The Pro Experience SoCal 2019- Recap & Photos!

We headed to California for The Knot + WeddingWire The Pro Experience SoCal. The day was all about learning, flamingling and inspiring with the wedding industry community. The Crafted at the Port of LA in San Pedro was the coolest space for our full day education event.

We had so much fun at our sold-out experience where we spent the day with around 250 talented wedding professionals. Together we learned how to build a strategic brand, standout on social media, communicate with clients and so much more!

Marni of So Smitten Events teamed up with Kaleigh of Méldeen to create vintage Palm Spring feels. Together their design came to life through palm leaf linens (Nuage Designs, Inc.), dusty rose signage on copper stands (Méldeen ) and tons of tropical florals (Gingersnap Florals). We’re talking being surrounded by tropical details and neon signs. A few more of our favorites from the day included:

• The beautiful stage setup (Del Rey Party Rentals) with the rustic backdrop (MTB Event Rentals) and vintage furniture (Adore Folklore)
• The lunch setup! We’re talking long tables, bright bistro chairs, fun place settings, custom swizzle sticks, and delicious food (Del Rey Party Rentals + MTB Event Rentals + Summit Event Catering + Delovely Details)
• The “Lady in the Streets, Freak in the Spreadsheets” tote bags (So Smitten Events + f/8 Studios)
• The headshot bar where pros walked away with a fresh new headshot to update on their Storefront, website and social accounts (f/8 Studios)
• The sweet treats that we got to bring home (Gourmet Wedding Gifts + B. toffee)

Check out more of the spring details from the day captured by the talented f/8 Studios!

So many talented wedding pros joined us for the day. Local pros including Michelle Garibay (Michelle Garibay Events), Ray + Simon Barrett (Radleigh + Sage Event Company), Marni Farmer (So Smitten Events), Nayri Kalayjian (Lovella Bridal), David Krieger (Krieger Entertainment) and Pam Olson (Avalon Hotel & Bungalows) shared their expertise and experience in the wedding industry.

Attendees also heard from industry experts on the following: Bernadette Baillie on Wedding Industry Insights, Kaleigh Wiese of  Méldeen on Building a Strategic Brand, Vanessa Joy of Vanessa Joy Photography, Andrea Eppolito of Andrea Eppolito Events on Cutting Through the Noise, Gurminder Banga of Banga Studio and Bethel Nathan of Elevate by Bethel and Ceremonies by Bethel on Keys to Client Communication. We left feeling inspired and ready to put what we learned in action. A special thank you for everyone who shared with us and Bernadette Baillie for being an amazing emcee.

We ended the day with dancing (Tempoe Entertainment DJs), desserts (Mr. and Mrs. Creamery), a photo booth VW bus (The Booth & Bus Co.), and cocktails (Sunseri’s Bar Service)! We had so much fun hanging with wedding pros in SoCal.

To see more from the night check out #weddingprosocial 

Planner: So Smitten Events | Venue: Crafted at the Port of LA in San Pedro | Catering: Summit Event Catering | Event Photography + Headshot Photography + Videography: f/8 Studios | DJ + AV: Tempoe Entertainment DJs | Floral: Gingersnap Florals | Rentals – Lounge Furniture: Adore Folklore | Rental- Tabletops + Others: MTB Event Rentals | Rentals- Tables, Lunch Chairs, Backdrops, Stage + More: Del Rey Party Rentals | Linens: Nuage Designs, Inc. |Event Branding + Stationery: Méldeen |  Desserts: Mr. and Mrs. Creamery | Bar Service: Sunseri’s Bar Service | Favors: Gourmet Wedding Gifts | Hair: Domenica Beauty | Makeup: Diamond Beauty Hair and Makeup | Photo Booth: The Booth & Bus Co. | Signature Canisters: B. toffee | Swizzle Sticks: Delovely Details | Accommodations: Doubletree By Hilton San Pedro | Notebooks: Minted