VH1 says ‘I Do’ for Valentine’s Day with all-new wish-fulfillment special
My Celebrity Dream Wedding debuting on Tuesday, February 9th at 9PM ET/PT
following the season premiere of Basketball Wives
VH1 announced a brand-new, one-hour, wish-fulfillment special, My Celebrity Dream Wedding, that is set to debut on Tuesday, February 9th at 9PM ET/PT just in time to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The special follows three top wedding planners as they compete to give one deserving bride on a budget the celebrity-inspired wedding of her dreams. My Celebrity Dream Wedding will air following the season premiere of VH1’s hit-series, Basketball Wives.
Wedding Planner Courtney
Courtney Ajinça is an internationally acclaimed event and interior designer who continues to turn fantasy into reality. She has created a number of installations for several high-profile celebrities and networks around the world and is known for her over the top and whimsical events. Courtney is always providing new visual adventures for her clients and the industry and is a proud mom of two beautiful boys and wife of professional basketball player Alexis Ajinça.
What makes a wedding successful?
I believe that a great planner and amazing vendors are what make a wedding successful. Wedding vendors can make or break any wedding; if they’re late, the design doesn’t go as planned or they’re unable to fulfill their contracted agreement, the wedding can fail. Having solid relationships with the vendors alleviates the worry and stress behind planning because we have complete confidence in each other and are able to quickly remedy any issues that may arrive.
Where do you derive your inspiration when fulfilling a couple’s vision?
I draw inspiration from nature, other cultures, and countries to create experiences that the client has yet to encounter. My imagination and the different places that I garner my inspiration are what makes my company rare. When I meet with the client and tour their venue, I am able to feel the energy of the space and take the client’s vision to the next level. From the very first conversation, I begin seeing colors and I’m able to read beyond their words to create an event unimaginable.
Did your participation as a wedding planner on My Celebrity Dream Wedding inspire you to change the way you approach planning weddings?
With my participation in My Celebrity Dream Wedding, I kept my same approach to planning weddings; however, it motivated me to be more organized and now I have built my company’s infrastructure. I hired, a Director of Coordination, Creative Director, and Director of Food & Beverage. These ladies now help to handle the finer details of the process so that I’m able to focus on designing and give my full attention to my bride.
Wedding Planner Lance
Lance Devereux is the owner and lead designer at Designs by Devereux Weddings and Events, a full-service wedding, special event, and floral design firm located in Charlotte, NC. From your everyday bride or groom, to celebrity clientele, to professional athletes and other well-known figures, Lance is well-known for his ability to transform any space into a memorable event experience.
What makes a wedding successful?
A successful wedding is all about appropriately aligned planning and logistics. Whether simple or lavish, without a well detailed plan in place, there’s nothing to go by and that leaves room for issues to occur that can cause the day a couple wants to always remember for all the right reasons, to a day they don’t ever want to think about again. When possible, always hire professional vendors who are experienced in the ins and outs of a wedding day. Nine times out of ten, something will go wrong even if it’s just the smallest detail, but with the right level of professional support the bride and/or groom will never know.
Where do you derive your inspiration when fulfilling a couple’s vision?
Weddings of today are all personality, details, and an amazing overall experience. So, I’m immediately inspired by a couple’s individual personalities and how I can include custom details that reflect them. You want guests to leave feeling like they’ve specifically attended that couple’s special day, and not just another wedding. I always include some signature experience that guests walk away remembering as unique to that couple’s personality and aesthetic. That’s how you create custom and not cookie cutter experiences.
Did your participation as a wedding planner on My Celebrity Dream Wedding inspire you to change the way you approach planning weddings?
While my experience on ‘My Celebrity Dream Wedding’ didn’t necessarily inspire me to change my approach to planning, as always it did encourage me to continue to go bigger and bolder the next time around. I’ve always believed that I’m my greatest competition in life, and every couple that I’m blessed to work with is an opportunity to be better, more imaginative, and push myself further outside of the box than I did any time before.
Wedding Planner Tori
Tori Williams is a celebrity event planner and designer, creating luxurious bespoke events world-wide. Tori Williams Events is a full-service luxury event planning and design company, focused on social and corporate affairs. Her signature opulent, trendsetting themes and elaborate decor have been seen on major television networks such as Lifetime, Bravo, The Food Network, TV One’s Sister Circle and NBC. Tori was also named one of Atlanta’s 25 Most Powerful and Influential Women by Modern Luxury’s Atlantan Magazine. Tori Williams and Tori Williams Events are “names the world will remember, adding signature style one event at a time.”
What makes a wedding successful?
Team work, organization, solving problems quickly and efficiently.
Where do you derive your inspiration when fulfilling a couples vision?
My inspiration comes from my clients personality, their style, themes and colors. But I also draw inspiration from flowers, music, shapes and different architectural designs.
Did your participation as a wedding planner on My Celebrity Dream Wedding inspire you to change the way you approach planning weddings?
No, however I do think its important to talk with your clients about their budgets in advance and managing expectations for their big day
