Event Designer, Educator, Consultant & Collaborator – Meet the Visionary Behind Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design
Written by Fairy Bride Mother on January 15, 2020.
Tagged under: Celebrity weddings, Eddie Zarastian, Wedding Planner, luxury weddings
Eddie Zarastian’s work in the events industry has thoughtfully served generational icons; history makers and superstars for over 20 years. Inspired by LA’s big-screen business, Eddie chose to harness their magic and wonder into weddings, recognising them as the ‘greatest show of a lifetime’.
In this interview, Eddie shares his process, challenges and future plans with Bride Club readers with some exciting projects that you can get involved with…
What first inspired you to want to work in the events industry and how did you come to owning your own successful events business?
Looking at production sets of movies & TV shows was what initially inspired me. It made me want to create different environments; transforming a space into any ‘scene’ I wanted. The Weddings industry felt like the natural choice for me, I realised that I would have instant access to witness the couple’s honest gratification as they walk into their wedding space. Watching their reaction is what I live for when I’m creating.
Can you talk us through your design process?
First I start by looking at the space I will be creating in: I understand the measurements and scale of the room. Then I think through the ‘feeling’ I’m trying to evoke and what achieving that might look like, including all the elements I’ll need to create the perfect environment for my clients and their guests. Finally, I line up the appropriate vendors to ensure optimal quality in all moving parts and if needed, I present the design concept to my clients for approval before its execution.
Have you ever planned an event in the UAE and what do you think of Dubai as a wedding destination?
I have not produced an event in UAE (yet) but dream about doing so one day! I love Dubai and think it’s a beautiful destination for weddings; it’s refined, luxurious, advanced and polished.
Just for us…name drop a few of your celebrity clients?
Oprah, Tom Cruise, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez to name a few.
What’s your all-time favourite wedding from your incredible portfolio?
Honestly, I love them all!
As I’m dreaming up the details for an event, I nurture it like a baby then I watch it grow into existence. As the event ends, I move onto my next dream, my next creation. I try to make every event different than the other, so there are separate pieces, of each event, that I love.
What’s one of the biggest challenges you face in your line of business and how do you overcome this?
Navigating social media in the events business can be quite messy. With social media, there are a lot of instances out there of altering and filtering when it comes to images of work, which can confuse clients and challenge their expectations of what can be delivered.
It’s a landscape flooded with confusion: event coordinators are calling themselves designers and designers calling themselves coordinators when in fact they’re usually something else entirely. Yet far too often I see people bending their brand image to bag the client. That’s why I believe it is imperative to have a strong brand identity with a determined niche from the outset so that there’s no room for confusion later down the line. You will never find me caught in a bidding war to gain a client, I stay true to my brand, knowing what I bring to the table and more importantly, it’s worth.
We know you are passionate about education. Can you tell us a little bit about your workshops and your video tutorial series on YouTube?
I’m very passionate about sharing the knowledge I’ve gained throughout my 30-year career. In fact, after listening to my audiences across my other social media outlets, I am now in the process of launching an online course to take the student from starting a business, all the way to the design tricks I have learned over the years. It’s going to provide a wealth of information. Concerning YouTube, I wanted to set a new standard for online video tutorials, so I focus my own to be of the best production and highest of quality.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received throughout your incredible career?
“Learn all the rules and don’t be afraid to break them”!
For any aspiring event planners out there wanting to launch their own business, what would be your number one piece of advice?
Educate yourself on what your competitors are doing and do it differently so that you stand out!
What’s your number one tip for couples out there currently in the process of planning their big day?
Have a clear budget in mind and be transparent about this budget. There is nothing worse than misleading your vendors in what you can afford. It’s a waste of their time and yours.
Leave a Reply