Meet the Rooted & Refined 2026 Speakers (and What You’ll Learn)

You don’t need another talking-heads event. You need practitioners who hand you frameworks you can use on Monday. That’s exactly how we built the Rooted & Refined lineup, which was guided by two principles: rooted in community and refined in execution.

Day 1: Community + Connection

• Opening & Welcome — Co-hosts Martine & Tatiana set the tone with intention and clear outcomes for your three days together.

• Keynote Conversation: Why Representation Matters in Weddings & Beyond Moderator: Virgil • Panel: Dani (Once Upon a Vow), Aleetha (Glass Slipper Wedding), Sabrina (Influence Digital Solutions), and Debra (Weddings by Debra). Expect tactics for inclusive storytelling, hiring, and client experience that reflect real couples.

• Branding with Intention — Debbie Millman: Clarify positioning so price becomes a filter, not a fight.

• Welcome Reception — Casual networking over cocktails and live music. Bring your 30-second intro and three asks.

Day 2: Education + Expertise

• Keynote Workshop: Smarter Marketing for Modern Creatives — Sabrina Shore (CEO, Influence Digital): A data-informed look at audience building and channel focus.

• Workshop: Copy that Captivates — Cassie Torres: Turn lurkers into inquiries with voice-driven web and email copy that converts.

• Wellness Hour — Choose between Mental Health & Entrepreneurship with Mike Veny or Pilates with Heidy—because your business only grows as fast as you do.

• Role-Based Breakouts (two 1-hour sessions):

  • Planners: Debra (Weddings by Debra) — Finding Your Tribe: build referral ecosystems that outlast algorithms.

  • Photography: Tatiana (Artvesta Studios) — Breaking Into the Wedding Industry as an Immigrant: from portfolio gaps to paid work.

  • Hair/Makeup: Aleetha (The Glass Slipper Wedding) — From Bridal Trial to Aisle: bulletproof your beauty workflow.

  • Officiants: Dani — Create Authentic Connection: ceremony design that feels personal, not scripted.

  • Floral/Décor: Edith — Designing with Heart: principles for emotive florals clients actually remember.

  • Business (Tracks): Data analytics for growth; AI for Wedding Pros (with Carl E. Reid, CEO of iPower); and Martine (The Vendor Lab): Systems, Automations & AI for creative businesses.

• Closing Session: Reflections + Insights with Martine & Tatiana. Then it’s time to sparkle at the Evening Gala—formal dinner, awards, and sponsor recognition.

Day 3: Create the Portfolio You Came For

Choose from four styled-shoot editorials running concurrently—Modern Romance, Afro-Futuristic Love, Whimsical Woods, and Burning Man Meets Boho—with defined roles so teams can work like real wedding days.

Who will get the most from this lineup?

• Newer vendors who need systems, messaging, and a network.

• Growing studios optimizing for profit and process.

• Leads-rich, time-poor owners ready to let AI and automation take the busywork.

Ready to join us? Grab your pass to Rooted & Refined and meet the people who’ll change your next season.