With over 30 years in the business of design, Eddie Zaratsian stands as one of the most sought-after minds in the wedding industry today. The USA-based designer and event production specialist can completely transform a standard ballroom into a spectacular landscape by way of abundant floral arrangements, sophisticated decor blocking, and layering techniques that attest to an expert understanding of space.
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In Zaratsian’s world, weddings of all sizes deserve the x-factor. Whether the affair at hand is an extravagant destination wedding or an intimate candlelit dinner, the goal is always to create an ethereal environment that lovingly embodies the significance of the event.
Creative Beginnings
Zaratsian has been honored among the Top Wedding Planners & Designers From Americas in the DWP Powerlist of 2022, and had the pleasure of designing the Oprah Winfrey Network launch event in 2011.
He has officially joined the Wondermakers as part of the Wedded Wonderland “Business of Weddings” initiative globally, as a leading expert in design. Zaratsian is also an educator, and offers mentorship programs for budding creative entrepreneurs who want to break into the event design scene, which he considers his way of giving back to the community.
“I have always had a love for beauty and creating beauty with my hands. I ultimately gravitated towards weddings because I found great joy in seeing my client’s reaction when they saw my work on a day I knew would be held in their hearts forever,” he told Wedded Wonderland in an exclusive interview.
Though he initially set out to become a chemist, Zaratsian knew that he was meant for a career in design, and entered the floral industry before establishing his own design business, Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design.
“I always say I design to feed all the senses. Creating an experience for your guests, from what they see, smell, touch, hear and taste are all part of the overall feeling the event will invoke. Layering is such an amazing way to create drama and truly understanding scale and knowing when to tone things back is what sets a true designer aside from others.”
A One-Stop Shop for Clients
While Zaratsian specializes primarily in visual design, he also serves an overall event producer. “I am what many have said to be a one-stop shop for my clients since I design events in their entirety and also produce events. Therefore, when working with other industry professionals, I like to establish clear objectives that will be handled by each party so everyone knows what their tasks are for each event,” he said.
This clear-cut work ethic allows him to navigate tight time constraints, even for large-scale events. In one instance, Zaratsian took on a luxurious three-day wedding at the Rosewood Miramar Beach in Santa Barbara, a gorgeous five-star oceanfront property with an exclusive coastline. The preparation entailed six different designs—which are presented in the form of true-to-life renderings—for each event cluster over the course of the multi-day affair. And come the ingress day, his team had only six hours to set up. ” It was by far one of the most rewarding projects I worked on and seeing the client’s reaction to each and every event throughout the weekend made all the hard work all the more worthwhile,” he said.
Three Key Elements
When asked about his design process, Zaratsian pinpointed three non-negotiables: travel, fashion, and lighting.
“Travel not only feeds the soul—it feeds the mind. It inspires and allows you to rethink ways an object, a color, an experience can be reimagined for an event. I am constantly inspired by what’s around me and this allows me to set trends rather than follow them,” he said.
As a fashion lover himself, Zaratsian also aligns his designs with the sartorial voice of the couple. “It tells me so much about who they are as individuals. Especially when designing for a bride, the gown they choose is the story for the entire wedding. I also truly enjoy working with color so if there’s a color the couple gravitates towards, I will push to incorporate it somehow.”
Last but not the least, he emphasizes the cruciality of lighting in great design, offering sage advice to aspiring designers: “As the saying goes, learn the rules and then learn how to break them! Don’t be afraid to take risks in your design and always remember your work will shine with better lighting. Never compromise on creating the right environment for the ultimate event and I promise when I tell you, this all starts with lighting!”
In line with our commitment to redefining the destination wedding industry, Wedded Wonderland is excited to launch the Get Wedded in Dubai 2023 digital magazine, featuring the unparalleled beauty and charm of destination weddings in Dubai. This annual magazine is free for anyone to access, and it aims to inspire couples to create their dream wedding in this breathtaking city.
The magazine showcases captivating real weddings across cultures, highlights leading venues, offers guidance from innovative wedding planners, fashion designers, and jewellers, and features a comprehensive directory of preferred suppliers nationwide.
Read the magazine below!
