We typically work with American couples in their late 20s to mid-30s, they tend to share my passion for travel and have a genuine appreciation for the hard work that goes into creating fabulous fêtes…”
Eva Clark, Eva Clark Events
Eva Clark is the Owner and Creative Director of Eva Clark Events, a luxury destination event planning company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Eva first started her business in 2003 while living in Portland, Oregon, initially focusing on custom stationery. After a couple of years, Eva transitioned into wedding planning and, in 2013, began specialising in destination weddings. Here, we discuss Eva’s signature ‘indoor/outdoor’ productions, which require experience, attention to detail, and extraordinary dedication to produce…
C&B: “Eva, it sounds like you quickly elevated your career to destination wedding planning – a career that gives you opportunity to travel to all the best locations around the world – which are your favourites?”
EC: “At its essence, being a destination planner means that I am always exploring new locations… truth be told, I love the challenge of familiarising myself with different parts of the world! That being said, I’ve been working mostly on the East Coast of the U.S., as well as in Italy and Ireland. I’ve had the pleasure of returning to Dromoland Castle in Ireland several times over the last few years…”
C&B: “Ireland and Italy both have the most beautiful scenic backdrops for memorable weddings! Do you ever have to overcome challenges with various aspects such as weather or securing the right vendors for your particular project?”
EC: “The caliber of my creative partners is high, so I rarely face significant hurdles related to vendors. I do a lot of screening and communicate extensively in advance to ensure everything runs smoothly. On the other hand, weather is always a bit of a wild card, especially with the unpredictability brought on by global warming!”
While my primary focus is full planning and design, I do offer à la carte design services for select clients when it’s a good fit. Additionally, I’ve been a keynote speaker at workshops and conferences, including the well-known Engage Summits…”
Eva Clark, Eva Clark Events
C&B: “Including vendors, an incredible number of individuals are generally involved in producing the perfect day. Do you rely on a large team?”
EC: “On a day-to-day basis, there are two of us. I manage business acquisition, design, and overall management, while my Director of Operations takes care of all logistics. Additionally, my production team consists of between four and eight freelancers based on the East Coast of the U.S., as well as in Italy and Ireland…”
C&B: “Destination wedding planning is a highly competitive business – what would you say is the USP of Eva Clark Events?”
EC: “Having been in the event industry for two decades, I’ve more experience than all of my local competition. As a boutique, high-touch business, I take a very hands-on approach, which is greatly appreciated by my clients and the talented creatives I collaborate with to produce events. Every event we create is a unique expression of the beautiful geographic location and the couple’s story. Clients seek us out because of our attention to detail and our vibrant, garden-like aesthetic…”
C&B: “Yes, experience and attention to detail are absolutely crucial… we love the relaxed indoors/outdoors vibe of productions by Eva Clark – lots of greenery and floral decor – absolutely beautiful! Although appearances can be deceptive as we know that it takes super-human effort to achieve!”
EC: “Yes, event design is rated as one of the top 10 most stressful jobs for a reason! The stakes are high, and you only have one shot to get it right. I’m certainly not immune to the toll it takes, especially since my name is on the line. To avoid burnout, I exercise, pray, and give myself permission to be a couch potato for a couple of days once I’m back home. Downtime isn’t just a luxury; it’s essential for creatives. I’m lucky to have a few trusted industry peers who serve as great sounding boards, which is tremendously helpful. And, of course, there’s always wine!”
My three daughters are what I’m most proud of! They make me a better person and remind me daily of what really matters in life!”
Eva Clark, Eva Clark Events
C&B: “There are few things a glass of wine with good friends can’t cure! You’ve evidently done a fantastic job of blending family, social and business commitments over the course of your career. Are there any major names of places on your hit-list for future special occasions?”
EC: “I’d love to produce an event at the Cipriani Hotel in Venice. It would also be an incredible experience to work on one of the Obamas’ daughters’ weddings. Eeeehhhh!”
C&B: “The Cipriani in Venice is undoubtedly one of the most glamorous, romantic, and exquisite ‘olde-worlde’ locations. We agree that it would be a remarkable achievement to culminate your career with an Obama wedding, and we are confident in your ability to make it happen!”
CONTACT: http://www.evaclarkevents.com
