Seated Magazine: Spring 2023, The Wedding Issue

The Wedding Issue

Welcome TO THE SPRING 2023 ISSUE OF SEATED

Weddings are joyous occasions in the hospitality industry, where venues pull out all stops to create a special, memorable day for their clients and guests.

But, realistically, weddings are one of the most significant sources of revenue each year for your business. We recently surveyed 500 people who are getting married and found that the average amount they spend on their wedding is $31,550.

We’ve dedicated this issue of Seated to helping restaurants, hotels, and unique venues generate more wedding bookings and host successful ceremonies, wedding receptions, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and other events planned around a couple’s big day.

In this issue, you’ll get the details on the latest trends for wedding events, tips for menus and cocktails, how to host bachelorette parties, how you can get in on multi-day wedding celebrations, the most Instagrammable wedding decor, and more.

You’ll also learn how to use Tripleseat to execute every detail of wedding events seamlessly, the benefits of Tripleseat’s newest features and partnerships, and how to use marketing to drive more wedding bookings for your venue.

Enjoy this latest Seated issue and best wishes as you prepare for a busy 2023 wedding season.

JONATHAN MORSE CEO, TRIPLESEAT

EDITORIAL TEAM

JONATHAN MORSE

LATHA YOUNGREN

AZURE COLLIER

MATT DIONNE

CEO

PUBLISHER

EDITOR IN CHIEF

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

COLLABORATORS

HEATHER APSE

RACHEL CALKINS

NICOLE CATATAO

MADDIE FRANZREB

LYNN HOLMLUND

KATE KENNEDY

CATARINA MARTINS

RACHEL MAZZOLA

ELIZABETH SMITH

AUBREY UNGVARSKY

JEFF VALOIS

SPECIAL THANKS

The Entire Tripleseat Family

CONTACTS

Tripleseat HQ

300 Baker Ave, Suite 160 Concord, MA 01742 978.614.0490

info@tripleseat.com

tripleseat.com eventup.com

3

WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG? WITH ERIN DAVIES

FEATURES

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

TAKEAWAYS FROM A YEAR’S WORTH OF ATTENDING WEDDINGS

BACH, PLEASE

3 VENUES SHARE WHAT IT TAKES TO HOST EVENTS IN THE HOTTEST CITIES FOR BACHELORETTE PARTIES

THE BIG DAY IS NOW A MULTI-DAY AND MULTI-VENUE CELEBRATION

4 THINGS COUPLES LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING VENUES FOR WEDDING CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS

DESTINATION WEDDINGS: NOT JUST AN EXCUSE TO FEEL SAND BETWEEN YOUR TOES

HOW TRIPLESEAT VENUES ACROSS THE GLOBE PROVIDE THE RIGHT TOUCHES FOR SUCCESSFUL NUPTIALS

PICS OR IT DIDN’T HAPPEN

HOW TO CREATE A PHOTO-WORTHY WEDDING VENUE THAT GUESTS WILL SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FATE IS NOT A STRATEGY

6 WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR VENUE FOR WEDDING BOOKINGS

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN THE INBOX FOLLOW THESE 3 EMAIL MARKETING TIPS TO BOOST WEDDING AND EVENTS BOOKINGS

Tripleseat in the News

5 Hospitality Trends to Focus on in 2023

BigHospitality UK, Oct. 17, 2022

Industry publication BigHospitality shared Tripleseat’s 2023 hospitality trend predictions for the UK. In this article, Tripleseat reports that revenue streams to consider in the new year include speakeasies, street food, emerging cuisines, and more:

“It’s time to bring that technology to all aspects of your business, especially events. Self-booking options that allow customers to choose the date, capacity, meal options, and amenities for their events and catering make it easier for the patron and the business to manage these services. Consider implementing more customer-friendly technology tools in 2023 that will make it easier to drive revenue.”

Tripleseat Wins APPEALIE SaaS Customer Success Award for Fourth Consecutive Year

APPEALIE, Nov. 8, 2022

Last fall, the APPEALIE Awards announced that Tripleseat won the 2022 SaaS Customer Success Award. The dedicated Customer Success team at Tripleseat was recognized because of the company's approach to customer service, which is emphasized at every point of the customer journey, from prospect to new customer to longtime, loyal user. Tripleseat won for the fourth consecutive year based on customer success stories. The winners of the award were judged by customer success experts founded on cloud companies’ ability to excite, delight and get the job done.

"Everything we do at Tripleseat is focused on customer success, starting with our software, designed to streamline sales and event management for the hospitality industry,” said Jonathan Morse, CEO of Tripleseat. “We also provide excellent support and resources such as our online and in-person Tripleseat University training, annual EventCamp conference, blog, and podcast."

Social Event Business Continues to Grow for Hotels

Hospitality Technology, Dec. 15, 2022

In the winter of 2022, Tripleseat surveyed hundreds of hotel event planners about what they factor in when selecting a venue. Hospitality Technology shared the results and the accompanying infographic on their blog. Here are the top survey highlights:

• Event types: 72% of events being planned are social events, and 27% are business-related events.

• Planning schedule: Almost 80% start their planning between 1-6 months in advance.

• Property location: 47% of events will take place in a major city or downtown area.

• Guest rooms: 84% of event hosts will require guest room nights as part of their event.

• Venue criteria: The cost to rent space plus food and beverage minimums are major factors, along with overnight guest room prices.

• Top amenities: Beyond the event, hosts want properties with onsite bars/restaurants, parking, wifi, and outdoor event space.

Tripleseat, the Premier Event Management Platform for Restaurants, Hotels, and Unique Venues, Achieves Double-Digit Growth in 2022

SalesTech Star, Jan. 18, 2023

Tripleseat’s impressive growth was highlighted in SalesTech Star. Tripleseat's software offers a wide range of features, including event management, lead generation, and proposal creation, to help restaurants, hotels, and unique venues streamline their event planning process and increase their revenue. Tripleseat also provides exceptional customer service, with a dedicated support team available to help customers with any questions or issues they may have.

"We are thrilled to see such strong growth in 2022," said Jonathan Morse, CEO of Tripleseat. "Our innovative software and dedication to customer service have helped us to become the go-to choice for event planning in the hospitality industry. We are excited to continue to provide our customers with the tools they need to create successful and memorable events."

Tripleseat Announces Partnership and New Integration with Cvent Hospitality Technology, Jan. 31, 2023

Tripleseat’s integration with Cvent was mentioned by Hospitality Technology, saying that this partnership will help unify and automate the event inquiry and management process. When event planners use Cvent to submit a request for proposal (RFP) to multiple venues, they will automatically be added to those venues' Tripleseat accounts as new leads. In order for this to take place, the venues must be both a Cvent Supplier Network member and a Tripleseat customer.

"There is no doubt that the number of events being planned and the cost per event is growing," said Jonathan Morse, CEO of Tripleseat. "Which is exactly why we partnered with Cvent. Our new integration will help venues that work with both Tripleseat and Cvent to reach thousands of event planners who are looking for properties to host their events in 2023."

Brits Are Ready to Party in 2023: Is Your Venue Ready?

Food and Beverage Magazine, Feb. 3, 2023

Food and Beverage Magazine shared Tripleseat’s recent survey that shows 53% of UK consumers are planning 1-2 events in the first six months of the year. The findings to the survey were released in an infographic. Here’s a look at some of the trends supported by the data:

• Celebrations are on the calendar for the first half of the year: 53% of Brits are planning 1-2 events in the first 6 months of 2023.

• Planning starts early: 42% will book venues 1-3 months in advance.

• Partying happens away from home: 67% of people plan to book a venue instead of hosting at home.

• Filling pints and plates: Brits are planning to host dinners and cocktail receptions in 2023.

• Consumers want an easy online booking experience: 50% of people say they are moderately to extremely comfortable booking an entire event online by themselves.

Tripleseat Unveils Innovative Multi-Events Grid to Streamline How Hotels Manage Group Booking

MarTech Series, March 15, 2023

News of the release of our multi-events grid designed to manage events for large bookings appeared on the MarTech Series blog.

The multi-events grid allows hotels to create and edit hundreds of events in a faster and easier way than ever before. Built for hotels, the multi-events grid allows users to edit multiple events with just a few clicks, streamlining the process for edits to large bookings like conventions, corporate meetings, and weddings.

“We know that hotels are under a lot of pressure to manage events and bookings effectively, and we’re committed to helping them do that as efficiently as possible,” said Jonathan Morse, CEO of Tripleseat. “The new multi-events grid feature will make it easier for hotels to manage their bookings and deliver the best possible experience for their guests.”

“

We are thrilled to see such strong growth in 2022. Our innovative software and dedication to customer service have helped us to become the go-to choice for event planning in the hospitality industry. We are excited to continue to provide our customers with the tools they need to create successful and memorable events.”

Jonathan Morse TRIPLESEAT CEO

Simplify the Group Booking Process with TripleseatDirect

RESTAURANTS CAN OFFER AN EASY WAY FOR CUSTOMERS TO BOOK, PAY FOR EVENTS

HEATHER APSE

How much time do you and your reservation team spend talking on the phone with people that want to book a dinner of 10-20 people? Or how many potential customers move on to other venues because they want to book online? Tripleseat is here to help solve this problem so you can both manage mid-size requests and focus more attention on bespoke events.

TripleseatDirect allows you to create parameters for your customers to make a reservation online, selecting the space, guest count, menu, food and beverage minimum, as well as collecting the deposit in an easy-to-use portal. Accept the reservation, and you are done. Simple!

Bobbi Jo Ballard, Banquet & Catering Operations Support Manager at Maggiano’s, said that TripleseatDirect has been key in growing revenue across the company’s 52 locations.

“TripleseatDirect allowed us another avenue to be able to touch guests and still have the opportunity to build that personalization and that relationship with them while still giving them the freedom to know their date is booked, their event is booked, we can worry about the details later. We thought Tripleseat was a great tool for us, and it has been amazing ever since,” Ballard said.

Want to make group reservations a wonderful customer experience?

Here is how TripleseatDirect can help:

1. Seamless integration

TripleseatDirect reservation forms can be easily integrated into your restaurant's website, social media channels, EventUp directory listing, and more. This means that consumers will feel like they are having a streamlined and branded experience in self-booking a table or space directly with your restaurant without having to go through a third-party platform.

2. Flexibility specific to what your restaurant can accommodate

With TripleseatDirect, you have the flexibility to customize the booking process to fit your restaurant's specific needs and available resources, which will allow you to provide great customer service. You manage your digitized calendar to specify availability, and you control your menu offerings and upsell opportunities to guide your customers along the booking process.

3. Real-time availability

This robust system provides real-time, cloud-based availability of group dining options, so consumers can see what times are available and book accordingly. With real-time availability, you can ensure that customers are always able to book a group when they want to, without any delays or complications.

4. Help your customers with booking confirmation and reminders

Communication and automation are key components of TripleseatDirect. Once your customer makes the group reservation and you approve it, the system sends a confirmation email to the customer, letting them know that the deposit has been collected and their booking has been accepted.

5. Consistency and accuracy for the win

Our centralized group reservation management helps you better organize and manage your reservations with consistent and extremely reliable software. By streamlining your reservation process, you’ll avoid errors or complications like overbooking or double-booking.

6. It’s all about the customer experience

People want to move on their timeline. By allowing customers to reserve a group reservation or catering order 24/7, you are empowering them. And in turn, you are able to better predict menus and improve profitability by offering packages that are strong for you. This makes online booking a win-win experience.

Ginny Cook, Director of Events, Programming & Partnerships for Land & Sea Dept., said that TripleseatDirecthas been a huge help and saves time for her small team.

"TripleseatDirect has been super turn-key for us because we have a really lean team to manage a huge amount of events across a lot of different stores, and to have those smaller parties just be able to totally choose their own adventure and the one-click book has saved our event managers a huge amount of time,” Cook said. “We are really enthusiastic about that feature because anyone who works in events knows that you can spend the same amount of time planning for a $1,000 party as you can for a $30,000 party."

Find out more about TripleseatDirect

Overall, by utilizing TripleseatDirect, you can provide a frictionless group booking experience for in-person events and off-site catering that is both personalized and convenient for your customers. If you aren’t taking advantage of making booking easy for your customers. Schedule a demo at tripleseat.com/tsdirect at your convenience to take a closer look and see what Tripleseat has to offer.

BOOK MORE BUSINESS, THEY SAID

YOU DON’T REALLY SLEEP, THEY SAID NEED

DON’T WORRY! TripleseatDirect Reservations will help you get it all done!

Group reservations are easy as 1, 2, 3 with TripleseatDirect Reservations

1 2 3

Your customer directly reserves a space for 10-50+ people, selects a menu, and pays you according to your event parameters.

You accept the reservation and move the conversation into the guest portal, where you can upsell your most popular items.

You host the event and everyone goes home happy. You can continue the relationship with the power of Tripleseat’s CRM.

Increase revenue, manage workloads, and exceed customer expectations today with TripleseatDirect Reservations. + direct

Where Independence Meets Scale

Curator combines the benefits of scale with independence, giving hotels and small brands an alternative to consolidation and saturation while providing them with the support that comes with belonging to a larger collection of like-minded, unique properties. Our members can access best-in-class operating agreements, insurance programs, technology, and reporting to gain efficiencies, generate significant cost savings and benefits, and increase asset value—all while retaining their unique DNA.

New England Nuptials

3 LOCATIONS PERFECT FOR WEDDINGS IN THE NORTHEAST

Hotels can do it all when it comes to weddings. Ceremony location? Check. Cocktail hour space? Check. Somewhere to eat, drink and dance the night away? Check, check, and check. But don’t forget one of the most essential details of all, the detail that sets hotels apart from other venues: nobody needs to go anywhere once the night is over! With sleeping rooms on-site, you won’t have to travel more than a few steps to lay your head down after the big night.

In this special weddings issue, we are highlighting three stunning New England hotels that pull off some of the most beautiful celebrations in the Northeast. From welcome parties to farewell brunches, intimate celebrations to big blowout events, you can make it happen on these properties.

Edson Hill Stowe, VT

Nonantum Resort, Kennebunkport, Maine

Consistently named one of the best wedding venues in Maine, The Nonantum Resort is just 90 minutes north of Boston, but gives you the feeling you have traveled far and away to your own special slice of paradise on the water. The property can host weddings for 300 guests for a tended reception and 175 for an indoor reception, and they offer 109 on-site guest rooms, and multiple restaurants, so you can expect all of your wants and needs to be met without ever having to leave the resort. Whether an elegant ballroom with water views or an outdoor tent is the preference, look no further than The Nonantum Resort!

Edson Hill, Stowe, Vt.

Nestled amongst the picturesque mountainside, Edson Hill offers up the quintessential Vermont experience. While just a short drive from the village of Stowe, guests will feel as though they are at a secluded retreat a million miles away once they enter the property. The sprawling 38-acre estate can host an intimate celebration of 30 guests or a more elaborate affair with up to 200 attendees. Edson Hill offers indoor and outdoor spaces for wedding related events and even has their own in-house planning team to assist you with every detail of your event.

Pelham House Resort, Dennis Port, Mass .

You won’t find a much more classic New England wedding venue than Pelham House Resort. Situated on its own private beach, couples can choose from a number of different onsite locations for their ceremony and reception. From the rooftop to the lawn to the beach, accommodating groups of 25 up to 250 people, the options are endless to bring the dream Cape Cod wedding to life. The resort also offers 33 newly renovated guest rooms and two onsite restaurants, giving you all you need for the perfect weekend of celebrating! If couples need additional rooms, Pelham can offer accommodations at its nearby sister properties, Pelham on Earle and Pelham on Main, which each have 27 rooms as well as a property shuttle service for guests.

Five questions with TAO Las Vegas

RACHEL CALKINS

If you want to celebrate any (or all) festivities surrounding your wedding — the bachelor or bachelorette party, the welcome cocktail night, the wedding ceremony, the reception, and a fun nightclub-style after-party — you can do it all at TAO Las Vegas

We spoke with Cristina Baumann, Vice President of Sales for the West Coast & Midwest regions at TAO Group Hospitality, about the glamorous customized events that TAO Las Vegas can put together for any occasion. An event experience at TAO Las Vegas will be one you and your guests will never forget.

What does a dining experience at TAO Las Vegas look like? Tell us about the food and drink menus, the ambiance, and how this location differs from the rest

TAO Asian Bistro is a dining destination featuring dramatic design paired with signature dishes and drinks, all enveloped in a buzzworthy atmosphere. Since opening, the restaurant has appealed to an in-the-know crowd, with many celebrities dining under the watchful eye of TAO’s famed 20-foot floating Buddha.

The menu encompasses Chinese, Japanese, and Thai flavors, with dishes hailing from the land, sea, and sky, complemented by inventive cocktails and an expansive wine and sake offering. You can enjoy a complete evening never leaving TAO, starting with drinks in the lounge, progressing to dinner, and then heading upstairs to the nightclub to continue the party.

2When thinking of a bachelor or bachelorette party destination, everyone thinks of Las Vegas. How does TAO Las Vegas attract this group for a private event experience? What does a typical bachelor or bachelorette night out look like at TAO Las Vegas?

Life is made up of many monumental events, and a wedding is one of the most anticipated milestones a couple can make together. There is no better way to celebrate the excitement of a bachelor or bachelorette than to travel with your closest friends and family to the entertainment capital of the world: Las Vegas!

Planning a celebratory weekend can be overwhelming, but here at TAO Group Hospitality Las Vegas, we offer multiple options to celebrate the big day. The possibilities are endless, from specific bachelor or bachelorette day club packages to nightclub packages and dinner packages. Our VIP Bachelor and Bachelorette Services Team and VIP Marketing Host Team can take care of all aspects of the celebration and planning process across all of the TAO Group Las Vegas venues. Whether a small intimate party or a large group event, there are celebration options for everyone for a one-of-a-kind experience the bride or groom will never forget.

Couples have also celebrated their wedding day in style at TAO Las Vegas. Tell us about a couple's options when booking their wedding at TAO Las Vegas.

As we all know, Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the world. TAO Group Hospitality prides itself on the ability to create and customize all your dream destination wedding festivities throughout our expansive options of restaurants, nightclubs, and day clubs within our portfolio.

This means we can offer much more than a wedding venue. We have the resources and experience to plan every aspect of your special day, from the flowers to the entertainment. To give a taste of our Las Vegas custom wedding packages, imagine a bachelor and bachelorette party on the day you arrive; a rehearsal dinner the following afternoon at one of our four day clubs; and finally, the wedding dinner at one of our iconic restaurants, located up and down the Las Vegas Strip. For couples who would like to continue their evening, we can also customize a nightclub experience. Our custom celebrations packages are both extraordinary and personalized — you dream it, we deliver it.

As a popular leader in the dining and nightlife space, there must be all sorts of unique event experiences that have come through your venue. What is hot in event experiences right now?

One noticeable trend in the industry is clients coming to us that have historically used traditional ballrooms for event spaces for all ranges of event styles. These clients are now looking for creative ideas and ways to change things up by using nontraditional event spaces while still achieving the same result. We have successfully executed numerous conference-style event formats with keynote speakers in our nightclub spaces by incorporating all the bells and whistles of lighting and special effects elements found in the club space into the conference event experience.

We also took the same creative approach and successfully executed what would have been a typical seated dinner format in a ballroom with entertainment into an amazing guest experience in one of our club spaces. This created a first-of-its-kind unique experience, “An Evening Under the Chandelier,” at Omnia Nightclub, another venue in the TAO Group Hospitality portfolio.

5How does the team at TAO Las Vegas utilize Tripleseat to help manage the jam-packed event calendar? What Tripleseat features are most beneficial?

Where do I start? Tripleseat is a major contributor to our sales teams’ success and profitability, not only for our Vegas market but for all our locations coast to coast. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a significant client loyalty database, so it is exceptionally helpful for our sales teams on a national level to have insight into each other’s events as we share the same clients globally.

An ongoing Tripleseat benefit that we love is Tripleseat’s dedication to continuously listen to the customers’ needs and wants, then implementing those changes in the form of new functionalities, always helping to streamline the booking process.

Other Tripleseat features we love include the ability to have contracts signed electronically and the builtin payment platform. These features are a total game changer and allow our clients to review, sign and pay within minutes. Finally and most importantly, Tripleseat’s reporting makes it easy to create custom reports and forecast revenue.

We Asked Event Pros: What’s in Your Bag?

In this wedding edition of Seated magazine, we are thrilled to feature an accomplished event professional to learn more about what she carries in her bag in order to carry out her extraordinary weddings. Introducing Erin Davies: an event professional known for her custom-designed, dreamy weddings.

As an expert wedding planner and event producer, Davies’ event planning career spans from running a variety of events for Boston’s Big Brothers Big Sisters to becoming an event and venue director, producing more than 100 events per year and strategically consulting on everything from event menu development, design, and budget management. More recently, Davies began her own consultancy, where she creates an easy and affordable wedding plan through a step-by-step process to produce a celebration of a lifetime.

Featured by numerous publications, including Boston Magazine, Davies has put together more than 300 magical weddings in her career, including the high-profile celebrations of some wellknown couples, national celebrities, and political figures. Davies was behind one of Brides Magazine’s Most Influential Weddings of the Decade, specifically Chelsea Clinton’s wedding During her time in wedding production, she has worked with many noteworthy venues, including Tripleseat customers The Boston Public Library, and The State Room in Boston. You can take a look at Davies' events by following her on Instagram at @erindaviesconsultancy.

When asked what she enjoys when she isn’t planning and executing incredible weddings, Davies said, “I enjoy seeing every single musical theater show that comes through Boston and then running off to New York City a few times a year for more, hiding from my two young sons, taking a good nap, and binge-eating Cheez-Its.”

HEATHER APSE

THE BAG

Lululemon Belt Bag: When the wedding is actually starting, this belt bag becomes a clutch and a wearable with my phone, important notes, and other items. It’s also helpful to have a clip-on-belt to attach my radio to for events when I am on a headset with my team.

THE ITEMS

Aside from the standard documents that are on my clipboard, including production schedules, floor plans, design notes, and vendor call lists, here is a sample of items I stock in my bag for every wedding:

Pins: I have bobby, safety, and straight. I’ve yet to have a wedding where I didn’t need to repin a groomsman’s sagging boutonniere, a bride’s falling bustle, or a mother’s rustled updo.

Snacks: Maybe it’s the mom in me, but I am always a firm believer in having lots of snacks on hand. It’s a long day, and low blood sugar in the middle of a 90-minute portrait session can make for a very hangry wedding party. I keep individual packs of mixed nuts and PowerBars at the ready.

Advil, Pepto Bismol, Liquid I.V.: Because no one listens to me to go easy the night before at the rehearsal dinner. Headaches, hangovers, and heartburn can ruin a wedding day.

Gum and tequila mini bottles: For the nervous groom. Pick your poison.

Fake wedding rings: I once coordinated a wedding in an Italianate courtyard where the wedding took place in front of a beautiful fountain. The 3-year-old ring bearer approached the altar with the ring upon the pillow and then proceeded to chuck the ring into the fountain. Ever since, I’ve kept a pack of cheap silver bands from Claire’s in my bag and attached those rings to the little pillow, and let the best man or officiant keep the real rings in their pockets. Lesson learned.

Tissues: Well, duh. It’s an emotional day. I can’t ever overstock the tissues.

Extra phone charger: The number one thing a member of the wedding party, family, or vendor team asks me for. Never not appreciated!

Would you spend your precious time calling a travel agent to book your family vacation to Florida? No way !

So why would you make your customer do the same for their group reservation or catering order? People like the flexibility of booking online.

TR I P LE S E ATDIR EC T I S HERE TO HELP Y O U

TripleseatDirect lets your guests book group reservations and catering online with just a few clicks. You’ll increase revenue and be able to seamlessly manage your catering and events business online.

Helping grow your business without you lifting another finger (or retur ning another voicemail)

is kind of our thing !

Lear n more about

Traditions Are Out, Trends Are In

VENUES CAN BOOK MORE WEDDINGS BY ADOPTING

MODERN PREFERENCES

LATHA YOUNGREN

In recent years, we've seen a trend of couples throwing tradition out the window when it comes to their wedding day. Weekday weddings, late-night snacks, and microweddings are just a few examples of this.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular wedding trends that could bring more business to your venue.

Weekday weddings

One of the most popular wedding trends right now is having weddings on weekdays. That's right, more and more couples are ditching the Saturday wedding in favor of a Wednesday or Thursday affair. And why not? Weekday weddings often result in cheaper venue rental fees, lower catering costs, and more availability when it comes to booking vendors. Also, wedding guest lists might be slightly smaller since not everyone wants to take off work. All of these factors make weekday weddings a win-win for everyone involved.

Late-night snacks

Another popular trend that we're seeing is the rise of late-night snacks. Gone are the days when guests simply went home after the reception ended. Now, many couples are opting to keep the party going by serving late-night snacks like pizza, chicken fingers, or even breakfast sandwiches. This trend is especially popular among millennials who want to keep the party going into the wee hours of the morning. Not only does this trend provide an opportunity for hospitality businesses to upsell their services, but it also helps to create a more memorable experience for guests.

Smaller weddings

As the cost of weddings continues to rise, we're seeing more and more couples opt for smaller, more intimate affairs known as micro-weddings. These types of weddings often have less than 50 guests and focus on quality over quantity. This trend is gaining traction among couples who want to save money or who have smaller families or friend groups. While micro-weddings may seem like they would be less profitable for hospitality businesses, they actually present a unique opportunity to upsell services like higher-end catering and premium liquor packages.

Edson Hill Stowe, VT

Decor and more

Flowers have been used as decorations at wedding receptions for centuries, but now couples are replacing floral centerpieces with other decor items like lanterns or candles instead. Couples are even using apples as their fall wedding centerpiece with a dual purpose of visual interest or a quick bite. This helps stretch budgets while still providing beautiful decorations that guests can enjoy throughout the night. Another trend we’re seeing is bands replacing D.J.s — this helps create a more lively atmosphere during the reception and keeps people dancing until the very last song plays. They are shifting expenses to budget on certain items to allow for their must-haves, like live music. If the couple sticks with a D.J., they are often leveling up with a unique experience, such as providing headphones for a silent disco, or adding another fun visual element.

Offer modern wedding trends to book more business

The bottom line is that couples are breaking with tradition regarding their wedding day, which is good news for the hospitality industry. By offering or at least knowing the latest trends, you can provide couples with exactly what they need while also increasing business. It's time to start thinking outside the box when it comes to your venue's offerings — you never know what could become tomorrow's hottest trend!

The (Bridal) Suite Life

THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A BRIDAL SUITE AT YOUR VENUE

RACHEL MAZZOLA

While weddings are about couples falling in love, the goal of a venue manager is to get that couple in love with your venue. While the list of venue “must haves” that Bridezillas (and let’s be real, Groomzillas) desire can be unrealistic, there should at least be one that is an easy check-off for any venue — a bridal suite.

If you are an event professional at a wedding venue, chances are that you already have some sort of room for the bride and groom to get ready in. But, if you are with a less traditional venue for couples to have their nuptials, then it’s time you gave some serious thought to offering a bridal suite as an amenity for your wedding business.

WHY ADD A BRIDAL SUITE

Bridal suites do not have to be fancy — the more unique it is to your venue’s vibe, the more it will add to the personality of your client’s event and photos. It could be what helps your venue stand out; I’ve known brides who have chosen locations based solely on the “Instagrammable” appearance for photos. Just make sure that in addition to being a visually appealing space, the bridal suite has enough room for the bride and her bridal squad to relax, get ready and enjoy those special moments before the walk down the aisle.

You may still be reading this and thinking, “I don’t work at a wedding venue; why do I need a bridal suite?” Fair enough, but don’t forget that a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet (get it?). A bridal suite can have many uses, depending on who your client is and what type of event they are hosting.

Do you host concerts or performers? Great! Your bridal suite, once a room to prepare for a wedding day, can be a green room for rock stars, bands, and other musical or performing acts to relax before they go on stage. And fun fact — most performers have this requirement in their riders — so an event planner might be looking for a space with a room to accommodate this request.

If you host corporate events or conferences, the bridal suite can double as a private staff room for the organizers, and it’s another great benefit to consider when event managers are looking for a venue to host their event. They may need a space to prep their event items or for staff to take a break in.

When you book events that include VIP guests or celebrities, make them feel special by providing this extra space as a VIP Room for them to relax in before mingling with guests. They will appreciate having their own space away from the crowds, and it’s a nice touch to offer them something private that they can use for meetings, getting ready, or just hanging out.

ONE SPACE FITS ALL

No matter how you dress it up, having a bridal suite at your venue is beneficial for many different event types. It’s up to your imagination to think of ways that room can be utilized. It’s also guaranteed to give your clients everything they need and leave everyone living happily ever after once the event is over.

Cheers to the Happy Couple

A GUIDE TO USING BATCHED COCKTAILS FOR WEDDING RECEPTIONS

KATE KENNEDY

Batched cocktails can be a game-changer when serving signature drinks at a wedding. With the potential for a high volume of guests, it can be challenging for the bar staff to keep up with drink orders, especially when each drink is made individually. By batching cocktails, your staff can efficiently create large quantities of pre-mixed cocktails that can be served quickly and consistently to all guests.

In addition to making service faster, batched cocktails offer several other benefits. They can help reduce waste since your bar staff can create precise measurements based on the number of guests in attendance, ensuring no excess leftovers. Batched cocktails can also reduce the risk of human error, as the measurements are predetermined, and the recipe is consistent across all drinks.

Moreover, batched cocktails can be a great way to incorporate creative customizations into the menu without overcomplicating the bartending process. But before you agree to batch any cocktail for your clients, read on to learn the dos and don’ts of the batching process.

What not to do

One cocktail category that should not be batched is the smash, which typically features fresh herbs that are muddled or shaken. It's impossible to batch a cocktail that contains fresh herbs because there's no such thing as "pre-muddling," and letting fresh herbs sit in a drink for too long is not advisable unless you're creating a spirit or simple syrup infusion. If your clients are begging for a signature cocktail that includes fresh herbs, your bar staff must create each cocktail separately.

It’s also important to avoid including any carbonated beverages in your batching process. While you can certainly top off a finished cocktail with prosecco or soda, mixing them into the batch is not recommended. Carbonated drinks will lose their fizz before you can serve the cocktail. Adding them as the last ingredient before serving each drink is best to maintain the fizz.

Proportions are key

Just as individual hand-crafted cocktails are precisely measured to ensure a consistent taste, batched cocktails should also be measured accurately. Think of these measurements as a ratio. For instance, a cocktail with a 1 1/2 ounce, 3/4 ounce, and 3/4 ounce pour would have a ratio of 2-1-1. With this ratio in mind, you can easily convert a single drink into a quart or gallon without a calculator. However, remember the number of guests expected at the wedding when making batches. If you estimate that each guest will have two signature cocktails on average, base your measurements on that. You don't want leftover cocktails at the end of the wedding, so it's better to have slightly less and make drinks on the spot if necessary than to have an excess amount.

Customizations are clutch

A final tip for amazing batched cocktails — don’t hesitate when adding finishing touches at the serving stage. Plenty of blank canvas cocktails can be easily customized depending on your bride and groom’s preferences. One approach is to incorporate infused simple syrup, which can be made by steeping the syrup with various flavors. If your clients are fond of basil and mint, you can include both options as last-minute customizations without muddling. For instance, you can batch a traditional gimlet without the sugar and then offer each guest the choice of basil or mintinfused simple syrup as an addition to create their own bespoke cocktail.

Overall, batched cocktails are an easy way to elevate the wedding bar experience, allowing your bar staff to serve delicious, consistent, and creative signature cocktails to guests promptly and efficiently. Need a little inspiration? Check out the recipe below for one favorite batch-ready spring cocktails.

Blueberry Lavender Vodka Spritz

FOR THE SIMPLE SYRUP:

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Four sprigs of fresh lavender or one tablespoon of dry lavender

Combine the water, sugar, and blueberries in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir well to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and add the lavender. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Strain the syrup into a container, and as you pour, use the back of a spoon to squeeze out all of the remaining juice from the blueberries.

FOR THE COCKTAIL:

Follow the 2-1-1 ratio for batching.

Vodka

Blueberry Lavender Simple syrup

Lime juice

When you’re ready to serve the drink, pour it into a rocks glass over ice and top it with club soda. Garnish with fresh blueberries and a sprig of fresh lavender.

a podcast about hospitality trends

From current hospitality news, food and beverage trends, interviews with event guests, marketing tips and more, Tripleseat's podcast, Two Chicks, Three Seats, will keep you in the loop on all things relatable to anyone in the events industry.

Tune in with hosts Kate Kennedy and Rachel Calkins every other Friday to catch up on the latest hospitality topics. Find podcast episodes on Apple, Spotify, our website, tripleseat.com/podcast, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

Want to share your own event professional perspective and experiences as a guest on a future episode? Email us at 2chicks3seats@tripleseat.com!

Kate Kennedy Director, Growth Marketing Tripleseat

Rachel Calkins

Social Media & Content Specialist Tripleseat

A Menu That Makes You Go Mmm

ALLERGY-FRIENDLY AND VEGAN MEALS THAT WILL MAKE EVERYONE AT THE PARTY ENVIOUS

LYNN HOLMLUND

Picture this: You are giving a newly-engaged couple a tour of your venue for their wedding. They ooh and ahh over how stunning the space is, and the selfie-taking in each space is on overload. And now you confirmed that their ideal date is available. You join them in a group hug and start talking about details, especially how food will take a pivotal role in the evening.

The groom shares that he is vegan and his aunt has Celiac disease. Are you prepared to give them a worryfree meal experience?

Menu planning for allergens and dietary preferences continues to get more complicated. Guests are no longer satisfied with a portobello mushroom instead of meat; they want a sophisticated dining experience like the rest of their party.

Approximately 32 million Americans, roughly 10% of the population, suffer from food allergies, according to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America. Adults with allergies are most commonly allergic to nuts, shellfish, milk, and gluten. This population is growing, requiring venues to think about the numerous opportunities for cross-contamination, such as cooking oil, steam, grills, fryers, utensils, cutting boards, pots, and pans. Today, only two states — Massachusetts and Rhode Island — require allergy training, but that has not stopped other forwardthinking kitchens and chefs from being prepared.

Going beyond allergens, vegan and vegetarian diets have grown in popularity. We have seen growth from 1% of the U.S. population in 1994 to 6% in 2022. Everyone from fast food chains to high-end restaurants has developed plant-based options to delight these diners. Some take cross-contamination more seriously than others — for example, calamari and cauliflower cannot be fried in the same fryer — but the risk is often less severe.

So how are venues supposed to delight guests and provide a safe and enjoyable dining experience? Two Tripleseat customers share their favorite allergy and vegan-friendly dishes that look and taste delicious and leave crowds wanting more.

Olive + Oak Webster Groves, Mo.

Who: Casey Fechter, Director of Events, and Chef Jesse Mendica-Risk

Dish: Sweet Potato Mulligatawny

Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, apple, chickpea, yellow curry broth, and local white rice

Dietary needs covered: Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan

Why allergy-friendly meals are important: We never want our guests to feel as if their needs are an inconvenience to our team. We are here to provide them with an exceptional experience, and that goes for all guests, whether it’s an allergen, dietary restriction, or preference. Everyone deserves a meal that is composed and complete. From our starters to our desserts, we pride ourselves on our ability to craft an Olive + Oak quality meal that satisfies both needs as well as taste buds, and furthermore, we educate our staff and team about the ingredients and cooking methods used to create those dishes so guests can feel comfortable and confident in their selections.

Chef Jesse Mendica-Risk

PLANTA Bethesda, Md.; Chicago; Florida; New York; and Toronto

Who: Sandra Ranitsky, Director, Sales, Events and Partnerships, and David Lee, Executive Chef and Co-Founder

Dish: Avocado Lime Tartare

Ingredients: Avocado, beetroot runa, pine nuts, capers, citrus soy, sesame, cilantro, and taro chips. When we've got a nut allergy at the table, we'll simply remove the pine nuts.

Why allergy-friendly meals are important: PLANTA prides itself on being a destination restaurant where all guests feel welcome and at ease. We're quite used to working with limitations as far as ingredients (though we don't really view it as limiting) being a plant-based restaurant, and as a matter of fact, we thrive on the challenge. Many of our guests trust PLANTA for this reason and feel comfortable knowing we can deal with allergies, intolerances, and preferences of all kinds.

Executive Chef and Co-Founder, David Lee

Tripleseat + Weddings: A Match Made in Heaven

EVENT PLANNERS WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH TRIPLESEAT’S EVENT MANAGEMENT FEATURES

KATE KENNEDY

Planning a wedding can be stressful and overwhelming for even the most seasoned event professional, but Tripleseat offers an easy-to-use platform to manage every detail in one place.

With its incredible features and capabilities, Tripleseat manages events of all kinds and even those requiring intricate preparation and communication processes. Our customers can easily handle ongoing event detail changes for the entire event life cycle (before, during, and post-event).

Let’s check out a few of Tripleseat’s numerous features that specifically help streamline processes for wedding venues from start to finish.

1. TRIPLESEAT LEAD FORM AND EVENTUP LISTING

The easiest and quickest way for clients to submit an inquiry about weddings at your venue is to embed the Tripleseat lead form link on your wedding landing page. This feature saves time, as it's accessible 24/7, and with our customizable auto-response email feature, they will receive a follow-up no matter what time of day it is.

With Tripleseat, you can monitor your wedding inquiries from multiple sources, such as your website, Instagram, and Facebook, all in one view. Our reporting feature lets you track leads and review their sources and how quickly they become customers. This tool will help you better understand where your leads come from and how quickly they convert from each source.

In addition to the features that Tripleseat offers, our customers can also benefit from EventUp — the premier venue listing sight for wedding planners. To ensure your business generates wedding leads through EventUp, keep your listing current. Add gorgeous photos and provide a comprehensive description of all the amenities and services your venues offer. And, of course, remember to check off weddings as one of the event types that you can host. With this information present, potential customers will have an easier time researching and deciding whether to choose your venue for their special day.

2. A COMPREHENSIVE CALENDAR

Tripleseat's calendar is the perfect tool for your wedding venue to organize and streamline its event planning process. With timeline, day, week, and month views, teams can monitor events clearly and efficiently, from rehearsals to ceremonies to receptions and more.

The calendar helps give everyone on the team a better understanding of what needs to be done to keep operations running smoothly, no matter where you are in the planning process. Plus, with Tripleseat's calendar, you can rest assured that all relevant information will always be available.

3. CUSTOMIZED DOCUMENTS AND A CLIENT-FACING PORTAL

Give your wedding event documents a personalized touch by customizing them to include relevant wedding sections. With just a few clicks on Tripleseat, you can add details like a timeline, vendor information, and more! This will help ensure your clients’ wedding day goes smoothly.

We understand how important it is for you to make changes quickly and accurately, particularly when working with wedding clients. That's why we have created a system that automatically saves all your edits in real-time. No matter what type of changes you make to the event in Tripleseat, the documents will be updated immediately, and your clients can see the changes once they refresh the page in their guest portal.

4. AUTOMATIC TASKS AND ALERTS

Planning for weddings can be overwhelming, and it's easy to forget something important, such as finalizing the menu choices or sending a thank-you note after the event.

That's why Tripleseat makes creating custom reminders for wedding tasks easy. You can easily map out reminders and to-dos so that everything runs smoothly before, during, and after the event. From creating tasks to setting up alerts, you can rest assured that all your wedding planning needs are handled with Tripleseat.

5. FLOOR PLAN SOFTWARE INTEGRATIONS

Tripleseat integrates with top floor plan-generating software companies such as Allseated, Merri, and Social Tables. Connecting your Tripleseat account to these platforms allows you to quickly transition from creating an event in Tripleseat to creating a customized wedding floor plan for the couple. This will enable you to take care of both tasks quickly and easily.

TRIPLESEAT IS YOUR BEST PARTNER FOR MANAGING WEDDINGS

When managing your wedding venue needs, Tripleseat is the ideal solution. From pre-event tasks such as lead generation and scheduling to operations during the event and post-event follow-up, Tripleseat has it all covered. Take the stress out of managing your wedding venue needs and let Tripleseat do all the hard work for you.

For Better or For Worse

TAKEAWAYS FROM A YEAR’S WORTH OF ATTENDING WEDDINGS

ELIZABETH SMITH

Like many people in their 20s and 30s, 2022 was a marathon of attending weddings for friends and loved ones. It felt like everyone I knew was getting married — partly because weddings that had been planned pre-pandemic had to be rescheduled (sometimes more than once), and other weddings were postponed so that venues were allowed to host the number of guests desired. I was invited to (and attended!) 10 weddings in 2022, spanning across the country from New Hampshire to California, all between the months of May and November. And on top of that, I got engaged myself!

Traveling to all these weddings and celebrating some of my favorite people with my new fiancé by my side was so much fun. On top of that, I seriously benefited from being the guest taking it all in. Going to weddings when engaged makes you look at and appreciate all of the details on a whole other level, so I took a lot of notes.

I saw everything from custom, monogrammed hand fans for a hot Palm Springs wedding to a cocktail hour with 15 (yes, 15) different food and beverage stations in New Jersey, and I’m ready to share my favorite trends and ideas to help your wedding clients into the next season and discuss some traditions that should probably be left out.

The Best of the Best

Custom napkins, signage, and beyond

What better way to make the venue feel special for the couple than to customize it as much as possible? Napkins, drink stirrers, bar signage, neon signs, you name it — I’ve seen it at weddings this past year. However, this isn’t always in the budget for couples, so as a venue or planner, think of how you could help bring this to life. Can you provide easels for signage at no extra cost to help cut the overall price down? Or provide other details day-of (votive candles or table numbers) to help offset the cost of the different customized pieces? Couples will appreciate anything that will help them make their day truly theirs.

Multi-day celebrations

Gone are the days of only seeing the bride and groom for the first time as they walk down the aisle! More and more, couples opt to plan multiple wedding weekend events, inviting the entire wedding guest list before and after the big day. Having prewedding events is a wonderful way to get hellos out of the way to maximize time on the dance floor during the reception. I attended a couple of day after brunches, and they are well-appreciated and relaxing for wedding guests to regroup. Building in some packages or suggestions to your offerings could be a great way to get couples to commit to a multi-day party and keep them at your venue (or venues) for all of them!

Local touches and details

One wedding I attended this year was at a winery in Long Island; unsurprisingly, all of the wine served was made right on-site. It seems like a no-brainer, but it made it feel much more special to enjoy and made us want to buy a few bottles before heading home the next day. Think about what makes your venue special. If your space is on a golf course, offer custom golf balls as souvenirs. Not every venue can produce its own items for sale, but what other ways could you help the couple incorporate some local touches? At the very least, keeping a list of local vendors available to help bring ideas to life will be a win.

Sustainability

More than ever, couples are paying attention to reducing waste. From cutting back on flowers or other “disposable” items, some weddings are shifting towards a more sustainable event. One great way to help encourage or offer options for sustainability would be to rent silk flowers or faux florals — as a venue, this is something you could even provide for a fee. Another idea might be to work with the couple to eliminate as much food waste as possible. Do you notice more food goes to waste with cocktail hour stations vs. passed hors d’oeuvres (or vice versa)? Let the couple in on this information to help them make the best decision if they are looking for the most sustainable options.

Honorable Mentions

Photo booths

We all know and love (for the most part) photo booths at weddings, but they have come a long way in recent years. From black-and-white glam photos to live GIFmaking, there are some entertaining options out there. Some of my favorite photos from friends’ weddings have been from their photo booths — something about them just brings out a fun and playful side of everyone. Having a variety of vendors you can recommend to a couple based on their desires would be hugely beneficial to avoid the never-ending Google searching.

Big weddings are back

We have gotten used to the micro-wedding trend over the past few years, but there are couples who want to celebrate with everyone they love in one place. Be prepared for 250+ guest lists. Depending on the space you can offer, you may need to get creative to be an option for couples looking to host a large number of guests. Consider offers such as combining indoor and outdoor space or suggesting a reception-only style event instead of a seated dinner.

Keep it in the past

Prolonging the formalities

One overall observation I did make in attending so many weddings in 2022 is that couples are prioritizing wedding elements that they really want over some of the more traditional aspects that were included in weddings past. As a planner, you can help couples figure out what’s important to them during their day and what traditions or formalities they don't need to incorporate (but maybe think they have to) and then schedule accordingly. If they want to get to the party ASAP, maybe have the first course plated before the reception starts so that you don’t waste time waiting for people to eat before you can start dances or the toast. Does the couple not care about a big, formal cake cutting in front of everyone? Recommend keeping the dance floor open and pulling them away for a semi-private moment before they rejoin the fun. Many wedding traditions are outdated, and the bride and groom may need a gentle nudge from you to encourage them to skip the moments that don’t matter so much to them.

The top tip for wedding venues

The biggest takeaway from my year of weddings? Make the day as unique for the bride and groom as possible. Wherever you can incorporate fun, one-of-a-kind touches representing the couple, do it — they will be thrilled! Every couple wants their wedding day to feel like their day, and it can sometimes feel impossible to make it happen (especially on a budget). So, doing whatever you can to help make the VIPs of the day the happiest is what matters most. Then, once their perfect day is over, prepare for the referrals to come in as they spread the word.

Moxy South Beach Miami

Bach, Please

Bachelorette parties have become a big part of wedding planning, sometimes with more details than the wedding itself.

These parties often involve multiple days, trips to many local bars and restaurants, stops at “eatertainment” venues, and hotel room bookings. If you visit bachelorette hotspots like Las Vegas, Nashville, Charleston, Atlanta, and Miami, you may see packs of women wearing matching outfits traveling on foot or cruising through the cities in party buses or pedalpowered mobile bars.

As a hospitality venue, think about leveraging the profitability of bachelorette parties. They’re a great source of revenue, with guests spending an average of $1,500 for every bachelorette party they attended in 2022, according to a survey by Savings.com

We spoke to venues from three top bachelorette destinations to find out what it takes to manage successful bachelorette events and how your venue can take advantage of the bachelorette party market.

3 VENUES SHARE WHAT IT TAKES TO HOST EVENTS IN THE HOTTEST CITIES FOR BACHELORETTE PARTIES

AZURE COLLIER

Three bachelorette hotspots

Our venues and experts are:

1 2 3

The warm weather, walkable neighborhoods, and notable hospitality scene help make Austin, Miami, and Charleston prime locations for bachelorette trips.

“Austin's climate makes it the perfect bachelorette destination any time of year,” Block said. “It's centrally located in the U.S. with direct flights to every major city like Los Angeles and New York City, so it's a great place for guests to meet up.”

Most bachelorette events booked at the venues are groups who are spending a few days in the city for a destination party. The number of guests ranges between 10 to 20 people, but Walker said he’s seen groups as large as 30 people.

Each venue has its own special touches to create a memorable bachelorette experience. At Aba, which specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, bachelorette parties can book several large group dining spaces beautifully appointed and highlighted with lots of lush green plantings, including a semi-private Mezzanine level, an expansive outdoor patio, and lounge-style group seating on the beautiful covered patio enclosure.

Jeri Block, Sales & Catering Manager, Lettuce Entertain You, Aba restaurant in Austin, Texas

Charity Chacon, Venue Sales Manager, Moxy South Beach hotel in Miami

J. Michael Walker, Marketing Director, Republic bar and restaurant in Charleston, S.C.

Moxy South Beach Miami

“Half of our event business is social, and about 35% of our social events are guests joining us for a bachelorette or bachelor party,” Block said. “Most bachelorette guests are looking to join us for dinner, but we're seeing more and more brunch requests.”

Moxy South Beach offers an experience that you could only find in the over-the-top atmosphere of Miami Beach. Moxy has more than 25,000 square feet of meeting and events space, plus stunning beach views from a rooftop that glows hot pink at night, a 72-foot pool, plenty of outdoor space, private event lounges, and indoor and outdoor dining and bar options. Book traditional hotel rooms or opt for bunk bed rooms to have all your guests in one place. Their bachelorette package includes quad bunks, a cabana rental, food and beverage credit, and a bottle of champagne.

“Miami is a fun and high-energy destination that keeps us excited to keep welcoming new faces from around the country,” Chacon said. “The Moxy Hotel is the perfect place for a bachelorette weekend. With our quad bunks, this makes it feel like a real slumber party with your besties.”

Those looking for a VIP vibe head to Republic in Charleston, which has an indoor lounge and a covered, all-season outdoor patio. Looking for bottle service with sparklers, amazing entertainment, and a nightclub vibe? Republic has it covered.

“We love seeing our guests let loose and have fun in our establishment while celebrating such an exciting life event,” Walker said.

Aba Austin, Texas

Bachelorette party essentials

The menu plays a major role in bachelorette excursions, with cocktails at the center. Each venue has created specialty cocktails to mark the occasion. Aba recommends starting the event with a toast of Giuliana prosecco or their specialty Go Freezy on Me frozen rosé.

“We also offer large format cocktails called Groupies that are perfect for large groups, serving four to five guests,” Block said.

The Moxy’s preferred cocktail is also meant for sharing.

“It’s the Mega Spritz,” Chacon said. “It’s made with Aperol, prosecco, and club soda and served in a huge wine glass with big straws to share with a group. Or we recommend the Frozen Palomarita made with tequila, grapefruit, and lime.”

At Republic, bachelorette parties can pre-select drink packages with custom menus.

“We recommend our packages known as the I'm Celebrating, Make it Reign, and Ace of the Night. These are all very popular with our bachelorette parties,” Walker said.

The venue decor and atmosphere are also important for bachelorette locations — if it’s not fun enough to post on Instagram or TikTok, it didn’t happen. Venues in top bachelorette cities have invested in murals, colorful decor, plants, and more to provide the perfect backdrop for celebrating with your besties.

Aba’s entire venue, outdoor space, and huge 100-yearold heritage oak tree provide a gorgeous location for bachelorette photos. Moxy has plenty of colorful photo ops and a neon sign that says Hoy Se Bebe, which means “Today we drink,” in Spanish. Republic’s nightclub decor, outdoor area, You Are Beautiful neon signs, and an unexpected spot — the restroom — are often featured in guests’ social media posts.

“A picture in front of our You Are Beautiful sign on our patio is a must-do when you visit. It’s our most photographed spot,” Walker said. “The guests also love our restroom mirrors as another selfie spot.”

Venues should keep trends in mind as they book bachelorette celebrations. In addition to being Instagrammable, small touches like customized signs for VIP tables, special packages, and menus can help you stand out, said Walker. Chacon noted that brunches and dinners tend to be the most popular meals that are booked. Block has noticed the number of days involved in a bachelorette trip has changed.

Aba Austin, Texas

Republic Charleston, S.C.

Republic Charleston, S.C.

Your venue can become a bachelorette destination

“The hottest trend we are seeing right now is the bachelorette weekend expanding to begin on Thursday. Our guests are planning events from Thursday evening all the way through Sunday brunch. What used to be one big night is now two to three days of meals, events, and fun in and around Austin,” she said.

Our experts at these three venues have learned a lot about what draws bachelorette bookings. Moxy South Beach sees between 50-75 groups a year. Republic hosts four to five groups a weekend. 35% of Aba’s social event bookings are bachelorette celebrations.

What does it take to get noticed by bachelorette groups? Walker encouraged venues to curate an atmosphere that provides an unforgettable experience.

“Make your venue a destination that they will want to seek out, make it special and unique and exclusive. But most of all, make it fun!” he said.

For Aba, bachelorette party hosting requires three elements.

“It’s about beautiful space, beautiful food, and beautiful cocktails,” Block said. “Venues need all three ingredients to attract bachelorette bookings — just having one or two elements won't capture the imagination of bridesto-be, so it's worth putting effort into making everything you do picture perfect.”

The Big Day is Now a Multi-Day and Multi-Venue Celebration

4 THINGS COUPLES LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING VENUES FOR WEDDING CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS

1.

2.

Weddings have exploded over the last few years, and there’s no sign of it slowing down. It’s one of the most joyous times in a couple’s life, and now more than ever, couples are desiring multiple celebrations to maximize time with friends and family.

While your venue may or may not be equipped to host wedding receptions, think about ways your venue can meet today’s demand for wedding- related gatherings. Weddings now involve a series of events spread over the course of three to four days and possibly at multiple venues. There are new, perhaps smaller, events being added to the agenda besides the traditional and prominent ceremony and reception including a rehearsal dinner, a welcome drinks reception, an after party, and a post-wedding brunch.

Couples have a lot of decision-making when it comes to their wedding, so how do you make your venue an easy choice for them to pick? We’ve rounded up four ways to get clients’ attention when seeking a venue to host their wedding events.

3.

4.

CATARINA MARTINS

Unique experiences

Providing one-of-a-kind experiences the couple can Instagram and share with their guests will help set you apart from other venues. Take a look at your space: Are you on the beach? Offer a bonfire for a welcome cocktail reception. Have an outdoor space? See if you can set up an area for lawn games for the guests to play (and don’t forget bistro lights). Got talented mixologists? Offer a signature drink that is a crowd-pleaser and fun to watch while it’s being made.

Decorations

There’s so much planning involved with weddings that the last thing the wedding couple wants is to add to their endless to-do list. An easy way to help them is to provide decorations. You likely already have the linens and plate ware, so why not dress up the room with some small flower centerpieces, table numbers, and personalized menu cards with the couple’s names? The guests will surely get their phones out to snap some pics. Is your venue larger? Provide beautiful and personalized signage to guide guests to the event's location. Tip: Include your branding so that when people post a picture, you’ll get extra exposure.

Menu flexibility

This will depend on the space you have to work with, but the world is divided between plated versus buffet menus, and if you can offer both, that’s a win. Feeling fancy? Offer a three-course menu with options that will please anyone’s palates (and allergies). If you’re working with a huge party, the buffet option will likely win their hearts. Tip: Help out with crowd control by tasking a staff member with calling tables to go up to get in line.

Promote your own events

A picture is worth a thousand words, and what better way to help your guests see how their event can look at your venue? Sharing photos, Stories, and Reels on Instagram and creating a Highlight dedicated to wedding events is an easy way to showcase your space. Also, make sure to include these photos in your EventUp venue listing. No matter where people are doing their research, make sure you show them your potential!

Start with these tips, then turn to your team

These are just some of the top trends we’ve seen at wedding events. We encourage you to talk to your staff and get their input. We all look at things with different perspectives and creativity, and you may get some great ideas from your own team. Once you put these ideas in place, promote them in your marketing and link to your Tripleseat lead form so couples can act right away and submit a booking inquiry.

Destination Weddings: Not Just an Excuse to Feel Sand Between Your Toes

HOW TRIPLESEAT VENUES ACROSS THE GLOBE PROVIDE THE RIGHT TOUCHES FOR SUCCESSFUL NUPTIALS

When planning a wedding, couples select a venue that ensures the special day is memorable and unique. More and more couples are changing up the game regarding wedding trends and what they are looking for in a venue, including location.

Traditionally, when thinking of a destination wedding, the thought usually evokes the idea of warm, sunny weather on a tropical beach. But destination weddings can come in many different shapes and sizes, and a unique international venue could provide the perfect stage for couples looking for a truly extraordinary experience.

Let’s take a look at what Tripleseat customers across the globe are doing to impress their wedding couples and why a destination wedding might make the most sense.

Destination Weddings: Not Just an Excuse to Feel Sand Between Your Toes

Chateau de Jalesnes

Loire Valley, France

Unforgettable atmosphere

An international wedding venue will offer a much more unique atmosphere than one closer to home. From exotic landscapes to stunning architecture and cultural influences, there is no shortage of ways to create an unforgettable experience for that special day.

Every dream French wedding takes place in a chateau, right? Well, finding a chateau that will actually host a wedding and can provide accommodations for all of your guests can be like finding a needle in a haystack in France.

At Chateau de Jalesnes in the Loire Valley, France, guests live like royalty and have access to a beautiful renaissance castle with modern rooms that make for an unforgettable stay. From the moment of arrival on the stunning property, guests eat natural, local ingredients and drink only the region’s finest wine. This inspiring venue will result in instant memories, and the experience can truly be tailored to the couples’ imagination. After exploring the formal gardens, guests may be interested in taking a hot air balloon ride over the surrounding areas to truly experience all that the region has to offer.

Chateau de Jalesnes Loire Valley, France

Chateau de Jalesnes Loire Valley, France

Exquisite local menu

A destination wedding also provides couples with access to delicious local cuisine options that simply wouldn’t be available at home. Whether it be seafood dishes from the Mediterranean or Colombian specialties, having access to these flavors makes it possible for couples and their guests alike to experience something special when celebrating their union in another part of the world.

It seems like a sin to skip beach weddings because maybe some couples want to feel sand between their toes — but why not do it in Singapore? Tanjong Beach Club on Sentosa Island has been listed on Condé Nasts Gold Standard Bars & Beach Clubs, and it is the perfect beach venue for exchanging vows. Tanjong Beach Club is a serene sanctuary on Sentosa's finest sun-soaked stretch of sand. Designed to straddle the line between indoors and outdoors, the beach club takes its cue from the seaside homes of yesteryear, mid-century modernism, and nostalgic maritime influences. The indoor mezzanine is a great option for those who want a raised view of the crescent-shaped Tanjong Beach, where guests can enjoy the delightful coastal-inspired buffet.

Breathtaking views

An international venue often offers views of foreign countries, unfamiliar landscapes, and stunning architecture you can’t find at home. Guests will be mesmerized by their surroundings.

Travel northwest from London to Nottingham, where you will find the premier wedding venue in the Midlands at Goosedale. Goosedale is set in over 100 acres of rolling Nottinghamshire countryside and provides a perfect combination of gorgeous sculptured grounds, unique decor, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Goosedale is proud to offer the outdoor garden sanctuary for civil ceremonies, which is one of the only outdoor locations licensed for civil ceremonies in the area. From beginning to end, guests can create a bespoke experience tailored to their desires. And those couples looking for a truly unique way to arrive in style can hire the venue's beautiful Bentley Arnage, one of the last remaining hand-stitched models from the original production facility.

Goosedale Nottingham, UK

Goosedale Nottingham, UK

Experience of a lifetime

Getting married abroad is truly an experience of a lifetime that allows couples to explore a new country or new city and create new memories that they cannot replicate elsewhere. Even though guests may be traveling far, venues frequently offer discounts to traveling couples since they know customers are traveling from afar, which requires considerable spending on their part.

Head to Australia and transport wedding guests to gorgeous Bramleigh Estate, a luxury Yarra Valley wedding venue outside of Melbourne, for a dream wedding. Bramleigh Estate is nestled on 10 acres of natural bushland that provides the perfect backdrop for a private, intimate wedding. Couples can choose an allinclusive package that includes a ceremony, photoshoot, and wedding reception, all within one private property. This venue has received its fair share of awards as well; it was recently awarded Best Reception Venue at the 2022 Victorian ABIA Awards and Best Wedding Caterer at the 2022 Victoria & Tasmania Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence. Leave the planning to the professionals and head down under for a truly memorable experience.

Bramleigh Estate Australia

Bramleigh Estate Australia

Easier travel planning

When planning any event outside of one’s own city, there are countless details that you must manage properly; however, with destination weddings, many of these details become much simpler because everything from transportation options to hotel room blocks to dining reservations can be included in one package, making it potentially less complicated than anticipated.

One thing that’s certain about planning a wedding in Colombia, the night will not end early. The average wedding formally ends around 2 a.m., but that doesn’t mean the night is officially over. ZonaE is one of the most exclusive wedding venues in the Medellin area of Colombia. Located in Rionegro, just 25 minutes from Medellin and just 7 minutes from the main airport of Medellin, the airport's proximity, accessible transportation, and selection of nearby hotels make ZonaE a seamless choice for planning a wedding. Not to mention, ZonaE is located in one of the safest and greenest areas of Medellin. With four different themed venue options across more than 10 acres of verdant countryside filled with trees, lakes, and spectacular views, a wedding at ZonaE will not disappoint. Leave the wedding planning to the experts on staff and enjoy a perfect wedding in Medellin.

What can your venue offer potential destination wedding clients?

No matter if you’re located on a tropical island, a faroff countryside, or an international tourism hotspot, any venue can be a destination venue if the wedding clients are traveling to you for their special day. Take a cue from these Tripleseat customers. Use the location, food, drinks, and decor that make you and your area special, and create packages that provide clients with everything they need for a memorable wedding.

Pics or It Didn’t Happen

HOW TO CREATE A PHOTO-WORTHY WEDDING VENUE THAT GUESTS WILL SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

RACHEL CALKINS

The photos from a couple’s wedding day represent all the magical moments on their big day. Couples pay professional photographers a lot in order to capture beautiful and memorable images. While a photographer has their expertise with lighting and angles, there are many ways that a wedding venue’s own photo-worthy decor can enhance the end photo result. The venue can also intentionally add photo-worthy elements throughout the space that will encourage wedding guests to take photos throughout the event.

Let’s talk about how wedding venues can make their spaces ready for a photo opportunity at any point by curating spectacular decor and setting up photo-worthy options specifically for guests to experience.

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DECOR

There are many different types of wedding decor that photograph well. Be sure to have these photo-worthy decor elements placed throughout the venue, including in the indoor and outdoor spaces that guests may be in throughout the wedding festivities. Here are some decor ideas that will make your venue photo-worthy, regardless of venue type.

1. Over-the-top floral displays

Weddings are known for their florals — from the bouquet the bride carries down the aisle to the flowers on the table and everything in between. Flowers are an expectation at a wedding, but why not throw that expectation for a loop by incorporating an over-the-top outdoor floral display? If your wedding venue is entirely outdoors, perhaps this floral display is the centerpiece of the reception space. If your wedding is under an outdoor tent, hang the floral display from the covered tent. If you feel like you are already thinking big, think bigger and create a jaw-dropping floral display that will have every guest reaching for their phone camera. Before you create a floral display, consider your venue’s budget; using fresh flowers instead of fake flowers every week can become expensive.

2. Archway displays

Archway displays are another commonly used decorative piece at weddings that can be a crucial element for photo-worthy moments in the outdoor parts of your wedding. Many outdoor weddings will have a beautiful archway under which the couple-to-be stands during the wedding ceremony. If your archway overlooks a beautiful scenic view, even better! Think of other areas that archway displays can be incorporated at your venue beyond the ceremony arch — leading to the cocktail hour, into the wedding reception space, or covering the exit. While floral archways tend to be the most common, other popular archways use pampas grass and fall leaves.

3. Tablescapes

The tablescape may be one of the most photographed elements at a wedding because it is truly a work of art on its own. If you don’t feel like the tablescapes your venue creates are as magical as others in the industry, it is time to level up. You can get creative with your tablescape design in many ways, using flowers, taper candles, fruit, assorted linens, and seasonal pieces that tie into the wedding theme. Once a guest arrives at their seat and sees their name card as part of the beautiful tablescape, they will take a photo to remember the moment.

4. Hanging decorations

Another idea for decorating your wedding venue is to utilize the ceiling within your venue’s indoor space for hanging decor. Many venues will hang multiple chandeliers throughout the ceiling to create a glitzy decorative look. You can do the same with disco balls for a more vintage party feel or perhaps some lanterns to add a romantic vibe. How beautiful the first dance photos will look underneath your dazzling decor element. If your venue has just a regular-looking ceiling, take advantage of this space to utilize decor and create a photo-worthy moment.

SELF-SERVICE PHOTO MOMENTS

Now that you have created decor that smartphones will capture throughout the wedding, it is time to create specific fun-factor opportunities for guests to have a photo-worthy experience. Some recent examples include eye-catching donut walls, DIY photo booths, and 360-photo experiences. These are the exact type of “self-service” photo opportunities that venues should provide.

These photo-worthy details are not only fun for the guests but also an experience that guests can interact with throughout the wedding at their leisure. There’s no pressure to participate in taking photos, but the photoworthy moment is there if the guest wants to take it. As a venue, think about the different types of self-service photo moments that wedding guests could enjoy during the wedding festivities at your venue.

Does your venue have the room to stage a wall filled with hundreds of funky mirrors that would make for the coolest mirror selfie of all mirror selfies? As the venue, this could be a room off the main reception space set up specifically for creative photo moments.

Have your wedding guests participate in their own photo-snapping moments using disposable or Polaroid cameras that you leave on the guest tables ahead of time. Some disposable camera brands even take the experience to the next level and let you get the photos developed into digital versions. This is an easy way to create and then share a collection of all the fun memories captured throughout the night by your guests. Disposable wedding cameras are a huge hit right now, and we understand why.

Lastly, consider setting up a photo scavenger hunt that requires guests to take photos of various moments throughout the night. This isn’t a required or prescheduled piece of the wedding but something guests can do on their own time. Print out a list of scavenger hunt challenges on decorative paper and leave them on the tables. The scavenger hunt could require guests to photograph themselves with the married couple, with the wedding cake, under the ceremony arch, with the best wedding dancer, and so on. This series of photos will be beautiful with all the decorative pieces your venue has on display.

READY TO DECORATE?

Every venue starts out as just an empty space and opportunity, and it is up to the venue’s team to decide how to use decorations to turn it into something magical — a place where a couple wants to say “I do” on their wedding day. Your venue can be that type of venue where guests want to pull out their smartphones and capture the distinctive event space you offer. Follow our ideas for choosing photo-worthy wedding decor at your venue and our suggestions on ways to get people to purposefully engage with photo-worthy experiences.

Fate is Not a Strategy

6 WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR VENUE FOR WEDDING BOOKINGS

Letting the world know you host weddings at your venue must be a focused and specific marketing initiative. Planning a wedding typically takes couples between 12 to 18 months; therefore, wedding planners seek more detailed information and photos and want to build a relationship with an event manager they can trust.

Hosting events like wedding ceremonies and receptions at your venue can make up to 30% or more of the total venue revenue because of the upcharges, room fees, and other revenue-driving services that wedding planners are willing to pay. This revenue can help with cash flow by requiring as much as a 50% deposit and allows you to staff and order food more accurately, knowing menu selections weeks in advance.

Thinking about how you will market your venue and wedding spaces must be top of mind to increase your bookings and overall revenue. Planners need to know that you are open and available to host weddings.

It’s imperative to have a strong web presence if you want people searching for wedding venues in your area to find your venue in the search and be inspired enough to reach out to you. Following these simple tips gives you a much better chance of being found and booked solid all year.

NICOLE CATATAO

Build a Search Engine Optimized (SEO) friendly website

The first thing you need to do is build a website that search engines can discover and index easily. This means ensuring your site loads quickly, has relevant event keywords in the title and meta tags on each page (more on this later), and has links to social media accounts sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others. You want couples searching online for “wedding venues near me” or “venues for weddings in [your city]” to be able to find you easily. Once you have made SEO updates to your site, submit it to Google and other popular search engines so they can start indexing your pages.

2. Optimize your website for local searches

In addition to ensuring your website is easily found by general searches, you also want to optimize it specifically for local searches. This means adding your city and state to your title tags and meta descriptions and claiming your business on popular directories like Google My Business and Yelp. Doing this will make it easier for couples searching in your area to find and contact you.

3. Use title and meta tags

The meta title and description are part of the overall SEO of a website or page. The meta title and description include content within the page's code and explain its contents to Google and viewers.

As part of the website crawl process, Google reads the content on the page and content in the code to understand what the page is about, so it can best know who and when to serve the page in search results and best answer the search query.

Not including the meta information hurts the overall ranking of your website to appear on the coveted page 1 of Google search results.

Your meta title should be 50 to 60 characters. Your meta description should be 150 to 160 characters.

EventUp homepage example

• Title: Event, Party, Meeting & Wedding Venue Directory | EventUp

• Description: Browse EventUp to find and book the best venue for all of your party and event needs. Search the top event venues and event spaces near you.

4. Make the booking process easy and intuitive

No matter how great a venue is or how much couples like it, they won’t book your venue if the booking process isn’t straightforward. Make sure that customers can easily find your contact form on your website. This form is usually placed near all the relevant wedding information on your site, such as wedding package descriptions, available event spaces, example menus, design, and coordinator capacities. The last thing a couple wants to do is search through your site's pages to find a way to contact you.

5. Get active on social media platforms

In addition to optimizing your website, you should also have an active presence on popular social media sites. This means creating profiles on sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok and posting regularly (at least once or twice a week) with relevant content. You can share photos of your venue, links to articles about weddings or planning tips, photos and videos from live weddings at your space, and other ways your venue provides a memorable event experience.

Include relevant hashtags such as #weddingvenue, #weddingsboston, #newlyweds, or #firstlook. Also, tag any vendors or couples by using their social media handles to promote your posts further. Those who have been tagged will be encouraged to share the post within their social community, expanding the overall audience that could see your content. The more active you are on social media, the more likely couples will be to find and follow you. With more than 3.6 billion people browsing posts, social media is a powerful marketing tool that can be used to promote your wedding venue.

6. Advertise on a wedding marketplace

In addition to optimizing your website, you should promote your wedding venue on a venue marketplace like EventUp by Tripleseat. EventUp is the leading global venue marketplace. With more than 15,000 restaurants, hotels, and unique venues supporting any event type, EventUp is the No. 1 place for social, corporate, and wedding event planners to start their venue search. EventUp receives 5 million searches from social, corporate, and wedding planners annually. Visit EventUp.com today to see how EventUp can help you book more weddings.

Get your marketing in place for a successful wedding season

Wedding season is the busiest and most expensive time of year for venues. If you want to make sure your venue is booked solid all year long, start implementing these effective marketing must-haves. You’ll see an increase in couples reaching out to you and booking your venue for their big day!

Training

ROAD TRIP

Cocktails

Tripleseat and You!

We ❤ the hospitality community and we are excited to continue our in-person events with you.

Over a few hours, we’ll share tips and tricks on increasing sales, managing events, utilizing templates, marketing reporting, and what’s coming next. Plus, get all of your Tripleseat questions answered!

PARTY PEOPLE

Grab a glass and join your hospitality peers and the Tripleseat team in sharing stories, networking, and hanging out. Enjoy being our guest rather than being the host for once!

JOIN OUR PARTY!

Check out our calendar to see when we’re coming to you!

Building Relationships in the Inbox

FOLLOW THESE 3 EMAIL MARKETING TIPS TO BOOST WEDDING AND EVENTS BOOKINGS

If you are interested in booking more wedding events for your venue, email is one of the best marketing tools to promote your space in the right light for the exact audience you want to target.

You have established your restaurant or a unique venue as an ideal space for events, but you see the opportunity to expand and start offering wedding event options. This could mean you want to promote your venue for ceremonies or receptions, or you may want to provide a space for pre or post-wedding events, such as rehearsal dinners or welcome parties for those traveling from out of town.

Let’s get into how you can use email as a way to promote your ability to host these types of events.

AUBREY UNGVARSKY

START WITH YOUR MAILING LIST

Here is where we suggest you break your list into two buckets: the first is those who have held big events at your venue, and the second is those who remain prospects. For those who have held big events, offer them the chance to come back and create wonderful memories but on an even larger scale for their wedding celebrations, or encourage them to suggest your venue to friends and family. For your prospects, flaunt your space and welcome them for the first time to create the most amazing memories on their big day.

1. 3. 2.

WRITE A COMPELLING SUBJECT LINE

Next, focus on a catchy subject line. We all know that the subject line is the first impression of your message, and it’s one of the most critical aspects of ensuring a quality open rate for your email. Entice your prospects with something eye-catching and tailored to your message of showing your business as a wedding venue or wedding event option. Use words that emphasize the benefits of booking your venue to your audience, whether it’s a discount, special offer, updated menus, availability, or new wedding packages.

INCLUDE VALUABLE CONTENT

Once you’ve got them hooked on the subject line and they’ve opened your email, give prospective clients what they want — example images and quick bullet points on what you’ve got to offer. Perhaps you’ve had previous customers use your venue for other types of events. Use photos to show off your space for engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelor or bachelorette parties, wedding receptions, or wedding brunches. Include links to more information and wedding package details on your website. The more information wedding prospects have at the beginning of your communication with them, the more likely they will be to consider your venue for their celebrations.

THE INBOX IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Getting your email marketing in order will help drive more wedding bookings, and help you turn clients into adoring fans of your business. Keep in touch with the lists of clients who have booked with you throughout the year, and send them emails to remind them that your venue is available for all of their event needs, from cocktail receptions to office holiday parties. Use Tripleseat’s integrations with email providers like Constant Contact, Mailchimp, and Personica to make your marketing and event management efforts seamless.

Contributors

Jonathan Morse

PUBLISHER, RINGLEADER OF GENIUS CONCEPTS

Jonathan has been involved in the restaurant and hotel business for 30+ years, ranging from a busboy at Abadessa’s in Hingham, Mass., to line cook at Atlantic Café in Nantucket, to Floor Manager at Backbay Restaurant Group, to New England Regional Sales Manager for Starwood Hotels. Before starting and becoming CEO of Tripleseat, Jonathan was a VP of Sales for a web startup that delivered business intelligence reporting to the restaurant industry. When not working on making Tripleseat more awesome, Jonathan spends his time with his wife Lisa, twin girls Eliza and Sophie, and son Owen.

Latha Youngren

PUBLISHER, HEAD OF PROPHECY FULFILLMENT

Latha’s (pronounced Lay-ta) interest in hospitality began at a young age, which led her to waitress throughout her high school years in Providence, R.I. After graduating from Barnard College with a degree in History and working in publishing for several years in New York City, she moved to Paris where she tended bar and worked at a magazine. After a brief stint in San Francisco, she made her way back to New York City, where she worked in marketing and events for a variety of publishing and tech companies. She landed at Tripleseat full-time in 2014, where she is the Chief Marketing Officer. Latha currently resides in Maplewood, N.J., with her husband and three kids. She enjoys traveling and discovering new places and trying new experiences — like surf camp in Spain!

Azure Collier EDITOR IN CHIEF, AMBASSADOR OF BUZZ

Azure is the Content Marketing Director at Tripleseat and joined the company in 2017 after working as the Social Media Marketing and Community Manager for email marketing company Constant Contact. She also worked in marketing for higher education at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Fitchburg State University. She started her career as a print journalist in the Midwest at the Times of Northwest Indiana in Valparaiso, Ind., and at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Ind.

She received a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism from Purdue University and a master’s degree in applied communication from Fitchburg State University, where she completed thesis research on social media and young adults. Azure currently resides with her cats Zoe and Mia in Brooklyn and spends her free time competing in NYC bocce leagues, running or walking in her neighborhood park, and exploring the sights and food of Brooklyn and Manhattan with friends.

Matt Dionne

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MARVEL OF IMAGINATION

Matt graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Stonehill College with a major in marketing, and after about a year in sales, he went back to school to learn the ropes of graphic design. From there, Matt landed a marketing specialist opportunity with a leading New England credit union, where he worked for 12 years, growing from a marketer and designer to managing a team of designers who owned the design and execution of hundreds of campaigns. After completing his MBA from Fitchburg State University, he took his talents to work with the team at one of the tech industry’s leading fault-tolerant services organizations. For six years, Matt led the organization through major branding evolutions, product launches, and owning the creative direction of global marketing campaigns. He is excited to join the Tripleseat family to continue a legacy of bringing creative content, events, and ideas to the hospitality industry. Matt lives in Westminster, Mass., with his wife, three children, and puppy and performs with several local musical acts throughout New England.

Heather Apse CONTRIBUTOR, INFORMATION INQUIRER, AND WIZARDESS OF WORDS

Heather has been a storyteller all her life and was elated to join Tripleseat in early 2022 as a Content Specialist on the Marketing Team. In her college years, she hustled as a hostess, busser, and waitress for several restaurants and venues in order to support her time at UMASS Amherst. With an English degree, she began her career and love of tech, working in customer support for pioneer Internet giant Lycos. Since then, her passion and career have always centered upon writing and helping others. When she isn’t researching or creating content for Tripleseat, you can find her with her three extremely fun boys and a large, boisterous dog enjoying the outdoors.

Rachel Calkins

CONTRIBUTOR, MASTER OF MISCHIEF

Rachel graduated from the University of Delaware in June 2019 with a degree in marketing. Previously she was part of the Tripleseat team as a marketing intern and loved her experience so much that she returned to begin her professional career with Tripleseat, currently as the Social Media & Content Specialist. You can find Rachel co-hosting Tripleseat’s podcast, Two Chicks, Three Seats, and posting all about our amazing Tripleseat customers on Instagram. In her free time, she enjoys watching and playing sports, traveling, cooking, drinking dirty martinis on the weekend with friends, and exploring her new home: New York City

Nicole Catatao CONTRIBUTOR, DUCHESS OF VENUES

Nicole has been in the marketing field for more than 14 years. After graduating from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire with a degree in English, she moved to Massachusetts, where she started her career at International Data Group (IDG). While there, she managed online marketing campaigns for high-tech clients for seven years. After IDG, she spent four years at MathWorks managing events. Nicole joined the Tripleseat family in 2018 and is currently the Sr. Marketing Manager of EventUp by Tripleseat. When she isn't connecting event planners with the perfect venue, you can find her dancing in the kitchen to '80s pop music with her husband and two daughters or at the soccer field.

Maddie Franzreb

CONTRIBUTOR, COUNTESS OF QUESTIONS

Maddie attended Boston College, where she participated in every intramural sport possible and first fell in love with the French language while studying abroad in Paris. She spent three years living and working in Paris and the south of France, where a typical dinner usually consisted of a delicious baguette, a hunk of cheese, and some charcuterie. She spent the next nine years in Philadelphia, working in marketing in the consumer products industry and attending as many concerts as possible. She recently relocated to Cape Cod with her fiancé and can be found spending time with her friends and family, including 25 first cousins. Currently working as the Product and Customer Marketing Manager, Maddie joined the team in 2021 and loves working at the intersection of hospitality and technology at Tripleseat.

Lynn Holmlund

CONTRIBUTOR, HERDER OF INGENIOUS SCHEMES

Marketing has been ingrained into Lynn’s DNA since childhood, as she preferred jingles and commercials to children's songs and shows while growing up. During her time at Bentley University, she tested marketing fields with internships in sports marketing, field marketing, and high-end retail advertising. With a focus on communication, she received her Masters from Suffolk University and started her marketing career in technology and media at IDG. She is delighted to bring her brand and marketing prowess to the Tripleseat team as VP of Marketing. Outside of the office, Lynn loves traveling to beach destinations with family and friends and dancing anytime, any place.

Kate Kennedy

CONTRIBUTOR, ORGANIZER OF RANDOM THOUGHTS AND ERRATIC ACTIVITY

Kate has worked in the hospitality industry since she was 15. From bussing tables in high school to bartending in college and grad school, where she majored in global fashion marketing and merchandising. After college, she moved on to a career as a private events and marketing manager because she loved hospitality a little more than she loved fashion. Kate started working at the best company on the planet, aka, Tripleseat in 2015. Currently holding the position of Director of Growth Marketing, she loves being able to use her vast knowledge of the industry in a non-restaurant setting. Kate resides on the New Hampshire seacoast with her husband and two crazy (but wonderful) children. In addition to her family and friends, Kate’s loves include bourbon, fashion, old-school hip-hop, oysters, IPA, and hockey (enjoyed on their own or all together)..

Catarina Martins

CONTRIBUTOR, BARONESS OF BRAND AWARENESS

Catarina has always enjoyed putting a creative spin on anything she works on, so when it came to choosing a college degree, marketing was the obvious choice for her. She has since worked in social media roles at Tripadvisor and TJX Companies and later rounded out her experience as a general marketing manager in the financial industry. Her creative passion has been reignited since joining Tripleseat as the Restaurant Marketing Manager, and she couldn’t be more thrilled about her incredible team. Born in Portugal, Catarina has a passion for all types of cuisines and isn’t afraid to try anything once. She loves living in Boston with her husband and going to all the new restaurants in the area. And if she’s not at brunch or dinner, you’ll find her trying to pet every dog she meets.

Rachel “Mazz” Mazzola

CONTRIBUTOR, SORCERESS OF FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT

Rachel (who goes by Mazz) is the Corporate Events Manager at Tripleseat and a certified meeting professional (CMP). She received her degree in sports, entertainment, and event management from Johnson & Wales University, with hopes to one day plan the Super Bowl. In an unexpected turn of events, she ended up in the exciting world of corporate event planning and never looked back. Mazz has planned events and conferences for companies in the information security, audit, and energy and commodities industries but, luckily, has landed at Tripleseat, where she is happy to finally be planning events for an industry that aligns with her interests: eating and drinking. If she’s not running to catch a flight or trying to get her seat upgraded, you can find her on a spontaneous weekend trip, enjoying nights out with friends, or being lazy and binging Netflix.

Elizabeth Smith

CONTRIBUTOR,

BRAND WARRIOR,

AND RESIDENT HOTEL EXPERT

Elizabeth graduated from Boston University with a degree in hospitality management and started her career in hospitality at the front desk of a luxury hotel in Boston. After a few years in hotels, followed by some time in the event planning world, she shifted gears, worked at a construction company for eight years, and found her way to marketing. She joined the Tripleseat team as the Hotel Marketing Manager in 2022 and couldn’t be more excited to bring her two professional passions together in one role. Elizabeth lives in Boston with her fiance and rescue pup, Moakley. In her free time, you can find her with family and friends or scouting out a new donut shop.

Aubrey Ungvarsky

CONTRIBUTOR, CONVERSATION ARCHITECT, AND CONVERSION WRANGLER

Aubrey went to school studying economics and finance on a golf scholarship at the University of Hartford, but it wasn’t until a few years after school that she found her love for marketing. Most of her marketing roles have had the best of two worlds to offer: creative freedom to create thoughtprovoking and lead-generating content while still keeping in touch with her love for analytics and understanding the numbers behind it all. Aubrey switched from financial software to hospitality software when joining the best of the best (Tripleseat) and could not be happier! Outside of work, you’ll likely find Aubrey outdoors one way or another with her husband and dog, Moose, or out for dinner and drinks with friends.

Jeff Valois

CONTRIBUTOR, PRINCE OF PIXELS

Jeff caught the creative bug early on thanks to a 28.8 Kbps modem, pirated Photoshop software, and his mom’s Nikon film camera. He graduated from Clark University with a master’s degree in professional communications and marketing before beginning his marketing career at New England’s largest credit union. Jeff advanced from Marketing Specialist to Brand Strategy Manager and played an integral role in growing the department from 12 to more than 50 team members. He joined the Tripleseat team in 2022 to combine his love for all things creative to help tell the Tripleseat story. Jeff lives in West Boylston with his wife, son, and their Boston Terrier. When he’s not with his family or on the golf course, you’ll probably find him with a camera or a mouse in hand. Sometimes both.

Photography

@breeandstephen, Austin Distel, Bruno Nascimento, Candice Picard, Christin Hume, Cloris Ying, Dollar Gill, Edgar Castrejon, Fabrizio Magoni, Green Chameleon, Jeremy Thomas, Kaylee Garrett, Kyle Glenn, Leah Haydock Photography, Lewis Nguyen, LikeMeat photographer, Line Tscherning, Max van den Oetelaar, micheile dot com, Mitya Ivanov, Nathana Rebouças, Patrick Tomasso, Priscilla Du Preez, Rachel Calkins, Reid Brand Photograph, Rupixen.com, Samuel Pereira, Shangyou Shi, Sincerely Media, Tammy Chan, Tara Sullivan, Tony Luginsland

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