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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Event Design & Decor

16 Summer Party Ideas From the Engage!16 Wedding Summit

The conference for luxury-wedding professionals offered plenty of gift, catering, and decor concepts for beach-inspired bashes.

Michele Laufik
June 29, 2016

With the Fourth of July weekend coming up and summer party season in full swing, luxury-wedding business summit Engage!16 offered up lots of creative ideas for tropical-theme parties and outdoor events.

Held from June 12 to 15 at the Breakers Palm Beach, Engage!16 The Breakers brought together wedding and event professionals for a three-day conference, which was produced by Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce of Celebration, Florida-based Engaging Concepts.

Inspired by the resort setting, Grinnals and Arce collaborated with longtime partners Gifts for the Good Life to create a chic oasis. As part of the event’s overall branding, the Roseto, Pennsylvania-based design team reconstructed the iconic symbols of Palm Beach—pineapples, palms, waves, and the sun—into Matisse-like paper cut-outs that were incorporated throughout the decor, gifting, signage, fabrics, dance floors, menus, agendas, and more. The designs were also carried over into watercolor patterns.

Since this was the third Engage! summit hosted by the Breakers Palm Beach, Heather Arak-Kanosfky, chief creative officer for Gifts for the Good Life, explained that "attendees' expectations were high and it was important to reinvent and raise the bar in all aspects."

To that end, organizers introduced several new elements this year, including a pop-up "boutiquerie." "In an effort to shake things up and elongate the welcome touchpoint, [Engaging Concepts and Gifts for the Good Life] decided to create a luxury experience around the welcome gifts," said Arak-Kanosfky. Guests could shop and connect with other attendees while creating their own personalized swag bags.

The design’s ombre palette featured sunset-inspired colors from blush to pink grapefruit to coral with touches of metallic gold. Arak-Kanosfky explained that attendees “love to dress ‘in palette’ so it is important that we introduce the color themes early via the app and mailers.”

The 300-plus crowd attended daily speaker and panel sessions with industry experts—such as keynote speaker author Gretchen Rubin and wedding planner Mindy Weiss—along with networking activities and parties.

[Disclosure: BizBash C.E.O. and founder David Adler was also a speaker at the conference.]

'Make Waves' was spelled out in the pool during the welcome party; it was embraced as the unofficial theme of the event.
"Make Waves" was spelled out in the pool during the welcome party; it was embraced as the unofficial theme of the event.
Photo: Jeremie Barlow
Wedding planner Mindy Weiss spoke at the three-day conference. The custom-designed speaker stage backdrop by Event Effects Group featured the event's beachy color palette and icons that were designed by Gifts for the Good Life.
Wedding planner Mindy Weiss spoke at the three-day conference. The custom-designed speaker stage backdrop by Event Effects Group featured the event's beachy color palette and icons that were designed by Gifts for the Good Life.
Photo: Cameron Kelly
The design's ombre palette and cut-out icons were incorporated into the agendas, itineraries, and other conference materials.
The design's ombre palette and cut-out icons were incorporated into the agendas, itineraries, and other conference materials.
Photo: John Cain Sargent
The tropical designs carried over into watercolor patterns, which were used on pillow fabrics customized for the event and more.
The tropical designs carried over into watercolor patterns, which were used on pillow fabrics customized for the event and more.
Photo: Jennifer Domenick
For the poolside party, the Breakers constructed an elaborate ice sculpture featuring an array of encased fish and seafood.
For the poolside party, the Breakers constructed an elaborate ice sculpture featuring an array of encased fish and seafood.
Photo: Jeremie Barlow
Branded towels were draped over the waiters' arms during the pool party.
Branded towels were draped over the waiters' arms during the pool party.
Photo: Carla Ten Eyck
Floral flamingos decorated the lawn during the croquet lunch.
Floral flamingos decorated the lawn during the croquet lunch.
Photo: Carla Ten Eyck
This year, organizers enlisted Gifts for the Good Life to create a pop-up 'boutiquerie' where guests could customize their welcome gifts. Miami-based event design company the Gilded Group collaborated on the area's design and provided the rentals, florals, and branded carts for the space.
This year, organizers enlisted Gifts for the Good Life to create a pop-up "boutiquerie" where guests could customize their welcome gifts. Miami-based event design company the Gilded Group collaborated on the area's design and provided the rentals, florals, and branded carts for the space.
Photo: Jeremie Barlow
The pop-up's custom carts and branded bars featured 'his' and 'hers' accessories, candy by Sugarfina, and more.
The pop-up's custom carts and branded bars featured "his" and "hers" accessories, candy by Sugarfina, and more.
Photo: Jeremie Barlow
The event's branding was introduced in a countdown advent-style, two-part mailer. First, guests received a pop-up invitation and schedule of events, then a box filled with Engage! branded accessories, such as a sleep mask, luggage tag, and sunscreen. Gifts for the Good Life also created turn-down gifts for each evening of the event, which were themed to complement the activities the following day, such as a spa kit with a towel and robe and a travel set.
The event's branding was introduced in a countdown advent-style, two-part mailer. First, guests received a pop-up invitation and schedule of events, then a box filled with Engage! branded accessories, such as a sleep mask, luggage tag, and sunscreen. Gifts for the Good Life also created turn-down gifts for each evening of the event, which were themed to complement the activities the following day, such as a spa kit with a towel and robe and a travel set.
Photo: Jeremie Barlow
The gifting boasted positive and playful messaging like 'take it all in,' 'you got this,' 'make big plans,' and 'power full.'
The gifting boasted positive and playful messaging like "take it all in," "you got this," "make big plans," and "power full."
Photo: Carla Ten Eyck
Vanessa Kreckel of Two Paper Dolls designed the leather name tags, which featured a charm for each year the guest had attended an Engage! summit.
Vanessa Kreckel of Two Paper Dolls designed the leather name tags, which featured a charm for each year the guest had attended an Engage! summit.
Photo: Jeremie Barlow
For the beach club luncheon, Kreckel designed delicate laser-cut menu cards shaped like sea fan coral.
For the beach club luncheon, Kreckel designed delicate laser-cut menu cards shaped like sea fan coral.
Photo: Jennifer Domenick
For breakfast, guests enjoyed cherry-chia seed pudding and coconut acai bowls.
For breakfast, guests enjoyed cherry-chia seed pudding and coconut acai bowls.
Photo: Cameron Kelly
Ornate fruit carvings served as colorful decor during the morning meal.
Ornate fruit carvings served as colorful decor during the morning meal.
Photo: John Cain Sargent
Artisanal popsicles on custom idiom sticks—with sayings like 'Just chilling at Engage!16 The Breakers'—provided a refreshing afternoon break.
Artisanal popsicles on custom idiom sticks—with sayings like "Just chilling at Engage!16 The Breakers"—provided a refreshing afternoon break.
Photo: Cameron Kelly
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