For the third year in a row, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Wedding MBA conference, this time for two sessions – in addition to discussing destination weddings, I also spoke about appearing on television and managing on-camera opportunities. The best benefit about attending the conference is seeing my colleagues, meeting new ones, and enjoying the city of Las Vegas.
When I woke up that morning, I had an iPhone news alert about the tragic shooting in Las Vegas the day prior – a stunning development that shocked us all. The conference was still going to move forward – as it should – and my friend Summer Newman of Summer Newman Events, who traveled with me, wanted to help as best we could. When we tried to donate blood, the drive that was taking place across the street from our hotel had already closed down because so many people showed up. By a day or two after the event, the local blood supply was sufficient for at least a few days. However, it reminded me how important it is to give blood and I’m now going to donate once a year. Meantime, I donated to the Go Fund Me page to help support the victims and their families.
This balloon display as soon as attendees entered the conference space was a hit.
With the Wedding MBA well underway upon our arrival, I carefully chose the sessions I wanted to attend. I had a massive head cold by the time we arrived, so I couldn’t hit as many as I wanted, so I specifically chose sessions that relate to my newer role as a freelance marketing and event consultant. It’s so important to understand how the Internet, Google, Facebook, and SEO and SEM in general can enhance a business’ marketing. I carefully chose two sessions about these topics, and they were extremely helpful. The speakers were very generous with their knowledge and one even sent slides to us, Mark Chapman of Everett Andrew Marketing.
I also met some vendors on the convention floor, exploring new ideas in lighting, stationary, photo booths, and others. Overall, it was a productive trip and it was fantastic to see the conference get bigger every year – it’s a fantastic opportunity for wedding vendors to help each other grow stronger, together. Hope to see you there next year!