We have a different kind of designer in our spotlight this issue; William Bartholomew’s unparalleled design skills are employed as an event planner, rather than a fashion creator. He has over 40 years of experience in planning ‘legendary parties and fabulous weddings’. His client list includes the Royal family as well as A list celebrities, and we were thrilled to have the chance to learn from the master all about his career and how to plan a truly opulent – yet achievable – celebration.
How did you get started and was there one particular event which you feel established your reputation?
I started as a DJ in the 70s working for Juliana's Sound Service and Annabels' Nightclub. After that I started getting enquiries for weddings and marquees, as people heard that my parties were great, and it snowballed from there. Initially I did a lot of Oxford and Cambridge May Balls, but I love weddings, as you get to see more of the couple's personality.
You have been described as 'the best country and city wedding planner'. How important is locale when planning a wedding?
It's lovely to have your wedding in a familiar place or a beautiful setting, but all the guests need to be taken care of. This is one of the main considerations when picking a wedding venue.
If you're planning a country wedding you'll need to find a suitable church or wedding venue, which might be separate from the reception. It's wise to have four or five local hotels of different budgets to recommend to guests, and travel plans need to be made as easy as possible.
If it's a city or London wedding, it's easier for people to get from A to B, so the couple needn't worry as much about planning for their guests. It's important, though, that the photographer, hair and makeup pros can travel to the location wherever the wedding, as they may have been hired from closer to home.
How do you start the process of 'designing' a wedding or any other event?
The first thing I always do is to talk to the couple, sometimes together with their parents. I show them pictures of other parties and weddings we've organised, and they generally have an idea of a 'look' they want to go for their wedding. The way I work is to listen to them, and interpret their ideas, creating the event that they're envisioning. Anything is possible, but it's crucial to get it right, be it rustic, marquee, in a tent, a barn, with a particular colour scheme or special entertainment.. understanding their style is key. Then we go from there.
What has been the oddest request you’ve encountered?
I have really done it all. As parties are so personal it's difficult to say. I've had a few couples riding into their weddings on horseback – although not into a church as yet. Two labradors have brought the rings into the church around their necks, which was very sweet and personal to the couple. At one wedding recently the bride and groom went away from the afternoon party in a hot air balloon. That rather stole the show, which was fantastic.
And the most extravagant?
At a memorable and rather extravagant wedding, the bride and groom left in a helicopter. I can't say too much…
Another really extravagant weekend wedding was one I organised in Venice. It was a weekend stay, with parties lined up one after the other. One night all the guests had drinks and dinner in the famous Harry's Bar. Another night they had a reception at the Cipriani Hotel. And the actual wedding reception dinner and dancing was held in a private palazzo on the canal, lit in purple up-lighting. We brought a florist from the UK, a DJ from Ibiza, and flew in a jazz band from New Orleans). It was a weekend to remember.
How do you make a wedding personal to the couple?
This really comes out in the choices the couple make. Speeches, readings, decor, order of the day, outfits, colour schemes and food all go together to create a wedding day that reflects that couple. Wedding favours are an easy and small way to make the tables feel personal, as some give little pots of home-made jam, limoncello or something they love. I've arranged for personalised napkins, embroidered with the guests name on before that went down very well, as the bride was in fashion.
What do you consider a less-than-necessary expense?
Weddings are definitely made by all your friends and loved ones. It's them that make your wedding special. There are some ways to save money that some guests may not even notice:
- A really good English sparkling wine (instead of champagne) may save money for the toasts
- Arranging canapes for guests when they arrive at the reception, with no starter on the menu
- Cut the wedding cake early, and serve this for dessert with berries, instead of arranging a separate dessert course
- Shop around for throwaway cameras to put out later in the evening, instead of hiring a photographer to stay all night long
And, where to splurge?
Have a good photographer for the daytime at least – meet them beforehand and explain the types of photos you'd like. Ask to see their photos from recent weddings and ask if they have any favourite shots that they'd like to recreate.
Really do your research and pay a little bit more to get a band you really love, as the dance floor is key to making your guests feel like they're at a great party.
It's terribly important to have heating. If you are getting married in the UK in Spring, Autumn or Winter this is an unmissable. People remember a cold wedding…
Spend on a great wedding planner with great connections; with their experience and 'little black book' they will be able to make recommendations if you get stuck and can take the stresses out of your day for you to enjoy
Have you ever had to dissuade a client from an idea you think is doomed to fail?
Oh, definitely. But generally the couple will filter out each other's ideas before they come to me, which works very well. I would try to say no if I thought an idea was impractical, but generally there's a way to make most things work.
What do you do when you’re not planning fabulous events?
I love meeting clients and planning their parties, so that does take up a lot of my brain whether I'm at the office or at home. I'm a very sociable man, and I spend a lot of time cooking, hosting and seeing family and friends. I have got quite keen on fishing on a quiet day, but there's nothing I love more than a party.
You have planned events for the Royal Family, and I know your wedding clients include Madonna and Guy Ritchie. Can you tell us any gossip?
One of the reasons clients always refer me to their friends, and something I think is still very important in the Party Business, is discretion. Unfortunately there are no big secrets I can spill, no matter how much I'd love to.
However…here are some details of Madonna and Guy Ritchie's wedding back in 2000:
there were six full days of parties at Skibo Castle in Dornoch, Scotland. They had about 50 guests for the duration including Gwyneth Paltrow, Stella McCartney, and Sting. Every night there was a fabulous dinner. On one of the days they held a christening for their newborn (Rocco), then on the Friday they got married in the local church. The wedding party was held in the castle cellars, and we created a nightclub, with all kinds of decor and amazing lights, and a fantastic sound system and DJ.
Finally, what are your failsafe tips for our readers?
What to do:
- Feel ultimately happy
- Fill the dancefloor! The first few dances will dictate the feeling of the wedding, so get the floor packed
- Hire someone to take care of the details for you - stressing on your wedding day will not help. Delegate.
What not to do:
- Never take on too much conflicting advice. For a wedding you should do what feels right to you, as a couple
- Don't worry about the weather – if you've got a venue or experienced party planner it's their job to create a wet weather plan for your big day
- Don't overcomplicate things. This is often where guests get confused and lost, and ultimately your wedding day is a celebration of your marriage and starting your married life together
- And to the last point, don't lose sight of why you're having a party.
To learn more about William’s fabulous work, visit williambartholomew.com
