Emiliana Gualtieri, Event Designer
London, United Kingdom

Known for: Inspirational event design and coordination with an eye on creativity and personal attention

How to find her: Amoretti Weddings,+44 (0)207 558 8096; also in Rome, Italy, +39 06 955 57331

Do most brides come to you with a vision, or do you create it for them?
We see both. There are the brides who come in for meetings with us armed with binders full of images and inspiration, but others come in with absolutely no idea at all.

Which kind of bride do you prefer?
Designing for both is pure pleasure for me. I love the psychology of it all — figuring out a personality and what makes the couple tick. Whether the bride comes prepared or needs a little more guidance, there’s a very big payoff for me when she sees the wedding decor for the first time and is completely surprised by how personal some of the details are.

What party-planning trends have you seen in recent years?
Every bride wants her wedding to be unique and memorable, but with the economy being what it is, many are scaling back a little more. Instead of going all out on every detail, they’re prioritising and focusing on the details that matter most to them, or that define them as a couple. For example, a pair of foodies might budget for more expensive ingredients on their menu, or if they’re really into sweets, they might splurge on a dessert bar.

What’s the biggest planning challenge you’ve ever faced?
I’ve never crossed a challenge that was so big we couldn’t handle it — we often have two or three backup plans to keep us covered.

People often associate wedding planners with big, over-the-top weddings. What’s the smallest celebration you’ve done?
I once did a dinner reception for 15 guests. It was held in Hassler Hotel in Rome, but unlike a ballroom wedding, the limited guest list really let us customise the details. There was a 10-course tasting menu, and guests took home small hand made chocolates set at each place. It was maybe the prettiest table I’ve ever set.

What questions should brides ask a potential wedding planner?
Past clients can give you great feedback, but ask the planner directly who will be with you during the ceremony, who specifically will take care of things pre-event and at the reception site, and how long they plan to stay on-site.

How are destination weddings different from the other weddings you plan?
Destination weddings tend to need some more planning in advance. First, we’ll do a site visit to finalise logistics that may apply to the bride — layout, time line, guest accommodations — so the real planning gets done rather quickly. We tackle the design aspect later in the process.

How do you feel about day-of planners?
I think they’re great — the perfect solution for the bride who may not want or cannot afford a full-service planner. It’s important that someone be there to deal with the vendors and ease some of the stress a bride, her family, and her bridal party may be feeling on the day of.

Speaking of stress, how do you calm a nervous bride on the big day?
I just remind her that the day is all about marrying the person she loves, and that everyone is there to support her. The day will be fun and festive for all, so relax and enjoy yourself. After all, you only get married once!

Top Tip: “You don’t need a huge budget to pull off the wedding of your dreams. Choose to embellish a simple cake with fresh flowers, have a friend with good handwriting pen the escort cards or address your invitations, or opt for less expensive linens paired with a patterned table runner. They’re small details that go a long way to make your event personal and beautiful. And never underestimate the value of lots and lots of candles — the more the better.”