The global luxury wedding industry turned its gaze to Macao from 22 to 24 April 2026, as over 350 of the world's most influential destination wedding planners, designers, hospitality leaders and creative partners gathered at host hotel, Londoner Grand, Sands Resorts Macao for the DWP Congress 2026, organised by QnA International.
Bringing together experts from over 70 countries, the congress stood as one of the most powerful platforms shaping the future of destination weddings, while positioning Macao as a compelling choice for couples seeking celebrations that are both culturally rich and effortlessly luxurious.
For QnA International, the vision for that year's congress reflected the transformation of the industry itself. Sidh NC, Co-Founder and Managing Director of QnA International, shared: "Macao embodies the next chapter, the cultural fusion of east meets west, a city with soul, scale and sophistication. Its blend of heritage, gastronomy and world-class infrastructure creates extraordinary possibilities. We believe Sands Resorts Macao will inspire planners to reimagine what destination weddings can become."
As a host destination, Macao continued to inspire the global wedding and luxury celebrations community. Ariel Leanne Chen of Le Rêve Events International noted, "Macao offers a unique balance of heritage, luxury and accessibility, creating a distinctive setting for sophisticated, multi-day celebrations."
As the global community converged at DWP Congress Macao 2026, conversations went far beyond inspiration, focusing on the future of collaboration, innovation and storytelling within the luxury celebrations space. The programme opened with a keynote by Preston Bailey, followed by luxury hospitality industry leader Stephanie Tanpure, and a series of thought-provoking fireside chats, panels, innovation pods and DWP Atelier Masterclasses.
Topics ranged from the integration of technology and AI-driven personalisation to the growing importance of sustainability and culturally immersive design, spotlighting how industry leaders are redefining excellence. In this shared environment of ideas and influence, DWP Congress Macao actively shaped the next era of destination weddings, where creativity, connection and conscious luxury converged to set new global benchmarks.
Across the industry, a clear shift unfolded as weddings evolved into immersive journeys. Rita Abou Eid, CEO of Click Production, captured it well: "Weddings are no longer just events but highly curated experiences that reflect the couple's story, culture and lifestyle. We are seeing a strong rise in multi-day immersive celebrations and elevated aesthetics with intentional design that create unforgettable moments."
Kissandra Qi of Origin DMC & Events echoed this sentiment: "We are seeing highly personalised storytelling, multi-day experiences for guests and deep local cultural integration," underlining the growing demand for meaning and depth in every celebration.
Tourism boards, too, were embracing this evolution.
Elman Mammadov from the Azerbaijan Tourism Board shared, "Our key objective is to showcase Azerbaijan's unique blend of rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and high-end hospitality infrastructure to a global audience, while building meaningful partnerships with international stakeholders. The global wedding planner community plays a crucial role in our growth, as these professionals are key influencers in destination selection."
Levan Japaridze of the Convention and Exhibition Bureau of Georgia reflected a similar shift: "Couples are moving toward highly curated, experience-led celebrations and are seeking destinations that feel unique yet deliver seamless, high-quality hospitality."
Natavan Huseynova of Baku Marriott Boulevard Hotel added, "We are seeing a strong shift towards intimate, experience-led celebrations and a growing demand for scenic diversity, where couples can combine city, sea and mountain experiences within one cohesive journey."
Luxury hospitality brands were also redefining how weddings are experienced. Sanjay Patti of Alila Fort Bishangarh reflected, "Weddings are moving toward intimacy, immersion and intention. True luxury lies not in moments of scale, but in moments that stay with you long after the celebration ends."
Digvijay Singh added, "We are seeing micro-luxury weddings, experiential multi-day celebrations and a growing focus on sustainability and conscious luxury, where personalisation and storytelling are key."
Marina Palau and Cristina Muñoz of Finca Mas Solers observed, "Guest lists may be smaller, but expectations are significantly higher, with emphasis on privacy, exclusivity and highly tailored service."
At a more personal level, the way weddings were crafted continued to evolve. Amy Pan of HK Marriage Celebrant Co Ltd. shared, "A wedding ceremony is the emotional core of the celebration. By crafting meaningful personal vows and weaving in special touches, we transform each ceremony into something truly unforgettable."
Stanley Wong of Culinary Catering added, "We aim to create 'wow' moments through interactive dining, globally inspired menus and immersive culinary storytelling that stays with guests long after the event."
Aminath Zaady of Brennia Kottefaru reflected, "True luxury lies in emotion. Every wedding begins with a story, and we focus on creating moments that are deeply felt and remembered long after the celebration ends."
The global creative community was united in its admiration for Macao as a wedding destination. AI expert and wedding planner Anne Jang of Ryohan + Anne Jang described it as "a place where love, luxury and celebration come together naturally." Jessy Karam, Founder and Creative Director of Strawberries & Champagne, called it "a dreamy destination with cultural richness and architectural grandeur."
Evelyn Mills, Founder of Marriage Maestros and Wedding Maestros, saw it as "a seamless blend of tradition and modern luxury," while Larry Walshe, Founder and Creative Director of Larry Walshe Studios, highlighted its "visually stunning and culturally rich backdrops."
Afi Amoro, Founder and CEO of Jandel Limited, captured its spirit: "This is a place that understands that a celebration is never simply an event, it is a statement." Lelian Chew, Founder and Creative Director of The Wedding Atelier, called it "the grandest East meets West fairytale setting."
Professor Simone Bianco, Assistant Professor at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, described Macao as "a destination with genuine history, genuine soul and the logistical sophistication to deliver flawlessly." Joseph Radhik, Founder of Stories by Joseph Radhik, simply said, "Macao is a taste of the world in 30 square kilometres."
Wendy El-Khoury, Founder and CEO of Wedded Wonderland, summed it up as "where culture meets luxury."
Nicole Froelich of Nicole Please Weddings praised "the perfect balance of excitement, luxury and logistical ease," while Kevin Lee, President of Luxury Events by Kevin Lee, noted "a seamless blend of old-world European romance with modern Asian luxury."
Sumant Jayakrishnan, Founder of Sumant Jayakrishnan Design, reflected that "its fantastic architecture and magical performances make it a perfect destination for celebrations."
Rani Moriani of Revel Events HK Ltd. added, "Its connectivity, opulence and cultural richness make it an ideal destination for immersive wedding experiences."
As the industry gathered in Macao that April, the message was clear: weddings were no longer defined by how grand they appeared, but by how deeply they were felt. In Macao, every celebration found not just a destination, but a story waiting to unfold.
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