Latest / The Preferred List: A Wedding Vendor Podcast / Episode 57 A Wedding Venue With A Past: The Visitation Hotel

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Episode 57 A Wedding Venue With A Past: The Visitation Hotel · The Preferred List: A Wedding Vendor Podcast

0:00
SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Preferred List, a podcast about the people behind the best wedding days.
0:05
SPEAKER_00: I'm James, a wedding filmmaker.
0:07
SPEAKER_00: I've spent years in the industry working alongside incredible vendors, and this show is all about real conversations with the ones who make it happen.
0:14
SPEAKER_00: Whether you're a vendor or a couple, you'll get honest insight, good stories, and maybe a little inspiration along the way.
0:21
SPEAKER_00: Let's meet today's wedding vendor.
0:23
SPEAKER_00: Hey Meg, how's it going?
0:24
SPEAKER_02: Great, how are you?
0:25
SPEAKER_02: Thanks for having us today.
0:26
SPEAKER_00: Well, thanks for having me.
0:27
SPEAKER_00: We're here at the Visitation, and Meg is the director of sales here.
0:31
SPEAKER_00: The Visitation Hotel in Frederick, Maryland is one of those places where you can feel the character of the space the second you walk in.
0:38
SPEAKER_00: The property dates back nearly 200 years and originally served as a monastery and school, but today it blends preserved architecture with a modern boutique hotel experience.
0:48
SPEAKER_00: One of my favorite parts of the property is how many different spaces you can move throughout your wedding day.
0:53
SPEAKER_00: You have the ballroom, the garden, and this really beautiful garden tent that give you plenty of options to use throughout your wedding day.
1:00
SPEAKER_00: As a couple here at the visitation, you can also keep so much of your wedding weekend right here with guest rooms, beautiful getting ready spaces, and dining at the Y Oak Tavern led by Brian and Michael Voltagio.
1:13
SPEAKER_00: And being right in downtown Frederick means your guests have so much to experience outside of the wedding as well.
1:19
SPEAKER_00: Huge thank you to the Visitation Hotel team for having us here.
1:23
SPEAKER_00: Now let's get back to today's episode.
1:25
SPEAKER_00: So I'm excited to jump right in.
1:27
SPEAKER_00: Tell me a little bit about your job and kind of what you're doing here, and we'll dive into kind of the history of the hotel.
1:33
SPEAKER_02: Sure.
1:34
SPEAKER_02: Well, I'm the director of sales.
1:35
SPEAKER_02: So I oversee all group bookings, whether it be corporate, whether it be socials, weddings, baptisms, bar mitzvahs, whatever the event may be.
1:45
SPEAKER_02: So anything that forms as a group, um, I oversee.
1:49
SPEAKER_02: Uh we have a sales team of myself who primarily handles corporate business.
1:54
SPEAKER_02: And then we also have our wedding uh sales manager who handles just social business, uh, primarily weddings.
2:02
SPEAKER_02: That's what our large forte is now with this beautiful ballroom we have.
2:06
SPEAKER_02: And then we also have a sales coordinator that helps coordinate all the fine details of the events, whether it be corporate or social at the same time.
2:14
SPEAKER_02: But people have just loved the new transition of this property.
2:18
SPEAKER_02: Uh it goes back to the Civil War where it was an army hospital during the Civil War.
2:25
SPEAKER_02: And then the Baltimore diocese uh purchased it, and it was a Catholic girls' school for many, many, many years.
2:37
SPEAKER_02: Uh our owners uh purchased it back around right when the pandemic started.
2:44
SPEAKER_02: And um interesting time to buy it.
2:47
SPEAKER_02: Timing can't, you can't say timing was great, that's for sure.
2:50
SPEAKER_02: So things were delayed a little bit, needless to say.
2:54
SPEAKER_02: But uh it was Catholic Girls School.
2:56
SPEAKER_02: We bought it from the Diocese of Baltimore.
2:58
SPEAKER_02: Uh, they came in and decommissioned the Catholic Church and the whole process.
3:06
SPEAKER_02: Uh, and then the renovation began, which took about three and a half to four years almost.
3:13
SPEAKER_02: With again with the pandemic and then there was a fire, and so it got delayed a little bit, but it's really transformed into uh a true destination, especially here in downtown Frederick, which is incredible.
3:26
SPEAKER_02: I love it here.
3:27
SPEAKER_02: Uh, I'm not originally from here, and but I moved here just for this particular hotel.
3:32
SPEAKER_02: So it's got a personality, it's a boutique hotel, it's not a cookie cutter, you're not gonna find anything like this uh in the area of any way, shape, or form.
3:44
SPEAKER_02: So it's uh it's really been a great, fun hotel to sell.
3:49
SPEAKER_02: So our food and beverage team is remarkable.
3:52
SPEAKER_02: It's handled by the uh Vitagio brothers, who are well known, especially on the food network and so forth.
3:59
SPEAKER_02: Um, Michelin chefs, it's Brian and Michael Fitagio, and they're actually from Frederick, which I was shocked to find out.
4:06
SPEAKER_02: Oh, that's so cool.
4:07
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so it's it's got a great, great history food and beverage-wise, the story there.
4:12
SPEAKER_02: And then as far as the hotel, the historical value makes it a great attraction.
4:16
SPEAKER_00: So I think the the history is what's so interesting to me.
4:19
SPEAKER_00: Like I was just walked around the little restaurant area, and you're literally sitting in the restaurant as if you're like in the chapel.
4:28
SPEAKER_02: You are in the chapel.
4:29
SPEAKER_00: Um, it's such an interesting view.
4:32
SPEAKER_00: The organ is still up there.
4:34
SPEAKER_00: Correct.
4:35
SPEAKER_00: What was the vision to kind of take what it was and shift it to be what it is now?
4:42
SPEAKER_02: I think they they really put a lot of detail and attention.
4:46
SPEAKER_02: They wanted to make sure we didn't change the history or give it a different perception that it truly is.
4:52
SPEAKER_02: I mean, right now we're sitting in what used to be the gymnasium.
4:55
SPEAKER_02: So uh they've really from the chapel to the gymnasium to all the different rooms, we've tried to keep the the history there and the feeling there.
5:05
SPEAKER_02: Uh, the stained glass windows, we they refurbished, brought in the pieces they needed from Germany where they were first manufactured.
5:12
SPEAKER_02: Uh, we're still working on the organ.
5:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, right.
5:16
SPEAKER_02: But as far as the chapel goes, it just people love it.
5:20
SPEAKER_02: People absolutely love it.
5:22
SPEAKER_02: It takes you back for a second because you're like, wow, I'm standing in a chapel and drinking at a bar.
5:29
SPEAKER_02: All at the same time.
5:30
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I know.
5:30
SPEAKER_00: I was sitting there looking at it.
5:32
SPEAKER_00: The bar is literally like the front of what the the church would be.
5:36
SPEAKER_02: Right, exactly.
5:37
SPEAKER_02: You step up onto the altar.
5:41
SPEAKER_00: So I'm sure some people are like, nope.
5:43
SPEAKER_00: But it's a it's the visual of it.
5:45
SPEAKER_00: And I I think too, um, you know, just speaking with Caroline a little bit, who does a bunch of weddings here as well.
5:52
SPEAKER_00: Um preserving the history it's key.
5:56
SPEAKER_00: Is I think the important part of it.
5:58
SPEAKER_00: It's a must.
5:58
SPEAKER_00: I mean, yes, it is a bar inside of a church, basically.
6:01
SPEAKER_00: It's not a church anymore.
6:02
SPEAKER_00: No, but exactly um preserving the history component, it seems like that's I mean, you said it a little bit, but that seems like it's one of the main focuses of the of the place.
6:11
SPEAKER_02: It is.
6:11
SPEAKER_02: They've they took their time to make sure that it was tastefully done.
6:15
SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, you can have some brainstorming and wild things come out.
6:19
SPEAKER_02: It's like, absolutely not.
6:20
SPEAKER_02: We're not going, we're not going in that direction.
6:22
SPEAKER_02: But the the food and beverage, the details, our operations team, they do an awesome job as far as sticking to the certain guidelines that we've developed for this special property.
6:36
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:36
SPEAKER_00: So what was the vision?
6:38
SPEAKER_00: I know I'm kind of I'm like digging in and um trying to get the backstory of like how how do you take uh what this was as a gym, probably with some basketball hoops and you know, like and then now it looks the way it does now.
6:52
SPEAKER_00: So, like, what was the vision for kind of like the style and the approach to you know crafting a space that that is different than all the other ones?
7:01
SPEAKER_02: Well, I think our ownership, um, they both have architectural backgrounds.
7:06
SPEAKER_02: Um, they love history.
7:08
SPEAKER_02: Uh, they're from the Maryland, DC area, and they want to make sure that was kept.
7:14
SPEAKER_02: Um, it's so important not to just, you know, you could have just torn the whole thing down.
7:19
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
7:20
SPEAKER_02: Um, it probably would have been less expensive to do.
7:23
SPEAKER_02: But again, their vision making sure that it stayed in the same view as Frederick is known for their history for the Civil War, um going way back.
7:34
SPEAKER_02: So it fits right into the geographic area.
7:39
SPEAKER_02: It doesn't look like it's some brand new modern, you know, high-rise hotel.
7:44
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
7:44
SPEAKER_02: So they kept it so that it keeps the same look and the but modern techniques.
7:49
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
7:50
SPEAKER_00: You got all the air conditioning.
7:52
SPEAKER_02: That was a good one to add.
7:53
SPEAKER_00: I do appreciate that today.
7:55
SPEAKER_02: I do too.
7:56
SPEAKER_00: Um it it sounds like people that live in this area, maybe it's Frederick specifically, from what I'm just gathering this from what you're saying.
8:05
SPEAKER_00: It's it's a special place.
8:06
SPEAKER_00: It is.
8:06
SPEAKER_00: What is it about the area, this uh venue being in this area that makes that whole like Frederick connection so special?
8:14
SPEAKER_02: Well, I think a lot of the people I I'm surprised at the number of people I meet that just happen to walk in the door and said, I went to school here, or my mother went to school there, or she lived up on the third floor, and we're like, put no air conditioning.
8:28
SPEAKER_02: Oh my lord.
8:29
SPEAKER_02: But um I think people have appreciated there's always gonna be a few people who who may not like the transformation, though we feel and the majority of the people in the area find that it was done very tastefully.
8:44
SPEAKER_02: And it kept the history alive.
8:46
SPEAKER_02: And a lot of the local people are part of that history.
8:49
SPEAKER_02: So it's um it's really been wonderful to be part of that experience.
8:55
SPEAKER_02: It's one of the reasons I moved here.
8:58
SPEAKER_02: So because it does, it just it's charming.
9:02
SPEAKER_02: It's right downtown, but it fits in with the whole charm of downtown Frederick.
9:06
SPEAKER_00: It's funny because literally I was driving here and I I drove past it.
9:11
SPEAKER_00: I mean, my my thing told me, like my GPS.
9:14
SPEAKER_00: Right.
9:14
SPEAKER_00: My thing, my GPS told me like turn left.
9:16
SPEAKER_00: I just didn't turn left.
9:18
SPEAKER_00: But it's like you're just trying, you're just driving down this like little quaint small town vibe, and then you look in, it's like the visitation, I was like, that looks awesome.
9:26
SPEAKER_02: It does, but it doesn't stick out, stick out like a sore thumb.
9:29
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
9:29
SPEAKER_02: So it has, you know, we're surrounded by brownstones and all private shops, everything's within walking distance here, um, to a wide variety of different restaurants.
9:40
SPEAKER_02: If you want a five-star, you can come here.
9:43
SPEAKER_02: Um, if you really just wanted to go out and have something much more at least casual, you can do that as well.
9:50
SPEAKER_02: So it's a wide variety.
9:51
SPEAKER_02: Our location gives you a lot of options, uh, from very, you know, formal to relaxed, just depending on what type of event you want to have, we can make it happen.
10:02
SPEAKER_00: So we've talked a lot about Frederick, the hotel.
10:06
SPEAKER_00: Um, I want to hone in a little bit more specifically on the wedding side of things.
10:10
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
10:10
SPEAKER_00: Um as you've kind of been experiencing um, you know, weddings happening here.
10:17
SPEAKER_00: Um, what are what are couples like what should they be looking for when they're trying to find that space that they're gonna book, the venue that they're gonna book and have their wedding at?
10:28
SPEAKER_02: You know, it goes back to um it depends what type of style wedding you want.
10:32
SPEAKER_02: If you decide that, you know, I I want two, three hundred people, you know, 300 people, this isn't the place for you.
10:39
SPEAKER_02: But if you want more of an intimate setting, uh anywhere up to 175 people, and you don't want a cookie cutter, it's not gonna be like your sister's wedding, it's not gonna be like your best friend.
10:52
SPEAKER_00: No offense to your sister.
10:53
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
10:55
SPEAKER_02: However, you know, it's gonna be yours.
10:57
SPEAKER_02: Um, and we do we use our vendors, you know, our various vendors, which you've met Caroline, yeah, um, who's fantastic to work with.
11:06
SPEAKER_02: Uh, we can create any type of atmosphere you're looking for.
11:09
SPEAKER_02: If you want, you know, your standard, you know, rounds of eight if with your dance floor, if you want to have a live band, we have built-in stage already uh right here on the property.
11:20
SPEAKER_02: And it's just a very unique and it's a destination, really.
11:25
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so couples are able to kind of like put together their wedding, their wedding, their vision.
11:32
SPEAKER_02: It's not our vision, it's their vision.
11:34
SPEAKER_02: You know, weddings very personal.
11:36
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
11:37
SPEAKER_02: Um, and it just really depends on what you're looking for, but we can make it happen, that's for sure.
11:42
SPEAKER_02: Especially because we have our outdoor garden, which is tented, and then we also have obviously our beautiful ballroom.
11:49
SPEAKER_02: Uh, so it gives you a lot of opportunities for various types of pictures, um, different types of events.
11:56
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's important, I think, for couples to have the opportunity to see the blank slate, but then also see like this is how other people have used the space, and they can kind of like do a little bit of that back and forth.
12:07
SPEAKER_02: Correct.
12:07
SPEAKER_02: Do you want a formal sit-down dinner, or do you really want to be, you know, up and dancing?
12:13
SPEAKER_02: And we've done several weddings that, yeah, your standards, you know, set up and your dance floor, your band or DJ, whatever.
12:20
SPEAKER_02: And then we've done some that they just wanted to be partying, you know, partying.
12:24
SPEAKER_02: So we did, you know, we brought in like a lot of high tops and cocktail rounds, some soft seating couches, things of that sort, lounges to give it a really, you know, more of a club atmosphere.
12:36
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
12:37
SPEAKER_00: So what's the process look like for you guys um working alongside of the couples that that book here at the visitation?
12:44
SPEAKER_02: Uh basically, you'll start with uh our wedding sales manager, Anna, who does a fabulous job.
12:51
SPEAKER_02: Um, she'll take you through, she'll tour the property with you, she'll go through the booking process with you.
12:57
SPEAKER_02: Uh, she'll go over if you need sleeping rooms, how many you need.
13:01
SPEAKER_02: So it's more of a one-stop shop for many ways.
13:06
SPEAKER_02: Uh, and then depending on what you're looking for, she will guide you towards what vendors we recommend, depending on what your theme is, what your vision is.
13:16
SPEAKER_02: And then we have our sales coordinator and our banquet team who do all the fine details, and they're the ones that really pull it off.
13:23
SPEAKER_02: We have the easy job on the sales side.
13:25
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you're like, Do you like the spot?
13:27
SPEAKER_00: You're like, yeah.
13:27
SPEAKER_00: Right.
13:27
SPEAKER_00: And then everyone else can't.
13:29
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
13:29
SPEAKER_02: You can don't we don't overpromise.
13:31
SPEAKER_02: That's one thing.
13:32
SPEAKER_02: We promise you for a great event, but we're not gonna say that we can do something that we know we can't execute to perfection.
13:38
SPEAKER_00: Well, I mean, I I think that's true, even just in how you answered the the number of people and the way that you can use a space uh from a couple just a couple questions ago.
13:47
SPEAKER_00: Uh-huh.
13:47
SPEAKER_00: Um, what are some things that couples are potentially overlooking in in this whole venue booking kind of process?
13:54
SPEAKER_02: You know, it's funny.
13:55
SPEAKER_02: It, you know, everybody has their own vision.
13:58
SPEAKER_02: So it's not no two are alike typically.
14:01
SPEAKER_02: So they're looking for, you know, you want to make sure you educate them.
14:04
SPEAKER_02: You know, don't forget about this, just because we don't want to suddenly give them the Torah promise on this, and then they're like, oh, we can't afford that.
14:11
SPEAKER_02: So you need to find out those details beforehand when you're talking to them.
14:16
SPEAKER_02: Find out their vision, ask what they're looking for, not what we're looking for.
14:21
SPEAKER_02: And that's where we do our customization, and that's what we think about our other venues or other vendors and how we can bring it all in as a team.
14:31
SPEAKER_02: A lot of our vendors, we we do a lot with more from a team aspect.
14:37
SPEAKER_02: Uh, so it makes it a lot simpler for the bride and groom.
14:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
14:40
SPEAKER_00: How would you say uh if a vendor's listening, like what what in what ways can they be a good team player in that kind of team aspect that you were mentioning?
14:50
SPEAKER_02: Well, I think it's a part it's a two-way street.
14:53
SPEAKER_02: You know, no relationships are one way.
14:55
SPEAKER_02: Well, they shouldn't be, let's put it that way.
14:58
SPEAKER_02: And it's I think it's gonna benefit us, it's gonna benefit the vendor, but ultimately it's gonna benefit the bride and the group.
15:07
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
15:07
SPEAKER_02: And make it much more conducive for them and kind of make it feel like it's more of a one-stop shop that you don't have to go looking for everybody.
15:16
SPEAKER_02: We're here to help you decide on what type and how you want to execute it to your liking, not to ours again.
15:23
SPEAKER_00: I love the idea of it being like, because there are uh vendors that like maybe a DJ offers their DJ service, but then also offers video.
15:31
SPEAKER_00: So it kind of feels like this oh, I get two for one.
15:34
SPEAKER_00: Correct.
15:35
SPEAKER_00: Kind of uh just it's in one spot, not even price-wise, but just it's in one spot.
15:39
SPEAKER_00: But almost making the like one-stop shop feeling you have to with just everyone that's there.
15:44
SPEAKER_02: I know just from I mean, I've been in this business for a very long time.
15:49
SPEAKER_02: Uh, but even from my personal experience, from both my daughters getting married, for instance, especially the last one, it became more of a one-stop shop feel.
15:59
SPEAKER_02: And I loved how the venue executed it.
16:02
SPEAKER_02: So, like you said, we had a photographer, but they also had a videographer.
16:08
SPEAKER_02: Um, then we had a DJ, but really what a supply.
16:12
SPEAKER_02: He actually brought in a saxophonist that played with a DJ the whole night, which made it.
16:16
SPEAKER_02: I just was on the wedding and did that.
16:18
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it was so great.
16:19
SPEAKER_00: And they had like a little drummer set thing too.
16:22
SPEAKER_00: Oh, okay.
16:22
SPEAKER_00: It was on a full drum set.
16:23
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
16:24
SPEAKER_02: This guy was on the dance floor with us the whole night.
16:27
SPEAKER_02: Even, you know, we had 90 years old, you know, 90-year-olds up there with the Saxes.
16:33
SPEAKER_02: And after the wedding, they're like, Oh my god, I hope we didn't embarrass you.
16:36
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, no, it's great.
16:37
SPEAKER_02: You know, everybody was happy, everybody was had a ball.
16:40
SPEAKER_00: So you guys started the actual wedding side of things here in like 23?
16:46
SPEAKER_02: Well, uh, we started selling in 24.
16:49
SPEAKER_00: 24, okay.
16:50
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
16:50
SPEAKER_02: And we opened the end of 24.
16:53
SPEAKER_00: Gotcha.
16:54
SPEAKER_02: Yep.
16:54
SPEAKER_00: So I'm I'm just curious, like, what have you seen change even in those just couple years?
16:59
SPEAKER_00: If is it like maybe how couples are used in the space, or is it just like business stuff?
17:05
SPEAKER_02: You know, little things like kind of going back, you know, the DJ who brought on the saxophonist.
17:10
SPEAKER_02: Um, three years ago, nobody was doing that.
17:13
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
17:14
SPEAKER_02: So it's those little things that the vendors help us with for new trends and new offerings that we may not think of from a necessarily a hotel perspective, but we've learned from them what the other opportunities are out there that we can encompass and grow into our packages as well.
17:32
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm curious too, because you guys have the hotel side of it just like built in.
17:37
SPEAKER_00: It's like literally you walk on this like little path out there to get to the hotel.
17:42
SPEAKER_00: It how important is it for couples to be thinking about, and maybe what's your tips on this side of it?
17:47
SPEAKER_00: Is like having rooms so close and like having the option for people to maybe book a block or something like that?
17:55
SPEAKER_02: It makes it so much easier uh just to be able to have your guests here at the staying at the venue.
18:02
SPEAKER_02: And again, we're not a cookie cutter, we're not a 300-room hotel.
18:06
SPEAKER_02: We have 65 sleeping rooms.
18:08
SPEAKER_02: And to have your guests, it feels like you've taken over the majority of the event.
18:13
SPEAKER_02: There's not going to be two weddings going on at the same time.
18:16
SPEAKER_00: I love that.
18:16
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's not gonna be.
18:18
SPEAKER_00: I never understand venues.
18:19
SPEAKER_00: Oh, I think.
18:19
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I know they they do what they do.
18:22
SPEAKER_02: And they they a lot of them do it well.
18:24
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
18:24
SPEAKER_02: I mean, because they're big enough to actually do it.
18:27
SPEAKER_02: It just depends what you're looking for, but you know, it makes you feel like the property's yours for the weekend or the time span that you're getting married.
18:36
SPEAKER_02: So it feels and you're not again, you're not competing with somebody else.
18:40
SPEAKER_02: You're gonna be our focus for that weekend.
18:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think it's fun to to think about it as like a weekend adventure as opposed to just like, oh, people pop in for a couple hours, have some fun, eat some good food, have some drinks, and then they go home.
18:55
SPEAKER_00: But you have a little bit more of like, let's just celebrate the weekend together.
18:59
SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
19:00
SPEAKER_02: Because you can do a a welcome party.
19:03
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
19:03
SPEAKER_02: Um one place you can do it here, you can do it next door, um, or you know, you can do just a small rehearsal dinner, then a welcome party.
19:12
SPEAKER_02: So there's a lot of different avenues you can go.
19:15
SPEAKER_00: So I want to talk about food.
19:17
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
19:18
SPEAKER_00: Um, do it.
19:20
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
19:21
SPEAKER_00: Um, I just think it's this big, big thing, right?
19:25
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's big in the sense that there's a lot of parts to it, there's a lot to decide on.
19:30
SPEAKER_00: But then it's also one of the more expensive things that couples are investing in for their day.
19:35
SPEAKER_00: Just generally, off the top of it, what's what's your advice?
19:39
SPEAKER_00: Like, how do how do couples make sense of the food?
19:42
SPEAKER_00: Where do they go?
19:43
SPEAKER_00: How do they decide?
19:44
SPEAKER_02: Sure.
19:45
SPEAKER_02: We we try to keep it as simple for them as possible.
19:49
SPEAKER_02: Um, so we have our wedding packages, a couple of different versions.
19:54
SPEAKER_02: Some are have more food, some have less food.
19:57
SPEAKER_02: But basically, you know, you have your one-hour cocktail reception.
20:01
SPEAKER_02: Depends again.
20:02
SPEAKER_02: Do you want to pass?
20:02
SPEAKER_02: Do you want it more like a grazing station, you know, just jacuterie, all that.
20:08
SPEAKER_02: And then, you know, your heavier meal is what you focus on, you know, your entree, your first your first course, your entree, your dessert.
20:16
SPEAKER_02: Do you want to do it more stations?
20:19
SPEAKER_02: We're known for our family style, and it helps the pro it helps expedite it.
20:25
SPEAKER_02: It feels a little bit more, you know, you're with family, you're sharing the meal.
20:31
SPEAKER_02: Um, and what we do is again, the first course is done with like three different options.
20:38
SPEAKER_02: So you'll have a salad, two set, two different types of salad, and maybe even a soup, um, or three different types of salads.
20:46
SPEAKER_02: And then for your entree, again, family style, it's three different, it could be a fish, a meat, and a chicken.
20:54
SPEAKER_02: Uh, of course, we always have dietary, if there's any dietary restrictions, vegan, anything of that sort, we always accommodate needless.
21:02
SPEAKER_02: But then you have got, you know, three different sides.
21:04
SPEAKER_02: So it's not just a plated, you've got some choices there.
21:07
SPEAKER_02: Oh, that's super fun.
21:08
SPEAKER_02: I mean, half the time people don't remember what the heck they even ordered.
21:10
SPEAKER_02: That is true.
21:12
SPEAKER_02: I never remember.
21:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I don't.
21:14
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I usually just go with like a chicken option just because I know it's the easiest.
21:18
SPEAKER_02: Usually, yeah.
21:19
SPEAKER_00: Um, but it's fun.
21:20
SPEAKER_00: I so they're bringing out like plates, uh like family style, and that they're like setting down a buffet almost at the table.
21:28
SPEAKER_00: That's kind of fun.
21:30
SPEAKER_02: It's people love it.
21:31
SPEAKER_02: And but I will say, we've done plated also that people some people just adamant, no, I want a plated dinner.
21:37
SPEAKER_02: So, but we like the family style and the presentations are fabulous.
21:41
SPEAKER_02: I mean, our food is outstanding.
21:43
SPEAKER_02: I understand.
21:43
SPEAKER_00: So, what's the um what are your best, you know, advice for how how do they decide what is actually served?
21:52
SPEAKER_02: Uh, we do tasting dinners.
21:54
SPEAKER_02: Um, so we'll bring them in, say we bring the couple in and two other people, they're Parents or whomever, uh, they come in and they'll taste all the different options that we have.
22:04
SPEAKER_02: They we narrow it down.
22:06
SPEAKER_02: You're not gonna taste the whole menu.
22:08
SPEAKER_02: I mean, that sounds like nobody can walk out.
22:10
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
22:10
SPEAKER_02: Uh, but we do a tasting, uh and that's when they finalize their meal selections from their appetizers, the pasta d'oeuvres, things of that sort, and to their first course, their second course, and then dessert course as well.
22:24
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
22:24
SPEAKER_00: So how do they figure out like what's gonna work best for all the people, or do they just pick what they like?
22:29
SPEAKER_02: We'll give suggestions depending on the time of year.
22:32
SPEAKER_02: Uh chef uses, you know, for sides, things like that.
22:36
SPEAKER_02: Uh, depending on the seasonal, because it's seasonal vegetables, we buy a tremendous amount local, uh, including our uh beef and all of that as well from Lookham farms and so forth.
22:47
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, you know, what type of what type of year time of the year it is, as well as if they have any, you know, what's their vision?
22:57
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, what's their vision?
22:58
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I feel like that's been your your kind of like through line of like getting the couple's vision.
23:03
SPEAKER_02: It's not uh again, it's not our wedding night, it's theirs.
23:06
SPEAKER_02: And I think you need to pay attention to what they're saying and what they're looking.
23:11
SPEAKER_02: If they ask you for guidance, that's what we're here for.
23:14
SPEAKER_02: That's what we're here for.
23:15
SPEAKER_00: Well, I'm curious.
23:16
SPEAKER_00: Um, this is more so for the vendors that are listening.
23:19
SPEAKER_00: What kind of questions are you guys asking to like get that vision out of them?
23:23
SPEAKER_00: Because I think some couples are like, they'll sit down and they'll be like, Yes, this is exactly what we're like, this and this and this and this and this.
23:29
SPEAKER_00: And then there's other couples that are like, we're not really sure.
23:32
SPEAKER_00: Like so, like, how are we kind of like guiding them through that process and getting it, getting that out of them?
23:37
SPEAKER_02: And you know, no two people have the same personalities.
23:40
SPEAKER_02: So that's a tough one at times.
23:42
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
23:42
SPEAKER_02: Some are more open and willing and wanting to tell you, and then others you kind of have to pull it out.
23:47
SPEAKER_02: Asking their background, what have they, what weddings have they been to or events that they've seen that really, you know, makes them remember that event?
23:57
SPEAKER_02: Um, are you really looking for something like more simple?
24:00
SPEAKER_02: Do you want it, you know, fancy over the top, or are you just really want to just have fun?
24:08
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
24:08
SPEAKER_02: And you're gonna find out, you know, do they want to do the um the pre-look?
24:14
SPEAKER_02: You know, things of that sort, because they want to expedite and get to the reception and not miss out the reception taking pictures, things of that sort.
24:21
SPEAKER_02: So I think first look has come a long way.
24:24
SPEAKER_02: You know, 50 years ago, that never would have happened, that's for sure.
24:28
SPEAKER_02: Uh, but now it kind of helps everybody, I think it helps let them relax a little bit also before the actual ceremony.
24:35
SPEAKER_02: Um, because it's nerve-wracking.
24:37
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
24:38
SPEAKER_02: There's no way to say it's not.
24:39
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I I think if you're worried you're gonna be nervous, I think seeing your person sooner is easier.
24:47
SPEAKER_02: Yes.
24:47
SPEAKER_02: I highly, you know, I never thought I'd ever say this, but I highly recommend it.
24:52
SPEAKER_02: I do.
24:53
SPEAKER_00: I'm curious, this won't be like super visitation uh centered, but um, you mentioned like 50 years ago, first looks weren't wouldn't really be a thing.
25:02
SPEAKER_00: But what other stuff have you noticed really shifting and changing?
25:06
SPEAKER_00: Maybe not over 50 years, but just over the time.
25:08
SPEAKER_02: Over the years.
25:09
SPEAKER_02: Um, I ooh, that's a tough one.
25:12
SPEAKER_02: You got me there.
25:13
SPEAKER_00: Um I know, I'm like throwing questions at her that she didn't know were coming.
25:16
SPEAKER_02: I know.
25:17
SPEAKER_02: I love it.
25:18
SPEAKER_02: That makes you think.
25:19
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
25:19
SPEAKER_02: Makes you think.
25:20
SPEAKER_02: Uh yeah, like, you know, first look.
25:22
SPEAKER_02: Um, oh my gosh, now with you know, drones and all that, the video the videography nowadays has come such a long way.
25:33
SPEAKER_00: You know what's really funny?
25:34
SPEAKER_00: Um, you'll you'll hopefully you'll think this is funny.
25:37
SPEAKER_00: I was just explaining to a couple uh yesterday, the day before, I had a uh call, and I was trying to explain the difference between like our creative edit and the documentary film.
25:48
SPEAKER_00: And I was like, the doc film is basically like our parents' film.
25:51
unknown: Yes.
25:52
SPEAKER_00: Because it's really just like handy cam, uncle, whoever just goes around and gets the whole thing.
25:58
SPEAKER_00: And that's kind of what the doc film is.
26:00
SPEAKER_00: And then the creative edits are kind of more of the main thing now.
26:04
SPEAKER_02: It's funny because I just, you know, I don't mean to keep referencing back to my daughter's wedding, but oh no, it's okay.
26:09
SPEAKER_02: I kept saying, you know, what did we get in the video?
26:11
SPEAKER_02: What did we get in the video?
26:12
SPEAKER_02: And she said, Oh, we just got it.
26:14
SPEAKER_02: There's three versions.
26:16
SPEAKER_02: There's like a short clip of like six, seven minutes, real quick.
26:20
SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
26:21
SPEAKER_02: Then there's one that's like 15, 20 minutes, gives you a little bit of everything.
26:26
SPEAKER_02: And then there's the final, and they called it a documentary.
26:29
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
26:29
SPEAKER_02: And I was like, that I actually thought, a documentary?
26:33
SPEAKER_02: What the heck?
26:34
SPEAKER_02: And then I watched it and it's true.
26:36
SPEAKER_02: It's a documentary.
26:37
SPEAKER_02: It's from the beginning to the very end.
26:40
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
26:40
SPEAKER_02: And adding on, you know, the church and the different music to go with the different backgrounds and so forth.
26:48
SPEAKER_02: Uh, yeah, that's definitely didn't happen years and years ago.
26:52
SPEAKER_02: Like you said, I think mine was from my uncle's camcord.
26:55
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, right.
26:57
SPEAKER_00: Um, it's it's funny too, because my my dad had he probably still has like an actual like VHS recorder video thing.
27:07
SPEAKER_00: I don't even know what you call it, camcorder or what?
27:09
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
27:09
SPEAKER_02: I couldn't even watch what I wanted to.
27:11
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I know, right?
27:12
SPEAKER_00: He would use that every Christmas morning.
27:13
SPEAKER_00: And oh it's just it's just funny to think because I think there is this like business shifts, right?
27:19
SPEAKER_00: As a vendor, like you have to shift with the times.
27:22
SPEAKER_00: Like there's AI now, there's like there's just so much.
27:28
SPEAKER_00: Sorry, sorry.
27:30
SPEAKER_00: There's just so much that's like shifting in business, but then there's also like couples are experiencing planning differently, they're seeing their wedding in a different view.
27:40
SPEAKER_00: Like, there's more of this like authenticity that's kind of showing up.
27:44
SPEAKER_02: I mean, you look at the various options now that I couldn't tell you last time I got an RSVP card.
27:50
SPEAKER_02: I had to mail that.
27:52
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, right.
27:52
SPEAKER_02: You know, you just go on to the website.
27:54
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, why mail it if you can click, click, click on the code.
27:57
SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
27:57
SPEAKER_02: It's so much more accurate, too, to be honest with you.
27:59
SPEAKER_02: It's a time saver.
28:01
SPEAKER_02: Um, it's a money saver in a small way.
28:03
SPEAKER_00: But uh that I'm sure our design friends are like, don't do that, don't take away our paper.
28:08
SPEAKER_02: Come on, you still have to do that imitation, right?
28:10
SPEAKER_00: Still invitation.
28:11
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we'll give you the invitation of that.
28:12
SPEAKER_02: Don't forget to save the date.
28:13
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, save the dates, yeah.
28:14
SPEAKER_02: New thing, you know.
28:15
SPEAKER_02: We never did save the date.
28:16
SPEAKER_00: I've got one for my friend.
28:17
SPEAKER_00: I'm super pumped.
28:18
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
28:19
SPEAKER_02: So, you know, you've got that new because of modern technology, yeah.
28:23
SPEAKER_02: We've been able to generate that.
28:25
SPEAKER_02: And I think the new website, you know, creating their own website where they're registered, uh, URS VP.
28:31
SPEAKER_02: You can do your wedding gift on their on their website if they're saying donat, you know, contributing to the their honeymoon, yeah.
28:41
SPEAKER_02: Or whatever.
28:42
SPEAKER_02: So I think those new modern technology has really come a long way for everybody.
28:47
SPEAKER_00: I'm curious, and maybe this is out in left field because of uh, you know, the difference in like the vendor like me, where I'm just it's literally just me and I do wedding video, and you're kind of working alongside of a team and you're kind of a part of the hotel.
29:02
SPEAKER_00: But um, I'm curious from your vantage point, like what could vendors be doing to um grow in their business, um, you know, connect with couples better, uh-huh.
29:12
SPEAKER_00: Maybe connect with couples in a different and a new way.
29:15
SPEAKER_00: I'm just curious from like your perspective, what could they be doing?
29:18
SPEAKER_02: The more you work with your vendors, they also become more familiar with your property, working together so that you know each other.
29:26
SPEAKER_02: Again, might go back to the two-way streets, uh, but you're gonna be able to help help them in partnership with the venue, yeah, uh, to merely uh customize and make it each person each wedding separately.
29:43
SPEAKER_00: It's it's interesting because like as a vendor, we have this like vendor-to-vendor relationships that are built and kept and grown.
29:50
SPEAKER_00: And we also have this like vendor-to-couple relationships that are kind of like they fluctuate because you know, we're working alongside a couple, then they have their wedding, and then we don't see what we're done.
30:00
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
30:00
SPEAKER_00: Um, how can the same vendor that's building and working alongside other vendors be building and working alongside and connecting better with their couples?
30:10
SPEAKER_02: Well, I think we can offer different packages that you could, hey, for I've done this before at different venue hotels that I've worked for.
30:18
SPEAKER_02: Uh, is that part of your package includes, you know, coming back on your one-year anniversary, um, and that photographer, that vendor, whomever, you know, somehow we tie into, you know, doing your first anniversary picture or, you know, dinner in the restaurant.
30:35
SPEAKER_02: So I think it you've got to keep just kind of thinking outside the box consistently to be able to come up with something new that you can.
30:42
SPEAKER_00: That's where you can use AI.
30:44
SPEAKER_02: Bingo.
30:44
SPEAKER_02: Help you think outside the box.
30:46
SPEAKER_02: It does.
30:46
SPEAKER_02: I use it all the time.
30:47
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
30:48
SPEAKER_00: Um, I I do think it's tough because it's like you always have to be thinking like, what can I do differently?
30:54
SPEAKER_00: How can I do it this better?
30:55
SPEAKER_00: Right.
30:56
SPEAKER_00: How can I optimize?
30:57
SPEAKER_02: Especially if they're if they're local, yeah.
30:59
SPEAKER_02: That's one thing.
31:00
SPEAKER_02: Or when I say local too, I'm talking within like a 30 mile radius when I say local.
31:05
SPEAKER_02: But it is funny.
31:06
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, three hours?
31:07
SPEAKER_00: Sure, that's fine.
31:09
SPEAKER_02: Well, that's different for us.
31:11
SPEAKER_00: I know, I know, yeah.
31:12
SPEAKER_02: But I've had it that, you know, in previous locations, and I think we we're starting to see that here is that, you know, the couple got married here.
31:20
SPEAKER_02: Great.
31:20
SPEAKER_02: Well, their child has to be baptized.
31:23
SPEAKER_02: So it's like, oh, that's when we got married.
31:25
SPEAKER_02: Uh or you know, so you do the same thing at that at the church, and then you come here for your reception of that, um, or child's first communion.
31:34
SPEAKER_02: So it's sometimes it's just building that family history and you end up abusing a lot of your same vendors.
31:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's so fun to see that like connection over time.
31:44
SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
31:45
SPEAKER_02: I've seen, you know, I've done with work with brides and grooms, and they ended up getting married here because again, their mother actually went to school here.
31:54
SPEAKER_02: Uh, things of that.
31:55
SPEAKER_02: So that thought it would be cool to keep that tradition, or you know, they were baptized in the church right next door, or they made their first communion there, or whatever.
32:03
SPEAKER_02: So it's, you know, some people it's really important, I know it is to me, to bring that family history into the events as well.
32:09
SPEAKER_02: And we've got enough history here, so why not add some more?
32:12
SPEAKER_00: There's a ton, and it's just a it's a cool spot.
32:14
SPEAKER_00: Um, I'm curious, you know, we're kind of getting to the end of the episode.
32:18
SPEAKER_00: If you're listening and you're still here, thank you for sticking through and and stay staying with us.
32:23
SPEAKER_00: Um, but where do you where do you see the visitation going now that you like your full-fledged weddings, you got the corpus stuff going, you got the rooms, you know, you're in the the cool small town vibe.
32:36
SPEAKER_00: Like, where do you see the visitation going?
32:38
SPEAKER_02: I think we need to stay true to ourselves.
32:40
SPEAKER_02: Uh, we don't plan on, you know, adding a big modern tower, you know, as part of the building atmosphere.
32:47
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I'd love some more.
32:48
SPEAKER_02: Tower would be amazing.
32:49
SPEAKER_02: I'd love some more meeting space.
32:50
SPEAKER_02: I totally would.
32:51
SPEAKER_02: Uh, but we're a boutique hotel and we want to keep our identity to what it truly is and keep the history and the value that we're becoming to be known for.
33:03
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we want to keep our true identity.
33:06
SPEAKER_02: We don't, we don't want to change things.
33:08
SPEAKER_02: Yes, we want to stay modern and up with the, you know, up with the times and trends and so forth.
33:13
SPEAKER_02: But we want we're gonna keep our identity the way it is.
33:15
SPEAKER_02: I mean, you can hear the church bells in the background.
33:17
SPEAKER_00: I know.
33:17
SPEAKER_00: I was setting up and I was like, oh, the church bells are going off on the top of the hour.
33:21
SPEAKER_00: I was like, that's so nice.
33:22
SPEAKER_02: Wait till 12 o'clock.
33:23
SPEAKER_00: And then they go every 15 minutes.
33:25
SPEAKER_02: They chime in, let you know if it's 8 a.m.
33:28
SPEAKER_02: So that's a good thing.
33:29
SPEAKER_02: There you go.
33:29
SPEAKER_02: That's right.
33:29
SPEAKER_02: That's a good thing.
33:30
SPEAKER_00: I think it just speaks to the the town, the quaintness of everything.
33:35
SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
33:35
SPEAKER_00: Um, being here in Frederick.
33:37
SPEAKER_00: I I feel like I need to get out and explore the town a little bit more.
33:40
SPEAKER_00: But I'm gonna be sitting at this table all day long.
33:42
SPEAKER_02: Hey, there's it's time afterwards though.
33:45
SPEAKER_02: Let me know when you're done.
33:46
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
33:46
SPEAKER_02: You're gonna sample something here and then.
33:48
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I gotta figure out something.
33:50
SPEAKER_00: Um I've been coughing off camera this whole time.
33:53
SPEAKER_00: So maybe I'll get some hot water and some tea somewhere.
33:55
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
33:56
SPEAKER_02: A hottie tottie would be good for you.
33:58
SPEAKER_00: Um I the my my last question, um, I I like to just kind of get a sense of like the heart behind um vendors and and their businesses.
34:08
SPEAKER_00: And um, for you guys, it'd be the visitation as a whole.
34:12
SPEAKER_00: What do you hope that couples are experiencing as they walk through that planning process and they're having their event here?
34:18
SPEAKER_00: What do you hope that they're experiencing when they work with you guys here at the visitation?
34:21
SPEAKER_02: Uh-huh.
34:22
SPEAKER_02: A positive atmosphere.
34:24
SPEAKER_02: Um, our ownership is local, our vendors are all local.
34:29
SPEAKER_02: Uh we're not cookie cutters, we're not part of a big chain.
34:34
SPEAKER_02: I mean, we do, we are part of Marriott.
34:36
SPEAKER_02: Uh, but as far as our vendors go, you know, they're not a part of big chains and so forth.
34:41
SPEAKER_02: So they know the area, they know what if you're coming to Frederick, we probably have a good feel of what you're looking for because we're very we're special and we're different.
34:51
SPEAKER_02: And that's the experience.
34:53
SPEAKER_02: We want you to experience something different that you're always gonna remember and that nobody else is gonna experience.
35:01
SPEAKER_02: And we want to customize it to what you're looking for, and that's what this hotel and our vendors are here to do.
35:07
SPEAKER_02: That's make it your special day.
35:09
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I love that.
35:10
SPEAKER_02: Meg, thank you so much for being on.
35:13
SPEAKER_00: It's been such a fun episode.
35:15
SPEAKER_00: It's been fun being here.
35:16
SPEAKER_00: I know I've only been here for a little bit in our film day.
35:18
SPEAKER_02: Um but it's a great place.
35:20
SPEAKER_00: I'm excited for the rest of the day.
35:21
SPEAKER_00: We have so many good.
35:22
SPEAKER_00: Uh-huh.
35:23
SPEAKER_02: Oh, you're gonna love these other vendors.
35:24
SPEAKER_02: They're fabulous, they're great to work with.
35:26
SPEAKER_00: We're talking like you can experience the full day with us, even though it's just this one episode, but I'm excited.
35:32
SPEAKER_00: Um, where can people find and follow along with what you guys are doing here at the visitation?
35:37
SPEAKER_02: Sure.
35:37
SPEAKER_02: Uh, we have our website, visitationhotel.com.
35:42
SPEAKER_02: Uh, you can also go to Marriott.com and put in visitation hotel, and that'll bring up the property.
35:48
SPEAKER_02: Some great videos, same thing with our other websites.
35:51
SPEAKER_02: So we do have the two websites that you can go on and and look at our vendors' websites as well.
35:56
SPEAKER_02: So we have a lot to offer.
35:57
SPEAKER_00: All those links will be down below.
35:59
SPEAKER_00: We'll throw the socials down there as well, just so everyone can click those in case you're modern-day technology.
36:04
SPEAKER_00: It's great, it's great.
36:04
SPEAKER_02: You don't have to spell anything, you just no exactly you don't have to flip the page, just hit a button.
36:10
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's um, but this has been so fun.
36:13
SPEAKER_00: If you're still with us, um, thank you for listening all the way through.
36:16
SPEAKER_00: It really means a lot.
36:17
SPEAKER_00: And if you're on YouTube, if you could subscribe, um, like this video and share it with a friend who might find inspiration from the history of the visitation and just enjoy this conversation.
36:28
SPEAKER_00: Maybe get a helpful tip if they're planning their wedding as well.
36:32
SPEAKER_00: If you're listening, wherever you listen to podcasts, I hope you're having a great day.
36:35
SPEAKER_00: If you're like running, if you're driving, whatever you're doing, um, it would be super amazing.
36:40
SPEAKER_00: Once you're done doing your thing, if you could just leave us a review, the reviews help a ton.
36:46
SPEAKER_00: Um, and it's not to, you know, make the podcast big, but to get people hearing the stories of the vendors that we have on.
36:54
SPEAKER_00: That's the whole thing.
36:55
SPEAKER_00: The whole idea of this is just to get these um stories out there, help vendors tell their story and their experience and their journey, and just get couples and other vendors' experiences, um, experiencing the the things that um all of these vendors have gone through.
37:12
SPEAKER_00: So it's so fun.
37:13
SPEAKER_00: Um, Meg, thank you so much for being on.
37:15
SPEAKER_02: It's been my pleasure.
37:16
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
37:16
SPEAKER_00: That is all for this episode.
37:17
SPEAKER_00: We'll catch you guys next time on the preferred list.