Haven Conference Recap
This past weekend I attended my first ever Haven Conference in Atlanta. To be honest, it was my first blog conference ever! Haven is one of the best design and DIY conferences out there and I’ve been wanting to go for a few years. Having never been before, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect, but I knew from reading past bloggers’ experiences with the conferences that it would be incredible.
The Location
First of all, the event was held at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead. I can’t even describe how gorgeous this hotel is! They have huge conference facilities, a zen garden, waterfall, fruit-infused water in the lobby, and so much more! The hotel also has a courtesy shuttle that will take you anywhere within 2 miles of the hotel. That may not sound like very far, but it’s more than enough considering all the dining options in that radius.
The People
So. Many. People. I honestly couldn’t believe how many people were at this conference. Despite the fact that there were so many people, the conference organizers did a great job of making sure there were enough activities and classes so that very rarely were all of the attendees fighting for seats for something at one time.
There were also plenty of opportunities to meet new people. The first night of the conference there was a Newbie meetup group so everyone attending the conference for the first time could have an opportunity to connect and mingle. Everyone was also assigned to a mentor group so each day we could meet with our smaller group to ask questions, talk about the classes that we went to, get advice, etc… And everyone was SOOO nice that there was absolutely no intimidation felt for being a Newbie!
The Classes
The classes were my favorite aspect of the conference because I learned so much! Within the first 5 minutes of the first class I went to, I felt reassurance that I was in the right place to really take my blog to the next level. I was also able to take some classes to learn about things that I’m not currently doing because I’m not as familiar with the technology, like podcasting. From Adobe Lightroom to Podcasting to being strategic with creating content and so much more, I walked away from the conference feeling slightly overwhelmed because of all of the information, but more so I felt inspired and excited to get home and get to work!
The Stuff
There is no shortage of swag at this conference! Upon checking in to the conference, everyone received a huge tote bag that was overfilled with awesome products from sponsors. Then, throughout the conference there are opportunities to meet various brands, try out new products, and walk away with some more swag! I’m not even kidding when I say this, if you’re going to go to Haven for the first time, take an extra bag for all the stuff you’re going to get so you don’t have to leave any of it behind.
Will I go back?
YES! This isn’t even a question! I walked away from Haven feeling so inspired and motivated that I plan on attending the Haven Conference for quite some time. If you haven’t ever attended a blog conference and you’re thinking of going to one, I would highly recommend Haven! And for some extra enticement, next year’s conference is going to be held in Charleston, South Carolina! Hope to see you all there!
