What a Treat: Engage!25 Comes to Santa Barbara
We were thrilled to see Santa Barbara shine as the backdrop for Engage!25 this December at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. Watching our beloved American Riviera welcome some of the industry's most influential wedding and event professionals was truly special.
A huge congratulations to Tyler Speier for his stunning creative direction and floral design throughout the summit. Tyler's vision brought such elegance and intentionality to every space, perfectly capturing the essence of what makes Santa Barbara so magical.
We also want to celebrate Florabundance and CEO Joost Bongaerts for their incredible support as the exclusive floral wholesaler. Joost's long-standing commitment to the floral and event community—and his deep roots right here in Carpinteria—make him a true pillar of our industry. His expertise and generosity continue to elevate events locally and nationwide.
It's always inspiring to see our local talent and trusted partners recognized on such a prestigious stage. Here's Joost's reflection on the experience:
Engage! summits have long been recognized as among the most influential gatherings in the luxury wedding and event industry, bringing together senior planners, designers, venues, and creative partners who help shape the direction of the industry. Engage!25 Santa Barbara, held December 8–11, 2025 at the iconic Ritz-Carlton Bacara, once again demonstrated the value of coming together with intention.
Set along the California coastline, the summit unfolded over three immersive days where industry experts, speakers, and presenters helped set the framework for conversation, collaboration, and creativity, generating real value and lasting return for attendees.
Florabundance was honored to serve as the exclusive floral wholesaler for Engage!25, supporting the creative vision led by Tyler Speier, who served as Creative Director, Planner, and Floral Designer. Working closely with Tyler and his exceptional Santa Barbara floral design team, florals were thoughtfully integrated throughout the property, enhancing arrival moments, shared spaces, and immersive installations while remaining deeply connected to place.
Florabundance supports designers nationwide with overnight shipping, allowing creative teams to work with confidence regardless of location.
Flowers Supporting the Experience
At Engage!25, flowers were never meant to stand alone. They played a supporting role, helping define space, soften architecture, and create an atmosphere that encouraged people to slow down, connect, and be present.
From my perspective, this is where florals are at their most effective. They quietly reinforce the experience rather than competing for attention. Supporting that vision across a three-day event required disciplined sourcing, thoughtful logistics, and a shared understanding of the overall design intent.
Florabundance drew from trusted American and international growers to ensure consistency, freshness, and continuity throughout the summit, allowing designers to focus fully on creativity and attendees to focus on connection.
A National Partner with Operational Depth
Florabundance serves floral designers and event professionals nationwide, shipping fresh-cut flowers overnight across the United States to support projects that demand both quality and reliability. Santa Barbara remains one of the most sought-after wedding and event destinations in the country, bringing with it high expectations for execution, timing, and consistency.
With extensive facilities, broad product access, and an experienced team, Florabundance is well positioned to support destination events at this level while maintaining the care and attention luxury environments require.
That combination of national reach, overnight logistics, and operational depth made Florabundance a natural partner for Engage!25.
Industry Partners and Contributors
Engage!25 Santa Barbara was supported by a number of valued floral partners whose contributions helped bring the overall vision to life. We are grateful to the following growers and suppliers for their support:
Alexandra Farms
Camflor
Central California Flower Growers
Continental Floral Greens
EZ Flower
Floral Supply Syndicate
Fresca Farms
GroFlowers
Mellano & Company
Naranjo Roses
Rosaprima
Select Growers
Their participation played an important role in maintaining quality, scale, and consistency across the event.
The Value of Gathering
What stood out most over these three days was the power of connection. Engage! is built on networking, but in the most genuine sense, creating space for conversations that deepen relationships and often translate into long-term return on investment.
In an industry built on trust and collaboration, taking the time to gather matters. A three-day format allows ideas to develop, relationships to strengthen, and inspiration to surface in ways that simply are not possible in shorter settings.
Closing Note
To everyone who attended, contributed, and helped bring Engage!25 Santa Barbara to life, thank you. Our industry is built on long hours, creativity, and an extraordinary amount of care behind the scenes. Making time to come together, step away from daily demands, and invest in relationships is not always easy, but it is deeply valuable.
Events like Engage! create space for meaningful connection. The conversations that unfold over three days often lead to collaborations and opportunities that last far beyond the event itself. That kind of return, measured in trust, shared ideas, and community, is what makes the experience so impactful.
Tyler Speier Engage!25 Creative Director and Joost Bongaerts Florabundance CEO and Wholesale Flower Sponsor
As someone who lives and works locally, with Florabundance based in Carpinteria, it was especially meaningful to welcome so many industry peers to Santa Barbara. Working alongside Tyler Speier and his talented Santa Barbara floral design team, and seeing our local creative community represented on a global stage, was a point of pride.
And to those who traveled from near and far, thank you for making the journey. Your presence, openness, and generosity of spirit are what make Engage! more than an event. They are what make it a true gathering of our industry.
Read the full article on the Florabundance site, HERE.
Photos by Liz Banfield and Eric Kelley