Set on the sunlit cliffs of the American Riviera, Engage!25 hosted its largest event of the year at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. It was here that creative energy, practical education, and seaside glamour blended for more than 500 attendees. Much more than a conference for wedding professionals, this event combines education, curated networking, and immersive experiences that spark ideas you can borrow for your own destination wedding.

While the event is exclusively for wedding professionals, its influence reaches far beyond the industry. Wedding planners, florists, photographers, event designers, and hoteliers gather to learn, create, and test the latest trends, which in turn inspires couple’s wedding experiences around the globe.

Tyler Speier was this event’s Creative Director and Planner, and thanks to his team’s expert talent and flawless concepts, there wasn’t a single note. Every detail reflected the destination and elevated the guest experience, allowing attendees to fully engage with Santa Barbara’s culture and coastal beauty throughout the event. All of the creative partners (full list below) who participated (think interactive photo booth providers and entertainers, as well as artisan stationers and florists) brought their A-game to the event, inspiring us all, and in turn, you.

Here are 10 ideas to inspire your very own destination wedding from the trends and concepts highlighted at Engage!25 Santa Barbara:

Embrace The Destination

From attire inspiration and cuisine offerings to welcome bag products and guest activities, every detail of the event distinctly reflected the destination. Santa Barbara’s gorgeous weather and seaside location was center in every way. Outdoor events were a must (even in December) as the sunshine was plentiful and the temperatures moderate, so most meals and parties were held outdoors, allowing guests to enjoy the destination beyond the ballroom. The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara is situated directly on the water, so panoramic views of the Pacific from almost anywhere on the property (including the pool) were possible.

Curate Your Welcome Bags

This was my 21st Engage! and one thing I’ve come to appreciate over the years of attending this event is the curation of their welcome bags. This summit might have taken things to a whole new level, and for most couples, it might be out of range for what you can provide. However, I’d like to use it as inspiration for how to make sure guests feel cared for at your own destination wedding. At this event, attendees were provided with sleek Parker Clay leather totes, UGG slippers or boots, Patagonia puffer jackets, lavender bath products, a hand-etched bottle of Los Olivos wine from Stolpman Vineyards,  Vogue Candles, organic snacks, Turkish towels, local artisan chocolates by twenty-four blackbirds, olive oil, glass water bottles, and bath bombs.

Keep in mind, it’s not about how many things you include in your welcome bag or how much the items cost; it is about the thought behind what goes into them. Like the founders of Engage!, by considering what your guests might enjoy during their stay (local snacks and wine, for example) or what might come in handy (slippers for hotel room hangs or a towel for beach outings), you’ll make them feel like their experience is of utmost importance to you.

Consider Unlikely Event Spaces

Speiers’ team transformed the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara’s valet entrance, into an immersive celebration in true Santa Barbara style. Known for Old Spanish architecture, the cobble-stoned roundabout with an oversized fountain in the center couldn’t be more idyllic for a welcome party in Santa Barbara. All 500 guests were treated to an award-winning Mariachi Orchestra (provided by ÉLAN Artists), an interactive photo booth complete with confetti and hand-painted cascarón eggs filled with even more confetti (booth provided by Banga Booth), brightly colored floral installations, and food and cocktails that complemented the entire theme. 

Offer Professional Photos to Your Guests

At each nighttime event, Engage! summoned the expert talents of photographers who offer more than their journalistic eye. Custom photo booths by Banga Booth and portrait photography by Dennis Kwan of 888 Portrait Experience gave guests a fun, interactive photo experience where they walked away with gorgeous images of themselves. Why not treat your guests to a professional photo at your own destination wedding, because who wouldn’t want a stunning memory to frame when they return home?

Make Sure Your Resort Understands the Assignment

Let’s get real, your host resort can make or break your destination wedding. From ensuring the check-in process goes smoothly for your group (along with the delivery of those curated welcome bags) to providing amazing food and beverage, and not to mention, stellar overall guest experience, a lot rides on the resort. The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara did a phenomenal job in making sure attendees were well cared for throughout our stay. Guests were shuttled effortlessly across the property, housekeeping requests were handled quickly, and every detail was executed with ease. When you have a group of experts in the wedding and hospitality industries in for a visit, the pressure is on, and they delivered in every way. Make sure you evaluate with your planner if your host hotel caters to wedding groups and knows the nuances of what that truly entails.

Center the Activities Around the Destination

Since Santa Barbara is known for its idyllic weather and seaside locale, it made perfect sense that many of the group activities leaned into the destination. Everything from sailing excursions around the Channel Islands and a private tour of Lotusland Botanic Garden to a music and wine-infused experience at Hotel Californian and a trip to San Ysidro Ranch for garden-harvested fare and drinks, the day was resplendent in Santa Barbara vibes. We suggest you do the same for your own destination wedding — embrace the location for your group excursions to allow your guests to experience the reason you picked the place you did.

Party into the Night

Most venues have a noise curfew, so it might feel like your reception needs to wrap up at that time, but there are most definitely ways around that. For example, a full property buy-out might allow you to forgo that curfew. Or, if that’s not an option due to buy-out restrictions at the property you’ve selected, consider moving inside. Engage! did a wonderful job of making sure there were designated indoor places where the party could continue.

One evening, we were treated to an elegant tented dinner at Rosewood Miramar Beach (black tie of course!), complete with hanging chandeliers and live entertainment. The event took place outside, but because most of the guests weren’t ready to wrap up the revelry, we were taken to an indoor venue to keep the energy going. The “dessert after party” was more than just creme brûlée and pavlova…we were treated to a live band, passed cocktails and dancing that went on well into the night. 

Dress Codes are Your Guest’s Best Friend

Some people might scoff at the idea of creating a Pinterest inspiration board for attire for your events, but I promise you, your photography will shine, and your guests will thank you for it. I receive wedding or event invitations all the time that use ambiguous or confusing language when describing the level of formality. Descriptions like “beach chic” or “cozy cocktail” will do nothing more than bewilder your guests. Sure, there are more obvious ones like “black tie,” but to be on the safe side, create a Pinterest board to inspire them based on what you envision.We were given vision boards for every one of the events (six in total), allowing everyone to know the level of formality and the theme of the event. By providing this, the chances of someone being over- or underdressed (and therefore feeling very uncomfortable) are considerably diminished. The other major plus is that the resulting photography looks polished and purposeful. Group shots no longer look haphazard or disjointed, creating beautiful photos that feel artful and intentional.

Allow for Downtime

It’s tempting to fill every moment of the itinerary. After all, you want your guests to truly enjoy the destination, and we get that. However, consider that this is also their vacation. At Engage! there were several gaps in time where attendees could choose to go back to their rooms to catch up on work, have a cocktail with old industry friends, or just enjoy the resort. Not everyone is an extrovert, so some people need a little downtime to recharge their social batteries. Create space in your itinerary or include optional activities so guests know they have the freedom to take some time to themselves if they’d like it (or need it).

Capture all the Events – Not Just the Wedding

No doubt you’re planning to have professional photography for your wedding, but making sure to capture the entire wedding weekend is often overlooked or not budgeted for. Some of the best moments are during the group outings or pre/post events. Bumping up your photography and videography package to include the other events is one thing you definitely won’t regret. Most photography teams arrive early anyway when traveling to a destination, so take full advantage of their time on the ground. The photography and videography teams at Engage! caught every detail of every event. From signage and floral details to friendly conversations and incredible fashion moments, there wasn’t a second that was undocumented. Due to this, all attendees walked away with a treasure trove of beautiful images to post and share with the world. Give that same gift to yourselves and your loved ones.

Thanks to Engage!, planners, event designers, florists, and photographers will return from Santa Barbara armed with the latest trends, design inspirations, and fresh ideas, ready to customize for your unique vision. 

This sought-after event demonstrates that innovation and inspiration in the wedding world often start with industry gatherings. Couples benefit when their creative partners and vendors incorporate these tested concepts, from immersive experiences to design-forward details, ensuring that every celebration feels intentional, contemporary, and unforgettable. Just like your wedding should be. 

A special thanks to all the creative partners who worked tirelessly to make this Engage!25 Santa Barbara is one for the books. And to the founders, Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce, whose vision has built businesses, forged lifelong friendships, and inspired an entire industry to constantly strive for more, we all thank you.

Engage!25 Santa Barbara Creative Partners: Venue & Host: The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara; Creative Director & Planning: Tyler Speier; Tuesday Night Host: Rosewood Miramar Beach; Art Direction, Branding, & Design: TPD Design House; Entertainment & Music: ÉLAN Artists; Specialty Rentals: Found Rental Co.; Custom Fabrication & Draping: Revelry Event Design; Linens: Nuage Designs; Lighting & Decor: Bella Vista Designs; Tabletop Rentals: Casa de Perrin; Tenting: Skyline Tent Company; Audiovisual: Five Star AV; Event Rentals: Bright Event Rentals; Event Rentals: Elan Event Rentals; Hair & Beauty: TEAM Hair & Makeup; Floral Wholesaler: Florabundance Inc.; Craft Cocktails: Via Carota Craft Cocktails; Local Visitors Bureau: Visit Santa Barbara; Wellness Lounge: MyWellCo; Candles: Vogue Candles; Plant & Tree Rentals: Jackson Shrub; Excursions: San Ysidro Ranch; Excursions: SB Sailing; Excursions: Lotusland; Excursions: Flair Project; Excursions: Alpha Resource Center; Excursions: Hotel Californian; Custom Dance Floor: RCD Dance Floors; Monday Night Entertainment: Boozy Burros; Transportation: Limos4 Net; Custom Event App: Oda Creative; Session Emcee: DJ Brian B; Weather Reporting: Ironic Reports; Non-Profit Collaborator: Wish Upon a Wedding; Gala Wine: Alma Rosa Winery; Champagne: Chandon USA; Bourbon: Woodford Reserve; Tequila: Lalo Spirits; Gin: Black Market Spirits; Gala Ice Cream: McConnell’s Ice Cream; Wine Bottle Etching: Cat Lauren Calligraphy; Chocolate Painting: Sugar Alkymi; Acrylic Goods: XO Acrylics; Photobooth: Banga Booth; Photo Experience: 888 Portrait Experience; Photo Director: Paul Morse Weddings; Photo Teams: Phillip VN Weddings, Cat Galletti, Eric Kelley, Amanda Crean, Ryan Greenleaf, John Cain Photography, Liz Banfield, Anna Gianfrate

Photos by (in order of appearance): Eric Kelley (Featured Image; 1-3; 5-6; 21; 26; 32); Cat Galletti (4); Liz Banfield (7-8; 16; 28-29; 33); Anna Gianfrate (9; 13; 19-20); Amanda Crean (10; 14; 18; 35); Ryan Greenleaf (11; 17; 22; 24; 30-31; 34); Banga Studios (12; 15; 27); Phillip VN Weddings (23); and Paul Morse Weddings (25)