ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

Taneisha S. Richardson, Owner/Lead Planner & Designer of Unique Events by TSR, has made history as the first individual from Antigua & Barbuda to receive the prestigious "Best Wedding Under $50,000" award at the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC) Wedding Awards.

The momentous occasion took place on Saturday, February 24, 2024, in Canada, where Taneisha was officially recognized for her outstanding expertise and dedication to Wedding/Event Planning. Reflecting on her win, Taneisha expressed profound gratitude and excitement, describing the experience as surreal and life-changing. 

Taneisha Expressed, "I still can't find words to fully express how I feel. My heart is full, and I feel like I am having an out of body experience. I am still pinching myself and asking, "Am I really in Canada? Did I just win this award? It all feels surreal. This has been a life-changing experience. I did not know what to expect when I got to Canada as the only persons I knew were the founders of the WPIC. I must say I met some amazing talented wedding professionals at the Gala and Awards Ceremony. Everyone was so warm, and I felt right at home. This award means a lot to me. I discovered I had this passion some years ago, ran with it and never looked back.” .

Taneisha further expressed that “This journey has not been an easy one and there have been challenges but I persevered. This is a big win for me personally, my business Unique Events by TSR and for Antigua & Barbuda; being the first wedding planner to receive such a prestigious award. I love what I do, and it shows through the quality of work that I put out. I want to say thank you to WPIC, for their partnership with the ABHTA in bringing a wedding course to Antigua and for acknowledging my work through this award. Thank you, Donely & Raymond Smith, for trusting me to plan and design their dream wedding, which led to this award. Thank you to my family, friends and all of Antigua and Barbuda for their support. Thanks to my production team at each event and all my vendors for helping me to make each wedding unique. Last, but not least, thanks to God for blessing me with talent and gifts that I can share with the world." 

Craig Marshall, Chairman of ABHTA, congratulates Taneisha on the well-deserved recognition and applauds her for her outstanding achievements. Craig Marshall stated that "Taneisha's win underscores the importance of continuous collaborative training courses with organizations like WPIC through the ABHTA Professional Learning Series. Training opportunities are one of the core activities of the ABHTA. We recognize the importance of the development of our human resources if we are going to advance the hospitality sector of Antigua and Barbuda. Taneisha's success paves the way for aspiring professionals, inspiring them to reach for excellence and showcasing the limitless possibilities within our vibrant wedding and event planning community."

Taneisha's success serves as an inspiration to aspiring Wedding/Event planning professionals in Antigua & Barbuda and beyond. Her dedication, talent, and innovation continue to elevate the standards of excellence in the industry, bringing pride to her nation and shining a spotlight on the exceptional capabilities of professionals from Antigua & Barbuda.