TSE: Day 2 – Wednesday

I would love to tell you all about how fabulous the conference was today; and include photos and tweet summaries.  But I gotta tell ya – the Opening General Session was lack luster, there wasn’t enough time for the trade show floor, and internet service was working against me all day. Not to be undone, it really wasn’t hard to see the bright side and enjoy the day anyway.

First, the General Session: though the video clip of the Phoenix TSE Ambassadors was hilarious and well produced and the panel of experts was insightful, it seemed that the panel would have been better situated in one of the educational seminars, it would have been appropriate to set a trend with the entertainment rather than follow one (via the Glee-style pop choir performance of not one, but two Journey songs), and pace would have improved if those approaching the podium entered from the side of the massive stage closer to the podium (or entered sooner.)  So after enduring a massive exudes that happened a good 15 minutes prior to the end of the program, we entered the trade show floor.

Not enough time! I only got down three aisles!  And there is sixteen of them!!  And I’m not really sure how I’m going to get back in there to further explore because Thursday is shaping into a full day of seminars I’d like to attend.

The showcase of the day was the Wedding Lunch – absolutely stunning!  I can’t wait to share with you images from the gown and cake gallery (sneak peak below) and of the luncheon tables decor, a recount of some of wedding producer Sasha Souza‘s Favorite Things, and the phenomenal event design vignettes presented post show.  Truly mesmerizing, inspiring and vibrant!

I opted for the wedding lunch over the evening event (thought tweets are reporting wine pairing dinner to dye for and a fun time being had by attendees.)  I had the honor of dining with Via Hersolt from Urban Studio in Portland, Oregon.  We met in Marley’s “But Are You Making Any Money?” seminar and chatted right through the final session of the day.  We decided to continue the conversation over margaritas and guacamole – and that’s what TSE is all about: meeting fellow event pros from around the country and sharing ideas, connecting and building relationships.  Though the day started on a lower note than I had hoped, it gained momentum into a rather fantastic day!

Thursday, here I come…!