We have been fortunate enough to work with David and his team on a some New England weddings over the past few years and I can’t put into words how amazing he is to work with. David is one of the most talented and well-known floral and event designers in our industry and he was so accommodating to our clients and down to earth that it was an absolute pleasure doing business with his team. I am thrilled to be starting our Industry Icons blog series with David Beahm Designs. You will be thrilled as well when you read his interview and see some of his incredible work. Enjoy the new series!
KP
KP: What is your favorite part of the wedding process?
DB: My favorite moment is stealthfully stealing the bride away from cocktail hour and leading her hand-in-hand to see the finished dinner space with the lighting focused and all the candles lit. Watching her face as the doors open makes me so happy.
KP: What do you love most about your job in the wedding industry?
DB: I think all of us in this industry are in it to make people happy – so the industry is full of really great people with which to socialize, which makes working with them a breeze. The mantra at David Beahm Design is we only hire nice people and we only work with nice people. It’s a celebration, so the process should be a wonderful experience.
KP: What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
DB: The biggest misconception about our industry is that we are out to get rich off of one party. It’s not rocket science, but the professional services we provide are extraordinarily detailed and take a tremendous amount of time, organization to execute, and experience. We allow people to enjoy their big day and not be bogged down in the detailed minutia that make a wonderful wedding but it takes an army of people to make it happen – ON TIME. I make sure that I hire the best designers available, pay them well, feed them well, and create a good working experience so that the product we give the happy couple is a reflection of that. But as we all know, labor is a most expensive commodity and it adds up fast. Yes, certainly our goal is to make a profit and sustain our business, but a LOT of the client’s money flows right back out into the economy. I encourage my clients to look at their weddings like their very own stimulus package!
KP: How did you get into the wedding industry?
DB: My mom is an artist, my dad was in hotel/restaurant, my godparents own a flower shop and I was in theatre – I think it was destiny!
KP: Tell me one wedding vendor other than in your industry you highly recommend and why?
DB: Mark Ingram at the Bridal Atelier by Mark Ingram is just about the nicest guy you could ever meet and so talented and HONEST about what you look like in a dress – if it’s not right, he’ll tell you – what could be more valuable than that?
KP: Tell me one wedding vendor in your industry you highly recommend and why?
DB: Ed Libby and I have become really good friends and maintain a mutual admiration society, at times even recommending our clients to each other. I’ve been in a consultation and said, “You have to go see Ed. He’s the one for you!” And Ed’s done the same thing for me. There’s no ego; it’s just about getting the right fit and making the client happy at the end of the day.
KP: Favorite wedding story – funny or serious.
DB: A good friend got married in Central Park. It was the perfect spring day, the bride and groom’s parties strolled from opposite sides of the park and met at the bandstand where, just perchance, a band was playing “Seasons of Love” as we all came together. After an absolutely beautiful, tear-jerking ceremony, the groom had arranged a surprise: a marching band playing really wonderful, funky music came around the corner as they were pronounced husband and wife. The band then led everyone to the Bethesda Fountain where we danced. At that point a gondolier pulled up on the pond and took the bride and groom on a ride around the boat basin as we continued to have a great time. It was perfect and so unique.
KP: What other part of the industry would you not want to work in? Why?
DB: Have you ever visited the beading room at Kleinfeld? I would not be even a little pleasant after even one hour of adjusting the beading on a dress . . . god bless those ladies.
KP: What differentiates you from the rest of your industry peers?
DB: You are not a customer when you join us. You become part of the family. I can’t tell you how many mothers are trying to fix me up…
David designed the first wedding we worked on together with these incredible hanging floating candles and flowers. They look like they’re just floating in mid-air. I remember my client’s face when she walked into her reception and looked up at the installation. Unbelievable.
Now, I’ve seen some Huppahs in my life, but seriously? David doesn’t miss a beat- from the lighting, custom fabric installations, and intricate floral designs. Quite the wow factor.
He’s so innovative. Most of the items David works with are custom designed for each client, ensuring they have a completely unique wedding experience. Aren’t those lighting and candle features amazing?!
Some brides want a lot of flowers to make their wow factor statement, so I had to show this ridiculous (in a good way) Huppah made entirely of white flowers. Complete with uplighting, what a dramatic statement for a ceremony!
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