Our Founders
Carla
Our founders, Bill & Carla Young, have been in the wedding business for more years than most of our brides are old. They truly are matriarchs of the wedding business. Here at Wedding Authority we honestly believe they have earned the title of “The Wedding Authority.”
Carla’s background comes from the floral industry where weddings were a very large part of her business. Her love for flowers and creation of beautiful deco naturally lead her to the business of weddings. She jokingly admits that even with all of her experience and educational classes for what, when, and how to plan a wedding, brides still have their own idea of how things should be done. She states, "This is what makes my job so interesting." Every bride is unique and has their own special idea that makes each wedding so exciting and rewarding. Carla’s gift of organization and her passion to make others happy ensures a flawless flow to any event
Reverend Bill Young
So why does Bill do such a great wedding ceremony?
#1. Practice. Twenty years marrying thousands of couples. “It is so great to go to the grocery store, or Walmart or to a restaurant and run into people that I’ve married. I am so blessed.”
#2. Personal touch. “I try my best to get to know each couple as much as possible and their parents and their children and their friends. I try to find some common ground.”
#3. Joy! Weddings are joyful occasions! Jesus loved weddings for a reason! I love my calling! I love people! I love being part of new beginnings and new families with all the possibilities.
#4. Most importantly… I LOVE CARLA!!!
Our Team
Karli Ecker
lead coordinator
Karli is a lead planner and coordinator on our team. She has been working for us for many years now including the time she spent getting her Event Management Degree from The University of Central Florida. Post graduation in 2018, she decided to fully commit to her dream job and work full-time with The Wedding Authority. She always makes her brides’ ideas for their weddings come to life. She has experience in catering and events that help her to make each wedding as creative as possible. Outside of work Karli enjoys working out, being with friends and family, and traveling all over the world.
Coogan Lethco
tuxedo expert
Coogan was raised in the wedding business. He slept under Carla’s desk from almost the day he came home from the hospital. At a very early age he helped setup and direct ceremonies and receptions. He has a small DJ company and did his first DJ gig at the age of 15. Whatever was needed, to make a perfect wedding, he was ready willing and able. As someone who loves sports he found his passion in playing Lacrosse. His dream came true when he was asked to play on his college team. He not only played but also started every game. The discipline and hard work it took to go to college and play a major sport transferred to the wedding business. Even though these two things are light years apart they are similar in intensity and dedication. His latest responsibility is to work as our tuxedo specialist. His attention to detail and knowledge of current trends in men’s fashion make him perfect for the job. After all, the men need and deserve to look as sharp and special as the women.
Michelle Little
coordinator
Michelle Harbidge comes to the Wedding Authority from sunny South Florida, where she worked for Royal Caribbean Cruises for 10+ years and is a graduate of Florida International University. Michelle is bilingual English/Spanish, has extensive event planning experience, and knows how important even the smallest details can be. When she’s not coordinating and planning weddings which is her passion. She enjoys spending time with her family, which also includes four dogs and four cats.
Megan Jurgrau
coordinator
Megan Jurgrau is one of our coordinators at The Wedding Authority! She graduated in 2019 from the University of North Florida with her Bachelor Degree in Psychology, and a minor in Public Health. She received an award for leadership during her four years of college for her outstanding initiative, hard work, and motivation. Megan has had an eye for creativity since she was just a young girl. Whether that be drawing, painting, sewing, collaging, decorating, designing… her artistic expression is unmatched. It is only natural that all of this inventiveness and imaginativeness led her to wedding coordinating! She is attentive to detail, very organized, always has a positive attitude, and brings good vibes to all of those around her. Megan will make your special day easy-going, stress free, and of course, a day to remember for a lifetime!