Menu

Engage!16 The Breakers The Breakers, Palm Beach

In June 2016 Engage made their third return to The Breakers in Palm Beach, and expectations were running high for the sold-out event. A pre-arrival social-media countdown on Instagram and Snapchat started the excitement, and many attendees came in a day early to take advantage of The Breakers’ beachfront locale.

The official event kicked off with Engage’s newest concept: the Pop-Up Boutiquerie curated by long time partner Gifts for the Good Life. After Engagees checked in, they moved to the boutique-style gifting suite, where they filled their Engage totes with items of their choice, including patterned wraps, clutches and purse charms for women; themed grooming products for the men; “I’ll Drink to That” water bottles and “Toast of the Town” flasks; and customizable candy boxes by SUGARFINA. Following the Boutiquerie, Engage first-timers were invited to a special session, where longtime Engagees welcomed them and shared their strategies for making the most of the week.

Sessions began whimsical note, with colorful pinwheel agendas from TPD Design House announcing speakers including Marcy Blum and Dane Sanders. The week’s unofficial theme became immediately evident, as speakers encouraged attendees to use the week to challenge their ideas, be vulnerable and connect on a personal as well as professional level.

The welcome party was held poolside, with seafood galore, elaborate ice sculptures and a floating reminder to “Make Waves”.  “You Are So Engaging” napkins added to the fun, as did the live band and dancers by Elan Artists.

The second-day sessions kicked off with a jazz brunch and a New Orleans-style second line band leading into the main-stage room, accented with a stunning backdrop of pineapple and coral. Highlights of the day included a revealing session by Preston Bailey and a heartfelt talk from “The Happiness Project” author Gretchen Rubin.

That evening, the popular dine-arounds gave attendees the chance to connect with speakers at restaurants around Palm Beach. Then everyone regrouped for a colorful “Cake by the Ocean” dessert party in the Circle Room, complete with stilt walkers, dancers in sundae wigs and a girl band in candy-colored wigs, courtesy of Elan Artists.

The third day started off with an open Media Lounge, where Engagees could pitch editors from Style Me Pretty, Harper’s Bazaar, The Knot and Martha Stewart Weddings, among others. Then attendees broke off into smaller groups for a half-day of focused breakout sessions from industry leaders including Christian Oth, Matthew Robbins, Ed Libby and Debbie Geller. The wide range of deep-dive topics spanned everything from refining your business plan to finding visual inspiration to standing out in an increasingly competitive luxury market. After the sessions, white-clad Engagees gathered for a picnic and group photo on the croquet lawn, then headed for an afternoon at ease before the gala. Some people hit the pool, while others prepped at the BeGlammed Beauty Studio (another Engage first) or borrowed accessories from the Styling Suite, by The Stylish Bride.

And oh, what a gala! The Breakers team brought in some of the country’s premier vendors, creating a feast for the senses. The black-tie affair began with cocktail hour, followed by a reveal of the ballroom, replete with golden accents, 37 stunning chandeliers and a 24-piece dance band from New York-based Vali Entertainment. Highlights included a heartfelt rendition of the national anthem, complete with uniformed color guard; a surprise appearance by opera tenor Fernando Varela; and a spectacular menu that kicked off with caviar and champagne. Post-gala, everyone was treated to a surprise “Purple Rain”Prince-themed after-party with live entertainment by South Florida’s Rock with U. When the music finally stopped, many Engagees stayed to chat and connect in the empty ballroom — a fitting ending for an event people didn’t want to end.

What Rebecca and Kathryn have created for the wedding industry in Engage! Summits is nothing short of an oasis for wedding professionals. Between the incredible opportunities to spend even more time with our industry friends and the amazing setting and experiences that The Breakers presented, every piece was perfectly designed and expertly presented.

Julie Bunckley Invision Events

Because let’s face it, Engage! is an intoxicating and powerful event. The magic, the incredible parties orchestrated to perfection, the attention to details, the delicious food, the quality of entertainment, the awesome gifts, the friends, the talent… I can’t wait to experience it all over again. I had a blast at every single moment!

Stephanie Anen Nomad Republic

I have been each Engage! (this was the 17th) and it is remarkable to me what can come if community is allowed to flourish. None better in the luxury wedding world to create and grow this community than Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce.

Sea Low The Business of Being Creative

You have not only opened our minds to new ideas but have also given us this opportunity to make so many great connections that we can grow on. Attending Engage! will be on our list every year so that we can give the best not only to our clients but to ourselves as well.

Kim Sayatovic Belladeux Events

There’s nothing quite like it. This is my third time being at Engage!, and no two summits are ever alike. The creative geniuses behind Engage!, Kathryn Arce + Rebecca Grinnals, are the ultimate event producers. They, in my opinion, are the best at what they do! No detail is ever overlooked.

Mary Phan The Sketchbook Series

Frankly, being in the same room with everyone at Engage! helps elevate my game immediately. In short, Engage has provided me with opportunities that continue to build my brand more nationally.

Cameron Kelly Cameron Kelly Studio

This 3-day Luxury Wedding Business Summit is beyond perfection... Engage! has been a wonderful source of inspiration and wisdom about small business, wedding business, and how we go about doing it all...This summit was so incredibly needed to regroup for this second half of 2016!

Krystal Tien Couture Events

Prepare to be delighted and inspired by people who truly value community over competition. Each time I attend Engage!, I come back with pages and pages of notes, books filled with activities designed to develop both my life and my business, and a list of things that typically take me months to mull over and process.

Andrea Eppolito Andrea Eppolito Events

So many of us come to Engage! to center ourselves and rediscover the essence of our work in the company of our friends and those who have become our family. In our search for great design, beautiful events and gorgeous photos, we become swamped by “inspiration” and lose the true meaning of the word. It was really inspiring to hear from some of our design role models on where they look to get their creative juices flowing.

Pablo Oliveira Nuage Designs