5 Celebrity Wedding Planners Offer Advice for the Big Day
When the rich and famous are ready to tie the knot, they don't often opt for a DIY ceremony. Instead, stars turn to an elite group of wedding planners to help them find the perfect venue, cover it in the most gorgeous flowers and decor, and create an event that is memorable and special.
Recently, some of the top wedding industry professionals came together for a workshop hosted by Preston Bailey, who worked on the nuptials of LeBron James and Savannah Brinson, Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian, and Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, and has planned other events for Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, Liza Minnelli, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Uma Thurman, and more. Architectural Digest was able to sit down with five of the guest speakers at the event—so before you say "I do," read their tips for the big day
Bryan Rafanelli, Rafanelli Events
Photo: Allan Zepeda
Clients: Allison Williams and Ricky Van Veen, Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky
Wedding trend he'd like to see go away: Flower walls. You shouldn’t have one place in your event designated for an “Instagram moment.” The entire wedding itself should be an Instagram moment! Instead consider a design element that guests can see from every part of the room. Having an eye-catching element that is above shoulder level is sure to leave an impactful impression and be a conversation piece.
Biggest mistake he thinks couples make with wedding decor: Each wedding should incorporate the couple’s story and reflect their personalities. But if I had to choose a decor mistake, it would be integrating too much white in the color scheme. An all-white wedding can be beautiful, but including a little color can add much-needed depth. There has to be light and dark in the room, not just light.
Favorite flower of the moment: At Rafanelli we always look to use flowers that are in season. Since it is currently winter, I’d have to say our favorite flower of the moment is a mimosa.
Most over-the-top thing he's done for a couple: While organizing a wedding in Istanbul for an amazing family, we planned a series of events at historical locations around the city. Only problem was that in August the traffic in Istanbul is terrible. We had to be innovative, and instead we made the Bosporus waterway our highway. We appointed a fleet of boats to transport guests all weekend to and from each event.
Ed Libby, Ed Libby & Co. Events
Photo: Fred Marcus Photography Inc.
Clients: Carmelo and La La Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Wedding trend he'd like to see go away: Beautiful, massed pavé flowers and hanging crystals have been done too frequently for far too long now.
Biggest mistake he thinks couples make with wedding decor: Not hiring a wedding planner. Often without one the couple winds up concentrating their budget in the wrong place.
Favorite flower of the moment: I'm loving ranunculus and anemones.
Favorite venue: A tent is the best wedding venue for us because it is a blank canvas.
Jennifer Zabinski, JZ Events
Photo: Holly Clark Photography Ltd.
Clients: Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian; she also planned Duchess Meghan's baby shower
Wedding trend she'd like to see go away: Hanging escort cards, simply for the reason that they take too long to distribute to guests.
Biggest mistake she thinks couples make with wedding decor: Definitely having centerpieces that are too tall or too big for the table.
Favorite flower of the moment: While not a flower, the pampas grass continues to be a favorite due to its versatile use and romantic boho-chic vibe. Orchids and peonies are timeless and always in style.
Advice for couples planning a wedding: Take your time to enjoy the engagement before jumping into wedding planning. After that, one of the most important items to cross off the list is to talk money and expectations.
Lauren Grech, LLG Events & LLG Agency
Courtesy of LLG Events
Wedding trend she'd like to see go away: Using the in-house linens from your venue. Couples should opt for custom linens that match the design of their wedding, which creates uniformity between their table decor, lighting, and floral decor. Or you can get more creative and opt for a different tabletop entirely by using mirrors or other surfaces where you’ll only need custom linen napkins.
Biggest mistake she thinks couples make with wedding decor: Not investing in proper lighting or custom linens. If the florals and centerpieces aren’t lit properly in the event space, then they will appear muted and not have as lush and voluptuous of a look.
Favorite flower of the moment: I love when you pair a fully blossomed dahlia with roses.
Most unique decor element she's created: We had a couple use real, live fish as their table centerpieces! It was so different from your traditional floral centerpieces, and can be personalized not only by the type of fish you select, but by the type of glass or container you use too. At the end of the wedding, guests were able to take the fish home as favors!
Preston Bailey
Courtesy of Preston Bailey
Clients: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Eva Longoria and Jose Baston; decor for Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian
Wedding trend he'd like to see go away: We must get rid of the concept of trends—it makes people lazy, just going with the flow of what is popular. I always push myself and my team to come up with something that has never been done or seen before.
Biggest mistake he thinks couples make with wedding decor: I think this is an industry-wide issue, that vendors will get calls from clients who want the world, and ask for all these design elements; however, they come back with an unrealistic budget. I feel horrible when I have to let a couple down and explain how their budget is simply not realistic. I try to let them down easily, and even give them my number and email and have them call me if they need any help with revisiting their vision.
Most unique decor element he's created: Dance floors made of flowers! I've seen a lot of ceiling installations and a lot of over-the-top centerpieces; however, no one has done it to the level of making a dance floor out of flowers. I think that is something very unique that we started, and hope to see more of!
The most over-the-top thing Bailey has done for a client? “A floral installation at the venue entrance sculpted with thousands of singular flowers arranged one by one,” he says.
Courtesy of Preston Bailey
Favorite venue: The Metropolitan Museum. For years and years they did not allow weddings there, and they just started one or two years ago. The setting is so fantastic. I've had the pleasure of designing events for the Egyptian Room. Also, a new property that is opening in New York City that I think is going to be out of this world is the new Glasshouses. This venue will be finishing in April or May. I saw the plans, and this is going to be the next "it" venue in New York.