The Ultimate Guide to Attending Wedding MBA
Wedding MBA is just around the corner, coming up on November 12-14! Even if you’re a well-seasoned wedding pro, there’s plenty of prep that goes into attending one of the biggest industry conferences of the year. Let’s dive into the major “do’s” before you hop on your flight to Vegas.
On the topic of travel
In short, it’s really crucial that you set yourself up for success when it comes to travel. November is specifically notable for Daylight Savings Time, so jet lag may hit you especially hard if you live in a different time zone. Timeshifter is wonderful for providing you with actionable tips on adjusting, regardless of where you’re coming from.
It’s worth noting that you should review flights ahead of time to make sure there haven’t been any changes (such as shorter layovers) that could negatively impact your travel. Alternatively, if you have a longer layover, scope out lounges where you can work or relax in between.
Set goals ahead of time
Wedding MBA is an investment of time and money, so it’s not something to take lightly or wait until the last minute to fly by the seat of your pants. Ask yourself — what has to happen for this to be a success? Consider getting a small group of other attendees together to chat about goals and see if you can fill in the gaps for one another.
From there, think about what you need to do to make those goals happen. For example, if there are certain speakers on your “must meet” list, be sure to review the MBA schedule and mark down when they are speaking so you can squeeze in a quick hello. It doesn’t hurt to also set aside some time for yourself when you get home to assess what worked and what you would change.
Schedule, schedule, schedule
Be mindful that while it’s great to have a few days to cover education, networking, and attending events, it truly flies by fast. Mapping out everything ahead of time will streamline your schedule and create pockets of downtime for meals and connecting with people you may not typically see.
Additionally, keep an eye out for MBA-adjacent events (in addition to the Wedding MBA Official Party on November 13), such as the Emerge Event Collective dinner. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet some new faces and increase your community, both on-site and long-term
Las Vegas specifics
Vegas notoriously has a million things to do, all conference things aside. That said, for convenience's sake, I highly recommend taking advantage of the monorail to and from the Convention Center if you aren’t within walking distance. Get familiar with the stops and consider purchasing a pass online
Beyond that, there are so many great restaurants and activities, but popular ones fill up quickly. Make reservations online in advance, particularly if you’re going to invite some new connections to dinner, for example. If you have a few extra days in Vegas, it’s never a bad idea to explore in the off-time
If this is your first Wedding MBA or your tenth, it’s never too late to switch up your strategy and try something new to prep for your upcoming year in business!
