Over the Top Weddings, Reception Advice from OurWeddingDay.com

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Over the Top Weddings

One of the World’s Biggest Planners Tells All!

Ever dream about an over-the-top wedding with unlimited funds and unlimited fun? For some, that dream is a reality. For the rest of us, we can get a glimpse of the rich and fabulous’ affairs, and actually incorporate their ideas into our own ceremonies. Craig Goldstein, Executive Producer of E squared concepts in Miami and New York (E2concepts.com), talked to us about some of the amazing weddings he’s planned, and how you can add a little of the luster yourselves.

First off, no matter how much money is spent or where the wedding is held, Goldstein is all about thinking outside the box—literally. “I believe in the reveal and wow factors,” he says. “If I plan a wedding in a square room, I create nooks and crannies so you don’t know everything you’re going to see.”

Goldstein is known for adding exotic touches just when you least expect them. He’s done weddings in which a 16-foot stilt-walking woman with a helium-balloon headpiece walked out at the cocktail reception—and then wowed the crowd with an aria. “I’ve even had a Grinder Girl—a woman who came out and had sparks shooting off her during the after-party.”

Being Miami’s hottest planner doesn’t come with some unusual requests from the clients themselves. “We did a great Marie Antoinette Meets Rock and Roll wedding,” he says. “Everything was hot pink with gold lame, and the servers were dressed in the attire of the time period. The rock and roll part was just for fun.”

Another big event was the Asian-themed wedding from a wealthy young couple—a Christian and a Jew. “They just loved everything Asian,” he said. “After the ceremony, we turned the space into Chinese New Year, with a Bengal tiger, Harajuku girls, and a 50-foot dragon. The after-party was a Tokyo nightclub.”

Also popular for the rich and fabulous are rich and fabulous stars. “If you’ve got unlimited funds—and extra money for charity—you can have U2 perform at your wedding,” he says. “But you can also get Rod Stewart or Bette Midler or Gipsy Kings, even Marvin Hamlisch.” Goldstein points out that, if you want to spend your money on top-name entertainment, do your homework. “If the star is not on tour, they are cheaper; if they live in the area, you can get a better deal. You’ve got to make sure you book through someone who has the connections." And, apparently, there truly is one thing money can’t buy. “Streisand doesn’t do weddings,” says Goldstein.

Goldstein loves to work in mansions where everything is more controlled, even the water. “I’ve done weddings with living statues, where dry ice is in the pool, and where we’ve had synchronized swimmers.” Even though Goldstein’s two offices are in water-abundant cities, the actual ocean is harder. “You have to get a barge, and that’s going to be a big part of the expense.”

The biggest guys also know how to think small, and Goldstein is the first to tell you how to budget. “If you need dancers, you call the local school,” he says. “We once rented a boys’ choir, which wowed the crowd. If your wedding is in a hotel, remember that the bathrooms and walls and air-conditioning are taken care of. There’s more money for the extra stuff.” Among the extras he’s included are pole dancers (“I made a few calls and hired them out”), circus performers, and contortionists.

If you ask Goldstein about his most impressive affair, he doesn't have a favorite, but he still gets comments about his Living Red Carpet. “The theme was Old Hollywood,” he said. “So we built a Plexiglas floor with actors underneath wearing elaborate gowns.” The guests walked down the “red carpet” on their way in. Kids, don’t try this at home. Call up Goldstein and let him entertain you.