Day 2 started out with a buffet style breakfast that was once again, over the top! We dined al fresco in the Mediterranean Courtyard on a gourmet selection of oatmeal brulee, fruit and yogurt served on spoons, mini skillets of eggs scrambled with sausage and peppers, and banana beignets.
After breakfast, we convened in the Venetian Room where we spent the morning with some of the industry’s best speakers.
Paul Leone, the President of The Breakers introduced us to the property, the history behind of
the Breakers, and why they are absolutely committed to making sure service is top notch. Rebecca Grinnals followed with a State of the Wedding Industry. She touched on points about how time is the new luxury, that brides are immersed in technology and blogs, and how direct mail is not dead even in new age of media.
Mindy Weiss spoke on the good, the bad, and the ugly of the wedding industry. She was utterly hilarious! Here are some tidbits of her speech: unique locations are HOT, lanterns can be fit into any budget and look great, unique table sizes are in, you can NEVER run out of food, Morrocan and ethnic themes are hot and colors bring a lot of energy to weddings.
Tara Guerard, David Beahm, and
Todd Fiscus were up next as a panel. They each have a unique design approach yet it works for their brides. Amazing designs from each of them – loved their presentation as each of them were quite funny! Takeaway tidbits: A great photographer is one of the best investments in your wedding, Inspiration is everybody’s information but do it your way, and weddings in the round, surrounded by family/friends are very trendy.
One of my favorite presentations came next from
Cindy Novotny. She was absolutely amazing and funny! I think I connected with her best because I’m not a wedding planner nor vendor. I love all the pretty things but I’m not involved in them on a day to day basis. I’m more involved in marketing and bringing bleeding edge technology to the wedding industry. Cindy says, Keep your passion moving by creating more business, Neither strength nor intelligence is the key to unlocking your potential, it is the ability to keep going, Tough times create matchless opportunities. When business is bad, you do more to survive, and the careers that will exist tomorrow don’t even exist today!
Lunch was served in the famous Circle Room where we were wowed once again with boxed lunches. Yes, boxed lunches. But inside these gorgeous boxes with a handmade clay flower by
DK Designs was a lobster hoagie, gazpagcho, deviled eggs, truffled fries, and a mini wedding cake. The entire room was dressed to the nines and Sylvia Weinstock impressed us all with her cake decorating skills.
After lunch, we had the pleasure of laughing with
Marcy Blum She mused: If you cannot sell a client without throwing your competitor under the bus, there’s something wrong with your business, do your own PR, and if it’s free, it needs to be disclosed.
Next was a panel lead by
Martha Stewart Weddings editor-in-chief Darcy Miller, who spoke with
Amy Atlas,
Abby Larson, and lifestyle photographer
Donna Newman. Carley Roney, founder of
The Knot moderated the next panel of http://www.kleinfeldbridal.com/ and stationery designer
Ceci Johnson of CECI New YorkOur final presentation of the day was from
Bryan Rafanelli of Rafanelli Events. He was one AMAZING speaker! He planned Chelsea Clinton’s wedding this past summer. He simply plans PERFECT and will not settle for anything less.
Thank you to
Mel Barlow for all these gorgeous photos!
