To start with, I want to say, that this year’s WordCamp Europe was special for me because of all the promotion beforehand. There were so many articles, posts, videos, and even a podcast. The dragon-inspired podcast completely stole my heart. Kasia Janoska did an amazing job hosting it, and it was a pleasure to tell her that in person.
The event design was wonderful. From the first post published to the event merch — it was all gorgeous! I loved the patterns, colors, and overall consistency.
Table of Contents
Preparation
I was so happy that this year’s WCEU was in Krakow because it was much easier for me to get there. In total, I had two trains to reach Krakow, and it will be the same on my way back to Ukraine. The whole journey took around 20 hours, but thanks to the comfortable Ukrainian night train, it wasn’t bad at all.
Contributor Day
Robert and I joined Contributor Day, the day before the actual event. What can I say?
I joined the Documentation Team, led by Milana and Estela, and I’m thankful for how well everything was organized:
- Clear instructions on how to get started
- Clear guidance on what to do
- Great communication and support
I realized that this was actually my first time contributing to WordPress GitHub repositories.
I had the opportunity to address some comments and issues I found. For example, I suggested an addition to the AI Connectors guide explaining what users should see after connecting the API, as that was exactly where I got stuck the first time I tested it.
Now I have a much better understanding of how the documentation process works behind the scenes, and I can confirm that everyone is welcome to contribute!
When I get back from my vacation, I will definitely check whether my suggestions were helpful.
Sponsorship
This year, I joined the Melapress team, and they have been continually attending and sponsoring WordCamp Europe. My job beforehand was to analyze how previous years went, what was published, what activities were done, and what worked well. It helped me prepare better for this year’s event and do more.
My role was mostly focused on social media content, so I planned posts and figured out what I should film in advance because I was scared as hell 😅. Every time I’m doing something new, it’s scary, but of course interesting.
I was most afraid of forgetting to press the record button 🤦♀️. Thankfully, I met Imran from Web Squadron, Lex from Techies Reviews, and Jimmy from The Webonaut. They helped and supported me in overcoming that fear a bit.
And I managed to film five videos with clients! I think that’s a success for the first time 😄. And a lot of gratitude to our clients, who agreed for the video.
The position of our booth was okay. We were on the second floor, and it was much calmer there. It gave us time to actually talk with clients and partners and have more meaningful conversations.
On the ground floor, things felt much crazier. Most people seemed focused on collecting swag rather than talking to sponsors. But that’s just my assumption — I’d be curious to hear feedback from other sponsors.
Organization
I think the entire WordCamp Europe team did an amazing job.
Just imagine: they start preparations immediately after the previous WordCamp, and they do it completely voluntarily. I don’t think we thank them enough.
There were always snacks, water, juice, and food available. I constantly had the feeling that refreshments were everywhere.
The only thing I personally didn’t enjoy was the lunch, but that’s completely subjective.
Side Events
Every year I register for side events and then regret it. Let me explain.
When you’re sponsoring, you need to stay fresh, talk to people, and represent your company. That takes a lot of energy. Personally, I’d rather skip most side events next time, except for quieter dinners. Loud music definitely doesn’t help my voice the next day.
For the final WordCamp party, though, it’s a completely different story.
Final Party
I really want to highlight the party. It was AWESOME! 🎉
The party wasn’t at the main venue, but free transportation was included with our badges, so no problem there.
It was a music club, but it had so many great areas: spaces for food, drinks, games, dancing, and even separate quiet rooms for conversations.
I enjoyed it so much because the event was finished and I could finally relax completely.
I met Gregor from Slovenia, Sam from Canada (who now lives in Poland), and Sambor from Malta. As many people as there were, there were just as many unique stories and experiences.
We spent the entire evening together because of the amazing conversations, games, and a little bit of dancing. If I hadn’t had an early morning train, I definitely would have stayed longer.
Because that’s really the whole point: networking. And I’m sure you’ll find your people — those with similar interests and passions. I absolutely love that.
Team
I am so grateful to Melapress for sponsoring my travel.
The team was incredibly supportive. We worked hard, did our best, and didn’t forget to have fun along the way.
Now Robert’s words are stuck with me:
If you’re having fun and enjoying it, then it’s all worth it.
I’m grateful to be part of such an amazing team.
Thank you, guys, if you’re reading this ❤️
Overall Impressions
My final thoughts:
- Have some kind of plan before coming because the event can be overwhelming. But if your plan is simply to relax, that’s perfectly okay too 😄
- If you want to connect with specific people, schedule meetings beforehand. I couldn’t find some of my friends during the event.
- I heard there was a WordPress swag shop or something similar where people could buy merchandise. I completely didn’t understand that it. Maybe it could have been communicated better on social media, or maybe I simply overlooked it.
- Some people also didn’t know that free public transportation was included with the ticket. Maybe some welcome flyers or information stands could help. Something like: “First time at WordCamp? Here’s a quick guide for you.”
- If you’re sponsoring, be welcoming and honest. Otherwise, I’ll probably skip your booth 😄
- Don’t book your flight home too early if you want to fully enjoy the after-party. From my three WordCamp experiences, it’s one of the best opportunities to connect with the community and relax.
- Enjoy your time. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, slow down. There are usually quiet rooms available, or you can simply go for a walk.
WordPressers — you’re the best! Now please share your impressions — I’d love to hear more feedback!
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