Social Media and Venues & Brides

I was recently asked to present at a Cyber Chat thru our local Chamber of Commerce on using social media and what it has brought to your business. In giving this some thought I first thought of my brides and how social media impacts them on a daily basis. I am an avid believer in social media for numerous reasons.

The wedding business is a very complex industry, which touches not only the products, services a bride needs, but it also involves emotions. Social Media sites: Twitter, Facebook, U-tube, Skype, BridalTweet.com and many more sites offers brides and vendors a new way to connect. They give us all a chance to share our thoughts and ideas. Facebook is my personal favorite because I can really get to know my Fans and Friends. I’m sure you have all heard before people hire people they know. That is so true and by chatting on Facebook and the other social sites one really gets a feel of a persons needs and thoughts. In listening and reading what our brides’ post you get to know where they shop for wedding vendors and what their needs are. I always try and post helpful ideas, links, and suggestions for them to read. It is a way to find a product or service by what other brides’ post; after all they are the pros for this generation.

The one thing to remember is you can’t build a relationship over night it has to nourish thru knowledge and how helpful you can be. I would recommend you jumping into the wonderful world of Social Networking. I have grown as person, businesswomen and friend because of Social Media.

Respect for the Bride and Groom

What happened to the wonderful weddings when guest came to the weddings to honor the Bride and Groom?

We host over 120 wedding per year and with that many weddings we have seen everything you can think of.

Respectfull Guest

. RSVP when asked.
. Arrive to the wedding early enough to be seated before the bride walks down the aisle.
. If you haven’t given a gift bring a gift for the couple, it doesn’t have to break the bank but something to show a nice gesture.
. Dress appropriately.
. Plan on spending time at the reception long enough for the meal and all formal dances and cake cutting.
. Guest stay in the building where the bride and groom are.
. Find a baby sitter for the evening or if you bring your children watch them and make them behave.
. Don’t arrive drunk.
. Know directions to the venue prior to leaving your house.
. If it is non-alcohol weddings don’t bring your own alcohol, respect their choices.
. Decorate the couple’s car respectfully.

Un-Respectful things we have happen during a wedding.

. Arrive drunk
. Bring their children and just turn them loose with no supervision.
. Get extremely drunk during the wedding.
. Do property damage; the bride is grooms are responsible for paying for any damage.
. Dress in appropriately.
. Stand out side the building and smoke all evening.
. Tailgating and the bride and groom are in the building dancing.
. Guest who do not respect parking signs.
. Brings guest that where not invited.
. If there is livestock at the venue do not get in the pens.
. Offer alcoholic drinks to minors.
. Decorate the couple’s vehicle to the point there is damage.

I truly could go on and on but after all this is a blog not a book.

Mother Nature Rears Her Ugly Head

Being a venue that host weddings, it is our responsibility to pull off the most beautiful wedding come rain or shine.
Rain and not much shine has been plaguing us a lot this summer. Don’t get me wrong we love the rain. With a wedding park you need lots of grass and flowers that need watering and Mother Nature has been giving us a helping hand.
Wedding days are stressful in it’s self but when you add the tricks of Mother Nature you are sometimes presented with challenges.
Let me describe one of our typical bad weather days. First thing in the morning the phones start ringing (if not several days prior to the wedding) from brides wanting to know what we can do about the rain in the forecast. We claim to be the best at what we do, but telling a bride we can make the weather a perfect 80 degrees and sunshine and no wind is impossible.
We first tell the bride to go about her day as if the weather was a perfect 80 degrees and full of sunshine. After all today is her special day and it is not her responsibility to worry about things, it is ours, and we will do our best to make it just the way she wants it.
We are very fortune enough to have a facility that can host indoor or outdoor ceremonies and that alone makes the stress meter go down.
As the day goes by the gazebo and chairs are all decorated and the reception hall is beautiful just waiting for the guests to arrive. Once the guests begin to arrive we have them take a seat in the reception hall and keep them posted on the weather and when the bride will be arriving in the carriage.
98% of our brides book with us because they want our horse drawn carriage, so most weddings are reserved to be held out doors. Every bride wants the day to be perfect and you can still have that beautiful perfect day on a rainy day we just might have to turn to plan B, which may mean moving the ceremony inside, but that is not a bad thing because our inside facility is just as beautiful!!! It is just important to know that the option is available for the bride….. the wedding will go on no matter what and will be just as comfortable and memorable for her and all her guests. Discuss what your options are head of time with the venue
This summer has been our most challenging due to rain and wind but we have been very fortunate and have not had to move one single wedding inside. We just took our time and watched the weather and had our guests take a seat in the reception hall and most of the time those silly clouds moved on and we are able to move all the guests outside and proceed with a beautiful outdoor wedding!!!

Nashville Floods

This blog isn't about weddings, vendors or fun times. I was in Nashville during all the terrible flooding. I am fine along with my daughter and her family. We were lucky we had no damage to her home or our motorhome. Please take a few minutes and watch this video of the flood. I am so sadden by all the destruction and lives lost. When saying your prayers please keep the residences of Nashville and the surrounding town in your prayers. Twenty beautiful people lost their lives and uncountable livestock. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFjaQoOdJvI

Safety for the Over Indulgent Guest

Whether you can have a cash bar or an open bar will really be determined by which venue you choose. Not all venues allow you to have a cash bar or an open bar. You really need to check with each venue to see what their liquor policies are.
Since we are a venue that allows you bring in your own alcohol, I am a supporter of non-cash bars. Unless of course it is a fundraiser and in that situation cash bars are allowed with the proper permits.
Having an open bar at a wedding is very important. You have invited special people in your life to take time out of their day to spend helping you celebrate one of your most special days. Most guests will spend money on buying you a gift, possibly taking a day off work and I find it hard, when I host an event, to make my guest pay for their drinks.
There are a few mistakes brides and grooms make when having an open bar. Remember this is a celebration not a high school kegger. Speak with your bartender or who ever is in charge of the bar before your wedding. Most bartenders that have hosted bars at weddings can recommend what you should have on hand. Remember the drinks are free to the guests so they will drink what ever you give them in choices. You don’t, and I wouldn’t, set up a full bar. At the most I would offer a couple choices of beer and couple options of wine. I would try and avoid offering hard liquor because that is where a beautiful day can end with bad memories.
You should talk with your bartender about how to handle the over indulgent guests ahead of time. You should always have a contact person that the bartender can advise and consult with should a problem arise. Remember the bartender and venue always reserve the right to stop serving or ask a guest to leave.
If at all possible, within your budget, plan on reserving a shuttle, limo or a bus to help those who drink too much to get home safely. Taxis are great and every venue will be more then happy to call one. A venue would rather see numerous cars left in their parking lot the next morning then hear about an accident later on the news.
There is liability for all who decide to drink alcoholic beverages. Something to remember is that most venues hold the bride, groom, and parents responsible for any damage done to the venue. So we should always just offer enough alcohol so everyone can enjoy the celebration with out letting them over indulge.
If you are a guest of the bride and groom and you are reading this please remember you are a guest of someone special in your life and you don’t want to ruin his or her celebration.
With a little planning and taking the recommendation of your bartender, you can plan an inexpensive and enjoyable evening for everyone. 
 


The beauty of a gazebo

Vendor of the Week

Imagine your anniversary, showing your wedding album to your children, remembering the fun, the beauty and the emotion of this once in a lifetime event. At Kimball Nelson Photography, we recognize that quality photography has the ability to transport you back to your wedding day. We take the utmost care to portray your day in a manner that will show the laughter, the love and the emotion with images that you will cherish forever

FUN

We shoot weddings because we like to have fun and weddings are fun, happy occasions. We love to work with people and we love to capture the fun of the day. We like to think you have fun with us as well!

STYLE

Our style is artsy photojournalism. What does that mean? It means we will be there to document your day in an unobtrusive, photojournalistic manner. We work from different angles, with creative lighting, to capture your day in an artsy way. We work with you to get group portraits that are fun and natural. And, we spend the necessary time with you, the bride and groom, to ensure a fantastic portrait, one that you will pass down through generations.

PROFESSIONAL

We understand the trust that you put in us to capture this important part of your family heritage and we would be honored to have that responsibility. With a decade's worth of satisfied couples, we have the experience necessary to make your wedding photography perfect.



Kimball Nelson Photography
Natural Moments - Genuine Images
970-472-1661
5408 N. Hwy 1
Fort Collins, CO 80524
www.kimballnelson.com