Matthew David Hopkins, the event planning guru behind 360 Design Events who has strategized soirees for celebrities such as Robert DeNiro and Madonna and major companies such as Ford, MLB and Lincoln Center, has his own reason to celebrate.
He recently launched Matthew David Celebrations, which will design and produce milestone events, particularly weddings. And not only is he solidifying weddings into his business portfolio, but his personal one as well, as he is engaged to his partner, Guilllermo Molina, a creative master of couture clothing. (Between the two, we are eagerly anticipating what they come up with for their big day!)
We recently caught up with Hopkins for a quick Q&A on his new company, upcoming wedding trends and his dream wedding.
Equally Wed: What made decide to expand your corporate event planning into wedding planning?
Matthew David Hopkins: We had been focused on corporate events for many years, but every year we have a number of people who come to us to do weddings. I’ve always tried to balance between the two, and from our experience in corporate events, we can bring over production of values and abilities that aren’t necessarily known in personal events. And we love being very personal with our wedding clients.
EW: What is the biggest different between corporate events and wedding planning?
MDH: There are a lot of differences! I think the biggest difference is in social events and weddings, we’re working directly with clients who we are trying to bring out their personality. A big part of what we do in all of our events is to try to get to know the person and what they’re about. And when you’re working with a corporation, it’s much different than if we are doing that with a couple. Weddings are a very intimate, personal event. It’s a milestone in somebody’s life, and to be able to work with them directly, get to know them and bring out what’s important to them, is really exciting and it’s something that we don’t get to do on our corporate side.
EW: What does your dream wedding consist of?
MDH: We’re both very family-oriented guys and our dream wedding has to do with having a very chic family gathering in a park. I imagine a number of different areas for guests to gather and sit with picnic tables draped to the ground in natural linen, gorgeous flowers, very simple with lots of great food, music and entertainment, transitioning from the afternoon to a dance party at night. We’d probably have to have a tent, even though ideally I’d love it to be outside. But in my experience in the last 20 years, you’re better off having a tent, so I’d have to make sure I take my own advice!
My partner is a couture clothing designer, so we’ve talked about him making linen suits for both of us and for our friends in the wedding. All of the clothes would be made out of beautiful natural fabrics and be very style-forward in a beautifully casual, elegant way.
EW: What are three major trends your seeing for weddings in 2013?
MDH: Personalization: One of the things I love about weddings for gay or straight couples, that, in this day of age, it’s all about breaking the rules and bringing traditional along at the same time and molding the wedding to your own personalities.
Mixed seating arrangements: We’re seeing more of a lounge event for the reception where there are areas for different kinds of seating, so guests can move around and not be stuck at a table, and it can be done in the most beautiful, elegant way. For example, we often do put an area with traditional seating and we might do different sized tables so it’s not quite as formal but still elegant. And then have a lounge area and another where guests can stand and move about, and anchor the room from opposing points like bars, food stations and entertainment so it encourages guests to move around through the event.
Darker colors: One thing that’s huge in fashion right now is black on black. And so what it represents for weddings is that we’re now seeing darker shades be brought into the reception.
EW: Did getting engaged inspire you to create Matthew David Hopkins Celebrations or was that already in the works?
MDH: We’ve been trying to mold the brand for a long time, and always cared about personal events but actually creating a new brand to focus on it is a way for us to strengthen our commitment to that. And it sort of evolved over time. So I didn’t necessarily do that because I was personally engaged but that being said, I’m pretty happy about it!
