Because we wanted something that was deeper yet non-intimidating like larger conferences, we arranged our keynotes, workshops, breaks, and networking events to inspire new ideas, nourish your soul, and provide entertainment.  All seminars and breakouts are included with General Registration but may require a fee if purchased separately. 

TOPICS, TIMING, AND SPEAKERS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Sunday, December 3rd

Arrivals throughout the day

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Poolside Lounge, Pool Deck, North Lower Deck
REGISTRATION & INFORMAL MEETUP

Evening informal Meet & Greet and Registration Event. Grab your conference materials while connecting with conference attendees. Introduction for first-timers.

Monday, December 4th

8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Registration - at the conference center

8:00 am - 9:00 am | Ferdinands
Breakfast on own (breakfast passes will be provided for attendees with Full Conference Ticket)

9:00 am | The Westin Governers Ballroom
Conference doors open

MORNING MAINSTAGE SESSIONS

9:15 am - 9:25 am

  • Opening remarks from Chike and Jackie

9:25 am - 9:35 am

  • Welcome Remarks Introduction of the Conference Programming for the Day, "THINK BIGGER: Establishing Your Business as an Industry Leader"

9:35 am - 10:25 am

  • Opening Keynote - PRESTON BAILEY

    “Success in Life Happens When Shift in Mindset Takes Place”

10:30 am - 10:40 am - AM BREAK

10:45 am - 11:45 am

  • "RICHER: Think Higher, Target Smarter”

    MARSHAWN EVANS-DANIELS

    Learn how to upgrade your thinking, marketing, pricing, and positioning to attract better clients, partnerships, and paydays. 

11:50 am - 12:30 pm

  • “Paid in Full: Drawing the Paycheck You Deserve” 

    LIENE STEVENS

    You can't leave a legacy if you're only breaking even. Learn how to prioritize your company's revenue so that you're able to build your dream life, not just your dream business.

12:40 pm - 1:40 pm | The Westin Governers Lawn

"Deep Dive" Lunch-Time Discussions

Facilitated discussions about solutions to challenges that tend to keep us wedding pros up at night.
Discussion. Topic: "Pricing for Profit"

AFTERNOON MAINSTAGE SESSIONS

1:45 pm - 2:25 pm

  • "Are You Ready for the New Way of Doing Business in Weddings?"
    MEGHAN ELY

    Forget everything you know about the business of weddings - this is the new way in 2024. In this session, Meghan Ely will uncover the major shifts we're seeing in how to do business, as well as explore how brands can adapt to stay competitive.

    • Understanding today's couples- from their shopping journey to their brand loyalty

    • The case for prioritizing relevancy

    • The power of Social Proof and third-party credibility- and why it means more now than ever.

2:30 pm - 3:10 pm

  • DESTINATION WEDDING PANEL - "Travel Transformations Unlocked: Elevate Your Business Model through the Integration of Destination Weddings and Events in Your Portfolio"

    Panelists and Destination Partners
    ROSA HARRIS - CAYMAN ISLANDS TOURISM

    BRIGETTE KING, FREDA MALCOLM - THE ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS

    COMMISSIONER JOSEPH BOSCHULTE - THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS

    DANIELLE WEEKES - ST. KITTS TOURISM

    LORINE CHARLES-ST.JULES - SAINT LUCIA
    Moderated by     BRIAN GREEN

  • 3:15 pm - 3:25 pm

    “Popcorn and Pearls” recap: This session is all about accountability! During this time, participants will be asked to share one pearl of wisdom that they intend to introduce into their business practice when they return to the office the next week.

COTERIE MARKETPLACE OPENS

3:15 pm - 5:00 pm

  • COTERIE MARKETPLACE 1-1 MEETINGS

    Appointments will be scheduled in advance of the conference.

6:15 pm - Bus leaves to welcome party location

7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Welcome Party - Sponsored by Grand Old House | In partnership with Celebrations

Tuesday, December 5th

8:00 am - 9:15 am | The Westin (Ferdinands)
Breakfast on own (breakfast passes will be provided for attendees with Full Conference Ticket)

9:15 am | The Westin Governers Ballroom
Conference doors open

MORNING MAINSTAGE SESSIONS

9:35 am - 10:15 am

  • “Era of Transformation: Outlook for the Future of Weddings”
    SHAUNA SMITH - DIRECTOR OF B2B MARKETING - THE KNOT

    Join Shauna Smith, Director of B2B Marketing at The Knot Worldwide, for an insightful session that delves into the state of the wedding industry. 2022 brought unprecedented pent-up demand, and this year marked the beginning of an era of transformation in weddings. It's crucial for industry professionals to adapt in order to gain a competitive edge. In the session, we’ll explore:

    • How the industry has evolved over the past several years 

    • What today’s couples value most and how their priorities have shifted

    • How to reach the next generation as they approach peak marrying age

10:20 am - 11:00 am

  • “The Sales Glitch”
    TAMUEL COWART

    The success of any business is its ability to generate revenue through sales. A “glitch” in your sales process can cause you to leave money on the table or undersell your product and services. Fixing this glitch is essential to scaling. You can’t scale without sales!   We’ll uncover your sales glitch by diving into:  

    • A la Carte > Bundling  

    • Mathematics | The Basics  

    • The Body Count | Building the Team  

11:05am - 11:15 am - AM BREAK

11:25 am - 12:05 pm

  • PANEL: “Tasting the Flavor: A Palatable Discussion about Elevating the Event Experience Through Culinary Artistry”

    PANELISTS: Robin Selden, Jeffrey Selden, Alain Lemaire, and Lincoln Alexander

12:10 PM - 1:15 PM

Luncheon Sponsored by The Knot Worldwide

"Deep Dive" Lunch-Time Discussions
Topic: "Business Strategy"

AFTERNOON MAINSTAGE SESSIONS

1:30 pm - 2:10 pm

  • Navigating the Legal Landscape as a Seasoned Wedding Pro
    LEAH WEINBERG

    When business is booming and your client pipeline is full, you may find that your backend operations start collecting dust. While letting your systems or processes languish is one thing, allowing the legal components of your business to go untouched can leave you at serious risk — and by the time you find out, it’s usually too late. In this session, Leah takes attendees through the legal foundation of running a company of any size and speaks to the importance of establishing a relationship with an attorney before you actually need one. She’ll explore every corner of your business from a legal standpoint, including classifying team members, updating contracts, website policies, and email marketing requirements. Takeaways include: - The common missteps wedding pros are making in their service agreements - How to legally protect your business from the unexpected - The importance of weighing business and legal considerations in a client dispute

2:15 pm - 2:55 pm

  • No Dozing on the Closing

    TERRICA

    Many event pros don't have a plan beyond hitting send after creating a proposal. A majority of great leads are lost in the purgatory of closing and following up. Some are even shocked to know how well they are able to close happens on the client's interaction with the brand well before they inquire. Learn effective techniques to allow clients to warm up to you and position yourself for a successful close. 

3:05 pm - 3:45 pm

  • “Unlocking Opportunities: Navigating the Hotel Industry's Perspective on Your Wedding Business"
    MODERATOR: Brian Green

    PANELISTS:

  • Shernete Crichton (GM of Halfmoon - Jamaica)

  • Janelle Hopkin (President, MD of Spice Beach Resort - Grenada)

  • Tiffany Minnis (GM of The Private Villa Collection - Turks and Caicos)

coterie marketplace open

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

COTERIE MARKETPLACE 1-1 MEETINGS

Appointments will be scheduled in advance of the conference.

all-white networking party

Thanks to our sponsor Cayman Airways

5:45 pm

Transportation leaves to White Party Location

6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
White Party
In partnership with Celebrations

Wednesday, December 6th

8:00 am - 9:15 am | The Westin (Ferdinands)
Breakfast on own (breakfast passes will be provided for attendees with Full Conference Ticket)


MORNING MAINSTAGE SESSIONS

9:35 am - 10:15 am | The Westin Governers Ballroom

  • Democratizing Luxury: Changing Your Mindsets and Processes to Elevate Every Day Experiences for All Couples
    KAWANIA WOOTEN

    • Elevating your overall client experience by giving them more than what they expect on a daily basis. Attendees will hear the following:

      1. Understanding the difference between hospitality and customer service

      2. Changing your mindset in order to validate your clients and elevate your every touchpoint

      3. Using your knowledge to put your clients at ease

      4. How your body language speaks to your clients without you saying a word

      5. Luxury is a two-way street — Investing in your people and they will invest in you


10:25 am - 11:00 am

  • The Wellness of Weddings

    DR. LORNEKA JOSEPH

    • How to identify signs and symptoms of burnout

    • How to redefine your legacy through lifestyle shifts

    • How to Align Accountability

11:05am - 11:15 am - AM BREAK

11:20 am - 12:05 pm

LAMAR TYLER
The Money-Making Matrix: Enhancing Customer Experience for Maximum Market Share

12:10 pm - 12:30 pm

“Cookies and Connections” Recap

This session is all about maximizing the network! During this time, the emcee will ask participants to share one connection they made and why they found it to be valuable.

12:30 pm - 12:40 pm

Closing Remarks and Announcements

coterie marketplace open

8:00 am - 1:00 pm

COTERIE MARKETPLACE 1-1 MEETINGS

Appointments will be scheduled in advance of the conference.

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Lunchtime Dine-Arounds

Attendees will be split into 4 groups and each group will experience a local Caymanian restaurant. Transportation is provided for all registered attendees

Formal Awards Gala

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Pedro St. James
Cocktail Reception - Gala

8:00 pm – 11:30 pm | Pedro St. James
Awards Gala Dinner

Thursday, December 7th

Departures throughout the day