Gaylord Grads Find Success at Brides of Oklahoma Magazine

Brides of Oklahoma, a locally owned and operated print publication, provides newly engaged couples with local vendors to help them plan the perfect wedding. While the magazine may not have been started by Gaylord grads, our alumni continue to thrive in this fun, frilly environment where “Work hard, play hard” isn’t just a saying--it’s a way of life.

Cari Holmes and Carsyn Abrams (class of 2006 and 2018 respectively) have found unique career paths that allow them to be creative every day.

“My favorite part of the company is the people. It truly is a creative community in the office that works so well together towards a common goal, [including] making and distributing amazing content! I feel so fortunate to get to work around so many amazing people!” said Abrams, who was a creative media production major.

BoO has grown over the years to include three additional markets: Brides of North Texas, Brides of Houston and Brides of Austin, as well as a creative services arm called Brandlink Media that acts as the publishing company’s marketing and branding agency.

“I think this brand is successful because it continues to evolve on a daily basis. Being able to extend our services based on the talent we have in our team speaks volumes to what we are able to do. One minute we could be scheming up a gown shoot editorial and the next we could be collaborating with a brand about designing their website,” Holmes, a former advertising major, said.

Holmes and Abrams both value their Gaylord degrees and how they’ve helped them in the industry, not only from a design standpoint, but also as strategic thinkers and problem solvers.

My role with the company has recently expanded to include marketing/recruitment videos which is exactly what I learned to do at Gaylord,” Abrams said. “I also took a social media marketing class as an elective outside of my major and that info has helped so much in relation to running client accounts for Brandlink!”

Holmes agrees.

“I think the power of having a degree from the Gaylord College is so powerful. I think it's such an amazing program that has only gotten so better since I've graduated. I'm always so proud to say that I'm a Gaylord grad,” she said. “I majored in advertising, but fell in love with graphic design during my junior year. I took two of Tarp's (David Tarpenning) design classes and loved it so much. He believed in me from day one and made me feel confident in my work that I could apply for design jobs after graduating, even though I was an advertising major.”

BoO is a frequent employer at Gaylord career fairs, and are always looking for the best and brightest media students to help them out during the fall and spring semesters, summers and even winter breaks.

“This is a great way for our alumni to ‘give back’ to the college. They (or their companies) can offer our current students internships. Plus the connection made through the alumni and internship is a wonderful networking opportunity for everyone,” said Kathy Sawyer, director of academic advising in Gaylord. “(Brides of Oklahoma) loves our students and what they can do (like software knowledge, among other things).”

While internships aren’t required for Gaylord students, they’re highly recommended (and most students take advantage of these amazing opportunities, finishing with one to three internships before graduation!).

“Come intern for us!” Abrams said. “It is the best way to get to know the brand of Brides and a different (and best) type of office culture!”