2016 – what a year! | Wedding Venue Consultant

As we approach the end of the year, I’ve been reflecting back on all the happenings here at Kelly Chandler Consulting. So I thought I’d dedicate this blog post to a quick look at just some of the brilliant clients, venues and people who I’ve had the privilege to work with.

Training for Wedding Venues – with my group training days this year I’ve taught intimate groups of progressive venues in Mayfair and on the South Bank in London, then for the first time in Oxford, at the historic Bodleian Library.  These action-packed wedding market training days have been exceptionally well-received and the feedback I’ve had has been incredible.

“Many thanks for the training day last Friday. I am naturally cynical about these sorts of things so I was interested to see if at the end of the day I would walk away feeling there had been any genuine value add or not. In short, it was more than worth every penny. The day spent with you crystallised my thoughts around our next moves to grow the business, provided some well needed “wedding venue owner therapy” and was extraordinarily informative in focussing my mind on the unique sales psychology in the wedding market. I genuinely can’t thank you enough, an incredibly useful day.”
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 Chris Snell ,The Tournerbury Woods Estate

Future training days are listed here with the first one in Buckinghamshire on 26^th January 2017, so do book soon to guarantee a place.

Bespoke Consulting Days

I’ve been honoured to support properties with my one-day ‘Site Visit and Inspect’ service. Ranging from a privately owned moat house in Surrey, seeking to host small-scale wedding ceremonies in its Elizabethan walls, to a museum with a very prominent aviation focus looking to welcome weddings more proactively. Then to an established garden centre business looking to extend its grounds and welcome outdoor ceremonies and marquee weddings. This part of my work is utterly fascinating and every single venue has reported amazing clarity in their focus after booking this service.

Industry Events – I’m passionate about using my extensive contacts in the industry to make great connections, particularly for unique & often historic properties who deserve a more prominent place in the wedding planning circuit and greater fame.  I have been working with Chiswick House & Gardens to this end this year and a very special autumnal lunch event created some exciting interest & opportunity for the house, gardens and its charms amongst wedding planners, designers, bloggers and stylists. I look forward to more collaboration with the Chiswick House & Gardens team in 2017.

Wedding Showcases – in both March and October this year I’ve been proud to head up the now much-loved and highly regarded ‘Wedding Inspiration’ event on behalf of the Waddesdon Manor events team. This interactive, completely new take on a wedding show for couples planning their big day, has achieved huge praise all round.

You can read more about it here (and see the full partner line-up).

“You have well and truly set a new standard for Wedding Showcase Events. Of all of the wedding showcases that I have been a part of, it was by far the best, and the attention to detail in terms of the organisation was fantastic. You should be very proud!”

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“Just a quick email to say thank you ever so much for inviting me to be part of such an innovative and inspiring show yesterday. I really was absolutely blown away with the creativeness, quality and beauty of not only the gorgeous venue but all of the displays the suppliers put on.”

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“I thought yesterday was an absolute triumph – thank you so, so much.  Both the Dairy and the Five Arrows looked divine, the visitors seemed totally wowed by the whole experience, the suppliers were hugely upbeat about the day and we more than doubled attendance figures – AMAZING!”

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“We absolutely could not have done this without you.You really are key to putting Waddesdon on the wedding map.” – Sara Sweetland, Managing Director, Rothschild Waddesdon Ltd 

And what does 2017 hold?

So far it’s looking to be very varied with some exciting speaking engagements booked for a large visitor attraction marketing group and its member conference in March as well as a superb 2-day wedding coordinator programme for an inspiring hotel group. And that’s just for starters …

I am passionate about bringing to market or improving wedding success for forward thinking modern-minded properties. Do get in touch to discuss a bespoke action plan for you and your team.

Photo Credits:
Rachel V Photography // Hannah Duffy // Mark Sisley // Stuart Bebb // Xander & Thea

Chiswick House and Gardens: (Autumn Styled Event)
Venue: Chiswick House and Gardens // Florals: All For Love London // Catering: Food Show Ltd // Photography: Amy O’Boyle