READING TIME: 4 min 36 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/05/2025
UPDATED: 03/05/2025
For over a decade, Grace and Saviour has been redefining wedding planning in Ireland. With an artistic foundation and a commitment to creating deeply personal experiences, they craft weddings that are more than just events—they are works of art. We spoke with the team behind this renowned wedding design studio to delve into their story, philosophy, and inspirations.
Founded in 2011, Grace and Saviour is a Belfast-based wedding design studio with a distinct approach. Unlike traditional planners, their process is rooted in art practice, working from the final visual and creative experience backward to bring their clients' visions to life.
Grace, the driving force behind the studio, initially pursued art college before transitioning into communication and brand management. This unique background laid the groundwork for a career that blends creativity with logistics.
"The first weddings we worked on, we hired event rentals, but over time we had clients who trusted us to take on more of their planning and design, and we moved gradually into it. This has been a strong part of our experience as we have grown our knowledge and ability to plan for our clients for almost 14 years."
At the heart of Grace and Saviour is a deep love for people. The team thrives on building lasting relationships with couples, understanding their stories, and crafting events that reflect their personalities.
"We love the creative process that is centred around building a long-term relationship with our clients, understanding them as people, as a couple, and understanding what they wish to deliver for their families and their guests."
Each wedding is an opportunity to curate a unique experience, from selecting the perfect color palettes to orchestrating seamless guest experiences.
"We love mapping out every detail and putting together creative and production teams that deliver an amazing experience for our clients. We get to work with couples from all over the world choosing Ireland as a destination, and that is so rewarding."
Grace and Saviour is not just about logistics—it’s about designing experiences that are deeply personal and meaningful. Their approach attracts couples who share a creative mindset, whether they work in the arts or simply have a strong aesthetic vision.
"We are a design studio grounded in creative thinking. We find that many of our clients are also designers or in creative industries, and if they are not, they are creative in their style and in their lives, and we attract that."
Rather than following trends, they focus on creating timeless celebrations that emerge from each couple’s unique lifestyle and story.
Grace and Saviour offers a comprehensive suite of services, covering planning, design, and coordination. While each couple’s needs vary, the best results often come from integrating all three elements.
"With each client, we discuss their needs and also costs and then tailor a bespoke service plan and budget for them."
This flexibility ensures that every wedding is a reflection of the couple’s vision, allowing them to be as involved—or hands-off—as they desire.
Some weddings leave a lasting imprint for their emotional depth, cultural richness, or creative ingenuity.
"The weddings we remember the most are usually for one of three reasons: how the couple are with each other and their families, when we learn something new—possibly cultural or religious customs—or if we have scope to be creative with the wedding experience with locations or events through the course of the wedding."
One wedding that stood out was a Persian-Irish celebration where the team learned and incorporated meaningful traditions into the event. Another recent wedding was particularly exciting because the couple embraced a single color for their entire design, allowing for an immersive visual experience.
"We always love to work on a three- or four-day wedding when we get to plan and tailor the guest experience over a series of events, working with how the couple and guests move through the days with different locations and design details."
Working closely with couples to translate their vision into reality is central to Grace and Saviour’s approach.
"It is ultimately about finding a design language between them and us that lets us completely understand their priorities and what they mean when they describe their desired outcome."
For many couples, articulating their vision can be daunting. Grace and Saviour acts as a bridge, helping them refine their ideas into a concrete plan.
"It is our role to use our experience to guide this out of our clients, and then translate that into a planning brief—and deliver that using our experience and knowledge and leads for the best vendors for their desired outcome."
Ireland offers an abundance of stunning venues, and Grace and Saviour frequently works at some of the most breathtaking locations:
Luttrellstown Castle
Cashel Palace
Hilton Park
Dromoland Castle
Powerscourt House
Private estates and homes
"I would say venues with drama, whether it is the interiors, or the history, or the elements. We have many castles here and venues by cliffs and the sea."
They also have a deep appreciation for private family homes, where weddings take on an added layer of nostalgia and intimacy.
"I also really do love to work with people to plan weddings at private homes; there is a wonderful added layer to the process when the families’ memories are also in the design."
Like any industry, wedding planning comes with its challenges. One of the biggest is balancing design expectations with budget constraints.
"Design Expectation vs Budget Expectation. In Ireland, sometimes the weather, but we are very experienced with Plans A, B, C."
Their expertise in contingency planning ensures that even unexpected circumstances—like unpredictable Irish weather—never compromise the couple’s vision.
For couples currently in the midst of wedding planning, Grace and Saviour offers simple yet invaluable advice:
"Research, ask questions, select vendors that meet your design, budget, and personality needs and then trust them. Discuss your communication expectations and remain vocal as your needs develop or change, keep an open and healthy line of communication with all vendors."
For those aspiring to enter the wedding planning industry, they emphasize the importance of saying yes to opportunities and treating every interaction as part of building a brand.
"In the beginning, say yes to opportunity and be happy to jump into all sorts of skills opportunities. Treat people well at all levels—suppliers, venues, clients, everyone you encounter."
With a deep appreciation for art, storytelling, and human connection, Grace and Saviour continues to push the boundaries of what a wedding can be. Whether it’s a grand castle affair or an intimate home gathering, their expertise ensures that every detail is carefully curated to create something truly extraordinary.
