The secrets of Eugenie’s A-list party planners
For the organisers of next month’s lavish royal wedding, more is definitely more, finds Guy Kelly
Until recently, we didn’t know quite what to expect from the wedding of Princess Eugenie to her wine merchant fiancé, Jack Brooksbank. From initial announcements, it sounded as if the second royal nuptials of 2018 – set to take place on the weekend of October 12 – would be nothing but a lesser sequel to the first: the ceremony will be held in St George’s Chapel, the happy couple will take a carriage ride through Windsor afterwards, and, just like Prince Harry and the then Meghan Markle did in May, 1,200 flag-waving members of the public have been invited.
As we get closer to the big day, however, a clearer picture is emerging of just how Eugenie intends to not only put her own stamp on events, but perhaps even go one better than the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s “wedding of the decade”.
And there’s nothing more eyecatching than her choice of party planners. According to a recent report, the ninth in line to the throne has handed over the wedding reception reins to A-list party planning company Bentley’s Entertainments – an outfit best known for organising David Beckham’s over-the-top fairytale wedding to the former Victoria Adams at Luttrellstown Castle, near Dublin, in 1999 and both the wedding receptions of Eugenie’s other cousins, Zara and Peter Phillips.
“After the more formal celebration at Windsor
Castle [reportedly planned and overseen by Lady dy Elizabeth Anson, the Queen’s cousin], the Saturday bash will be a relaxed party,” a source revealed of the two-day event. “There will be dodgems and funfair rides, coconut shies, lots of food stalls, loads of cocktails, bloody Marys for the hangovers and a festival vibe.”
It doesn’t exactly sound a quiet, relaxed little get-together, but then you don’t tend to call Bentley’s if that’s what you’re after. Founded in 1984 by Peregrine Armstrong-Jones, the firm has become the go-to choice for celebrities and wealthy figures looking to organise the kind of party that’d make Jay Gatsby’s look like a baby shower.
“I’m from Snowdonia and always planned to live there and farm, but my training was interrupted when a friend asked me to assist him with a mobile disco,” Armstrong-Jones once said of his origins. “It gives me the opportunity to meet people I’d never meet in everyday life. What I do is glamorous. Sometimes I wake up and think I’m really lucky to have this job.” As a half brother b of the late Earl of Snowdon, wooing the more frolicsome members of the Royal family may lie in Armstrong-Jones’s genes – or he may just know what extremely rich people do for fun. Recent years have seen Bentley’s plan Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s White Tie and Tiara parties, Petra Ecclestone’s £12million wedding extravaganza, and a gala for Prince Albert of Monaco. And he doesn’t appear to judge either, once saying in an interview. “I’d be interested in organising a party for President Putin if the opportunity ever arose.” (The opportunity has not yet arisen.)
We know the reception n will be good – Fergie’s going and it’s a free bar – but the specifics for ArmstrongJones’s vision for Eugenie e and Brooksbank remains under wraps. Looking back ck over the Bentley’s portfolio, however, there are a few rules that the party planners live by, which all hint at a rather lively do.
If something sounds too much, include it anyway, way, then add more
Bentley’s Entertainments motto appears, judging by their website at least, to be “Creating t the Extraordinary”. That’s T putting it lightly. Fe Few people alive in 1999 can forget the sights of the B Beckham wedding, from Da David’s purple suit (he had two two), the golden thrones, Brooklyn’s Brookly cowboy hat, a cake top topped with apples (nope, n no idea) and the estimated estimat bill of £500,000. If that’s tha what Armstrong-Jones c can suggest for a pop star and a footballer, just imagine imagin what he’ll do with an event even at which the real Queen will be present.
Choose Choo your playlist, then actually book them
“Simply tell us who you want to appear, and we’ll make it happen,” Bentley’s boasts, confidently. Admittedly, their track record is solid. Over the years they’ve arranged for Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Lionel Richie to perform privately. You could book Cirque du Soleil, have Robbie Williams whisper your entire first dance song into your ear or maybe even replace the best man’s speech with a Michael McIntyre monologue, if that’s your bag.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had Ellie Goulding perform at their private wedding reception. The Sus sexes reportedly went through the ordeal of giving James Corden the task of MC-ing things. But who will Eugenie go for? Well, in an interview last year, the 28-year-old revealed that one of her favourite songs is The Monkees’ Daydream Believer, because her mother used to sing it in the car. Step up, Fergie.
Invite anyone and everyone
Quite how many people Eugenie and Brooksbank have invited to their nuptials varies depending on what you read. Some say 500, others say the mother of the bride has personally invited another 850. Either way, there are likely to be some familiar names, even at the back.
The Beckhams will likely be involved, while George and Amal Clooney honestly do know Brooksbank through their connections in the drinks trade.
There is likely to be room for Sir Elton, too, as well as royal favourites like James Blunt and Goulding, and Eugenie’s famous friends: Cara Delevingne, Margot Robbie, Sienna Miller, Suki Waterhouse and Ed Sheeran. Eugenie’s sister, Princess Beatrice, reportedly slashed Sheeran in the face with a sword at a party last year. So they owe him one, really.
It won’t be a dry bar
Just as at any Bentley’s party (unless it isn’t asked for), there will likely be a lot of booze at the Royal Lodge on October 12. But given Brooksbank’s line of work, Armstrong-Jones probably doesn’t need to worry about arranging a shots bar.
One of the brands Brooksbank deals with is Casamigos, a high-end tequila co-founded by Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman. It was sold last year for around £1billion. One guest is very happy with that arrangement. “The good news is that Jack works for Casamigos tequila so I’m perfect,” you-know-who said. “He’ll just hand me the tequila and say, ‘Come on mother-in-law, down it!’” Who needs Bentley’s, when you have tequila?