Evelyn Mills is the founder of Marriage Maestros, Hong Kong’s premier wedding and event consultancy that specialises in creating elegant, signature weddings and exquisite one-of-a-kind events throughout Southeast Asia, China and Europe. Her innate ability to tastefully blend Asian cultural traditions with western-style nuances makes her one of the most reputable and sought-after wedding specialists and public speakers in the industry. As we welcome her on the Advisory Board Panel for the prestigious Destination Wedding Planners Congress 2019, we spoke to her regarding the reputable legacy she has crafted for herself within the Asian wedding world as well as her overall expertise within the wedding industry.
Who was/is your inspiration for setting foot in the wedding industry?
My biggest inspiration has been and will always still be my dear friend and mentor Charlotte Leung, founder of the international designer bridal wear label, Augusta Jones. After tragedy struck on September 11th 2001, our joint travel agency venture which was funded by my husband, my best friend and me, unfortunately shut shop. We were in utter shock and business plummeted before we even had a chance to start it. We needed a lifeline and Charlotte extended us one by offering me a job at her ‘Brides & Gowns’ bridal boutique, which is where I first stepped in to the magical world of weddings. I started to fall in love with my brides and with the fascinating world of weddings – I was hooked.
At one point, amongst all the chaos, I remember Charlotte stepped in, took me to one side and said, “This is your calling and I have complete faith and confidence in you. This is what you were born to do!” And with that, I took the plunge into the wedding industry. Later that year, Marriage Maestros was born and became my baby – I have never looked back since. Each day I strive to be like Charlotte, she has taught me to be confident and self-assured; to be kind and empathetic; to always be positive and to never compare myself to anyone; to be a leader by example and to be fearless. Until this day, Charlotte is still my teacher, my mentor, my sister and my friend, whom I feel incredibly blessed to have in my life.
Who do you think from the new set of planners in recent times will make it big in the industry and why?
I have to be a bit biased here because I really believe that our Maestros from our associate team Wedding Maestros are the ones to watch out for. They are an enthusiastic group of young dynamic wedding planners who are certified and have all been professionally trained by my partner and Managing Director Tammy Lee but also under the Marriage Maestros umbrella; so they are learning from very seasoned planners. As flag bearers of the new generation, they are quick to understand a lot of our clients’ needs because they are of the same mindset and are a step ahead when it comes to keeping up with all the latest trends. They are a well-trained and determined bunch and definitely the next big thing to watch out for!
What do you do differently from other wedding planners?
What I personally do differently from other wedding planners is that in addition to planning weddings, I also consult, design and work with hotels and luxury brands. This involves anything from styling wedding shoots to curating and designing wedding packages as well as collaborating with hotels on partnerships and joint-marketing ventures. In addition, I also provide hotels training programs and workshops by offering them a more in-depth look into wedding planning from the perspective of a planner. Hotels respond well to this approach and also appreciate the fact the fact that I can relate well to them, through my background in hospitality and having actually worked hotels.
What are some of the latest trends in the wedding business that you follow?
Destination weddings are a massive trend in itself! Recently, I think there is a new trend for inbound destination, so ‘reverse destination’ weddings where you make your own country the chosen destination for your nuptial celebrations is becoming increasing popular. We are also seeing an increase in requests for video-motion booths (as opposed to just your regular photo booth), as well as live Instagram posts, whereby guests are able to upload photos, like them and leave comments in real time on the wedding couple’s Instagram page, which can be projected live on screen at the reception. We can also take it a step further by making a large mosaic out of all the photos and even print out stickers of each post for guests as keepsakes from the wedding.
How easy or difficult is it to keep up with changing trends in this dynamic industry?
It totally depends what the trend is! We are living in such an ultra fast-paced world and the wedding industry is constantly buzzing. With access to technology, everything is immediate; everyone wants instant gratification but I think because we are conveniently on the doorstep of China, in the bustling city of Hong Kong, we are fortunate enough to be able to keep up with the latest trends and technological advances, thanks to China being in the forefront of the ever evolving world of weddings and events. We have instant access to all the latest trends, so if anyone is going to start a trend first, it really would stem from this side of the globe.
What are some of the benefits and challenges of hosting a destination wedding?
I would say, one of the challenges we face when working on destinations weddings, is having to work around the varying time differences when communicating with our clients, venues and partners when they are based in different countries around the world. Just the logistics of trying to plan a destination wedding with our agency in Hong Kong, the chosen locale for hosting the wedding and the couple residing from a third destination can be quite tricky to co-ordinate. Sometimes, cultural differences, language barriers and a difference in working styles can also be challenging. Conversely, there are also several benefits! We get to broaden our horizons; and with new destinations comes new opportunities to learn about different wedding cultures. Experiencing diverse cultural lifestyles is a huge benefit for us because not only do we get to broaden our network, we gain the opportunity to learn from each other through collective discussions. The sharing of knowledge and experience of different kinds of weddings is always hugely beneficial.
Which was the first destination wedding you planned? What were the hardships you faced? How did you overcome them?
The first destination wedding I planned was my own wedding in Bali which was twenty years ago! At that time, I was not a wedding planner, so everything was quite a challenge! Getting all the paperwork sorted, applying for legal documentation for a religious wedding and getting all the legalities in place were some of the major roadblocks. Luckily, I speak the local language so that really helped. I did a lot of extra research, tapped into my hotel network and tapped into my network of friends and hotel school alumni as well as hotel contacts and colleagues in the hospitality industry, which were of tremendous help.
How important are vendors when it comes to executing a wedding? Do you work with a specific set of suppliers or do you source local suppliers, if so how do you find them? Through research, recommendations or some other way?
I think vendors are very, very important when it comes to executing weddings. They are basically your lifeline, if you don’t have vendors you don’t have a wedding! I generally prefer to refer to them as my partners because that’s what I truly believe. They are as important to me as my clientele and the venues that we work with because I think it’s a symbiotic relationship. I have a lot of respect for my vendors and I would make sure that we provide them with all the tools that they need to be able to do their job to the best of their abilities. We definitely go through recommendations and research but no matter who recommends, we will always do our own research when hiring or recommending our wedding partners.
What is the most unique destination wedding that you have planned?
I would say it was on a private Hong Kong Island residence. It was as close as you would come if you had fallen down the rabbit hole from Alice In Wonderland. It was truly the most unique and magical place. You could have never imagined yourself to be in Hong Kong or for that matter, anywhere else in the world! As much as it was the closest destination because it was located in Hong Kong, it was also the most fantastical.
What do you think of the Middle East an emerging destination for weddings?
Well, I definitely think it is growing in popularity. It is a hub because from where it is situated, it really is an excellent location in terms of bridging between us and the rest of the world. Now that people are willing to travel a little bit further and explore more cultures, I think that as different as the Middle East is to the Chinese, our fundamental cultures and strong family traditions are very similar. We have very deep-rooted traditions, we put a lot of emphasis on our family roots and a lot of cultural likenesses as well as the resemblance in family dynamics and the lifestyle as a whole. In terms of weddings, Middle Eastern families, just as the Chinese are prepared to spend big for a valuable experience.
Having been an integral part of the DWP Congress over the years, how do you feel being associated with DWP 2019 which is going to take place in Dubai this year?
I am very honored to be invited again and to be on the Advisory Board Members Panel. I am thrilled to be partaking in the upcoming DWP Congress, it is such a dynamic and diverse platform for this industry. It is going from strength to strength every year. With each year that passes, the Congress becomes bigger and better, providing us with a lot of new and exciting surprises. They manage to outdo themselves every year, so I am very excited to see what Prachi and her team are going to pull off in Dubai 2019!
All Photographs Courtesy: Evelyn Mills/Marriage Maestros
