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JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, our editor-in-chief and WedLuxe founder, Angela Desveaux, attended Engage!21 at The Breakers. The networking and educational event for luxury wedding professionals brought together about 350 event planners, photographers, catering managers, hotel reps, and media representatives. Needless to say, the group was VERY glad to be seeing each other in person after eighteen longgggggg months apart! In addition to a variety of speakers who share personal insight and business tips, there are always incredible floral installations, food, graphics, and entertainment touch-points woven into the three-day event. We have gathered our top ten favorite design takeaways to inspire YOU!
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1. Oversized Photoshoot Props
Who doesn’t love a good photo opp prop? We especially LOVE these fun, graphic shapes that do double duty as branding moments! These are custom-cut from styrofoam (aka lightweight and easy to move!) and are hand-painted so they can match any palette. We’re obsessed!
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PRODUCED BY TORONTO-BASED
Engineered Arts
A FABRICATION + PRODUCTION COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN EVENT PROPS AND INSTALLATIONS. BONUS: THEY SHIP ANYWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA! PHOTO PAUL MORSE
2. Candy-Shop Colors
White linen? Puh-lease! We are absolutely LOVING the trend we’re seeing with bold fresh candy-color hues in event linen and ALL things decor. In fact, Pantone recently flagged “Electric Pastels” as THE color craze we’re going to be celebrating in 2021 and beyond. It was GORGEOUS to see these pops of fun making their way into the conference by way of the linen! Just like candy, why pick ONE flavor when you can have THEM ALL! :) Can we also get a moment to appreciate those candy-striped seat covers? Perfection!
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LINENS BY NUAGE DESIGNS
3. Candy-Colored Chandeliers
Further to the above… move over PLAIN white chandeliers, we’re trading you in for COLOR! The first break of Day One was “The Scoop” – designed to mimic an old-school ice cream shop (complete with ice cream cones). For us, the stars of the room were the five epic candy-colored chandeliers that hung above the bar. Twinkle, twinkle has never been so beautiful! The best part? YES, these are available for rental. See below for where to source.
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CHANDELIERS SIGNATURE CHANDELIERS / PHOTO: AMY ANAIZ PHOTOGRAPHY
4. Frilly-Frocked Entertainers
One of the biggest trends in event design right now is the incorporation of live ‘immersive’ entertainment. Aka, having GORGEOUS models and dancers enhance your event theme and “dress the part.” Such a fun way to encourage guests to take pics and interact… Also, where can I get a frilly frock? Asking for a friend…
This event was sponsored by Elan Artists who ensured there were immersive entertainers EVERYWHERE! BTW, the oversized ice cream prop is another fabulous production by Engineered Arts.
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IMMERSIVE ENTERTAINMENT: ELAN ARTISTS / PHOTO: AMY ANAIZ PHOTOGRAPHY
5. Poodles of Fun
“How much is that doggie in the window?” because I’ll take TWO. While I’m at it, I’ll cruise away with them in the vintage pink T-bird. The Welcome Party was held outdoors inspired by Slim Aarons (the wildly iconic mid-century photographer who documented high-society life anywhere Palm trees were involved.) As attendees walked up to the lawn, this fabulous little situation was waiting for us to take pics with this as our backdrop. LOVE LOVE LOVE. The whole event, planned flawlessly by Marcy Blum and Associates, featured floral and decor by Renny and Reed.
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Flowers RENNY AND REED / T-Bird MIAMI VINTAGE PROP CARS / Event Planning MARCY BLUM & ASSOCIATES /
Photo JOHN CAIN SARGENT
6. Cane to Fame
Ok… so if you follow interior design trends AT ALL, you already know that cane and wicker ANYTHING is having a major moment. Again (because it has its legacy rooted in many decades of design.) Of course, host hotel The Breakers Palm Beach emanates this textile-meets-textural design vibe 365 days a year EVERY year, but it was fun to see this popular pattern make its way into the graphic design of the GORGEOUS event program. Our friends at TPD Design always deliver the goods!
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Art Direction and Stationery TPD DESIGN HOUSE / PHOTO: AMY ANAIZ PHOTOGRAPHY
7. Fantasy Florida
A long-standing popular tradition with Engage Summits takes place on the second night, where intimate dinners are held at different locations for attendees and speakers to connect over a meal. Our lucky editor spent her evening at The Colony Hotel, one of the most ICONIC locations in Palm Beach. Easily the most Instagrammable spot in Southern Florida, the newly redesigned lobby takes your breath away. It is a testament to all the things Palm Beach is known for stylistically and WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH. The lobby went a major renovation, guided by the new generation of the Wetenhall Family who have owned this family-run boutique hotel since the late fifties. Working with the acclaimed Parisian design house of de Gournay, who created this EXQUISITE WALLPAPER, the design honors “fantasy Florida,” with the pink floral and palm-tree fauna inspired by an original mid-century mural that adorned The Colony lobby when the hotel first opened in 1947.
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THE COLONY HOTEL / PHOTO GIGI DE MANIO
8. Glow Girl
One of our fav experiences was the AFTER-PARTY designed, produced, catered, and SLAYED by NYC, Miami, and Palm Beach-based Caterers, Creative Edge Parties. Dubbed as “Let Your Soul Glow,” the vibe was disco-diva-decadence all the way and we LOVED it. Our fav design detail was the custom-built serve-yourself Margarita Wall *yes, a WHOLE WALL OF MARGARITAS churning away, served in these fun blinking “Disco Balls.” “I MIGHT have one in my kitchen now,” confides our editor. :)
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CREATIVE EDGE PARTIES / PHOTO LUIS ZEPEDA
9. Restore + Recover Station
After the year and a half we’ve all had, we’re thinking it might be ideal to have this in our front yard before we leave the house every day. Anyone with us? Adorable concept. Awesome branding. With “IV-Drips” and B12 Shots, this set-up was on POINT.
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EVENT PLANNING, CREATIVE DIRECTION, DESIGN: MARCY BLUM & ASSOCIATES
ART DIRECTION, BRANDING: TPD DESIGN HOUSE / IMMERSIVE ENTERTAINERS: ELANARTISTS
IVS: IV ME NOW / PHOTO LUIS ZEPEDA
10. Pretty in Pink Ice Cream Truck
Grab + Go Lunch on Day Three was punctuated with this adorable little pink food truck from Florida-based Angie’s Epicurean that served the SWEETEST ice cream cones. We’re OBVIOUSLY thinking pink ice cream trucks should be the newest wedding trend. Don’t you? :)
