As this year’s wedding season comes into full swing, couples at every stage of the planning process are finding inspiration and looking for ways to create their perfect day. Whether you are newly engaged or finalising the finishing touches for your big day, this expert has advice to share. Join The Wedding Edition as we sit down with Matthew Shaw, the creative director and founder of luxury events studio Sauveur, and hear his take on some of the most-asked wedding planning questions.
What’s the best way to kick off the wedding planning process?
Don’t rush into it! Take the time to enjoy your engagement before the planning begins. Once you’re ready to go, it’s important to get some key things discussed and agreed with your partner— such as guest list size (and if anyone else needs to have any input), location, overall format, and crucially, your budget. I always advise that couples consider budget allocation before making any big decisions in order to ensure having your preferred suppliers is feasible.
Do we *really* need a wedding planner?
I am, of course, going to sound biased here— but yes! People are often under the impression that planners are reserved for the largest weddings, but this is not the case and I always suggest exploring a wedding planner as an option. Most people wouldn’t dream of undertaking a large building project or home renovation without professional support, and I would argue that a wedding is of a similar scale, and importance!
A planner can guide you through the process, answer your wedding planning questions, and ensure your vision is well thought through and feasible. They bring a wealth of expertise, ideas, and creativity as well as excellent knowledge of suppliers and the industry.
What are the most popular trends that you’re seeing this year?
Wedding trends are everywhere you look! At Sauveur we, on the contrary, try to steer clear of trends to create a personal experience for everyone involved. While some trends can be inspiring, it’s best not to adhere to them too strictly! That being said, here are a couple of alluring, timeless trends we are seeing at the moment:
- Blending Cultures. We’ve spotted an increase in people wanting to weave their two cultures together to create a fusion wedding experience that will be enjoyed by the couple, their families and their guests. By blending and combining elements from each of their cultures, the result is something truly unique, informative to others, enjoyable and spectacular.
- More variety in entertainment: Today, more and more of the couples we work with are moving away from simply booking a band or a couple of other performances throughout the day and evening. We are seeing more diversity and creativity with the entertainment that’s available for guests— be this using performers to guide guests to the next location, booking immersive artists to engage with guests or planning surprise moments throughout the evening – the result is a more enjoyable, interesting experience that evolves across the wedding day and evening.
- Extending the celebrations – A number of our couples have opted to have a morning ceremony and then leave the afternoon free for guests to relax (or explore a new destination!) before regrouping in the evening for the reception and dinner. This can be a great way of programming your day and also ensures your guests arrive at the evening celebrations fresh and ready to party.
Destination or at-home weddings?
Destination weddings are becoming much more popular and they are wonderful, but there are definitely considerations for each. The important thing to bear in mind with abroad weddings is the travel and accommodation commitment your guests will need to make as well as the information you will need to communicate as a couple. You are essentially adopting the role of travel agent, and that’s a big ask!
Personally I would prefer a wedding in the UK, that incorporates elements of a destination wedding. One of the main draws of destination weddings are is the holiday atmosphere created by a multiple-day celebration, but this can easily be replicated in the UK!
Where is your dream location to host a wedding?
Amsterdam is such a fantastic city and would make a brilliant, unique location for a destination city wedding. I love their approach to city life, and some of the best food I’ve had is in Amsterdam. It is also home to great hotels for your guests, as well as amazing experiences.
Amsterdam has a huge range of exciting and different venues. From buildings with traditional Dutch architecture, to the more industrial, modern look— you can create a magical weekend (and top it all off with a boat party along the canals).
What is your advice for building a guest list and sending invites?
Guest lists are such a tricky part of any event or wedding planning. This can particularly be the case if multiple people are contributing (or feel like they may have a claim to parts of the guest list). I would always suggest that lines in the sand are drawn early on. The most common dynamic I see is a parent contributing financially, who then expects large portions of the guest list to be for them!
In these situations, I suggest working out the numbers you and your partner need and then approaching other parties with a concrete suggestion.
When it comes to deciding whether (or not) to invite certain guests, my golden rule is you should always invite forwards not backwards. If you don’t want someone to be at one of the most important days of your life, don’t invite them. If you have a backup list, you can hold off sending a save the date and then share a formal invitation closer to the time. Remember, when working on a guest list, you should always assume everyone you invite will attend and then adjust back from there.
What is the one thing you absolutely CANNOT cut corners on when it comes to wedding planning?
If I’m being transparent, this is rather a long list. I would always say that people should be well-fed and have enough to drink (I completely disagree with the notion that people don’t care about what they eat at events!) and should be at a comfortable temperature.
However assuming the basics are covered, my absolute non-negotiables are:
Photography – these images will be with you forever, and it is absolutely worth the investment. You have one chance to get these shots, and they can’t be redone so always ensure you are confident with your photographer. Event and wedding photography is a real skill and family friends who are handy with a camera will not produce the same result.
Guest experience – too often forgotten and our mantra at Sauveur is everyone’s experience of the day. Aesthetics are great but are your guests really taken care of? Do they know what’s going on during the day and do they have a way to get home? Never underestimate ensuring your guests’ day, not just yours, is thought through as it will be their lasting memory if it isn’t!
What’s something everyone forgets when wedding planning?
There’s no one way of planning a wedding! There are, of course, traditional formats, and a wealth of inspiration online and on social media, but your wedding is your day! I’ve seen too many couples try and mold what they want into what everyone else does or be unable to make a budget work because they assume there’s a certain way of doing things. There are absolutely some fundamental elements to check off.t but have fun with the schedule, format, and how you want to do things. Your wedding will be all the better for it – for you, and your guests!
What absolute musts would you have on your own wedding day?
A relaxed, lively ceremony with plenty of friends involved in the proceedings. A long drinks reception (with dancing!) for everyone to mingle and catch up. Steak, frites, and red wine, and a two-part party segment. One to bring everyone together after dinner, and one to take the ‘stragglers’ through to the very end!
And finally, what’s the one thing you tell each couple before their wedding?
Take a moment to enjoy your evening and look out over all your friends and loved ones who are there to celebrate you. Weddings go by in a flash so make sure you soak it all up before it’s just a memory! My goal as a wedding planner is to ensure that our couples can really make the most out of their day and enjoy it. You shouldn’t be rushing around checking suppliers are doing their job and that everything is running to schedule.
Whether you have a planner or not, make sure your wedding party is supporting you and that you can really take the time to enjoy the occasion. Relax, enjoy it, and don’t fret if things go exactly to plan— it’s all part of the fun!
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