Top Luxury Wedding Planners
Planning an unforgettable wedding can be a demanding endeavor, a task expertly handled by some of the top wedding planners in the industry. These professionals manage everything from finding the perfect venue to coordinating with vendors and handling guest RSVPs, ensuring your special day is seamless and stress-free.
A renowned planner based in London has catered to weddings for royalty, high-profile clients, and prominent business leaders. While she maintains confidentiality about her clientele, she has disclosed that one couple spent around £60 million on their wedding. Her services are tailored to individual preferences, taking on no more than five clients at a time and executing lavish events in spectacular locations such as the Côte d’Azur and Ibiza.
When asked what her affluent clients desire, she emphasizes that it’s not outlandish requests, but rather exquisite attention to detail. At her weddings, guests can expect top-shelf champagne served by elite mixologists, stunning floral arrangements, and intricate ice sculptures on the tables. She’s even enlisted Olympic synchronized swimmers for entertainment at after-parties and transformed venues into winter wonderlands in the Swiss Alps.
Fait Accompli
If it’s suitable for the Prince and Princess of Wales, it’s certainly noteworthy. Fait Accompli was responsible for planning the evening festivities at Buckingham Palace during the Waleses’ 2011 wedding. The company has also organized weddings for other notable figures, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as receptions for Pippa Middleton and Ellie Goulding.
Established by Camilla Monckton and now led by Alex Fitzgibbons, Fait Accompli is known for its discretion, relying solely on word of mouth and the company’s reputation to attract clients. Their events are memorable, featuring unique elements like a festival-themed celebration for Goulding and Jopling, and for Middleton’s wedding, an extraordinary fireworks show accompanied by a Spitfire flypast.
Snapdragon
Founded in 2010 by Julia Dowling, Snapdragon has been behind stunning weddings at iconic venues such as the Ritz and Blenheim Palace, as well as breathtaking locations like Lake Como and Santorini. Operating from Kensington, this firm has earned the trust of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, and royal families.
What sets Snapdragon apart is its meticulous attention to detail. Dowling employs a modern approach to wedding planning, capable of arranging private jets for surprise receptions while incorporating carbon offset projects to lessen environmental impact. Preferred for ending celebrations, instead of fireworks, custom drone light shows impress guests.
Mark Niemierko
For extravagant wedding planning, Mark Niemierko is the go-to expert. He managed the wedding of Julia and James Corden at Babington House in 2012 and Rochelle and Marvin Humes’s ceremony that same year at Blenheim Palace. Niemierko thrives on large-scale weddings with budgets reaching up to £2.5 million. One of his most notable projects involved a five-day celebration at Cliveden House, a popular venue for celebrities.
Despite his high demand, Niemierko meticulously organizes only five weddings a year to ensure dedicated attention to each client. With a background in film and television, his events are known for their theatrical flair, featuring extravagant surprises like dedicated dessert rooms and pop-up nightclubs.
Alice Wilkes
Alice Wilkes is known for creating Instagram-worthy weddings that are the epitome of visual splendor. Her work, exemplified by pop star Pixie Lott’s viral wedding at Ely Cathedral in 2022, showcases her flair for creativity, set against the backdrop of a custom Schiaparelli gown. With a foundation in the fashion industry, she has also produced events for fashion giants like Valentino.
Wilkes emphasizes uniqueness, tailoring each wedding to be distinct. From organizing a surprise flash-mob gospel choir at a ceremony to providing personalized poems and scents for guests, her offerings are varied. Whether planning an intimate ceremony at the Lanesborough or a grand celebration in Kew Gardens, her versatility shines.
Katrina Otter
Katrina Otter specializes in bringing classic English country weddings to life. Renowned for her refined taste and beautiful settings, she often works with clients who prefer traditional venues, including stately homes, which can occasionally be their own.
However, she is equally adept at planning exquisite city weddings. One memorable project involved a 300-person ceremony at the Natural History Museum, completed in just two hours. Her clients appreciate a bohemian aesthetic that is well-organized, steering clear of ornate ballrooms or heavily arranged blooms.
Studio Sorores
Founded by Jessie Westwood, Studio Sorores is recognized for its enchanting designs, weaving fairytale weddings in picturesque French châteaux or ancient Barcelona ruins. While based in Gloucestershire, the team operates globally, planning remarkable weddings across various destinations while maintaining a focus on UK weddings, especially in the Cotswolds.
High-profile venues like Claridge’s and Soho House frequently rely on Studio Sorores for creating exceptional events. With over a decade of experience, Westwood is celebrated for her ability to craft memorable celebrations that are both elegant and sophisticated.
Liz Linkleter
Former Alexander McQueen PR Liz Linkleter is a preferred wedding planner within fashion circles. Last year, she organized the chic wedding of Jefferson Hack and model Anna Cleveland at Oakley Court, and her impressive client list includes fashion PR Daisy Hoppen and Lady Clara Paget. Linkleter’s signature style avoids mundane wedding clichés, featuring imaginative ideas like market-fresh vegetable centerpieces at a Provence château and a custom limoncello spritz bar in Capri.
Linkleter’s creativity extends to any venue, be it a deconsecrated church, an 18th-century National Trust property, or a former London car factory. Her parties not only look good but also ensure guests have a great time, with her advice for energizing the dance floor featuring mezcal margaritas to keep spirits high.
Johnny Roxburgh
For a wedding planner with royal credentials, Johnny Roxburgh stands out. Having organized the late Queen’s Christmas parties and Prince William’s 21st birthday, he has earned a royal warrant for his services. With over four decades of experience and hosting thousands of events, he’s affectionately termed “the party architect.”
His luxurious approach has led to breathtaking weddings in premier venues worldwide, accommodating requests for Michelin-star dining and celebrity performances. Known for his extensive network, nothing is too ambitious for Roxburgh to orchestrate, often with a touch of enjoyment infused into every occasion.
Party Planners
Since 1960, Party Planners, initiated by the late Lady Elizabeth Anson—a cousin of the Queen and legendary event planner—has been responsible for extravagant royal celebrations, from milestone birthdays to high-profile weddings.
Currently led by Anson’s longtime protégé Harriet Webber-Jamieson, Party Planners focuses on crafting weddings globally. A distinctive aspect of their services is the in-house concierge dedicated to ensuring that every guest feels as valued as the bride and groom. They’re known to make extraordinary gestures, such as providing hot-water bottles for comfort at outdoor events.
Lavinia Stewart-Brown Events
With a rich background in media, particularly with GQ Magazine, Lavinia Stewart-Brown ventured into event planning with her bespoke service launched in 2018. She has orchestrated numerous high-profile weddings and events, including celebrations for the Royal Family and Bernie Ecclestone’s 90th birthday in Gstaad.
Operating out of Henley-on-Thames, Lavinia serves clients worldwide, with Italy, Switzerland, and Portugal being popular wedding locales. She is known for her meticulous, hands-on approach, exemplified by instances like constructing a unique aisle across a pond in a West Sussex garden for a breathtaking view or placing an all-glass marquee on a mountaintop in Switzerland.
Banana Split
For those desiring an extravagant wedding experience, the London-based Banana Split is the planner of choice. They were responsible for the luxurious wedding of Sofia Richie at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes, in 2023, along with the elaborate £20 million wedding of Umar Kamani, featuring performances by Ronan Keating, Mariah Carey, and Andrea Bocelli. Their specialty lies in securing high-profile acts for events, including popular musicians like Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran.
Their style embodies opulence, known for bold floral displays and exclusive touches, whether that means hiring celebrity chefs or engaging a famous MC for the occasion. Weddings hosted in stunning locations, from Mughal forts in Rajasthan to private islands in the Maldives, are commonplace, with the south of France remaining a top choice among their clients.
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