Credit: Photos by Sarah Aurora Photography.
There's a particular kind of energy at the start of World of Weddings. Suitcases roll through the lobby, someone spots a friend they haven't seen since last year, and the hugs start before anyone has even found their room. On Monday, November 2, that energy filled the Cancún Marriott as ABC members arrived for World of Weddings 2026.
Settling in
Registration opened at 11 a.m. in the Maya Foyer, where Michole Council and our volunteers had everything ready: badges, conference details, and swag bags packed by our volunteer team the day before. A huge thank-you to Mia Donald and Barbara Green, who led registration and kept the line moving with a smile.
Learning before the welcome toast
WOW never waits long to get to the good stuff. Our Master Presentations panels gave members working toward ABC's highest designation a close look at what the process involves and how to prepare.
In the afternoon, Nicole Zillman, ABC's Vice President of Travel, led our Travel & Destination Wedding Training. It covered how to plan and sell FAM trips and destination weddings, then moved out of the meeting room for a working site inspection of the Marriott. Attendees saw firsthand what to look for when evaluating a resort for a couple: room categories, event spaces, sightlines, and the questions to ask the sales team.
A special welcome for our first-timers
At 6:30 p.m., 26 first-time attendees gathered on the Sunset Terrace for the First-Time Attendee Meet & Greet. The full ABC leadership team and our State Directors were there to welcome them, answer questions, and make sure nobody walked into the Opening Reception without a few new friends.
If this was your first WOW, we're so glad you came. You're part of the family now.
The Opening Reception
As the sun went down, everyone came together on the Sunset Terrace for the ABC Opening Reception. President Veronica Foster welcomed the room, and Lois Pearce, VP of Membership, gave a cultural introduction to our host country, a reminder that we were guests in a place with deep traditions of its own. Moonlight Music RM provided the entertainment, and the conversations went late into the evening.
It was the perfect start to a week built around this year's theme, The Business of Romance.
Next up: Day 2, with our opening session, two speakers, a surprise, and a very pink pool party.
