Feeling Engaged

I spent the last three days at the gorgeous Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. The occasion: engage!09 Something Blue, a wedding-biz conference drawing the crème de la crème of all folks weddings for three days of networking, parties, panels and inspiration on how to make weddings even more fabulous. I moderated a destination-wedding panel (along with SF-based planner Alison Hotchkiss and photog Thayer Alison Gowdy, as well as event designer Jo-Anne Brown of Cayman’s own Celebrations) and was so moved to hear how hard these pros work to ensure a magical day for their clients. Here are my top five memories of the event:

1. Cheering as the incredible pastry artist Sylvia Weinstock hit the dance floor with my new favorite person, adorable Randy Fenoli from Say Yes to the Dress.

2. Talking turkey with the refreshingly frank (and hilarious!) event-maker extraordinaire Marcy Blum.

3. Being wowed at the welcome party, set on the sand and designed in shades of blue by the incomparable Michelle Rago Ltd.

4. Getting some R&R at the beach with Korri McFann of Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings and the super-fun team from The Breakers Palm Beach.

5. The incredible closing-night party, designed by the amazing Ms. Brown of Celebrations, where the fired-up bunch of planners, photogs, designers and other pros busted moves on the dance floor like it was our very own wedding.

I cannot say enough great things about the team at Engaging Concepts, who pulled the whole thing together. I wish we could do it every week!