Recap Post: Engage!12 Day 1 - The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL

Once or twice a year, I have the opportunity to attend engage!12 a Luxury Wedding Business Summit. Engage! is something I look forward to and is almost indescribable to those who ask - what is engage!12? and what do you learn? These are hard questions because it's not that easy to describe the full experience. Rebecca and Kathyrn create an environment that fosters "engaging" round the clock. There's a lot of networking, inspiring each other and creative thinking that goes on. When I return home, I always have new ideas and inspirations for the coming year. Honestly, my head is filled and I don't know where to begin - well yes I do, but more of that later! (wink wink) We also are treated like VIP's, which for anyone in the events industry is a treat because we're usually the one's doing the treating!

Here's a quick recap of our Day 1 at the Breakers (by the way - the Breakers Weddings is getting a post all it's own because they were so wonderful!): Upon arrival, anticipation grows as we wait to receive our swag bags. If you haven't seen an engage!12 swagbag they are amazing! So thoughtfully crafted and assembled. They are in inspiration all they're own. The ladies from Gifts For the Good Life are always surprising us. Mid-day we move on to the opening session. I am always so excited to see and hear Simon T. Bailey. His messages are always right on and he has impeccable timing for them. Our opening night party was filled with lots of southern fun. We were welcomed into a beautiful cleartop clearspan tent (sorry for the technical jargon) that was all decked out for the Boots 'n Bowties welcome party. It was so nice to catch up with everyone that I hadn't seen in a little over a year and meet some new industry friends! Here's just a few of my favorite images from day one....

 
























Images courtesy of Elan Artists (they are awwweeessooommee too!)and www.scottclarkphoto.com and www.chellisemichaelphotography.com

Final Planning Meetings

I have had two Final Planning Meetings in the past week and in each meeting the Bride felt that they were very organized going into the meeting but then at the end felt totally unprepared and a little overwhelmed. So this prompted this PSA.

The purpose of a Final Planning Meeting is to look at all the elements of your wedding, this includes items like venue, the menu and vendors. We'll also discuss other details like ceremony processional, flower placement, table linens, etc. Overall, just make sure that you and I are on the same page. This meeting is so important because when wedding day arrives, I am an extension of you, handling all the details you loved and wanted - just the way you wanted them. You and FI can relax and just enjoy the day knowing I'm working for you to help create a fantastic day you'll always cherish.

Things to remember to bring with you (this is not a complete list but a few of the bigger items we'll discuss) - all of your vendor contracts, pictures of your wedding inspirations - to refresh my memory if I don't have copies of them, copies of your ceremony order, copies of your readings, etc.

So after the final meeting and you've got a to do list the size of Texas, relax and know we'll get it all done and know my team and I have it all under control!