Monte-Carlo Weddings magazine feature

Inside/Out Monaco, an international lifestyle magazine, recently featured MCW in a 4-page spread. This magazine enjoys wide-spread distribution here in Monaco and abroad. Here is the article in its entirety:

There are hundreds of places Monaco residents can travel to on holiday. Before looking into faraway destinations, we decided to start off the very first issue of our magazine focusing on the beauty in our own backyard and one of the most important days in people’s lives: their wedding.

Every year over 5 million people visit Monaco - one of the most breathtaking, exciting and prestigious places in the world - so it’s not surprising that many high-end wedding ceremonies take place in our Principality, known as it is for its glamour and luxurious lifestyle.

Church bells ringing and car horns… honking!

In this part of the world there are two sounds that signal that a wedding has just taken place: church bells and... car horns honking! Around Monaco it is a relatively common sight to see a couple who just tied the knot driving by in a luxurious car decorated with fragrant flowers and lace, with a long line of other cars filled with guests driving right behind, with passersby striving to get a glimpse of the happy couple.

We visited Frank Damgaard of Monte-Carlo Weddings, a local wedding planner, who has been organizing many luxurious weddings in the Principality and the surrounding area, to interview him on the challenges (and perils!) of planning the most important day of people's lives.

Why do people hire wedding planners? “Let’s put it this way: imagine you have to plan the biggest day of your life, with the largest budget you have ever been in charge of, with, as guests: a couple hundred of your closest friends and family, not to mention that you have to fulfill a whole array of tasks, with no experience, no contacts, and… in some cases… no time – and you want to make sure that it comes out perfect because you have been dreaming of this day like… forever and if it comes out anything less than perfect you would feel absolutely AWFUL…. Would YOU get an expert to come in to ensure success???

Many of our readers have seen the "The Wedding Planner", starring Jennifer Lopez. Is your every day experience like in the film? “I think that the movie did a pretty good job of portraying the challenges (and the fun, of course) of being in charge of someone's wedding - it is quite a juggling act – you have to help them find the best venue, caterer, florist, photographer, hair, make-up, invitations, hotels, transportation, coordinate official papers, keep track of every single last detail and last but not least be there for them and take on all of the responsibility for the wedding, so that they have a stress-free experience.

I think you have a namesake in another Hollywood film? “Yes, I know. People also kid me about being called "Frank", just like the Wedding Franck Eggelhoffer, played by Martin Short in the Steve Martin hit "Father of the Bride." Rest assured, I do not resemble “Franck” in any way!”

With Monaco being known as one of the most romantic places in the world, do you get a lot of foreigners contacting you? "We basically cater to two groups of people, the Monaco residents who wish to hold a luxurious wedding here in the Principality, and foreign nationals who get married in the local town hall in their own country first and then travel to Monaco with their guests for a lavish, memorable wedding celebration, which is then called a “destination wedding.”

Do you also take care of people's weddings elsewhere on the Riviera? “Yes, of course, we organize weddings outside the Principality. We are truly blessed to live in such a gorgeous part of the world – there are so many venues to chose from: 4 star luxury hotels, old stone churches, modern or Belle Epoque villas with views of the Mediterranean, French country gardens, small villages towering above the landscapes below, medieval fortresses, megayachts…

Frank, not everyone reading this magazine who is planning on getting married might decide to hire a wedding planner, but most do go on a honeymoon. Do you have any tips for them on how to choose the perfect honeymoon destination? "Not surprisingly, my first advice is to go see an expert! There are of course many travel agents out there, so I would primarily concentrate on getting advice from a seasoned honeymoon travel agent. I would not suggest you settle on the very first one you come across - I would go and visit more than one and try to find one which you trust and with whom you communicate with easily. As a Wedding Planner, I personally get asked to provide prospective clients with past referrals all the time, so I think that choosing a well-recommended travel agent will help you breathe easier."

The Breathtaking Hill-top Medieval Town of Eze Village

The area is known for its beautiful settings, that is for sure. However, few villages seem to capture people’s imagination more than the tiny French village of Eze, perched on top of its own mountain top, overlooking the Mediterranean. A stone’s throw away from the Principality of Monaco, it is popular with tourists and locals alike, who love to wander through its medieval streets, dine in its fancy restaurants, stay in its world-renowned luxury hotels, or simply go for a stroll, to gaze at the magnificent views.

For more on the picturesque village of Eze. Unfortunately, no website can possibly do it justice. I guess you are going to have to come see for yourselves!

Remember: When Shopping for a Wedding Planner...

When shopping for a wedding planner remember to ask them if they take care of ALL the wedding preparations, or if there are some matters which are not included.

There are some areas which some wedding planners don’t cover, such as the often time-consuming task of keeping track of RSVPs (the yeses, the no’s, and the maybe’s!) booking hotel accommodations for your guests (often in several hotels of different price-categories), and coordinating all extra-curricular activities during the entire wedding week-end (golf, personalized hair appointments, spa rendez-vous, etc.)

Last but not least, why not check out whether or not they are members of the Association of Bridal Consultants, the Association for Wedding Planners International, or the National Association of Professional Wedding Services, UK.

Professional Advice on Choosing a Wedding Venue

At Monte-Carlo Weddings, often brides ask me “How do I know when a venue is perfect? What should I look for?”

Choosing the venues for the wedding is pretty much right up there with the very first thing couples do once they get engaged (in fact, it comes second, right after the ever-important shopping for the wedding dress!)

My experience is that deciding on a wedding venue really involves a combination of factors. First of all, you start with the basics. You must find out:
· if the venue is available on the date
· if it can comfortably seat all of the guests
· whether or not it suits the theme of your wedding, and the general feel
· whether or not the event can be moved in case of rain (I recommend you definitely NOT tempt fate by choosing a venue which does not have a back-up plan for inclement weather – regardless of what month it is. Let’s just say that you want your wedding to be memorable, but for all the right reasons).
· and of course… whether or not it is in your price range.

One way to improve your chances of getting the venue you want during the busiest wedding months (here in the area the busiest months are June, July and September) is to agree to have the wedding on a day other than a Saturday. Quite unconventional, that is certain, but on other hand, it might be worth it to secure the venue of your dreams…

Secondly, you must take into account the potential the venue offers. Can it be transformed? How has it been decorated for previous weddings? Of course, I recommend you always visit the venue in person. It is also a good idea to either have a wedding planner vouch for the venue or get a contact number for a couple who has already rented it.

Thirdly, I think that couples have to remember that guests’ ability to get to the venue is important. Is there an airport nearby? Are there a lot of direct flights available that time of year for the out-of-town guests? Are there a lot of hotels in the area, of varying price ranges? For people planning destination weddings, remember that the easier you make it for guests to attend, the more will attend.

Last but not least, remember that facts and figures are just one part of the picture. How you feel when you first walk into a venue does count for a lot. Is it what you have been dreaming of? Can you imagine yourself there on your big day? If this isn’t a good time to go with your gut, what is? After all, you are getting married!