By Jillian Stoker
Location, location, location! Brides- and grooms-to-be spend copious amounts of time searching for that perfect venue. From quaint beachfront gazebos to mountaintop resorts, it’s overwhelming just to think about having to make this decision; how do they do it? How can your business set itself apart from the competition? Here, Kim Spangenberg and Lisa Biesterfeld share with us a bit of what makes their venues successful.
Kim Spangenberg
Saddlerock Ranch at Malibu Family Wines
www.malibufamilywines.com
Great Taste: How many weddings are booked throughout the year?
Kim Spangenberg: We booked 72 weddings last year. Fridays and Sundays are increasing in popularity.
GT: What themes/color schemes have been most popular throughout the years?
KS: Anything goes, every weekend and every wedding bring in beautiful and creative colors and themes. There aren’t any colors that stand out in particular.
GT: What is the best way to deal with bridezillas?
KS: I dislike the word bridezilla, it really sounds negative. I look at these brides who are planning a wedding and have a bit of sympathy for them. It takes a lot to plan a wedding; you could make it a full time job. Then you have the added stress of everyday life, mixed in with family members pulling you in every direction, putting their two cents in about your wedding. It’s no wonder why brides get coined “bridezillas”. My best advice to brides is to have fun, not to stress about the small stuff and to remember the overall picture…the wedding is just one day, you’re marrying the person that you love the most in this world and want to be with for the rest of your life.
GT: How far in advance would you need to make a reservation?
KS: It depends; I have had couples book more than a year out, I’ve also had couples that book their venue less than 4 months away from the wedding.
GT: Are there different wedding packages that couples need to choose from?
KS: Saddlerock Ranch & Vineyard is location only, so all of the vendors will be brought in. This enables you to really customize your wedding.
GT: Is it easy to transform your venue to fit the theme of the wedding?
KS: Absolutely. Being that Saddlerock Ranch & Vineyard is location only, you get the opportunity to create your own dream wedding.
GT: How do you coordinate with wedding planners or do you have them on staff?
KS: We have the privilege of working with the most amazing coordinators that have their own businesses from Ventura and Los Angeles, all the way to Orange County. They either bring couples to us or we direct our couples to them, and we also welcome outside coordinators who have never been here before.
Lisa Biesterfeld
Owner, The Condors Nest Ranch – San Diego
www.thecondorsnestranch.com
Great Taste: How many weddings are booked throughout the year?
Lisa Biesterfeld: Between 30-35 per year.
GT: What themes/color schemes have been most popular throughout the years?
LB: Shabby chic.
GT: What is the best way to deal with bridezillas?
LB: Don’t offer anything extra or do anything extra – it will come back to haunt you!
GT: How far in advance would you need to make a reservation?
LB: Anywhere between 3 months to 3 years!
GT: Are there different wedding packages that couples need to choose from?
LB: Yes, for us it just depends on how many guests, otherwise they are basically the same.
GT: Is it easy to transform your venue to fit the theme of the wedding?
LB: Yes.
GT: How do you coordinate with wedding planners or do you have them on staff?
LB: We have one on staff for the coordination of the day – as for decorating, that is up to the bride and/or a coordinator!
