May 19, 2020 • 18 mins
In this episode we discuss picking a date and why Emma has chosen that particular date.We also discuss venue choice and the research that went into that and why choosing a venue is so important.
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Episode Transcript
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Marcus (00:01):
Hi guys, welcome to the Partyology experience.
I'm here today with Emma De Jongand we're talking about her
wedding.
In today's podcast we're goingto be talking about choosing a
date and picking a venue foryour wedding, for both the
reception and then also pickinga ceremony spot.
Now, whether that be a church orwhether that be in a park or
(00:22):
something like that.
Emma one of the first thingsthat people talk about or decide
I guess when they're working outtheir wedding is what date
should we get married?
How did you come up with yoursand when are you getting
married?
Emma (00:36):
So we're getting married on the 27th of March, 2021.
We decided on that date becauseour anniversary is actually the
1st of April.
So we wanted to it to be asclose as possible to that date.
Unfortunately the weekend afteris my brother's birthday,So we
decided we didn't want to do onhis birthday.
The weather of course is still abit all over the place.
It's Melbourne of course youcan't pick a date and not have
to question the weather to beBush fires or torrential rain.
(01:01):
So we have picked that datecause sometimes in March it can
be still warm.
We're taking the gamble that itis the end of March, so it could
be a little bit colder, but wewill have backup plans for those
situations.
But that's the reason why wepicked that date.
It's still in that nice sort oftime of the year and it's the
closest to our anniversary.
Marcus (01:18):
So weather obviously obviously could be an issue.
Why is that?
Is it because you're having anoutdoor ceremony
Emma (01:24):
Yes, we are having our ceremony out on a grassed area
,we're actually having ourreception and ceremony at the
same location.
We thought for convenience itwas going to be the easiest way
of doing it.
So we have backup plans in thefact that we will have a marquee
over that lawn area if it'sgoing to be a little bit windy
because of course we're actuallygetting married down near the
beach as we all know it's windynear the beach.
(01:47):
So we might have to put themarquee up with some walls just
to cover for wind.
There'll be multiple reasons whyor we'll be having inside the
venue, which is like the lastresort and it will make Marcus's
day very stressful.
Marcus (02:02):
Yeah.
It's bcause I'm going to bedoing all the work.
So I guess you've hit on acouple of key things here.
One, obviously you've alreadythought about the weather and
working in events, you know youneed a back up plan.
Emma (02:14):
Yes this is the most important thing ever.
Marcus (02:16):
Yes.
those brides and people havingevents,parties and weddings
especially that just go, Oh,it'll be right, that is the
biggest mistake they can make.
Emma (02:23):
Do not do that, please.
I just think for brides andgrooms like the week before, you
do not want to be running aroundgoing, it's going to rain and
now I'm stressed and what am Igoing to do?
Because it's going to be outsideand you're trying to bring
suppliers and no one's availablebecause they're all booked out.
It's just not what you need aweek, two weeks prior.
So please, please have a backupplan.
(02:44):
We've seen so many brides, sadand distressed and it makes me
so sad for them We've had themcry at us on a Friday saying, do
you have anything?
And w e're like, we're fullybooked and you just feel
horrible for them.
But you c an avoid t his peopleplease have a b ackup plan.
Marcus (03:03):
So have a backup plan, and look into the backup plan.
and hopefully you dont need tous it.
Emma (03:07):
Fingers crossed of course, but be realistic in the fact
that you live in Melbourne, youdon't live in sunny Queensland
where most of the time it'sgoing to be sunny.
We live in Melbourne.
Be prepared for it.
Marcus (03:18):
I think you, you said there, you were having the
ceremony and the reception inthe same place.
Which from personal experience,going to weddings over lots of
years that this is a winner.
Sometimes people have theirceremony and they'll have it for
whatever reason at one or twoo'clock in the afternoon and
then the reception is five, sixo'clock in a totally different
(03:39):
space.
It makes it really awkward foryour guests, they've got to find
something to do if it's adestination wedding and they've
got nowhere to go or they don'tknow where they are, it can make
it really hard.
So having the ceremony and thereception one in the same place
and in a tighter time frame isjust good for your guests
experience.
Emma (03:56):
A hundred percent I think from being in this industry, I
think before I ever was in thisindustry, I would have never
thought of that.
And I think going to winningsover the last past couple of
years, you do learn that, youknow, for us to be convenient
and fun and you know, relaxingfor everyone.
Don't make them drive a half anhour from one spot to the other.
Make them, you know, chill out,have the ceremony, have a drink
and then just go straight downto the room.
(04:17):
Like I think sometimes it's hardwhen people want to do the full
two hours of photos.
That's the hard one.
Um, but yeah, it's, it's, yougotta be considerate of other
people.
Like the guests are going to bethere, be considerate of them
and how far they have to go andhow long they have to wait.
Yeah.
Marcus (04:30):
And that's right.
Look, you know, understandably,most people will have photos
between the ceremony and thereception.
Uh, but you, one, if you canlimit that time and two, and
that's okay.
It can potentially be a coupleof hours, give you guests
something to do, make sure theygot food and drinks, especially
if it's a hot day, you know,maybe some shade, some sort of
entertainment.
Um, yeah.
(04:51):
Otherwise, it's going to be apainful experience for them.
Yeah.
Emma (04:53):
Yeah.
You need to think as the guests,like it is all about you.
But at the end of the day it'sall about your guests as well.
Let's go to a hundred of yourloved ones that you don't want
to be roasting on the lawn.
It's like you got your 90 yearold, 90 year old Nan in the sun
all day.
Yeah.
We don't want that.
We want people passing out.
So please consider that.
(05:15):
No, we don't want that.
Marcus (05:19):
So I guess we then need to talk about the, one of the
key things in any wedding is thevenue, the venue, you know,
finding the right venue, findingthe right location, the right
look, the right style.
Are they going to do food right?
Is that, what sort of drinks arewe going to serve?
Um, all those sorts of things.
Like it can be quite stressful.
Emma (05:39):
You can be the venues.
The hardest part.
Yeah.
So how many venues have youlooked at?
A fair few.
At first it, I should say.
Yeah, this is the question causeI've been to a lot of venues
here in Melbourne being in thisindustry.
So icon already had a short listalready.
Um, again, I know I touched onlast time, but just about the
access times, how flexible theywere.
Costs came down of course.
Um, how many people they couldhold in that venue cause I'm
(06:02):
having a cocktail.
Um, I didn't want a venue thatwas, you know, can hold 500
people.
It was going to be a job that wewere going to have to drape half
the venue off anyway.
Is that worth paying the moneyfor it when you're going to get
rid of most of it anyway, sospace was another thing.
So there's lots of things toconsider when it comes to
venues.
I wanted the flexibility was mymain priority.
I think being in this industryand wanting to look a certain
(06:22):
way, I know how long thingstake.
So I know her needle data,access the venue and set it up
looking then for more of a blankcanvas I guess.
Yeah.
So blank canvas was more sort ofup my alley.
I wanted something I could addthings to and not have its own.
Like it has, every venue has itsown personality to a like to a
degree.
Um, but I really wanted to addmy own sort of touch on it.
(06:42):
If I wanted to do a particulartheme, I was gonna do it and be
able to do it well withouthaving to clash with something
that was already in there.
Yeah.
Marcus (06:48):
Yeah.
So you've picked a venue then Ihave picked a venue and you're
happy with it.
Obviously I am very happy.
And how much did say price andfood and, and that sort of thing
play into it.
Emma (07:00):
So it's going to sound horrible, but food's not a huge
thing for me.
I don't want to cause the foodfor me is I of course I want it
to be nice.
We went there and actually hadlike a sort of an afternoon
lunch and test the food to makesure, of course it was nice
food, but I'm not a massive,massive foodie where the fact
that needs to be a foster, youknow, chef hat restaurant or
whatever it needs to be.
But I also want to make sureeveryone gets fed enough as
(07:22):
well.
Like that was a huge thing forme.
I don't want people going toMcDonald's and the way home
cause they're, you know,starving.
Um, I wanted to make sure thatwas going to be covered,
especially being cocktail aswell.
You not having a full sit downdinner so you want to make sure
people are fed.
Yeah.
Um, so yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So the main choice for venue waslocation, location as a whole
range of things, flexibility,location.
(07:42):
Um, it's Dan named, my wifelived down in the morning to
peninsula and it's down thatlike close to my family and
friends.
His only some that we'll have todrive.
So it was very convenient foreveryone.
Marcus (07:51):
And so we need to do much to that venue to I guess
suit your style.
Yes.
Total revenge renovation.
Yeah.
Emma (07:59):
No, it's, it's on the beach.
It's very, our style.
Um, I'll probably go more intothe sort of style of what we're
going to actually plan to do,but this venue sort of taps into
that a little bit anyway.
Um, there will be a degree thatwe have to go to is whenever
your whole re renovation oranything
Marcus (08:17):
be doing a little feel good event.
So yes, if you brought back tomy email really quickly.
Yeah, I know a few good uh,event decorators, I might be
able to recommend
Emma (08:28):
yes, no marks will be planning and doing everything
for me on the day.
He will be my winning planners.
He wants to call himself.
Um, so yes, he'll be doing allthe hard work so I don't have to
stress on the day.
Marcus (08:36):
Yeah.
I'm looking forward to it.
Show you up.
It's going to be a nurse superthing.
Marcus.
Oh, whoops.
It was your birthday.
Not you're waiting anyway.
Okay.
Um, so what sort of formatyou've chosen a cocktail format.
Emma (08:52):
Yes.
So cocktail.
Um, and that was the best for usto get our
Marcus (08:56):
very relaxed, you know, chilled sort of vibe.
We've doing a sit down and it'svery formal.
We didn't want for more, I wantpeople to be walking around,
getting a drink, having a chat,you know, talking to everyone.
I don't want to sit in a seatand sit there like a bridal
table would have made me feelsick.
I don't want to be up there.
Everyone's staring at me.
I would have hated it.
Um, so having everyone just like, you know, walking around and
(09:18):
relaxing is so our vibe,cocktails.
And I think from experience wewere finding at feelgood events
that a lot more brides, it'smore common now cocktail style
because it's more relaxed.
Um, and you can still, if you'rea foodie, you can still have
really good food.
Make sure there's plenty offood.
It's just in a less formal way.
And I think it's, um, it's notas formal anymore.
(09:40):
I think like, you know, yearsand years ago, everyone just did
the same thing.
Formal, formal, formal.
But you know, we're pushing theboundaries a bit more on
weddings and you can be morerelaxed and you don't need to do
every single thing that's onthat list.
You can do what you want.
It's about you guys.
It's not about what they've donefor years, it's changed.
So, um, yeah.
So how much did cost affect yourvenue choice?
(10:02):
Was it, did that really play abig part?
Like was there any other venuesthat you looked at that you
thought, Oh this is, I'd reallylove this one but I just can't
afford it.
It wasn't about the car to adegree it was, but I think it
was also covering all the basesthat I wanted to cover.
So they could have been one thatwas$20,000 and I probably would
have spent it cause I loved it.
But they didn't give you thetime or the flexibility to do
what you wanted.
(10:23):
And that really came into play.
I think I was willing to pay themoney if it had all the criteria
that I had on my list.
And because it didn't, I waslike, I'm not going to like why
would I pay all that money forsomething that I'm not going to
get half of the things I need onthat sort of list.
So that came down to a hugething.
And I think even though itdidn't cost me crazy amounts of
money for the reception in theceremony, it still covered all
(10:45):
my basis.
So it was, it worked and itwasn't just about the cost, it
was about, yeah, flexibility.
Flexibility is a huge onereally.
I think about it.
I think that is a key, and thisis one thing that again, people
will only find out when they dotheir research, depending on
what sort of decor and stallingyou want to do for the venue.
And every venue usually will do,you'll do something, whether it
be flowers in a simple way oryou fully draped the whole venue
(11:08):
and do lighting and specialdance floors and all sorts of
stuff.
All these things as we'vediscussed before, take time and
a lot of venues, that's fine,but if you say to them, I need a
day to do the installation ofall these things, then they will
charge you per hour.
So that's extra cost on whatthey're charging you per head.
And for the room height, which Iunderstand why they charge it.
(11:29):
They have to their business atthe end of the day as well, but
it's being realistic as well.
Like I think some venues, ifthey allow you in from 12
o'clock I think that's okay, butsome of them were, your ceremony
would start at three or four Ineed to be in from two or one
and I'm like the pool suppliers,you'd be like you have two hours
go and what'll happen is is isin some cases the, once you find
this out, if the supplier saysto you, well to do that, you
(11:52):
know it's going take us 10 hoursa long time.
Is it realistic?
Then you say the supplier willhave only got from 12 o'clock so
I've only got five hours.
The supplier is going to costcharge you extra as well.
Charge you more.
If I have the, if they have theresource to have more people or
you have to call back the lookyou want to go for.
Exactly right.
So there's going to be lots ofcompromise there potentially or
it's just going to cost youextra money.
So I guess one of the key thingshere would be to, before you
(12:16):
book your ceremony or sorry,your function venue, have a good
idea of what your suppliers aregoing to cost you to do that and
how much time that's going totake because that's going to
determine which venue you chooseas well.
If you want to go down that pathof doing lots of decorating and
you want it to look like KimKardashians wedding and she has
been married twice to decoratethe venue.
(12:38):
So yes, you know, these arethings again that you won't know
until you start asking thequestions of your event
decorators or event stylists.
Um, ask the venue what sort offlexibility we have as far as
loading supplies and evenletting the DJ in, you know, or
the band, they may need an houror two hours at least mostly
them do to do that.
Of course.
So, you know, that takes timeand so the venue potentially
(12:59):
could charge you for every extrahour.
And if you've got multiple, youknow, you're always going to
have multiple suppliers goinginto your venue for florists,
entertainment, decorators, um,it's, you know, somebody is
doing a dance floor, whatever itmight be.
These things are all gonna costyou potentially lots of money in
the long run.
So as you say, you know, findinga venue that gives you that
(13:19):
flexibility's, you know, to dowhat you need to do.
And I think I'm like coming fromsupplier point of view, you
know, it's, you need to considerthem as well.
Like I think when you put peopleunder so much pressure to get it
done in a small amount of time,this is where mistakes happen.
And I think, you know, beconsiderate of the fact that we
can only do so much in atimeframe and you know, it
doesn't leave much time forerror as well.
Like we're all human and I thinkthat's the main thing.
(13:40):
And I think a lot of people goand pick a venue.
Great, great.
You know, there was this costand it was great, but then they
whack the cost onto thesuppliers anyway.
So the suppliers are going tocharge you double the amount
just to do that amount of time.
So you're not really winningeither way.
Yeah.
You, you might be winning costswith the venue, but then you're
paying another$500 with thesupplies because of the smell.
So you know, you need to weighthose up as well.
Yeah.
(14:00):
And so, you know, looking at thelegal side of things with your
venue and talking about allthese sorts of things, um, I
know you sort of mentioned to mein the past about contracts and
all that sort of stuff.
How important do you think thatis contractor, good to have in
writing?
Um, my dad is actually acontract writer, so I have this
in my head all the time.
So, you know, the thing is thatsometimes venues can get back on
(14:24):
their word or they'll say, Iknow I didn't say that, or
whatever it is.
And from past experience, youknow, it's just nice for
everyone across the board tohave it all in writing.
If there's anything that comesup the week, two weeks, a month
out, you know that you'recovered.
So they go, let's say forexample, Oh you've got access
from nine and then two weeks outof the game and you've actually
accessed from 12.
It's like, well no you can't dothat and you can't say one thing
and then change it because it'snot convenient.
(14:45):
Such does happen all the time.
A lot.
And you know, I think that'shaving an an a contract and if
they're willing to do that, um,some venues can of course, I
don't know, some people can'tgive you that time, but um, it
was important for me to have inthe contract cause you know, I
was told that it was what myoptions were and I wanted to
make sure that I had an aschools even having a marquee on
the grass, I wanted to make surethat I could definitely have a
marking on the grass cause itwould change the whole process
(15:07):
if I wasn't able to.
And I think that's sort of not acommon thing with venues, but
they want to get the sale.
So they'll sort of agree toeverything to begin with and
then they get all these extrabookings at closer to the date
and then they, yeah, like yousaid, they, they told me I could
get him from nine o'clock for myflorist to do all the florals
and now they can't get until twoo'clock.
It's causes a lot of extrastress on the, you know, closer
(15:28):
to the, the date and also causesa lot of extra costs potentially
as well.
So that's communication thing.
I think if you have very clearcommunication, you have most
things in writing, you know, youjust don't want to rip you off.
But it's also just being, youknow, be smart and just have all
those things that you reallyneed to make sure are going to
be on the contract.
You know, you've signed it andthey're the things that you want
to make sure are there thingsyou want.
(15:51):
It's just another step to makingit less stressful.
That's right.
So that's all it, is there any,anything that stood out to from
looking at venues?
Is it just like, Oh, I reallydidn't know that or it was, you
already had a pretty goodunderstanding.
I had a pretty goodunderstanding to be honest.
So we, cause we're, um,decorators here at filtered
events.
We deal with hundreds andhundreds of venues every year.
(16:12):
So I know sort of what theyentail, what they need, all the
information.
You know, I was telling her thatI'll be giving you the running
sheet and the floor plan causeI'm used to doing it myself.
So, um, nothing really stood outtoo much in regards to the
venue.
Um, it was sort of prettystraightforward for me, but I
can understand how it can bequite scary with um, brides and
grooms that go in there havingno idea what questions to ask.
(16:33):
So, you know, hopefully allthese sort of things that we're
talking about will give peopleinsight of what things to ask
before you actually go in.
Yeah.
I guess another thing isflexibility.
Um, you know, we were talkingguest lists before and uh, you
know, if your guest list startsat 150 and for whatever reason
goes up or down, whatever, yes.
Can the venue be able to helpyou with those sorts of things?
(16:53):
Is that going to cause majorissues cost wise is 10 or you
add 10 or, I mean most venuesare usually happy if you add,
it's when you start taking theroom.
If you start taking away 20guests because they're all from
overseas and Corona virus kicksin and that's a whole other ball
game.
Yes.
We suggest not having a weddingduring coronavirus now you're
not allowed to.
(17:14):
So yeah, these sorts of thingsyou need to sort of, I guess ask
those questions as well.
If I change this for thisreason, you know, usually around
guests or we want, we've gotguests, you know, lots of venues
now with so many, um, eatingrequirements, allergies, that's
an important thing to look at.
Cause there's extra, actuallythat's one thing that now that
you've said that with as if wehave people that have allergies,
(17:35):
it's an additional$15 per personto cater for those people.
And I think that these daysthere are so many people that
have allergies to, you know,peanuts and gluten free and you
know it's fructose and tolerantand all those things.
So that's an additional costthat didn't think of.
That's right.
I'm not going to have to paythat because there is people
that are going to have thosethings.
That would be just to be cheaper, not to invite those.
(17:58):
No, don't do that place.
If you have any foodrequirements or you can't come,
you get a happy meal tolerance.
I can't even go to my ownwedding.
That's right.
Yeah, it's okay.
Okay.
Well thanks Emma for talking tous today about picking a date.
Obviously very important andpicking your venue and ceremony
spot that they're all very keyand the things that you would
(18:18):
organize early enough or in theearly side of things.
So yeah, thanks for talking tous today.
Stay tuned and we'll have morewedding tips in the coming
episodes.
Thanks for listening.
Hi guys, welcome to the Partyology experience.
I'm here today with Emma De Jongand we're talking about her
wedding.
In today's podcast we're goingto be talking about choosing a
date and picking a venue foryour wedding, for both the
reception and then also pickinga ceremony spot.
Now, whether that be a church orwhether that be in a park or
(00:22):
something like that.
Emma one of the first thingsthat people talk about or decide
I guess when they're working outtheir wedding is what date
should we get married?
How did you come up with yoursand when are you getting
married?
Emma (00:36):
So we're getting married on the 27th of March, 2021.
We decided on that date becauseour anniversary is actually the
1st of April.
So we wanted to it to be asclose as possible to that date.
Unfortunately the weekend afteris my brother's birthday,So we
decided we didn't want to do onhis birthday.
The weather of course is still abit all over the place.
It's Melbourne of course youcan't pick a date and not have
to question the weather to beBush fires or torrential rain.
(01:01):
So we have picked that datecause sometimes in March it can
be still warm.
We're taking the gamble that itis the end of March, so it could
be a little bit colder, but wewill have backup plans for those
situations.
But that's the reason why wepicked that date.
It's still in that nice sort oftime of the year and it's the
closest to our anniversary.
Marcus (01:18):
So weather obviously obviously could be an issue.
Why is that?
Is it because you're having anoutdoor ceremony
Emma (01:24):
Yes, we are having our ceremony out on a grassed area
,we're actually having ourreception and ceremony at the
same location.
We thought for convenience itwas going to be the easiest way
of doing it.
So we have backup plans in thefact that we will have a marquee
over that lawn area if it'sgoing to be a little bit windy
because of course we're actuallygetting married down near the
beach as we all know it's windynear the beach.
(01:47):
So we might have to put themarquee up with some walls just
to cover for wind.
There'll be multiple reasons whyor we'll be having inside the
venue, which is like the lastresort and it will make Marcus's
day very stressful.
Marcus (02:02):
Yeah.
It's bcause I'm going to bedoing all the work.
So I guess you've hit on acouple of key things here.
One, obviously you've alreadythought about the weather and
working in events, you know youneed a back up plan.
Emma (02:14):
Yes this is the most important thing ever.
Marcus (02:16):
Yes.
those brides and people havingevents,parties and weddings
especially that just go, Oh,it'll be right, that is the
biggest mistake they can make.
Emma (02:23):
Do not do that, please.
I just think for brides andgrooms like the week before, you
do not want to be running aroundgoing, it's going to rain and
now I'm stressed and what am Igoing to do?
Because it's going to be outsideand you're trying to bring
suppliers and no one's availablebecause they're all booked out.
It's just not what you need aweek, two weeks prior.
So please, please have a backupplan.
(02:44):
We've seen so many brides, sadand distressed and it makes me
so sad for them We've had themcry at us on a Friday saying, do
you have anything?
And w e're like, we're fullybooked and you just feel
horrible for them.
But you c an avoid t his peopleplease have a b ackup plan.
Marcus (03:03):
So have a backup plan, and look into the backup plan.
and hopefully you dont need tous it.
Emma (03:07):
Fingers crossed of course, but be realistic in the fact
that you live in Melbourne, youdon't live in sunny Queensland
where most of the time it'sgoing to be sunny.
We live in Melbourne.
Be prepared for it.
Marcus (03:18):
I think you, you said there, you were having the
ceremony and the reception inthe same place.
Which from personal experience,going to weddings over lots of
years that this is a winner.
Sometimes people have theirceremony and they'll have it for
whatever reason at one or twoo'clock in the afternoon and
then the reception is five, sixo'clock in a totally different
(03:39):
space.
It makes it really awkward foryour guests, they've got to find
something to do if it's adestination wedding and they've
got nowhere to go or they don'tknow where they are, it can make
it really hard.
So having the ceremony and thereception one in the same place
and in a tighter time frame isjust good for your guests
experience.
Emma (03:56):
A hundred percent I think from being in this industry, I
think before I ever was in thisindustry, I would have never
thought of that.
And I think going to winningsover the last past couple of
years, you do learn that, youknow, for us to be convenient
and fun and you know, relaxingfor everyone.
Don't make them drive a half anhour from one spot to the other.
Make them, you know, chill out,have the ceremony, have a drink
and then just go straight downto the room.
(04:17):
Like I think sometimes it's hardwhen people want to do the full
two hours of photos.
That's the hard one.
Um, but yeah, it's, it's, yougotta be considerate of other
people.
Like the guests are going to bethere, be considerate of them
and how far they have to go andhow long they have to wait.
Yeah.
Marcus (04:30):
And that's right.
Look, you know, understandably,most people will have photos
between the ceremony and thereception.
Uh, but you, one, if you canlimit that time and two, and
that's okay.
It can potentially be a coupleof hours, give you guests
something to do, make sure theygot food and drinks, especially
if it's a hot day, you know,maybe some shade, some sort of
entertainment.
Um, yeah.
(04:51):
Otherwise, it's going to be apainful experience for them.
Yeah.
Emma (04:53):
Yeah.
You need to think as the guests,like it is all about you.
But at the end of the day it'sall about your guests as well.
Let's go to a hundred of yourloved ones that you don't want
to be roasting on the lawn.
It's like you got your 90 yearold, 90 year old Nan in the sun
all day.
Yeah.
We don't want that.
We want people passing out.
So please consider that.
(05:15):
No, we don't want that.
Marcus (05:19):
So I guess we then need to talk about the, one of the
key things in any wedding is thevenue, the venue, you know,
finding the right venue, findingthe right location, the right
look, the right style.
Are they going to do food right?
Is that, what sort of drinks arewe going to serve?
Um, all those sorts of things.
Like it can be quite stressful.
Emma (05:39):
You can be the venues.
The hardest part.
Yeah.
So how many venues have youlooked at?
A fair few.
At first it, I should say.
Yeah, this is the question causeI've been to a lot of venues
here in Melbourne being in thisindustry.
So icon already had a short listalready.
Um, again, I know I touched onlast time, but just about the
access times, how flexible theywere.
Costs came down of course.
Um, how many people they couldhold in that venue cause I'm
(06:02):
having a cocktail.
Um, I didn't want a venue thatwas, you know, can hold 500
people.
It was going to be a job that wewere going to have to drape half
the venue off anyway.
Is that worth paying the moneyfor it when you're going to get
rid of most of it anyway, sospace was another thing.
So there's lots of things toconsider when it comes to
venues.
I wanted the flexibility was mymain priority.
I think being in this industryand wanting to look a certain
(06:22):
way, I know how long thingstake.
So I know her needle data,access the venue and set it up
looking then for more of a blankcanvas I guess.
Yeah.
So blank canvas was more sort ofup my alley.
I wanted something I could addthings to and not have its own.
Like it has, every venue has itsown personality to a like to a
degree.
Um, but I really wanted to addmy own sort of touch on it.
(06:42):
If I wanted to do a particulartheme, I was gonna do it and be
able to do it well withouthaving to clash with something
that was already in there.
Yeah.
Marcus (06:48):
Yeah.
So you've picked a venue then Ihave picked a venue and you're
happy with it.
Obviously I am very happy.
And how much did say price andfood and, and that sort of thing
play into it.
Emma (07:00):
So it's going to sound horrible, but food's not a huge
thing for me.
I don't want to cause the foodfor me is I of course I want it
to be nice.
We went there and actually hadlike a sort of an afternoon
lunch and test the food to makesure, of course it was nice
food, but I'm not a massive,massive foodie where the fact
that needs to be a foster, youknow, chef hat restaurant or
whatever it needs to be.
But I also want to make sureeveryone gets fed enough as
(07:22):
well.
Like that was a huge thing forme.
I don't want people going toMcDonald's and the way home
cause they're, you know,starving.
Um, I wanted to make sure thatwas going to be covered,
especially being cocktail aswell.
You not having a full sit downdinner so you want to make sure
people are fed.
Yeah.
Um, so yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So the main choice for venue waslocation, location as a whole
range of things, flexibility,location.
(07:42):
Um, it's Dan named, my wifelived down in the morning to
peninsula and it's down thatlike close to my family and
friends.
His only some that we'll have todrive.
So it was very convenient foreveryone.
Marcus (07:51):
And so we need to do much to that venue to I guess
suit your style.
Yes.
Total revenge renovation.
Yeah.
Emma (07:59):
No, it's, it's on the beach.
It's very, our style.
Um, I'll probably go more intothe sort of style of what we're
going to actually plan to do,but this venue sort of taps into
that a little bit anyway.
Um, there will be a degree thatwe have to go to is whenever
your whole re renovation oranything
Marcus (08:17):
be doing a little feel good event.
So yes, if you brought back tomy email really quickly.
Yeah, I know a few good uh,event decorators, I might be
able to recommend
Emma (08:28):
yes, no marks will be planning and doing everything
for me on the day.
He will be my winning planners.
He wants to call himself.
Um, so yes, he'll be doing allthe hard work so I don't have to
stress on the day.
Marcus (08:36):
Yeah.
I'm looking forward to it.
Show you up.
It's going to be a nurse superthing.
Marcus.
Oh, whoops.
It was your birthday.
Not you're waiting anyway.
Okay.
Um, so what sort of formatyou've chosen a cocktail format.
Emma (08:52):
Yes.
So cocktail.
Um, and that was the best for usto get our
Marcus (08:56):
very relaxed, you know, chilled sort of vibe.
We've doing a sit down and it'svery formal.
We didn't want for more, I wantpeople to be walking around,
getting a drink, having a chat,you know, talking to everyone.
I don't want to sit in a seatand sit there like a bridal
table would have made me feelsick.
I don't want to be up there.
Everyone's staring at me.
I would have hated it.
Um, so having everyone just like, you know, walking around and
(09:18):
relaxing is so our vibe,cocktails.
And I think from experience wewere finding at feelgood events
that a lot more brides, it'smore common now cocktail style
because it's more relaxed.
Um, and you can still, if you'rea foodie, you can still have
really good food.
Make sure there's plenty offood.
It's just in a less formal way.
And I think it's, um, it's notas formal anymore.
(09:40):
I think like, you know, yearsand years ago, everyone just did
the same thing.
Formal, formal, formal.
But you know, we're pushing theboundaries a bit more on
weddings and you can be morerelaxed and you don't need to do
every single thing that's onthat list.
You can do what you want.
It's about you guys.
It's not about what they've donefor years, it's changed.
So, um, yeah.
So how much did cost affect yourvenue choice?
(10:02):
Was it, did that really play abig part?
Like was there any other venuesthat you looked at that you
thought, Oh this is, I'd reallylove this one but I just can't
afford it.
It wasn't about the car to adegree it was, but I think it
was also covering all the basesthat I wanted to cover.
So they could have been one thatwas$20,000 and I probably would
have spent it cause I loved it.
But they didn't give you thetime or the flexibility to do
what you wanted.
(10:23):
And that really came into play.
I think I was willing to pay themoney if it had all the criteria
that I had on my list.
And because it didn't, I waslike, I'm not going to like why
would I pay all that money forsomething that I'm not going to
get half of the things I need onthat sort of list.
So that came down to a hugething.
And I think even though itdidn't cost me crazy amounts of
money for the reception in theceremony, it still covered all
(10:45):
my basis.
So it was, it worked and itwasn't just about the cost, it
was about, yeah, flexibility.
Flexibility is a huge onereally.
I think about it.
I think that is a key, and thisis one thing that again, people
will only find out when they dotheir research, depending on
what sort of decor and stallingyou want to do for the venue.
And every venue usually will do,you'll do something, whether it
be flowers in a simple way oryou fully draped the whole venue
(11:08):
and do lighting and specialdance floors and all sorts of
stuff.
All these things as we'vediscussed before, take time and
a lot of venues, that's fine,but if you say to them, I need a
day to do the installation ofall these things, then they will
charge you per hour.
So that's extra cost on whatthey're charging you per head.
And for the room height, which Iunderstand why they charge it.
(11:29):
They have to their business atthe end of the day as well, but
it's being realistic as well.
Like I think some venues, ifthey allow you in from 12
o'clock I think that's okay, butsome of them were, your ceremony
would start at three or four Ineed to be in from two or one
and I'm like the pool suppliers,you'd be like you have two hours
go and what'll happen is is isin some cases the, once you find
this out, if the supplier saysto you, well to do that, you
(11:52):
know it's going take us 10 hoursa long time.
Is it realistic?
Then you say the supplier willhave only got from 12 o'clock so
I've only got five hours.
The supplier is going to costcharge you extra as well.
Charge you more.
If I have the, if they have theresource to have more people or
you have to call back the lookyou want to go for.
Exactly right.
So there's going to be lots ofcompromise there potentially or
it's just going to cost youextra money.
So I guess one of the key thingshere would be to, before you
(12:16):
book your ceremony or sorry,your function venue, have a good
idea of what your suppliers aregoing to cost you to do that and
how much time that's going totake because that's going to
determine which venue you chooseas well.
If you want to go down that pathof doing lots of decorating and
you want it to look like KimKardashians wedding and she has
been married twice to decoratethe venue.
(12:38):
So yes, you know, these arethings again that you won't know
until you start asking thequestions of your event
decorators or event stylists.
Um, ask the venue what sort offlexibility we have as far as
loading supplies and evenletting the DJ in, you know, or
the band, they may need an houror two hours at least mostly
them do to do that.
Of course.
So, you know, that takes timeand so the venue potentially
(12:59):
could charge you for every extrahour.
And if you've got multiple, youknow, you're always going to
have multiple suppliers goinginto your venue for florists,
entertainment, decorators, um,it's, you know, somebody is
doing a dance floor, whatever itmight be.
These things are all gonna costyou potentially lots of money in
the long run.
So as you say, you know, findinga venue that gives you that
(13:19):
flexibility's, you know, to dowhat you need to do.
And I think I'm like coming fromsupplier point of view, you
know, it's, you need to considerthem as well.
Like I think when you put peopleunder so much pressure to get it
done in a small amount of time,this is where mistakes happen.
And I think, you know, beconsiderate of the fact that we
can only do so much in atimeframe and you know, it
doesn't leave much time forerror as well.
Like we're all human and I thinkthat's the main thing.
(13:40):
And I think a lot of people goand pick a venue.
Great, great.
You know, there was this costand it was great, but then they
whack the cost onto thesuppliers anyway.
So the suppliers are going tocharge you double the amount
just to do that amount of time.
So you're not really winningeither way.
Yeah.
You, you might be winning costswith the venue, but then you're
paying another$500 with thesupplies because of the smell.
So you know, you need to weighthose up as well.
Yeah.
(14:00):
And so, you know, looking at thelegal side of things with your
venue and talking about allthese sorts of things, um, I
know you sort of mentioned to mein the past about contracts and
all that sort of stuff.
How important do you think thatis contractor, good to have in
writing?
Um, my dad is actually acontract writer, so I have this
in my head all the time.
So, you know, the thing is thatsometimes venues can get back on
(14:24):
their word or they'll say, Iknow I didn't say that, or
whatever it is.
And from past experience, youknow, it's just nice for
everyone across the board tohave it all in writing.
If there's anything that comesup the week, two weeks, a month
out, you know that you'recovered.
So they go, let's say forexample, Oh you've got access
from nine and then two weeks outof the game and you've actually
accessed from 12.
It's like, well no you can't dothat and you can't say one thing
and then change it because it'snot convenient.
(14:45):
Such does happen all the time.
A lot.
And you know, I think that'shaving an an a contract and if
they're willing to do that, um,some venues can of course, I
don't know, some people can'tgive you that time, but um, it
was important for me to have inthe contract cause you know, I
was told that it was what myoptions were and I wanted to
make sure that I had an aschools even having a marquee on
the grass, I wanted to make surethat I could definitely have a
marking on the grass cause itwould change the whole process
(15:07):
if I wasn't able to.
And I think that's sort of not acommon thing with venues, but
they want to get the sale.
So they'll sort of agree toeverything to begin with and
then they get all these extrabookings at closer to the date
and then they, yeah, like yousaid, they, they told me I could
get him from nine o'clock for myflorist to do all the florals
and now they can't get until twoo'clock.
It's causes a lot of extrastress on the, you know, closer
(15:28):
to the, the date and also causesa lot of extra costs potentially
as well.
So that's communication thing.
I think if you have very clearcommunication, you have most
things in writing, you know, youjust don't want to rip you off.
But it's also just being, youknow, be smart and just have all
those things that you reallyneed to make sure are going to
be on the contract.
You know, you've signed it andthey're the things that you want
to make sure are there thingsyou want.
(15:51):
It's just another step to makingit less stressful.
That's right.
So that's all it, is there any,anything that stood out to from
looking at venues?
Is it just like, Oh, I reallydidn't know that or it was, you
already had a pretty goodunderstanding.
I had a pretty goodunderstanding to be honest.
So we, cause we're, um,decorators here at filtered
events.
We deal with hundreds andhundreds of venues every year.
(16:12):
So I know sort of what theyentail, what they need, all the
information.
You know, I was telling her thatI'll be giving you the running
sheet and the floor plan causeI'm used to doing it myself.
So, um, nothing really stood outtoo much in regards to the
venue.
Um, it was sort of prettystraightforward for me, but I
can understand how it can bequite scary with um, brides and
grooms that go in there havingno idea what questions to ask.
(16:33):
So, you know, hopefully allthese sort of things that we're
talking about will give peopleinsight of what things to ask
before you actually go in.
Yeah.
I guess another thing isflexibility.
Um, you know, we were talkingguest lists before and uh, you
know, if your guest list startsat 150 and for whatever reason
goes up or down, whatever, yes.
Can the venue be able to helpyou with those sorts of things?
(16:53):
Is that going to cause majorissues cost wise is 10 or you
add 10 or, I mean most venuesare usually happy if you add,
it's when you start taking theroom.
If you start taking away 20guests because they're all from
overseas and Corona virus kicksin and that's a whole other ball
game.
Yes.
We suggest not having a weddingduring coronavirus now you're
not allowed to.
(17:14):
So yeah, these sorts of thingsyou need to sort of, I guess ask
those questions as well.
If I change this for thisreason, you know, usually around
guests or we want, we've gotguests, you know, lots of venues
now with so many, um, eatingrequirements, allergies, that's
an important thing to look at.
Cause there's extra, actuallythat's one thing that now that
you've said that with as if wehave people that have allergies,
(17:35):
it's an additional$15 per personto cater for those people.
And I think that these daysthere are so many people that
have allergies to, you know,peanuts and gluten free and you
know it's fructose and tolerantand all those things.
So that's an additional costthat didn't think of.
That's right.
I'm not going to have to paythat because there is people
that are going to have thosethings.
That would be just to be cheaper, not to invite those.
(17:58):
No, don't do that place.
If you have any foodrequirements or you can't come,
you get a happy meal tolerance.
I can't even go to my ownwedding.
That's right.
Yeah, it's okay.
Okay.
Well thanks Emma for talking tous today about picking a date.
Obviously very important andpicking your venue and ceremony
spot that they're all very keyand the things that you would
(18:18):
organize early enough or in theearly side of things.
So yeah, thanks for talking tous today.
Stay tuned and we'll have morewedding tips in the coming
episodes.
Thanks for listening.
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