Sugokuii Events ~ New {www} Sponsor

I am very proud today to introduce the amazing destination wedding planner Diana from Sugokuii Events.

Sugokuii Events is a “full service, boutique wedding and event design studio. We specialise in custom designed destination weddings and luxury events on two of the most wonderful islands in the world: Capri, Italy and St Barth in the French West Indies.” Diana and her team are also available to design weddings and events in other locations.

Having Diana co ordinate your day will mean the day of your dreams is in very safe hands indeed…

Take it away Diana.

{w} Hi Diana, could you firstly tell {www} readers a little bit about you?

I am a wedding designer specializing in island weddings. I am based on two of the most wonderful islands where I also design my weddings: in Capri, Italy in summer and St Bart in the French West Indies in winter. I am from New York, but in addition to Manhattan I also grew up in Rome & Copenhagen – and spent most of my summers as a child in Capri!

{w} What do you love/dislike about your job?

There is not much to dislike when one has the privilege to design weddings on such beautiful islands! It’s perhaps only the local customs that perhaps take some getting used to sometimes..For example, most businesses in Italy are still family owned/ managed, especially if it’s a custom made product – and it’s not uncommon that the grand daughter, aunt or grandmother will take your order – but they never write things down!! They always say “non ti preoccupare”=”don’t worry, I remember” – but for a neurotic New Yorker like myself, the fact that she says she doesn’t need to write it down or won’t forget is NERVE RACKING for me…and I end up calling them 20 times to make sure that there is no problem…I am sure they are thinking “crazy American”..

{w} How did you get into your event planning and into the wedding industry?

I worked for many years in Manhattan in the Fashion PR & Event department for several fashion brands in New York such as Hugo Boss & Jill Sander where I arranged all their fashion shows, product launches and product placement and later for Kartell & Georg Jensen Jewellery. I finally went independent 3 years ago where I design weddings for couples in Capri & St Barth – and I still continue to produce events for luxury brands during NY Fashion week.

{w} What do you aim to achieve for your clients?

Beautiful, detailed weddings that are completely customized to the couple’s style & vision mixed with a good portion local customs and island charm.

{w} What style is your work?

My wedding styles range vary depending on the client. In the past however, I have delighted in designing a vintage Italian wedding for 10, a larger white contemporary styled wedding for 120 and a Mediterranean-Caprese wedding for 74. The events I do for fashion brands though tend to be contemporary-trendy in style.

{w} Could you tell us some information about your packages/prices?

We base our prices on the season (month) of the event, amount of guests involved and how many days of planning/designing is involved. Frequently, destination weddings to Capri & St Bart last for about 4 days – therefore there is a lot of planning involved, not just for the ceremony and reception, but also hotel recommendations & bookings, travel assistance to the islands, stationery planning such welcome notes-hand drawn maps-gelato coupons-menus for all restaurants etc, welcome bags containing local products, floral needs for 4 days, rentals delivered to the island, weekend concierge, spa services, boat trips to other locations in addition to the overall detailed design & planning of the wedding! However, we offer this same service whether or not the wedding is for 4 or 200. This way, you can still feel pampered even if you are having a small, intimate wedding – which we are seeing more and more of.

{w} Do you have any tips for couples in selecting their wedding planner?

In Italy & St Bart, always use wedding planners who are based in the town you plan to get married in (check the address of where their office is located on their website). The local planners, will ALWAYS be able to get you the best deal (and also save you money in the long run) as opposed to a planner not based in that area! For example, don’t use a planner based in Tuscany if you plan to get married in Positano.

Another good tip – especially if you are looking for that one drop-dead gorgeous reception venue in Italy and don’t know where to start – look at Italian photographer’s websites. Usually, wedding planners in Italy will not give names of the amazing reception venues they use until you book them as your planner – but typically the photographer will write both the name of venue and have many pics of the venue from a wedding he photographed on his website=free wedding location scouting!

{w} How can we get in touch with you?

Via my website at Sugokuii Weddings in Capri & St Bart www.sugokuii-events.com or info@sugokuii-events.com

Thanks so much to Diana, please do visit her website and give her a very warm welcome 🙂 xoxo