Alumni Elie Berchan: In the Business of Creating Goosebumps

The internationally acclaimed event creator has made waves in the industry since his graduation from César Ritz Colleges in 2005. Born in the United States and raised in Lebanon, Elie credits the focus on excellence from his Swiss education for giving him the perfect balance to succeed in the industry. His Lebanese approach to hospitality, American straightforwardness and Swiss precision and excellence has altogether shaped his professional journey and accomplishments. 

The Elie Berchan Wedding and Events Creation Company has grown steadily since Elie designed and created his first wedding (his sister’s) in 2012.  Today, Elie Berchan is a well-recognized name in Lebanon and he has representatives in 6 different countries across Europe and the Middle East. He has developed a franchise programme with strong interest already in South America and Asia and has developed an effective workshop training series for the next generation of event creators.

We caught up with Elie who shared some insights to his business, latest trends in the event world and of course some helpful advice for future graduates ready to enter this dynamic and fast paced industry.

The most surprising skill I learned as a student at César Ritz Colleges Switzerland was discovering the enjoyment and satisfaction in paying attention to the smallest of details. Growing up I had a very short attention span, but studying hospitality taught me how to focus my energy, find patience and look at how the finer details matter in the bigger scheme of things. Today, I am successful in what I do because of the attention I pay to every single detail in making a wedding spectacular.

When it comes to events, every request is unique but one that stands out was a Winter Wonderland theme set in the beautiful ballroom of the Four Seasons in Beirut. We organized 16 LED screens featuring Central Park covered in snow. The guests were immediately transported to a wintery New York City, which set the vibe for a very memorable wedding.

What sets my company apart from the competition is our honed focus on the client. We leave our egos at home because in our approach the client is at the centre of everything we do. Additionally we are made up of a team of multi-national and multi-lingual young hospitality professionals that are willing to go the extra mile.

The big trends that I see in weddings for 2016 include more destination weddings and a bigger focus on entertainment rather than bold décor.

My signature style is definitely the exceptional attention that we give the bride. My role is to translate her dreams into reality through exquisite style while building an emotional connection for her and her guests. I am a Neurolinguistic Programming Certified Practitioner, which means that I studied the psychology behind the creation of emotional experiences. In my job – we actually plan goosebumps! 

The most important lesson I learned in this business is that you can learn incredible life lessons from your enemy. My advice is to listen to what your biggest rival is saying about you and use their feedback as motivation. Remember that imitation is a form of flattery and there is no room for egos in this business.