Lessons from the Open Sea
Or, what I learned from a luxury wedding networking event on a Ritz-Carlton Yacht
I spent last week on the Evrima, a Ritz-Carlton yacht. We set sail from sunny San Juan, cruised overnight to St Barth’s, made a quick stopover in Anguilla, and then made our way back to San Juan to debark.
The food was fantastic. Our suite, a standard-tier room larger than most NYC hotel rooms I’ve stayed in, had a living room, double sinks, and its own balcony. The design of this yacht left me inspired at every turn. Chrome railings, wood-paneled walls, everything well-appointed and ready for our enjoyment.
Sounds like a fancy vacation, but I was actually there for work. I attended Engage Summit’s first-ever immersive, all-inclusive experience alongside 200 other luxury wedding professionals and creative partners.
It was more than a networking event. It was a powerful affirmation of the values I hold at the core of my work—true luxury is hospitality centered on others.
In short, it is making others feel seen, known, & loved.
While I appreciated the panel discussions and breakouts, my takeaways from Engage usually come from the conversations I have in the in-between. This was no exception. Thankfully, there was plenty of “in-between” time, thanks to a thoughtfully designed schedule facilitated by Anja of Freeda Network. Here are my top takeaways, in no particular order:
Luxury isn’t about scale. It is about attention and intention. When every detail is noticed, when ever eventuality is considered, people feel cared for. When people feel cared for, their experience changes in a significant way. In my opinion, good service is 90% anticipating needs before they are felt, and 10% meeting needs when they are spoken.
In a space built on thoughtfulness, conversations naturally go deeper. As a group of 200 of the top wedding professionals around the world, our conversation was merely, “So, how’s this year looking?” We talked about longevity, visibility, excellence, and our shared commitment to creating enduring work through unparalleled service.
The wedding industry is, first and foremost, a service-based industry. There are always exceptions, of course, but the people at the top, the very best in their field, are people who live and work at the intersection of healthy humility and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
There can be a relentless pressure to “show up and show off” in this industry, and every one of us has experienced FOMO at some point in our journey. And of course, to everyone watching Engage from home, it can certainly feel as if they “missed the boat.” But this experience, combined with some intentional dinners in the days leading up to boarding the yacht, reminded me that smaller rooms allow for deeper connection, and deeper connection fosters greater (and more lasting) growth. My intention for the rest of this year is to find smaller, more intentional gatherings.
The magic happens when the creative team values trust & collaboration above all else. This magic happens when clients trust the creative team, but even more importantly, when the creative team trusts each other. It is pure joy to present my best ideas, and for my collaborators to say, “We trust your vision, run with it.” That is where the best work happens.
The people in your corner will have a greater impact on your future than the people in your audience. This week was a reaffirmation of the importance of building deep friendships with people of good character, who have a strong work ethic & shared values. Likes & follows on IG are good for the ego, but it’s real people in real life who shape our character, and therefore, our future.
The wedding industry can be a funny place. It can house big egos, it can allow a poor work ethic to hide, it can create a false sense of security or celebrity. But it is also the foundation for some of best, most inspiring stories from some of the best people I have ever known. I’m so grateful for a transformative week.