The Art of the Site Visit

On Monday, I took a client to visit some potential event venues for her upcoming corporate event.  I'll post reviews of some of the sites next, but before I do....

There is an art to a successful Site Visit, so are my top 10 tips:

1. Before you go, you've obviously called and made an appointment, but make sure you get the name of the person you will be meeting and a number to reach them in case you are running late.  
2. The day before your scheduled visit, call and confirm the appointment.  Event industry people in general are very busy and they could easily have forgotten or double booked you, I always call and confirm the day before.
3. When you get there, evaluate the parking situation.  Will your guests have to park the way you did?  Was it inconvenient?  Was it confusing to find?  Make notes on this because you may want to be sure to include a map in your invite if it is.  Is there a valet parking option?  
4. Cleanliness and Maintenance:  Make sure to look at the condition of the walls, carpeting, etc.  Is anything dirty or stained?  If so, ask if they can have it cleaned.  Are all of the stairs and elevators in working order?  Always check the bathroom, is it outdated?  Dirty?  Is it nearby the event location?  Ask to see the kitchen, is it clean?  Big enough to handle the size of your party? 
5. Facilities Check:  Are there any visual obstructions?  Can the room be divided if it's too big? Are the lights on a dimmer?  Are there any noise issues like planes overhead, nearby construction?  How will the flow work?  Where will servers come in and out of the event space from?  Where would they station food?
6. If it's a non-traditional site, ask about rentals, do they provide or should you bring your own?  Can you bring your own liquor?  
7. If you are having an audio/visual component to your event, look for outlets and make notes on their locations.  Ask about their electrical circuits, are all of the outlets on one circuit? 
8. Will you need anything additional from them?  Ask if they have easels, table signs, and anything else you might need.
9. Ask about any restrictions they have, like noise restrictions, time constraints (do you have to be out by a certain time?) Do they require you to use any of their vendors exclusively?  
10. Take pictures.  Use your phone and take pictures of what you discussed, i.e. stains they said they would clean.  Take a picture of your favorite thing about the venue and your least favorite thing, you'll forget if not.

Go PLAY Yoga!

Looking for a great place to hold your child's birthday party?  Want to have a fun ladies night out?  I have just the place...  Peace Love Art Yoga (PLAY) in West Chester.  Focusing on art and yoga, owner Amy Schramm can customize an event for your needs and group.  Perhaps the moms want to get together for some wine, cheese and jewelry making?  Or the kids want to learn some fun, child friendly stretching poses?   How about hoola hooping?  You name the type of play and she's got it.  You don't even need me, she does the invitations, the decorating, everything!  Go Play!  goplayyoga.com

Site Visit: Penn Museum

I serve on the board of directors for Nationalities Services Center, an organization that's been serving immigrants and refugees for 90 years.  To celebrate our 90th anniversary, we are of course having a big party.  This year's 90th anniversary gala will likely be held at the University of Pennsylvania's Museum of Archeology and Anthropology.  Earlier this week, I did a site visit and man, this place is cool. 

I walked in from the South Street entrance to this amazing garden and immediately wanted to have a party there.  Such a beautiful space.  I'm imagining high top tables peppered throughout with floating candles and flowers in that center pond.  Just so pretty. 

 Our gala would be held in the Chinese Rotunda among the artifacts and the Upper Egypt Room among the Pharaohs and mummies.......

 

But then I took a little tour of the rest of the event spaces like the Lower Egypt room.  Just imagine a wedding ceremony at the foot of the sphinx!

Like this adventurous couple did...

There are so many interesting and cool details about this place, the authentic Tiffany windows, the cobblestone driveway, the dramatic doors, the artifacts...  Definitely worth a look when you are looking for a unique space for your next event!

Most Unique Destinations for Weddings

Do you want a destination wedding but not the kind where the name of the resort is on the bottom of the pool?  Here are some unique choices for destination weddings (and tell them a.muse sent you).  Of course, this is just a flavor.  I have many, many more destinations that I've either personally been to, or can vouch for.  If you are planning a destination wedding, drop me a line and I'd be happy to help!


The Inn at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina

In the beautiful South Carolina low country, near Savanna and Hilton Head Island, the Inn at Palmetto Bluff has gourmet catering and award winning accommodations in a sumptuous location.  They have a darling chapel on the premises, bicycles to ride and take photos with, marshmallow roasting at night, a lovely pool, even a private yacht charter that can accomodate 28 guests for a little party the night before.  I recommend taking in the award winning spa for the ladies and canoeing for the guys on the day of the wedding.  Hand fans out to your guests, encourage hats, and have a charming southern wedding.  A very unique and luxurious setting!  Take a little scroll through their wedding slide shows here.

Alternate:
Chatham Bars Inn, Cape Cod Mass.


The Canouan Resort at Carenage Bay, The Grenadines

If a beach wedding with white sand beaches on a remote island that is more your speed, try the Island of Canouan, which means Island of Turtles.  Belonging to St. Vincent, Canouan is only 3.5 miles by 1.25 miles.  Also with a chapel onsite for your ceremony (if you choose not to have it right on the beach), the romance begins there, the 19th century church that brought stone by stone from England.  With ocean front pool suites to provide the bride and groom with some privacy, spectacular golf resorts for the men, and an over water spa for the girls, your guests would NEVER forget this wedding!  Watch a youtube slideshow of images here.

Alternate:
Cap Juluca, Anguilla

Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul at the Bosporus, Turkey

Were you thinking of something more exotic?  Did you know that Istanbul is the wedding capitol of the world?  There are so many Istanbul hotels to choose from, but with a spa inspired by the public baths of ancient Rome, the Four Seasons on the Bosporus has a unique couples hammam experience.  Schedule a tour of the romantic city for your guests, and skip to your honeymoon in the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts visiting the beautiful town of Kas or the Greek Islands (or both).  An exotic experience for sure!

Alternate:
Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur India