Coterie Retreat Bahamas: Day 1 Recap! -Munaluchi Bride

Welcome to the Coterie Retreat, MunaLuchi’s annual three-day conference for wedding and event professionals servicing the multicultural market. Launched in 2014, the Coterie Retreat connects vendors with giants of the industry, to continue mastering the best practices of their craft. More than just your average conference, the Coterie Retreat is a complete experience, championing inclusion, diversity, and community within the multicultural wedding and events industry.

Following a highly successful 2018 Coterie Retreat in Bermuda, the 2019 Retreat was hosted in the beautiful Bahamas, at the stunning Baha Mar in Nassau. Set along miles of pristine beaches, with over 40 dining and nightlife options, full casino, golf course, racquet club, spas, nature sanctuary, and more – this luxurious Caribbean resort was the perfect destination for three days of networking, professional presentations, and fun-in-the-sun.

Day one of the 2019 Coterie Retreat officially kicked off with an introduction by author, speaker, all-around influencer, and event moderator Karli Harvey Raymond. Also the event moderator for the 2019 MunaLuchi Coterie Retreat in Bermuda, Karli began with reflections on her previous Retreat experiences and offered guidance on how best to make the most of what the next few days had to offer. While MunaLuchi co-founders and husband and wife team, Chike Nwobu (Company President) and Jacquline Nwobu (Editor-in-Chief), welcomed everyone to the sixth annual Coterie Retreat.

Continuing the opening greetings was Senior Vice President of the host resort Baha Mar, Robert Sands, speaking to the numerous resources that Baha Mar has to offer to the wedding industry. The Honorable, Minister of Tourism & Aviation, Dionisio J D’Aguilar finished off the opening greetings by speaking to the resilience of the beautiful Islands of the Bahamas, its leadership in the tourism industry, and how pleased he is to be hosting the 2019 MunaLuchi Coterie Retreat.

Author, Public Speaker, Behavioral Psychologist, and Founder of Think Splendid, a wedding business consulting firm that assists industry leaders in successfully profiting from their business, Liene Stevens spoke to the ever-evolving wedding industry and how you can make the necessary adjustments to cater to the different wants and needs of Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z clients.

Reinvention Strategist, Life Coach, Serial Entrepreneur, TV Personality, Creator of the Godfidence and founder of SHE Profits, Marshawn Evans Daniels, spoke in a lecture titled “Upgrade Your Income with Reinvention Strategy.” Marshawn emphasized the importance of purpose in pursuing one’s goals and how to achieve those goals with a key-step diagram. Find Marshawn’s latest book here; Believe Bigger: Discover the Path to Your Life Purpose.

Psychotherapist, 5-time best-selling author, award-winning speaker and TV personality, Jack Daniels, spoke on the power of story-telling, and how to “unleash your story” by reevaluating the story of your own life with a new perspective, and how that new perspective can help you accomplish your goals and become the person you want to be.

Following the presentations were multiple workshop sessions, including one by master wedding and event planners Tiffany Chalk of Tiffany Chalk Events and Tamuel Cowart of RW Events, who opened up the floor for a Q & A session, exchanging key strategies for catering to the modern bride & groom, as well as navigating top-level events. Makeup Artist Danessa Myricks led a masterclass in makeup application, demonstrating techniques for ensuring that your bride glows brightly on her big day. Floral design industry leaders, Eddie Zaratsian and Akeshi Akinseye led a hands-on floral class to further enhance and attune the creative eye while providing a valuable Q & A along the way. Photographer Lyndah Wells led a photo-walk throughout downtown Nassau, guiding workshop attendees on their path to sharpening the photographer’s eye while continuing to add to their technical camera knowledge. Photographer and Coterie Ambassador, Nana Annan provided time for an open headshot cafe, allowing attendees to update that most important of professional images for one’s portfolio and social media.

The first evening of the 2019 Coterie Retreat Bahamas was finished off with an island-chic welcome party hosted at the Graycliff. Located in the heart of Nassau, Graycliff is a historic colonial mansion within a lush tropical garden, featuring a five-star restaurant and tranquil hotel. Attendees were welcomed with signature drinks and the live music of a Junkanoo band – a costumed musical performance of mixed African cultural origins. A delicious dinner was served, consisting of a menu of island favorites, delectable desserts, and a cigar rolling station to finish.

Stay tuned to MunaLuchi social media for news and updates about the 2020 MunaLuchi Coterie Retreat. Click here for information on becoming a Coterie member. View the Summer 2019 Issue of MunaLuchi Bride magazine here!

Acknowledgments:

General Sessions:
Conference Coordinator: Tiffany Chalk Events
Stage Flowers: Wildflowers Events & Occasions
Linens: Wildflowers Events & Occasions
Venue: Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
Photography/Videography Team: Felicity Moments, Lyndah Wells Photography, Braxton Gardiner Photography, Trene Forbes Photography
In Partnership with Visit the Bahamas