Warmwell House – Venue Launch

Today’s blog post is dedicated to showing you the details of one of our most exciting projects of the year, helping to launch the charming Dorset manor, Warmwell House to the wedding market.

Warmwell House is a Jacobean manor in Hardy’s Dorset. Privately owned and a very much loved family home. The Ross-Skinner family took the decision to host special weddings and celebrations (alongside an existing glamping business) to secure a flourishing future for the estate and house and opened the doors for the first time in 2017.

Recommended to me by another successful venue client, we commenced with delivering my ‘Get Ready to Shine’ consulting programme for start-up wedding venue businesses, to set the framework of how the house and stunning grounds should best be used to meet both the family’s needs in turn with appealing to the modern wedding market.

Serena and Sam best explain what we did here:

“We approached Kelly because we were considering setting up a small, luxury wedding business at Warmwell, whilst continuing to live in the house.  Anyone working in Hospitality knows what a difficult balance this can present so we felt it was important to have some expert advice.

Kelly helped us to understand how much the Wedding Business has evolved and how important it is to use social media and top-quality suppliers in order to start the way we would like to continue… at the top end of the market.  Our intention has always been to hold relatively few, profitable events in order to minimise wear and tear on a fine Grade 1 listed building and retain our privacy and family life.  With this in mind, Kelly helped us with the all-important issue of pricing and spearheaded an inspirational photo-shoot and launch event with an expert group of wedding planners and suppliers.  We were bowled over by her energy, enthusiasm and attention to detail. We have also been encouraged to think ‘outside the box’ and consider other types of events which could be invaluable during quieter months.

We now have an excellent springboard from which to launch our business and already have enquiries flooding in.  Kelly continues to advise us, when necessary, and is always there for us if we have any concerns.

We couldn’t have wished for a more inspirational mentor…”  Sam and Serena Ross-Skinner, Warmwell House, Dorset.

About the Photo Shoot

I spearheaded this inspiring bridal shoot with two aims – to provide impressive imagery for Warmwell’s marketing (web, brochure and social media) for weddings (as this did not previously exist and is so important in appealing to the ideal client) and to set about introducing them to perfect wedding professionals who could help them actually deliver the sort of special weddings they are seeking with confidence and become the start of their important wedding dream team and recommended list.

About the Wedding Planners Event

I designed and planned this event, commissioning the ideal wedding professionals team to work with as well as carefully compiling and managing the high-profile guest list of perfect wedding and event planners who I know to be the best match for the Warmwell House product.  The overnight event was a huge success as the planners experienced Warmwell’s delightful hospitality, putting themselves truly in their clients’ shoes which leads to the strongest of recommendations and resulting business. One booking has already been secured from this group and Warmwell House is firmly on the map!

About Warmwell House

I can’t help but tell you a little more about Warmwell House –The Ross-Skinners have set about painstakingly restoring and upgrading areas of this very special house including installing brand new bathrooms and have redesigned all of the bedrooms each in unique style but exuding character and charm that is the perfect match of modern convenience with classic country charm. This is carried throughout the house which is effortlessly warm and welcoming with just the right mix of impressive grandeur teamed with cosy home comforts. It is a family home after all.

The gardens are extensive and beautifully maintained with endless options for outside dining and importantly outside wedding ceremony options and a perfect marquee location for larger numbers. The pool, tennis courts and country trails make this a home from home for the weekend away wedding, somewhat of a trend amongst modern couples seeking quality time with their loved ones, especially where families are usually far-flung.

What a privilege to be part of this project to bring this gorgeous wedding location to the market and help to set the owners off on a confident path to success.

If you are a start-up wedding location and recognise you need some expert help to get your offering just right, connect you more speedily to the right market, then do take a look at our ‘Get Ready to Shine’ programme and get in touch to schedule an initial discovery call.

Dream Team Thank Yous

The photo shoot and launch event was a joy to plan and execute.  Thank you to the following wedding professionals for their creativity, talent and hard work:  Photography – Imogen Xiana // Film – Gorgeous Film // Florals – Martha And The Meadow // Cakes – Fancie Buns // Bridal Accessories,  Hair and makeup – Victoria Furgusson // Model (bride) – Tanya Louise Cumberland // Bridal gowns – Naomi Neoh // Stationery & Paper goods – Emily and Jo // Silk ribbons and silk runner – Pompom Blossom // Furniture – white chairs for ceremony, pool furniture, white easel, gold cutlery – The White Chair Company // Tablescape hires – glassware, charger plates, tablecloths and napkins – Couvert  // Cross back chairs & wooden bar unit for cake/champagne station – DP Marquees // Catering (for planner’s event) – Simply Gourmet Catering // Magician (for planner’s event) – Magic By Alfie