisis, getting a refund or a credit from vendors has been an uphill battle.

01/17/2019

Registration will be closing soon for the Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University, East Bay. For the Spring 2019 Semester, the Program is being offered both on campus and online. The online class begins on Monday, January 28 and continues until April 14. The on-campus class takes place on six Saturdays, beginning February 2 and continuing until May 18. For more information, and to register, click on the link below.

Have the flexibility to work at your own pace with the online format. The 11-week course is offered in fall and spring semesters, so you can start the program when it best fits your schedule. 

03/02/2018

https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/programs/wedding-planner/

The online Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University, East Bay Continuing Education is now open for registration for the Spring Quarter 2018. Online instruction begins on March 26. For more information, and to register, click on the link below.

Have the flexibility to work at your own pace with the online format. The 10-week course is offered quarterly, so you can start the program when it best fits your schedule.

11/17/2017

The Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University, East Bay Continuing Education is now open for registration, in both the online and on-campus format. Online instruction for the Winter 2018 Quarter begins on January 2, and due to the holiday season, registration must close by December 11. The classroom offering of the Program begins on February 3 at the main Hayward Hills campus of CSU East Bay.

To register, please click on the link below. For more information about the Program go to:
https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/programs/wedding-planner/

08/09/2017

The online Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University, East Bay Continuing Education is now open for registration for the Fall Quarter 2017. Online instruction begins on September 18. For more information, and to register, you can click on the link below.

How do I know if wedding planning is the right field for me? Career choice is always a personal decision. Even after many years of loving one career, you may decide to go in a different direction. This program will enable you to explore and learn in-depth knowledge about the production of weddings a...

06/13/2017

The Sponsors of this evening's meeting of the International Live Events Association Napa-Sonoma are going all out!! It will be an amazing evening at the spectacular Triple S Ranch Napa, and Joyce is honored to be speaking at this event.

05/18/2017

https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/programs/wedding-planner/
The online Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University East Bay is now open for registration for the Summer Quarter 2017. Online instruction begins on June 19. To register, please click on the link below. For more information about the Program go to:
https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/programs/wedding-planner/

05/15/2017

It was a very special treat for Joyce to have one of her former students, Michelle Martinez, stop by to visit this year’s students in the Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University, East Bay Continuing Education. Michelle graduated from Joyce’s class 16 years ago, and after that, she built a very successful Wedding Planning business, Allure Wedding Consulting & Event Planning. More recently, she started The Big Wedding Planning Podcast with another former student, Christy Daly Matthews, Owner of Christy Matthews Events. Joyce was delighted to be interviewed for the podcast, and she even got a little choked up when reminiscing about all of the remarkable students like Michelle and Christy that she has had the privilege of mentoring over the years.

Joyce Scardina Becker is a leader in the West Coast wedding industry and was Michelle & Christy's teacher back when they took the Wedding Planner Certificate Program. Michelle interviews her mentor and teacher for the show also get's to chat a bit with Joyce's current Wedding Planner Certification S...

03/06/2017

The online Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University East Bay is now open for registration for the Spring Quarter 2017. Online instruction begins on March 27. To register, please click on the link below. For more information about the Program go to: https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/programs/wedding-planner/

Our broad array of programs, certificates and courses reflect the real world, and will give you the skills to build your career path.

12/17/2016

‘Tis the season for winter holiday weddings, and in a recently published article, Joyce provided advice for couples considering a wintertime celebration. Click below to read more.

Planning a wedding around a winter holiday has peculiarities and pitfalls that couples must navigate carefully. MassMutual provides useful financial information.

11/29/2016

The Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University East Bay is now open for registration for both the Online and the On-Campus class. Online instruction for the Winter Quarter will take place between January 2 and March 19, 2017. The On-Campus class meets for 5 Saturdays, spaced about 3-4 weeks apart, beginning on January 21, 2017.

For more information and to register, please click on the link/images below.

09/14/2016

Joyce was recently contacted by the online nuptial resource, Borrowed & Blue, to answer some questions about her favorite subject: weddings! We posted the entire set of Q&A’s on our blog, which you can read by clicking on the link below.

Events of Distinction recently teamed up with Borrowed and Blue, a locally-focused online wedding resource, to give couples everything they need to know about our event planning services.

08/23/2016

The online Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University, East Bay Continuing Education is now open for registration for the Fall Quarter. Online instruction will take place from September 19 to November 21, with approximately 3 hours of video lectures each week. The Wedding Planner Certificate Exam will be given December 2 - 4. To register, please click on the link below.

https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/programs/wedding-planner/

07/26/2016

A recent article on the Credit Karma website described some of the unexpected costs that couples often encounter in planning their wedding. Joyce contributed two important points for this article:

- Many venues rent their space for a specific number of hours, but that amount of time may not be sufficient. So, in order for a couple to have their wedding at some sites, they may need to buy additional time from the venue -- IF the site will sell the extra time.

- Many catering proposals are written with a basic level of staffing that is insufficient for a “fine dining” experience. If excellent service is important to you, you may want one wait staff person per table of eight and one bartender per 75 guests. Be prepared for extra labor charges to obtain this high level of service.

The complete list of points that Joyce provided are posted on our blog - http://stylishlyeverafter.com/. To read the entire article on the Credit Karma website, please click on the link below.

Getting married? Familiarize yourself with 13 lesser-known costs of planning a wedding.

05/24/2016

11 Over-The-Top Wedding Ideas Every Bride Should Use, published on SheFinds.com
Here are Joyce’s Tips:
1. To-Go Treats
2. A One-Of-A-Kind Invitation
3. Grow Your Reception Food
4. Color-Coordinated Waiters
5. Live Alternative Entertainment

Get inspiration for over the top wedding ideas on SHEfinds.com.

05/23/2016

The online Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University, East Bay Continuing Education is now open for registration for the Summer Quarter. Online instruction begins on June 20. To register, you can click on the link below. For more information about the Program, please visit: https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/programs/wedding-planner/

Our broad array of programs, certificates and courses reflect the real world, and will give you the skills to build your career path.

05/21/2016

The kick-off to summer and "wedding season", vacations and BBQ’s galore… that’s what Memorial Weekend has come to represent. Above all else, it’s a time to reflect and remember the brave men & women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our great nation.

Christina-Lauren, the creative force behind INSPIRATIONS & CELEBRATIONS, has gathered an esteemed group of party planning experts to share their Memorial Day entertaining tips, and we were honored to be included in her article.

Click on the link below to read the article. Additional Memorial Day Party tips can be found on our blog - www.stylishlyeverafter.com.

To help you plan a fabulous Memorial Day party, today's entertaining guide features Memorial Day entertaining tips from party planning experts.

05/13/2016

It was a great pleasure having videographer Daniel Gruen of Daniel Gruen Weddings explain the finer points of his craft to the students of the Wedding Planner Certificate Program. One technique employed by professional videographers to enhance the interest and emotion of a video is to vary the “depth of field” during filming. When the camera is set to a large depth of field, everything is in focus. But to focus the viewer’s attention on a particular detail, such as the joy in a bride’s face, the videographer uses a narrow depth of field.
We’re not sure what technical term applies to the photo that Joyce took while Daniel was speaking to the class…where NOTHING came out in focus!

04/22/2016

Earth Day is more than just a single day — April 22. It's bigger than attending a rally and taking a stand. Here are some ways to keep Earth Day in mind when planning your wedding:
1. Consider using potted plants with blooming flowers to replant into your home garden (as shown in the ceremony image below).
2. Invitations don’t require destroying trees. You can use recyclable papers instead.
3. The foods you serve should be grown locally and in season without pesticides.
4. Your wedding dress can have a second and third life. Borrow or buy second hand, or donate to a consignment shop after your wedding.
Make every day Earth Day and help save our planet!

04/08/2016

Many thanks to Ellen Kim of Gingerleaf Floral for sharing her wisdom with the students of the California State University East Bay Wedding Planner Certificate Program. She provided a great tip that every bride or bridesmaid should know while posing for photos – How to hold a bouquet?? Relax your shoulders and rest your interior forearm against your hip bones at the belly button, allowing the flowers to fall gently forward. And resist the urge to pull the bouquet up toward your mouth – it’s not a microphone or ice cream cone!

03/23/2016

Don’t Forget The Snowshoes! Lake Tahoe is breathtaking now, with white snow-capped mountains. As a premier recreational destination, the Lake Tahoe area offers sporting pleasures throughout every season. Recently, Joyce met Carmen Carr - Lake Tahoe & Truckee Real Estate, a realtor and an amazing sports enthusiast. Carmen loves to share her passion with others by providing monthly guided hikes and snowshoe trips of the area’s spectacular beauty and endless trails. Joyce had the pleasure of snowshoeing Negro Canyon near Donner Lake with Carmen. By the way, anyone can snowshoe, it’s that easy! One of the more appealing facts about snowshoeing is how it can help enrich a person’s health. Known to help cardiovascular fitness, the sport helps burn more than 600 calories per hour. Thanks Carmen for a fabulous workout!

03/22/2016

Gavin Farrington of Gavin Farrington Photography recently spoke to the students in the Wedding Planner Certificate Program. Among the many educational pointers he gave, Gavin discussed the advantages of couples having photos taken together before the ceremony, which include:
• The couple has more time to celebrate with guests after the ceremony.
• The bride looks fresher, having just finished hair & makeup.
• The photographer has more time to capture reception details.
• A “First Look” can provide a great opportunity for photos (such as the image below).
Thank you, Gavin, for a most enlightening presentation!

03/21/2016

Recently, Joyce offered advice about wedding toasts to a writer for BRIDES Magazine. The complete version of the advice she provided has been posted on our blog, which you can read by clicking on the link below.

I recently had the opportunity to offer my perspectives about wedding toasts to a writer for Brides Magazine, which has just published an online article called “THIS Is How You Tell Someone You Don’t Want Them Giving a Speech at Your Wedding.” Here is the complete version of the advice I provided:

03/17/2016

The students of the Wedding Planner Certificate Program received a really sweet treat from Jill Branch, Owner of Branching Out Cakes. In addition to giving an informative presentation about wedding cakes, Jill generously brought a cake for the students to sample. But even this part of class was educational – students learned that in order to properly cut and serve cake from a large tier, they should first cut a circular section in the center, then cut slices from the outside to the center section. Overall, Jill provided a very tasty tutelage!

03/14/2016

It was a great privilege to have Kathy Newby with Stuart Event Rentals speak to the students of the Wedding Planner Certificate Program on Saturday. Kathy is a wizard when it comes to tents, and she made this very educational point about a tent that she installed for us a few years ago: Clear tops can provide lovely views of your surroundings, but keep the tent-top covered up on a sunny day until your guests are about to arrive, or you’ll get a greenhouse effect that will wilt the flowers (and the guests). Thanks so much, Kathy, for sharing your expertise!

03/04/2016

For an article appearing on Refinery29, Joyce explained the importance of the element of surprise at a wedding. Click on the link below to read more.

Since the minute you got engaged, it’s likely been a nonstop stream of decisions. From food and favors to dancing and decorations, there are a million choices to be made in the months leading up to the big day. Even if you’re a super-organized bride-to-be, it’s seriously overwhelming to

03/02/2016

https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/programs/wedding-planner/

The online Wedding Planner Certificate Program at California State University, East Bay Continuing Education is now open for registration for the Spring Quarter 2016. Now in its 19th year, this the most rigorous and respected educational program in the field of Wedding Planning, and the online format allows you to take the Program from the comfort of your home. The Spring Quarter runs from Monday, March 28 to June 12. For more information, or to register, please click on the link below.

02/24/2016

For couples in search of a destination wedding location that offers lots of activities for guests, the Lake Tahoe area provides numerous recreational choices that can transform their wedding into an “experiential” celebration. From hiking, rafting, mountain biking, paddleboarding, tennis, golf, kayaking and waterskiing in the summer, to skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and ice skating in the winter, Tahoe has every imaginable activity to entertain wedding guests. By participating in these kinds of activities together outside of the wedding, we find that guests develop a greater feeling of camaraderie with each other, which in turn, makes the wedding celebration more enjoyable for everyone.

We will be talking to couples about creating an “experiential” Tahoe wedding at the North Lake Tahoe Bridal Faire, this Sunday in Squaw Valley, at the Olympic Village Lodge, 1901 Chamonix Place, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is free. Get more info by clicking the link below.

See why Squaw Valley is the perfect location to host your dream Lake Tahoe wedding. Come meet North Lake Tahoe wedding professionals including florists, DJs, musicians, photographers, and representatives from various Lake Tahoe wedding locations. You'll gather ideas and have the opportunity to ask y…

01/20/2016

Registration for the 2016 on-campus offering of the Wedding Planner Certificate Program closes on Jan 27. Classes will meet at the Hayward Hills campus of Cal State East Bay on the following Saturdays: Jan 30; Feb 20; Mar 12; Apr 2; Apr 23; and May 14 (Exam). To register, click on the link below.

Our broad array of programs, certificates and courses reflect the real world, and will give you the skills to build your career path.