Joyce Scardina Becker

A celebrated events expert with over 25 years of experience, Joyce Scardina Becker superlatively leads Events of Distinction, a highly acclaimed wedding design and planning company based in San Francisco. In recognition of her accomplishments as one of the world’s top wedding planners, Joyce has been honored with 11 international awards, as well as 23 nominations. For writing “Countdown to Your Perfect Wedding,” she received an Esprit de Corps Award from the International Special Events Society for “Best Industry Contribution.”

Since 1997, Joyce has been the Founding Director and Instructor of the Wedding Planner Certificate Program, which is offered annually at California State University East Bay. Nationally recognized by event professionals and students, this intensive 40-hour program was the first of its kind on a university campus, providing a comprehensive education for students who wish to pursue a professional career in wedding management.

Joyce has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, and she has frequently been a featured speaker at industry conferences and bridal shows. Her ideas and designs have appeared in over 200 media outlets, including The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, The Huffington Post and msn.com. Her words of wisdom have been translated into several languages; she has been profiled in the San Francisco Chronicle and Elegant Bride magazine; and her events have graced the covers of Special Events Magazine (twice), Catering Magazine and Hotel F&B Executive. Joyce served as the “Northern California Expert” for TheKnot.com website, a Contributing Editor for The Knot magazine, and currently she blogs for The Knot’s local wedding web page, SanFrancisco.Weddings.com.

Joyce is the Founding President of the Wedding Industry Professionals Association (WIPA), the first national non-profit (Section 501c6) trade association created specifically for providers of wedding products and services. Its mission is to advance the wedding profession, enhance the professional growth of its members, uphold the highest ethics, and educate the public about qualified specialists.

Joyce’s talents began to bloom at age 5, when she planned a “Surprise Halloween Party” for her kindergarten class. (The surprise was on her mother, when the entire kindergarten class showed up at her front door!) Joyce went on to attend San Francisco State University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management. Later, she received a prestigious degree in Retail Floristry from City College of San Francisco, and subsequently she earned the esteemed Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential.

Today, what Joyce loves most is bringing her clients’ visions and dreams to life on their wedding day. She focuses on creating innovative, cutting-edge designs that artistically embrace the couple’s personal tastes, preferences, and styles.