In 2011, I purchased my first Erin Condren Life Planner. Fast forward a few years later and I started joining planner/planning related groups on Facebook. I found the group Planners Gone Wild and I've met so many amazing friends throughout the planner community because of this group.
The admins of the Planners Gone Wild group put on a huge planner conference once a year called Go Wild. In 2016, the first Go Wild was in New Orleans. I did not attend that one.
The admins knock the Go Wild planner conferences out of the park each and every time. Their attention to detail is impeccable. All of the sponsors, speakers, volunteers, entertainment, etc. do so much work for this event and it truly is a huge accomplishment that they pull off each year.
In 2017, they had the conference in Nashville, TN and that was my first conference that I attended. Here is a blog post about that trip: Go Wild 2017. In 2018, they had the conference in Austin, Texas. I've been meaning to blog about that trip for a long time now and I'm finally doing so today.
On May 2nd, my friend L and I traveled to Austin, Texas for the conference. The first thing we did after we got to the hotel and got settled was to head to the Erin Condren store. We visited this store again on Friday during the conference and it was so amazing both times. The first time we visited, Erin Condren hopped onto my Instagram Live video and it was so fun. She remembered me from when we met last year at the conference and I was blown away that she remembered me and my name. In the planner community, Erin Condren is one of the biggest names so getting to meet her and see her at these conferences is amazing. I'm blown away by her story. The Erin Condren store is so beautiful and amazing.
^Inside the Erin Condren store.^
^The famous planner steps.^
^I had to get a picture in front of the famous steps.^
^I loved this wall at the EC store.^
On Thursday, we registered for the conference which meant that we received our lanyard with our name tags, a swag bag filled with fun stuff, and our conference t-shirt. They had meet & greets this day with some of the conference speakers, the EC pop-up shop was open, and there were lots of other fun activities to do.
^They had a real llama during the meet & greets and activity sections. The llama is the mascot of the Wild for Planners/ Planners Gone Wild group.^
^I got my picture taken with the official llama mascot.^
^Getting to meet and talk to Erin Condren always fills me with excitement and joy.^
^I loved getting to meet Emily Ley during the meet & greets.^
Friday & Saturday are the two days of the conference. On Friday, the speakers at the conference were Erin Condren, Meka Allen, Emily Ley, and Heidi Swapp. On Saturday, the speakers were an all-star planner panel, Kristin of Krissy Anne Designs, Stephanie Fleming and Dascha Polanco was the keynote speaker.
On the first day of the conference you line up and get to choose a table to sit at. Each table is sponsored by a different company (some companies do multiple tables.) I sat at the Krissy Anne Designs table and Kristin & Damian (her husband), absolutely spoiled us. Krissy Anne Designs is one of my favorite sticker shops and companies.
^The KAD table.^
On Friday, I asked a question during the Erin Condren Q & A section and Erin said "Is that Amy Rae Plans 5?" That's my Instagram name and when I saw Erin at the store on Wednesday, she said "Hi, Amy Rae Plans." and her SIL told her "It's not Amy Rae Plans, it's Amy Rae Plans 5." I couldn't believe she said that when I asked my question. It was really funny.
Also, on Friday, I got to meet the owner of my all-time favorite sticker shop, Scribble Prints Co. Andrea didn't attend the event but she came to the hotel to hang out with her friends and I was doing some planning in the Starbucks at the lobby. I was overjoyed that I got to meet her. I have been able to see her at some other events since this one happened and it's always so much fun getting to see her and talk to her in person.
^This was stunning!^
^This llama must have thought we were all llama impostors. Lol.^
^Double the llamas, double the fun!^
On Saturday night, the last event of the conference is always the Planjama party. Everyone wears pajamas, there's entertainment, an open bar, yummy food, and lots of fun.
^Hotel room selfie before the Planjama party starts.^
^A picture of Erin Condren & I before the planjama party started. I'm wearing the Erin Condren mid-century circles pajamas. They are so comfortable and so bright and fun!^
I had an amazing time at my second Go Wild planner conference. I also attended the conference this year when it was held in Las Vegas. I will have a recap of that trip up before the end of this year!
Unfortunately, due to my health issues and not being able to work the majority of this year, I will not be able to attend the 2020 Go Wild Conference (which is taking place in Anaheim, California) due to lack of funds. However, if I could afford it, I would go to every single Go Wild Planner Conference. I have the time of my life at these conferences. I soak up so much inspiration from the speakers and from being in a room filled with people who have the same love, joy, and passion for planning as I do.
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