In a masterclass, I would ask planners and designers to describe their finest celebration without showing a single photograph. Tell me what happened when the first guest arrived. Tell me whether two families could hear each other across the dinner table. Tell me when the couple had a moment alone. These are questions of design, every bit as much as the flowers and the lighting. We use the word luxury so freely in our industry that it can describe an airline seat, a ballroom or a bottle of perfume without telling us much about any of them. My definition is simple: luxury is the freedom to be fully present because someone has understood what matters to you and taken care of the details.
At Veronica Events Inc., I start designing a destination wedding long before anyone walks into the venue. A first-class seat may make a long flight more comfortable. A sensible connection, a transfer that adjusts when the flight is late, and time to settle in before the welcome dinner can do just as much to shape the arrival. A location has to work for the people travelling to it. Can an older guest board the boat comfortably? Will the family arriving with children have time to rest? If rain moves the ceremony indoors, have we designed a second setting we’d be proud to invite people into? On Thailand’s Andaman coast, the cliffs and water can take your breath away. The planner’s work is to make sure everyone arrives with enough ease to take them in.
As a perfumer at House of Acinorev, I think about what should come forward and what needs room to breathe. I bring the same judgment to a celebration. A spectacular table can still leave guests space to see one another. A chef who knows the destination can shape a menu around flavours worth travelling for. When two families bring different traditions to a wedding, I want them to help decide how those traditions are shared, and who tells the story behind them. Those conversations belong at the beginning of the design process, while they can still influence the venue, the menu and the ceremony.
Looking ahead to 2027, I’d like our industry to be more precise about what we promise when we sell luxury. Before asking a client to spend more, tell them what that investment will make possible. It might give the hospitality team the time to welcome guests properly. It might bring a local artisan into the design, or give the couple ten uninterrupted minutes together before the last toast. I’d protect those ten minutes. The couple has spent months bringing everyone they love to one place. They deserve time to look around and take it in.
With Love,
Veronica Rodie-Fazio
Founder & Publisher, The Wedding Planner & Lifestyle Magazine
Founder, Event Planner & Designer, Veronica Events Inc.
Certified Travel Advisor • Perfumer, House of Acinorev
