From The Plaza to Internet Fame: Lauren Grech of LLG Events Redefines Viral Weddings

This year, uniquely lavish weddings have captivated global attention and gone viral for their breathtaking extravagance. Most recently, Bilt Rewards CEO Ankur Jain’s four-day wedding celebration in Egypt went viral for its ceremony at the base of the Great Pyramids of Giza as well as multiple celebrity appearances and performances. Photos from the night are still circulating across social media, showcasing a melange of cultural grandeur and historical awe. Although the prime wedding season has only just begun, this is not the first — nor will it be the last — viral wedding of the year. Of course, Anant Ambani’s pre-nuptial celebrations set the bar with Rihanna’s performance, while Madelaine Brockway’s multi-day affair in Paris and Versailles, has been dubbed the wedding of the century.

Yet, couples need not venture beyond our borders to encounter a spectacle of similar magnificence. In the heart of New York City, Lauren Grech and her team at LLG Events orchestrated a wedding at The Plaza Hotel that rivaled these international marvels in both grandeur and viral appeal. With Radio City kickline performers dressed as bellhops handing out replica Plaza hotel keys, to a cinematically recreated lobby featuring stunning floral designs from Tantawan Bloom, it’s no surprise the wedding has gone viral with over 5 million views and counting.

Lauren Grech, founder of LLG Events, shares insights about her viral wedding at The Plaza Hotel and the creative heights to which modern weddings aspire.

“These viral weddings are showing us what weddings are truly capable of. Weddings are immersive environments. When you walk onto an LLG party, it feels like you are walking onto a movie set or the set of a Broadway show. My next wedding design is using inspiration from the Phantom of the Opera. Couples or brides (usually the bride, lol) come to me with their wildest imaginations. What these viral weddings are showing is the endless possibilities you can create within this industry. The wedding industry is truly a blank canvas and so much fun if you let the creativity flow.”

She also highlights the unique demands and rapid pace of the wedding industry:

“What other industry can build, set up, and tear down live event sets in less than 24 hours?! None. Not your house, movie sets, broadway shows, music festivals, nothing. All of those events take weeks of production. However, not weddings. As a wedding architect, I am never given that amount of time. For example, our Plaza wedding went viral because people could not believe we had only 45 minutes to build our set before the guests arrived. But let’s think about it. The Plaza is not closing down the lobby for longer than 45 minutes because of the amount of guests that come through their hotel who need to check-in. Within our simulated Plaza Hotel lobby, guests would “check-in,” grab their room key, and then go upstairs. They didn’t know what awaited them; ultimately, their key was for the ballroom and their seats!”

Amidst these viral weddings, Grech addresses some of the concerns facing her industry: it’s becoming increasingly difficult to discern the right vendors for the job. With the development of AI wedding inspiration combined with event marketing, “it’s hard to tell the difference between a novice and an expert when all the marketing looks the same. Sometimes the experts have the worst portfolio and those are some of the best vendors.”

Event design and production at this scale requires intricate attention to detail at every step of the wedding planning process. Grech talks about how her vendor network is crucial to her success especially at this level of bespoke luxury. Even though some vendors might not have the most glamorous Instagrams, she knows she works with the best vendors in the industry.

“I’m in a lot of circles in many metropolitan areas and I have access to unique event spaces, rare vendors with specific specialities, cool private members clubs or restaurants. All of this is essential when overseeing the entire production. From start to finish, I venue scout with my clients, sometimes all over the world, until we find the perfect location. We then create an investment plan, the design, source all the vendors required, we advise on the logistics of the destination, picking up your wedding dress, the hotel room for guests, and so much more. LLG is a full-service wedding agency, we literally do it all and we do it all over the world.”

The rise of viral weddings showcases the limitless potential and creativity within the modern wedding industry. Lauren Grech and LLG Events exemplify how meticulous planning, innovative design, and a robust international vendor network can transform your wedding into an unforgettable experience. As weddings continue to evolve and capture the public’s imagination, it’s clear that the blend of spectacle and personal expression will set new standards for future celebrations.