We meet a wedding planner who prides himself on attention to detail

We meet a wedding planner who prides himself on attention to detail

WORDS: MONICA MORETTI

"I THINK it would be true to say that I've organised lots of weddings", says Nathan Homan (right), Creative Director and co-owner of renowned events planning company The Rouge Partnership. "I guess I've been a part of around 500 in total." It seems incredible as he's not quite reached 30 years of age. "Well, I did start working in events when I was 18", he says, smiling.

As well as weddings, Nathan and his company also organise large-scale prestigious events for companies such as Sky, Moet & Chandon, Sainsbury's, L'Oreal and also work alongside chef Jamie Oliver's company Fifteen to You.

Last summer, Nathan organised a beautiful wedding in Florence that he says was one of his absolute favourites. It was organised for the lead singer of a band with a massive international following (Nathan is so discreet that he won't allow me to reveal who it was). Originally the groom and his bride were going to get married in Scotland but the press found out so they pulled out and decided to have their wedding in Italy, as they both adore the country. Nathan works from the UK and doesn't speak Italian so how did he organise everything? "It wasn't as difficult as it might seem because I arranged for a translator from Florence to accompany me when I went to sort out the hardest part which was the paperwork and all the bureaucracy involved in arranging a marriage in Italy."

SPECTACULAR LOCATIONS

The wedding was small in terms of numbers "there were around 50 guests" and the location was simply spectacular. "The ceremony was held in the Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza Signoria and we had the local Mayor there complete with sash. It was a gorgeous venue and we came out to a ton of paparazzi as the couple jumped into their wedding car and they, and all their guests, were whisked up to Villa La Massa (left), about five minutes drive out of the centre of Florence." It sounds as if it could have been rather stressful overseeing the day? "No, actually it wasn't", replies Nathan, "It was really relaxed. Villa La Massa is used to offering first-class service but it wasn't over the top. It had the welcome feel of a beautiful Italian stately home. The wedding guests were great fun, too, including some wonderful characters from the music world."

A wedding is the most personal experience that the couple are ever going to have

DIY ORGANISATION

For those wanting to organise the wedding themselves in Italy, what would Nathan say are important details to remember? "Well, if you give yourself enough time then organising it yourself is definitely doable. The main thing is that you need to start early.
Then find yourself a reliable translator if you don't speak Italian and just work through everything, particularly the paperwork, very slowly." Amazingly enough, Nathan says that the entire wedding in Florence went without any problems at all. "Yes, I am happy to say that it really did all go smoothly", he says with a smile.

The first thing that Nathan does when meeting the couple is to understand their "dream". "It's really important that wedding planners get to know the couple and who they are individually as people". He does this by meeting them for an informal chat over a glass of wine and he is always sure to keep the business part of it in the background. "A wedding is the most personal experience that the couple are ever going to have", he says. "A good planner will obviously recognise that, will pick up on the fact that they both have details for the wedding that are important to them and ensure that somehow they are incorporated into the big day."

THIS WEDDING HAD IT ALL

The biggest wedding that Nathan organised recently was for a multi-millionaire trader. There were 220 guests and it cost a staggering €4,500 per head. "There was a lot of bling for the wedding," says Nathan. "However, I must stress that it was, of course, elegant bling". The wedding had everything. The bride and groom took over a Four Seasons hotel and everything was organised for the guests prior to the big day. "There was a big barbeque the day before, horse races, clay pigeon shooting - you name it. We also built a salon for ladies who wanted to get their hair done". The actual wedding reception was incredible with a fantastic banquet and the marquee where the couple and their guests ate was within another marquee which was then turned into a nightclub. The entertainment was mind-blowing, too, with a casino and Beverley Knight, the criticallyacclaimed soul singer performing. The Rouge Partnership also organised the construction of a large terrace along with a garden complete with pond for the stunning finale when the married couple and their guests were wowed with a fabulous fireworks display set to music. "Now, when I say Olympics", recalls Nathan.

STATELY BUT SIMPLE

He has also been part of cosier weddings, including that of Tom Parker Bowles, son of Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, where Nathan was the toastmaster and the Princes Charles, William and Harry were guests. "That was a wonderful day", says Nathan.

"It was a beautiful but really informal country wedding and at the reception the guests ate shepherd's pie!" In all of the hundreds of weddings that Nathan has organised, what is the part that he looks forward to the most? "Without a doubt it is collecting the bride", he says. "It would be true to say that as a romantic I nearly always shed a tear or two!" he laughs. In the run up to the big day, Nathan is accepted as being a huge part of the bride's and groom's lives, including areas that one might wish to avoid: "I've seen and heard it all", he says. "Couples having a big argument whilst standing in their underwear or having to keep big secrets from different family members" Of course with his sense of humour, warm personality and attention to detail, some of the brides must get very attached to him? "Yes, it's hard for some of them to let go after the wedding but I guess, as with everything, it's just a weaning process!" www.therougepartnership.com