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Karen Tran’s Masterclass: How I Mastered the Production of High-End Events, Mingled and Made Friends with Amazing, Like-Minded Designers, and Had an Experience of a Lifetime in Italy

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to make everything I touch beautiful. I see a space and I see the possibilities. I hear about an event and I dream about how I would orchestrate it. There’s something deep within me that loves creating divine experiences and watching others delight in them. This is the very thing that Karen Tran’s Masterclass, The Floral Experience, helps designers perfect.

When I registered for Karen Tran’s Masterclass: The Floral Experience Masterclass in Italy, I was ready to be wowed, stretched, and an even more influential and prestigious designer. I’ve attended 3 masterclasses with Karen, because there is always something new to learn plus they’re hosted at the most exquisite and exotic places. If I have an opportunity to add more depth and richness to my craft, I spread my wings and fly right into it.

The 3-day intensive event was a hands-on course where we learned from Karen and then got to put our new skills to use, completing centerpieces, arranging florals, and piecing together design elements. We also listened to and learned from other top-notch guest speakers on various business topics, got to know other amazing designers, and couldn’t help but be inspired by their stories.

Karen Tran’s Masterclass was more than a high-end design course, however. It was the experience of a lifetime where I not only learned new skills, but met new friends, made new collaborations, and experienced a new culture. I met the faces behind remarkable vendors and saw their exceptional talent firsthand. How can a person leave unchanged after that?!

Karen’s 3-day masterclass was hosted at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, a glamorous hotel in Sorrento. You cannot turn a corner in the Excelsior Vittoria without being washed in warmth and charm. This hotel is the goosebump kind of beautiful—when I stepped through the extraordinary entrance, my breath caught and I was taken aback by the exquisite character, history, and grandness of it all. Plus, the rooms feature the most breathtaking sea view that’s even more magical at sunrise and sunset.

Not only is it beautiful, but from arrival to departure the service and hospitality was exceptional. The food was so delightful and always paired and cooked to precision.

The beauty of the hotel itself would have been enough, but we were also nestled in the most serene, picturesque place in Italy. Amidst the bustle and excitement, I could feel my busy soul find rest and a renewed sense of creativity and drive within it.

From gala dinners to live music, we not only learned how to design an exquisite event, but we got to witness every element of a luxurious, high-end experience, too.

As part of the masterclass, Karen taught us how to:

Create a signature wedding style for today’s luxury market
Use social media to advance our business
Design and put together a grand scale floral feature, including a floral wall, floral entrance, and oversized hanging florals
Create stunning, over-the-top floral pieces and table settings using luxury linen, stationery, fine china, and fresh flowers
Refine your brand to target a luxury market and so much more

The entire experience shaped my business and skills, but it also shaped me inwardly. It changed the way I experience life and want others to experience it through the events I plan and design.

The Lovely Vendors Who Accentuated the Masterclass

In honor of the new friendships I made, I also wanted to give a shout out to the amazing vendors who contributed to the beauty and wonder of Karen’s Masterclass.

To highlight a few, Rosaprima provided the most beautiful, iconic roses for the event. Their roses are vibrant and responsibly grown, which made them even more exceptional. I absolutely loved them.

On Day 2 of the masterclass, we had the privilege of attending a dinner party at Villa Silvana. Nestled on a natural cliff overlooking the Gulf of Naples, this venue is the most enchanting and serene space. With its panoramic view, gardens, and terraces, it’s the place of dreams—a place you never want to leave. I surely didn’t.

For another glimpse at Karen’s remarkable masterclass in Italy, check out the Instagram stories beautifully captured by Detito Photography. They’re simply amazing.

Here are all the vendors who made the masterclass ever so special and their Instagram handles, so you can check them out for yourself:

Planners:
@biancobouquetweddings

@gettingmarriedinitaly

Venue: @excelsiorvittoria

Support Florist: @labflor.aiello @fioristaalbino01 @pasqualedipaolofiorista

@maricasettembre

Florist supplies: @miryamflowers2017

Wedding rental & production:@andreariccioweddingsolution

Flowers: @gfreshpiet

Roses: @rosaprimaroses

Photography: @detitophotography

Video: @giovannioreficefilms