After months of planning, conceptualizing and endless hours spent by team QNA to create an unforgettable experience for the global wedding industry elite, we finally made it to the beautiful shores of Los Cabos to commemorate the 2018 DWP Congress. As 600 attendees including wedding planners, vendors and delegates from across the globe flew into the Baja California Sur to join us for two jam-packed days of festivities and hard-hitting business opportunities, key players and celebrity specialists took to the stage at the state-of-the-art Los Cabos International Convention Center to share their invaluable expertise and experiences. The afternoons are filled with back-to-back pre-scheduled meetings that allow uninterrupted networking between planners and suppliers, making room for new connections from around the world to flourish.
Welcome Cocktail
From Argentina to Japan, US to Indonesia and Pakistan to Australia, luxury wedding industry insiders joined us at the pristine oceanside property of Cabo Del Sol at the welcome cocktail reception. Rich with modern facilities, breathtaking views and unforgettable sunsets, the internationally acclaimed clubhouse is one of the finest in the world and perfect for large outdoor wedding parties. The vibrant evening saw its guests dressed in bright Mexican hues dancing the night away to the sensational entertainment provided by Cabo Fine Entertainment including stilt walkers, dancers and a range of games to unwind after a long journey and prep for the upcoming days of dedicated networking.
Conferences
Making their way from their luxury suites at the five star properties of Cabo Azul Resort and Barceló Gran Faro in the quaint town of San José del Cabo, all attendees made their way to Los Cabos International Convention Centre – home to the DWP Congress for the two-day extravaganza. The “green” property which was originally designed to host the G20 Summit, attended by world leaders such as the President of the United States, Barack Obama; the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, was turned into a luxury hotspot for wedding specialists for the DWP Congress with ample room for a one-to-one meeting section, an exhibitors lounge, break-out session rooms for select workshops and a customized stage for the conference and panel discussions along with an indoor-outdoor lush luncheon space.
The day began with a welcome speech by Carlos Mendoza Davis, the Constitutional Governor of the state of Baja California Sur, extending this warm reception to the eclectic mix of attendees. The day then saw the likes of Emmy Award winning Kevin Harrington, and internationally renowned marketing consultant Alan Berg presenting their keynotes on finding success in this dynamic luxury wedding industry. For an “Experiential Everything” panel discussion, moderator and celebrity wedding planner from Canada Jennifer Bassett hosted an invigorating chat with Jennifer Zabinski of Serena Williams wedding fame, NY based Jung Lee, South African wedding extraordinaire Otto de Jager and French wedding maestro Alejandra Poupel on creating bespoke and bewitching experiences for clients. Rodrigo Esponda, Managing Director of Los Cabos Tourism Board followed the act with a presentation on our host city sharing this thoughts on why the southern tip of Baja Peninsula is the ultimate destination for luxurious weddings. With a back-to-back individual meetings filling up the afternoons, guests enjoyed a scrumptious organic lunch prepared by catering partners Eat Cabo and Casianos Restaurant. What followed was an informative keynote by US based attorney Caroline J Fox talking about the valuable legal tools every wedding planner needs and another session with Hong Kong based founder of Marriage Maestros, Evelyn Mills who talked about the many overlooked aspects of luxury wedding planning. In contrast to day 1, the following day was bursting with breakout sessions & roundtable discussions highlighting power sales with speakers keynotes such as celebrity planner Kevin Lee, the art of storytelling roundtable with US based Nikki Khan, wedding mélanges, impact of blogs, pricing conundrums as well as design and floral inspired sessions. These new breakout sessions focused on niche subjects with experts leading the gatherings maximizing learning opportunities.
Gala Dinner
The concept gala dinner went from a lavish red carpet which turned into the party of the year! The hidden spot next to the glorious Canyon of San Carlos transformed into an opulent dining space which saw incredible 3D projections, authentic Mexican tunes sung by a live orchestra and mariachi along with signature neon figures which are an integral element of Mexican culture. Entertainment partner Cabo Fine Entertainment, host sponsor Mexico Tourism Board and Los Cabos Tourism Board along with Grupo Questro, event planners Del Cabo Weddings, DMC partners Mexico Planners, photography partners Cabo Collective and travel partners Trans Cabo, all came together to create a experience that is one for the books.
Ceci New York Invitations
The 2018 DWP Congress saw the arrival of Ceci Johnson, the creative force behind couture design brand Ceci New York who was not only a speaker but also the brains behind the gorgeous teal and gold invitation card custom designed for the Congress, paying homage to its host city of Los Cabos, Mexico.
Closing Party
Featuring elegant treehouses, organic farms, private event spaces, and an award-winning bar and restaurant, Acre Baja hosted the last and final festivity in DWP’s 2018 chapter. Tucked in the foothills of San Jose del Cabo, Acre is a lush sanctuary set on 25 acres of abundant greenery which came alive with acrobatic entertainers and performers by Cabo Fine Entertainment. The bohemian themed party had the crowd kick off their heels and dance into the late hour of the night, celebrating another successful run with the growing and thriving DWP family.
