Finally, The Pink Retreat in Palm Beach was back on this year! It had been canceled for the last 2 years due to the pandemic, and I missed it for one. 500 Lilly Pulitzer-loving ladies descending on Palm Beach, we are really quite the sight. The event runs Thursday through Sunday but I always come in a day ahead and stay a day later. This gives me time to relax and visit a few shops before the weekend kicks off. The event is put on by Tosha Davis Williams, a Lilly lover who had the vision to bring Lilly lovers together for a weekend of celebration and friendship. The 1st event was in 2018 and I attended it in 2019. It was so nice to reconnect with friends that I had met and stayed in touch with. I also met and connected with so many friends too, even one from my hometown.
The first year I stayed and The Colony but for the last two years, I have stayed at The Brazilian Court. It is a beautiful resort and in each room you feel like you are in your own private resort. We are spread out at different hotels throughout Palm Beach and West Palm.
There are so many different activities to pick and choose from. Your registration includes a swag bag, shopping parties at Lilly Pulitzer, happy hour events, and a farewell gathering. I like that you can pick your activities or choose to just relax. There are paint events, wine tasting, yoga, and tea to choose from. The only extras I did were tea and yoga, and it rained so much that I skipped the outdoor yoga. I do space my events out just to have time to explore and enjoy the pool. The pool in The Brazilian Court is lovely and was the perfect spot to spend my last day there relaxing.
The event begins with check-in at The Colony. The first day is a welcome/shopping party hosted by Lilly Pulitzer. They always have champagne and little surprises for the group. I created a custom shift dress(the Palm Beach store is the only one to offer this service). I can’t wait to get it. My friends and I enjoyed lunch at Taboo after shopping.
That evening, Happy Hour was held at the Garden Pavillion. A beautiful indoor/outdoor space in the heart of downtown. It was a sea of Lilly and we enjoyed cocktails, food, and friendship. Lilly Pulitzer gave away a custom shift and bag too. This area is lovely with live music and plenty of restaurants to walk to for dinner or drinks. Our group went back to the island and had dinner at The Leopard Lounge in The Chesterfield. The Chesterfield is a British-inspired hotel and has quite the nightlife.
Friday started out with a walking tour from Rick Rose. If you ever get the opportunity to take one of his tours, I highly recommend it. He is the authority on all things Palm Beach. I never get tired of his tours and always learn something new. We kept the afternoon free to browse and wander all of the little shops and areas on Palm Beach. Friday evening is Girls Night with nothing planned. A few of us went to The Breakers for dinner and drinks. The Breakers is historical and incredible and it is always a fun evening.
Saturday was my favorite event of all, Tea at the Flagler Museum. The entire experience was amazing. Our waiter was so fun. and even photo bombed us too. We did the audio tour of the museum and learned more about the Flagler family and their time in Palm Beach. The house was exactly what you would expect from old Palm Beach. I even picked up a few little mementos too. Saturday evening, the National Croquet Club hosted our Pink Party event. What a beautiful venue. The champagne was flowing, the food was delicious, and the music was so fun. An electric violinist was playing all night. Palm Beach Sandals hosted a pop-up and I picked up a new pair from of sandals from Brittany. I love her custom sandals. After the party, we headed back to The Brazilian Court and stayed in the lounge. It was also raining like crazy.
Sunday was the Farewell Party. I did not go this year. I spent the day relaxing in the pool. My friend and I stayed an extra day so we enjoyed walking around Palm Beach and down to the Clock Tower after our pool day. Our night ended with dinner and drinks at The Breakers.
I am already looking forward to next year. Where I live there are very few Lilly lovers like me so being able to get together with this group means so much. I have made friends with people from all over the country and I love catching up with them in my travels. The Pink Retreat really is a special event. Lilly Pulitzer would be proud.
If you would like to learn more about The Pink Retreat click HERE.
Until next week,
Carrie
Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesign Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Personal Stylist with Carrie Kelly Boutique, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.
