Late last night I got home from Cartagena, Colombia where, as I mentioned in a post before I left, I had the great pleasure of designing a wedding a few years ago:

This time I was in town for the Tendencias Weddings and Events Conference with the great Marcy Blum, Valerie Romanoff and Ira Levy. (That’s all of us in the top photo above looking cool in our sunglasses and hat!)

We stayed at the Hotel Sofitel Cartagena Santa Clara, which was originally built as a monastery in 1621. Today it’s a stunning five-star resort. My suite had the most enchanting view overlooking a courtyard garden designed by Florarte, who created the garden in honor of the late floral designer William Baena. It was absolutely magical:

I was thrilled to be speaking in South America for the first time. But I was especially excited to be speaking at this particular event, because it was the first conference in South America with a so-called academic day: an entire day set aside for wedding and event industry professionals to come together and learn about and share the latest trends and ideas. I loved meeting so many people who are building careers — not just hobbies — out of planning and designing weddings and events.

Of course it wasn’t all serious academic learning! We had fun, too. So many local designers and florists contributed, and it was wonderful to see their beautiful work all over the hotel and conference.

And I was so lucky to have the amazing event and wedding planner, Simone Lejour, as my hostess. She organized and led the event flawlessly:

Guests from all over Latin America attended and had the opportunity to experience the breathtaking ballroom, which was transformed by the brilliant Colombian designer Andres Cortes:

Juan Pablo Estrada is the talented in-house event designer for the Sofitel Santa Cartagena, and he created these stunning table designs for the fabulous bridal fashion show, which was held on the second day:

Cartagena was so lovely and peaceful; it’s an incredible place. I didn’t want to leave. I wish more of my couples chose to get married there, so I’d have many more excuses to go back!

Thank you so much, Simone, Juan Pablo and Carmen Otero De Millan of the Hotel Sofitel Cartagena Santa Clara and Monica Restrepo of Todamiboda for hosting me. What an unforgettable event.

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