If you're a wedding professional who's interested in RBA membership, you can email us using the contact form on this blog to get more information.

The primary thing that you'll need is a business license that's at least two years old. You'll need to be able to get references from five brides who you've worked with as well as five current RBA members. Once we check out the references we'll look at online reviews and your BBB rating if one applies. We'll want to interview you informally to make sure that you understand what's required from RBA membership and that you're willing to be an involved member of the group. We want to get to know each other so that we can feel good about referring brides to each other.

We require that members attend at least four meetings a year, and we have both daytime and evening meetings so that if one time is better than the other everyone will have a chance to attend enough meetings. We generally meet the second Wednesday of each month. We have meetings that include speakers, and some that are business-to-business discussions of topics that our members have said are of interest to them. At least twice a year we have meetings where we invite brides to come meet us in an informal setting.

We do have an annual membership fee, but we don't charge to attend meetings. We're a non-profit business organization, and our financial records are available to members at each meeting. Our finances basically go toward promoting the group through different advertising venues, and toward supporting our charity organization, First Things First of Richmond.

We send out a monthly newsletter, maintain a facebook page, twitter and pinterest accounts, and this blog and website. This month we're signing up an online panel of brides who will answer surveys about their planning experiences and their thoughts about topics related to wedding businesses.

If you're interested in membership contact us! We'll also be at the Richmond Bridal Showcase this Sunday, and will have membership information there.