Category: PRESS

Newport Voted #1 Most Friendly Place in the USA

Posted on August 15, 2022 by - PRESS, THE NEWPORT EXPERIENCE

Come visit the most friendly place in the United States!

Newport was recently voted the friendliest place in the USA from a survey conducted on Booking.com.

 

 

 

 

 

A recent survey on Booking.com showed that 76% of people say that their motivation to travel is to boost their mood, and this year the city of Newport is proud to have received the top honors as being the most welcoming place in the USA.

The awards are based on traveler’s reviews on Booking.com, along with the amount of awarded accommodations in each city, and recognize everything from excellence in staffing to cleanliness to safety.

 “We see so many positive reviews for outstanding hospitality at hotels, bed & breakfasts, and vacation rentals across this New England city,” says Ben Harrell, managing director, US at Booking.com

We are excited that Newport has received this recognition and if you would like to read the full Forbes article visit the link here!

Featured Vendor: Newport Charter Group

Posted on June 22, 2022 by - PRESS, THE NEWPORT EXPERIENCE

Nothing says Newport summer like a cruise around Narragansett Bay.

Our friends at the NEWPORT CHARTER COMPANY recently invited us aboard the stunning Camelot for a spin around the harbor and we’re so glad they did! We hopped on at Goat Island and enjoyed a yummy gourmet picnic provided by Karma Kitchen & Catering.

Enjoy a private yachting experience and explore Newport Harbor on the beautiful 33’ Camelot. Thoughtfully named, Camelot draws its inspiration from 1930s antique American commuter boats.

The purity of its classic lines and the refinement of its luxury woodwork make Camelot one of the most attractive boats in Newport. Camelot has a roomy cockpit and vast salon which allows plenty of room for both interior and exterior seating.

Newport Charter offers small group private cocktail cruises around Newport for up to 6 passengers. They also cater to special requests, including weddings, engagements, dinners, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and seasonal events like the Newport Folk and Jazz festivals.

Their most popular package is a 1 hour 45 minute cruise through the harbor.

When you charter Camelot, the entire boat is yours. This privacy allows the captain to tailor the cruise to your liking, creating a personalized and memorable experience. It’s a great way to share the “newport experience” with friends or family.

 

**Mention this post and code “GOAT” and receive 15% off your private charter**

CONTACT:

Newport Charter Company

1 Goat Island Rd.

Newport, RI 02840

http://www.newportchartergroup.com/

captain@newportcharter.com

401-835-0543

 

Featured Vendor: Polished Event Design

Posted on March 16, 2022 by - PRESS, THE NEWPORT EXPERIENCE

Featured Vendor: Polished Event Design

Updated: Mar 17


Desirae Tavares of Polished Event Design


Are you planning a wedding or special occasion party and looking for an Instagram-worthy photo backdrop for your guests?


Put a creative twist on the classic photo booth with a customized backdrop and props that match the theme of your wedding or event. Balloon decor and backdrops can transform any event or atmosphere, offering a modern display of art and beauty.




Our friends at Polished Event Design provided the decor for our booth at the Newport Wedding Show and it was the star of the show! Models, guests and engaged couples posed for photos in front of the dreamy balloon backdrop throughout the day.


Desirae Tavares with Newport Wedding Show Models

Newport Experience Event Planners: OceanCliff & Regatta Place


Polished Event Design specializes in:

  • Lux organic balloon décor

  • Customized backdrop designs and personalized setups based on your theme and color palette

  • Modern backdrops & select décor rentals

Desirae Tavares, owner of Polished Event Design, says “Every event should have a focal point. Perhaps that may be a lavish balloon garland welcoming guests for a dinner party or a customized backdrop that embraces your theme. I work with clients to transform ideas into reality based on your color palette and theme.”


If you are looking to host a special event, allow Polished Event Design to help you create a custom photo experience!


**Mention this post and receive 15% off, including a complimentary half hour consultation!** (new clients only)

CONTACT:

Polished Event Design

info@polishedeventsri.com

(508) 542-9199




OceanCliff Named Winner in 2022 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards

Posted on January 25, 2022 by - OCEANCLIFF HOTEL, PRESS

OceanCliff Named Winner in 2022 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards




OceanCliff Named Winner in 2022 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®


14th Annual Couples’ Choice Awards Honor the Top Wedding Vendors Nationwide and Abroad


Newport, January 25, 2022 — OceanCliff was announced as a winner of the 2022 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®, an accolade representing the top wedding professionals across the board in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism reviewed by couples on WeddingWire, a leading wedding vendor marketplace.


To determine these distinguished wedding professionals, WeddingWire analyzed reviews within its Vendor Directory across more than 20 service categories—from venues and caterers to florists and photographers—to find the most- and highest-rated vendors of the year. The winners exhibit superior professionalism, responsiveness, service and quality when interacting with the millions of couples who turn to WeddingWire to help with their wedding planning process each month.


Wedding professionals who win WeddingWire Couple’s Choice Awards® are members of WeddingPro, a leading B2B wedding brand. A marketplace and community for wedding professionals, WeddingPro connects businesses with more than 13 million unique monthly visitors who are planning weddings on WeddingWire and The Knot, as well as with hundreds of thousands of pros in the industry.


Through its online marketplaces, educational programs and community-building events, WeddingPro is dedicated to helping wedding professionals build relationships with couples and pros that grow their businesses.


OceanCliff is honored to be one of the top vendors in Venue in Newport on WeddingWire.


For more information about OceanCliff, please visit us on WeddingWire. To learn more about the Couples’ Choice Awards®, visit www.weddingwire.com/couples-choice-awards.


About OceanCliff

OceanCliff is a beautiful waterfront wedding venue located in Newport, Rhode Island. It occupies the site of the former Bronson Villa that was built in 1864 and has been converted to an oceanfront retreat that can hosts lavish parties and events.


Located on ten acres of rolling lawns with spectacular views, this venue is perfect for a classic wedding. OceanCliff has many event spaces that are the ideal backdrop for various wedding celebrations. The Grand Ballroom accommodates anywhere from 70-225 guests, while The Upper Deck seats up to 150 guests and has sweeping views of the Newport Bridge and Narragansett Bay. The Safari Room is a restaurant and bar that couples can use for a cocktail hour or rehearsal dinner, as it accommodates 70 guests outside and 50 guests inside.


Services Offered

OceanCliff has many upscale amenities that will make the couple’s wedding day fun and stress-free.


The venue offers the following services:

Distinctive selection of wedding menus

Suggested vendors

Newport attractions

Elite wedding coordinators

Romantic wedding packages

Stylish guest rooms


About WeddingWire

WeddingWire is a trusted online marketplace, connecting couples with local wedding professionals and a suite of comprehensive tools that make wedding planning easier. Operating within a $250 billion global industry, WeddingWire helps millions of couples every month find the right team of wedding professionals to personalize and pull off their special day. Couples around the world can read millions of vendor reviews and search, compare and book from a directory of hundreds of thousands of vendors local to them. Visit WeddingWire online at WeddingWire.com and follow on social media: Facebook.com/WeddingWire and @WeddingWire on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Regatta Place Named Winner of The Knot Best of Weddings 2022 and Best of Weddings Hall of Fame 2022

Posted on January 25, 2022 by - PRESS, REGATTA PLACE

  • Newport Experience
    • Jan 25
    • 3 min read

Regatta Place Named Winner of The Knot Best of Weddings 2022 and Best of Weddings Hall of Fame 2022

 

 

 

REGATTA PLACE NAMED WINNER OF THE KNOT BEST OF WEDDINGS 2022 AND TO

THE KNOT BEST OF WEDDINGS HALL OF FAME 2022

 

16th Annual Best of Weddings Awards Honor the Top Wedding Vendors Across America

Newport, RI/January 25, 2022—Regatta Place is pleased to announce that they have been selected as a 2022 ­­winner of The Knot Best of Weddings, an accolade representing the highest- and most-rated wedding professionals as reviewed by real couples, their families and wedding guests on The Knot, and has been inducted into The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame from The Knot, a leading all in one wedding planning destination. This is the 4th year Regatta Place has been named a winner of The Knot Best of Weddings awards.

In its sixteenth annual year, The Knot continues its long-standing tradition of supporting local wedding vendors with The Knot Best of Weddings 2022, an annual by-couples, for-couples guide to the top wedding professionals across the country. This year, five percent of hundreds of thousands of local wedding professionals listed on The Knot received this distinguished award.

 

To determine the winners, The Knot analyzed its millions of user reviews across various vendor categories—including venues, musicians, florists, photographers, caterers and more—to find the highest rated vendors of the year. These winners represent the best of the best wedding professionals that engaged couples should consider booking for their own unique weddings.

The Knot has inspired 25 million couples (and counting!) to plan a wedding that’s uniquely theirs – from finding inspiration and local vendors to creating and managing all guest experiences, wedding registries and more. On The Knot Marketplace, couples can connect with any of the hundreds of thousands of local wedding professionals across the country, and The Knot Best of Weddings award gives couples the confidence to book the best vendors to bring their wedding visions to life. In combination with years of trusted content, The Knot’s innovative technology helps all couples seamlessly plan a wedding that’s uniquely theirs.

 

Wedding professionals who win The Knot Best of Weddings are members of WeddingPro, a leading B2B wedding brand. As the largest marketplace and community for wedding professionals, WeddingPro connects businesses with more than 13 million unique monthly visitors who are planning weddings on The Knot and WeddingWire, as well as with hundreds of thousands of pros in the industry. Through its online marketplaces, educational programs and community-building events, WeddingPro is dedicated to helping wedding professionals build relationships with couples and pros that grow their businesses.

 

For more information about The Knot Best of Weddings and this year’s winners, please visit https://www.theknot.com/vendors/best-of-weddings.

 

# # #

About Regatta Place

Located on historic Goat Island and situated in the heart of Goat Island Marina, Regatta Place offers the ideal setting for your next waterfront event or wedding reception. Steeped in Newport’s rich sailing tradition and surrounded by state-of-the-art and classic luxury yachts, this exclusive property accommodates up to 180 guests with the most breathtaking and unsurpassed views of Newport Harbor.

 

About The Knot

The Knot is the nation’s leading digital wedding resource offering a seamless, all-in-one planning experience—from finding inspiration and local vendors to creating and managing all guest experiences, wedding registries and more. The trusted brand reaches a majority of engaged couples in the US through the #1 wedding planning website TheKnot.com and #1 iOS and Android mobile app The Knot Wedding Planner, The Knot national wedding magazine, and The Knot book series. Since its inception, The Knot has inspired approximately 25 million couples to plan a wedding that’s uniquely them. Visit The Knot online at TheKnot.com and follow on social media: Facebook.com/TheKnot and @TheKnot on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

 
 

###

 

Best of Newport Wedding Winners

Posted on December 17, 2021 by - PRESS, THE NEWPORT EXPERIENCE

Best of Newport Wedding Winners


We are thrilled to announce OceanCliff won “Best Reception Venue” and tied for 1st place for “Best Ceremony Venue” and “Best Rehearsal Dinner Venue” in Newport Wedding Magazine’s Best of Newport Wedding awards!






We are also excited to announce Schooner Aurora won “Best Weekend Wedding Activity” for the 4th year in a row! Lots of couples love to include a sunset sail on our tall ship during their wedding weekend. Ask us about our rehearsal dinner or pre or post wedding sail packages!



We would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for us and Newport Wedding Magazine for these amazing awards! We are so grateful for all of the amazing couples & vendors we have worked with this year!

Stone House Inn Featured in Boston Globe Magazine

Posted on November 9, 2021 by - PRESS, STONE HOUSE INN

Stone House Inn Featured in Boston Globe Magazine

Updated: Nov 11, 2021

Stone House Inn was recently featured in Boston Globe Magazine’s “Farm Coast Road Trip”. Read full article here.




Misty green fields framed by ancient stone walls spill down to the water’s edge in a state of tousled, natural beauty. A salty sea breeze mingles with the scent of fresh-cut hay. And ours is the only car visible in any direction. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear we had somehow driven to the west coast of Ireland (in just over an hour, at that). But the 18th-century cottages clad in weathered gray shingles are a dead giveaway that we’re far closer to home.

We’re on the “Farm Coast,” a rural stretch of New England’s southeastern shores where Massachusetts meets Rhode Island and farmland meets the sea.


And much to my wife’s annoyance, I can’t stop exclaiming, loudly, how stinking pretty it is here. It’s like we’re seated near a celebrity, and I’m the guy who just cannot keep his chill. But the scenery comes to my defense: As we take a left onto Main Road in Little Compton, Rhode Island, we catch a glimpse of majestic horses peacefully grazing in a meadow, their manes literally luminous, backlit by the golden afternoon sun as it melts into the sparkling Sakonnet River beyond. It’s pinch-yourself beautiful.


But this area is so much more than just a pretty place. For one thing, the centrality of agriculture in these South Coast communities — Westport and Dartmouth in Massachusetts, Little Compton and Tiverton in Rhode Island — equates to inspired menus full of farm-fresh, locally grown foods. Especially around harvest time in late summer and fall.


We first discovered the Farm Coast a few autumns ago. We were searching for a lower-key, older-school apple picking experience than the overcrowded apple fests on offer at so many Boston-area orchards. We found exactly what we hoped for at Old Stone Orchard (401-635-2663) in Little Compton.


There were no bounce houses or oil-belching tractor hayrides, but our then-5-year-old daughter still had a blast. Borrowing a red wagon from the farm stand, we gave her a personal hayride into the tree rows (where, even on an October Saturday, we saw maybe a dozen other people). Later, she proudly helped pull our half-bushel of Empires and Galas back down to be weighed, playing the rugged farmhand. Then we meandered down the dirt road to visit the farm’s pigs, goats, and chickens, before loading up the car with our fall bounty of apples, squash, and pumpkins. Before heading back to Boston, we stopped for dinner at The Red Dory (reddoryrestaurant.com, 401-816-5001) in Tiverton, where a casual, beachy vibe belies a sophisticated menu full of locally sourced food and wines. (Don’t miss the fried oysters.)


Later that fall, we returned to the Farm Coast for the November open house held at Westport Rivers Winery (westportrivers.com, 508-636-3423). We sipped wine and hot cider around fire pits, snacked on kettle corn and cheese from Massachusetts and Rhode Island farms, and stocked up on wine baskets and handmade alpaca-wool mittens for holiday gifts. Our daughter and several other kids were engrossed for hours playing in a huge maze of hay bales — first leaping from one to another, then building forts with them, and finally, as the sun descended, toppling their structures; it was like witnessing the rise and fall of a micro-civilization.


We’re kidless this time around, on our first grown-up getaway since the Before Times, and we kick it off with a stop at Running Brook Vineyards (runningbrookwine.com, 508-985-1998) in Dartmouth to sample a flight of five wines ($10). The tasting room is 100 percent frills-free, but some of the wines — all produced on site from home-grown grapes — are remarkably good. We leave with a bottle each of the clean, refreshing Running Brook White and the mellow, peachy Vidal Blanc.


Our next stop is the riverfront patio of Westport Sea Farms (westportseafarms.com, 774-309-3056), where we settle into a pair of Adirondack chairs and order cups of clam chowder to ward against the sea breeze, plus a dozen locally raised “sea-to-table” oysters. Of the four varieties, we pronounce the delicate Spindrifts, farmed in the West Branch of the Westport River, our favorites. But when you’re sitting by the water, slurping down oysters a few hundred yards from where they were hauled out, there really are no losers.


As evening starts to settle in, we head over to The Westporter (westportercatering.com, 508-636-9000), a homey bistro in the center of town where the menu rotates with the local harvest. That includes the drink list: Many of the cocktails are crafted around seasonal fruit, while the beers from Buzzards Bay Brewing are made with Massachusetts-grown hops, grains, and malts. (After a 16-ounce can of Butler Flats Black — a roasty dark lager perfect for an autumn evening — I pledge to visit the nearby brewery on a return visit.)


There’s plenty of seating in the whimsical, converted barn, but we’re sticking to outdoor dining; we don’t have to wait long before a picnic table opens up on the grass. Beneath a canopy of ash trees and twinkling string lights, we devour our divinely delicious, deceptively simple dishes: chicken and rice smothered in the house Mozambique sauce (a Portuguese sauce with a feisty kick), a pair of barbecued black bean and sweet potato sliders, and spicy seasoned fries. Entrees cost about $10 to $20.


We’re staying at The Stone House (newportexperience.com/stonehouse, 401-635-2222), a converted 19th-century mansion near the tip of Sakonnet Point in Little Compton. With just over a dozen rooms and suites, this is an exquisite boutique hotel — a splurge for us, but there aren’t many mid-range options beyond the highway chain hotels. Thankfully, rates drop like leaves in the fall, from $400-plus in summertime to the $300s in September. Despite the historic nature of the property, the guest rooms are spacious and quite modern; ours, in the converted barn, has a luxurious steam shower and gas fireplace, plus tons of windows that open out to let in views of a pond and the Atlantic beyond.

The morning breakfast spread includes an assortment of freshly baked pastries, but we’ve got brunch plans later, so we take only our coffees to the wraparound porch. Some 2 acres of lawn, punctuated with a stone fire pit and pairs of Adirondack chairs, cascade down toward the water. The hotel has a fleet of cruiser bikes for guests to borrow, but instead we walk down the sprawling lawn to Round Pond Road — the kind of narrow country lane most of us only stroll in daydreams or fuzzy childhood memories — and five minutes farther on, reach a small, windswept beach. Minutes later, we come across the sandy, semiprivate Tappens Beach, where on this day rock formations outnumber beachgoers.


The salt air awakens our appetites, so it’s off to The Barn (401-635-2985), a breakfast and brunch spot in Adamsville, a historic part of Little Compton. The inside is rustic, cozy, and charming, with an airy second-story balcony, but we’re able to get a table on the patio, where we tuck into omelets and pancakes ($7.50-$12) beneath the trees and awnings.


In a converted Victorian nearby, Partners Village Store & Kitchen (partnersvillagestore.com, 508-636-2572) in Westport is just a delight, pure and simple. It’s one part cafe, with covered dining available on the wraparound porch; one part gift shop, with regionally-made crafts, cards, and other goodies; and one part indie bookstore, with a small but well curated selection. After picking up a thank-you gift for my sister-in-law for watching our daughter, we amble down a hill to the Dedee Shattuck Gallery (dedeeshattuckgallery.com, 508-636-4177), a striking gallery for contemporary art and fine crafts. The dramatic landscape photography of Barbara Gilson — based in Portland, Oregon, but born in Boston and raised in Brockton — is on exhibit through October 10.


We cross back into Little Compton and stop near the town common for a caffeine boost at the Art Cafe (508-558-5497), a little fairy tale of a coffee shop and gallery. There’s something magical about this beautifully battered bohemian cottage, where the antique glass doors are thrown open to the world with all the hopeful vulnerability of a paintbrush set to canvas. Owners Judith Worthen and Josie Arkins serve up organic coffee, pastries, and art workshops, while patrons lounge and chat in a garden of fruit trees.

Blink and you’ll miss the Art Cafe, but there’s no bypassing Groundswell Cafe + Bakery (groundswellcafegarden.com, 401-816-4256). This upscale, from-scratch bakery serves all-day breakfast sandwiches and quiches ($8.50-$11.50) — plus hearty soups, salads, and sandwiches made with baguettes — and brings a touch of Paris to Tiverton’s historic Four Corners.

Groundswell opened last fall in the gorgeous circa-1876 general store building that had housed the beloved Provender Cafe for 37 years. In addition to a new outdoor dining garden, the bistro tables that line the wraparound porch broadcast a kind of small-town chic, like a movie star on vacation. Somehow, the interior is even more stunning, like stepping inside a design magazine — one that smells of oven-fresh croissants and locally roasted coffee.


Across the street is the Four Corners Arts Center (fourcornersarts.org, 401-624-2600), which maintains a free, serene sculpture park nearby. On exhibit through October are 25 works by Timothy Michael Hetland. Damselfly, a larger-than-life steel sculpture of a dragonfly perched in the pond, is my favorite — along with Calling Elk, a permanent steel and epoxy installation by artist Wendy Klemperer.


The Four Corners area stretches along Main Road with antiques shops, a cheese market, and galleries galore. But right now we’ve got ice cream on the brain, and anchoring a third corner is the famous, nearly century-old Gray’s Ice Cream (graysicecream.com, 401-624-4500). Our oversized, made-on-site scoops are decadently rich and creamy, but if we return with our daughter, we’ll probably end up at Wood’s Ice Cream (508-264-1037) in Westport, where the presence of goats and cows makes up for the ice cream “imported” from Gifford’s of Maine.

Driving back up Main Road, Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard (sakonnetwine.com, 401-635-8486) beckons us with its bucolic beauty, but it’s closed midweek. So we cross into Portsmouth, Rhode Island, to meet up with friends at Greenvale Vineyards (greenvale.com, 401-847-3777). This isn’t technically the Farm Coast — and in fact, after a couple of days across the river, it feels positively bustling by comparison — but there’s still plenty of scenic farmland about.


Greenvale often hosts live music and food trucks on Saturdays into October and November (depending on weather), and opens daily through December. Today, it’s just a few groups of visitors sprawled across the scenic grounds, including a handful of kids and dogs, enveloped by a vintage of plump grapes awaiting harvest. We nab a picnic table overlooking the Sakonnet River and leisurely share a tasting flight of estate-grown wines ($25) served on a reclaimed barrel stave.


As the mellow warmth of a Greenvale chardonnay aged in oak gives way to the bright crispness of the Skipping Stone White, followed by the smoky, moody Meritage blend of merlot, malbec, and cabernet franc, I can just about taste late summer fading into fall — hints of turning leaves, the coming chill in the air.


If only time and place were so easily bottled. But autumn lingers on the Farm Coast, thanks to the moderating influence of the surrounding waters. And local conservation groups are working hard to purchase and protect this area’s historic, breathtaking, nourishing farmland. So for now, we toast the coming change in seasons, and give thanks for all the beauty and bounty around us, here in the heart of the harvest.


The Safari Room at OceanCliff Wins 2021 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award

Posted on October 8, 2021 by - OCEANCLIFF HOTEL, PRESS, SAFARI ROOM

The Safari Room at OceanCliff Wins 2021 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award




The Safari Room at OceanCliff Wins 2021 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for Great Service and Experiences


The Safari Room’s Great Diner Reviews Earn it a Place Among Travelers’ Favorites in Newport, RI.


Newport, RI – October 8, 2021 – The Safari Room at OceanCliff today announced it has been recognized as a 2021 Travelers’ Choice award winner for Great Services and Experiences. This achievement celebrates businesses that consistently deliver fantastic experiences to diners around the globe, having earned great traveler reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. As challenging as the past year was, The Safari Room at OceanCliff stood out by continuously delighting diners.


“Congratulations to all the winners of the 2021 Travelers’ Choice Awards,” said Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer at Tripadvisor. “I know the past year has been extremely challenging for tourism businesses. What has impressed me is how businesses adapted to these challenges, implementing new cleanliness measures, adding social distancing guidelines, and utilizing technology to prioritize guest safety. The Travelers’ Choice Awards highlight the places that are consistently excellent – delivering quality experiences time and time again even while navigating changing customer expectations and new ways of working. Based on a full year of reviews from customers, this award speaks to the great service and experience you provided guests in the midst of a pandemic.”


To see diner reviews and popular dishes of The Safari Room at OceanCliff, visit https://bit.ly/SafariRoomTripAdvisorReviews.



About Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel platform, helps hundreds of millions of travelers each month make every trip their best trip. Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to browse more than 878 million reviews and opinions of 8.8 million accommodations, restaurants, experiences, airlines and cruises. Whether planning or on a trip, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to compare low prices on hotels, flights and cruises, book popular tours and attractions, as well as reserve tables at great restaurants. Tripadvisor, the ultimate travel companion, is available in 49 markets and 28 languages.

What Matters Most – The 5 Ws of Wedding Planning with Susanne Day of The Newport Experience

Posted on July 29, 2021 by - PRESS, THE NEWPORT EXPERIENCE

  • Newport Experience
    • Jul 29, 2021
    • 5 min read

What Matters Most – The 5 Ws of Wedding Planning with Susanne Day of The Newport Experience

Updated: Aug 2, 2021

 

 

Podcast by Sara Zarrella

 

Wedding planning isn’t for the faint of heart. There’s hundreds of decision to be made and in the middle of all of those decisions, it can feel hard to know exactly what you really want for your wedding day. That’s why we hosted Susanne Day from Newport Experience to share how to focus in on what matters most when planning your wedding day. After 20 years working in the heart of New England at some of Newport’s most sought after venues, Susanne has 5 easy tips to focus in on what matters most when planning your wedding day!

 

Please rate, review and subscribe to this podcast wherever you’re listening so you never miss an episode. Even better, share it with a friend! It’s a great way to show your support and let us know what you think. Thank you for listening.

 

Meet Susanne!

I started working at the Newport Life Magazine in 2000 and then started working for Newport Wedding Magazine and the Newport Bridal Show, I had such a blast those years!! I’ve been with the Newport Experience team since 2014 so I’m still working with couples and vendors, just in a different way than before. When I’m not doing that, I’m gardening, playing tennis or with my friends and family. And I love the Hallmark Channel for movies!

 

There is so much we can talk about when it comes to helping couples plan their perfect day because you’re truly an expert. But, today, let’s focus on what matters most. How can couples figure out what’s important to them during wedding planning?

 

When I work with couples, we immediately work to “Focus on What Matters Most” using the 5 W’s. I start with an intro email, then encourage them to call me for a quick 10 minute call to narrow down options. I seriously only need 10 minutes with them to figure out what they really want. Then we connect for a scheduled site tour to meet in person. For me, this approach helps them feel like they are crafting their wedding experience, not just choosing options from a price sheet for their celebration.

 

 

Let’s dive into the 5 W’s as you mentioned. What are they?

Absolutely! They’re the 5 questions I ask couples when they begin to plan their wedding:

1. Who (guest count)

2. What (top must haves and non-negotiable)

3. When (season, day/night, midweek/weekend)

4. Where (close to home or destination)

5. Why/How (how do you want to feel?)

 

That is so helpful and insightful! Can you take us through the process step by step of the 5W’s when it actually comes to planning?

First, The Who. I’ll preface with this: The Who can be super tricky. I generally like to go over this with my couples and their parents so no one feels they’re being called out or attached. My goal is to really help them save money and maximize their time on their wedding day. Everything goes so fast. The people in that room should be who’s absolutely most important to you.

 

Next, the What. Remember, these are the top must haves and non-negotiable items.

Think about the parties and weddings you have been to and what made them fun/memorable

for you. Now, write those things down and prioritize which is most important to you.

It’s hard, but not everything can be the priority!

 

When isn’t just the date.

It also refers to the time of day time of week, and which season you want to be married in. If you are laser focused on one specific date there is no flexibility in pricing and availability. If you are very flexible with the date you can maximize your budget and you have more “buying power” for your big day. Weekday, early times, and winter weddings are all typically cheaper events.

 

Where do you want your wedding?

Rhode Island is a destination for weddings and Newport even more so because there is

so much to do! With lots of options for accommodations and other weekend activities it can become more than one day and a whole itinerary can emerge for your out-of-town guests.

My advice is to plan a two-night stay and check out different restaurants and attractions while you are touring venues to get a feel for how your celebration can be. If that sounds

overwhelming, then stick close to home!

 

Why/How: How do you want to feel?

Let your wedding be a reflection of how you want your marriage to be. That was the best

advice I got when planning my wedding. If you want your wedding/marriage to be influenced

by other people’s expectations and unsolicited advice then do what others tell you.
How you start your planning matters.

 

 

Do you have any tools and tricks that you learned to help couples cut their list and figure out their “who” because that’s always a BIG topic for couples?

1. No work friends: you are with them all day long so naturally you would feel closer to them, but there is always someone that thinks they are closer to you that doesn’t get invited and then things get weird later. These guests (and their plus ones) add up really quickly! An easy solution? Tell them you will all meet up after work for cocktails to celebrate when you get back from your honeymoon.

 

2. Nobody you haven’t met: You don’t have time for small talk on your wedding day If they are so important to come to your wedding and witness your forever vows, why haven’t you met them yet? Chances are if you don’t make time to spend with them before the wedding—it won’t happen after.

 

3. No automatic plus ones : I only say this because I have witnessed guests arguing in the parking lot because t’s hard when you don’t know anyone else there. Save your friends from this and don’t automatically offer a plus one to everyone. Solution: If they are in a committed relationship obviously extend that invite. If someone calls and asks about their plus one, make time to meet them beforehand if it’s really important to you/your guest.

 

4. Family: If you have a HUGE family, consider inviting just the members who are closest to you. I often tell couples to think of who’s “around the Christmas tree every year”. Tell the extended family that you want to have a small intimate wedding and blame the max capacity of the venue if you have to!

 

5. Parents invited guests: This is tough one. I get it: they have life-long friendships as well as family members that have invited them to their kids weddings over the years and they want to reciprocate. But the reality is the day goes fast for your parents too and they won’t have the time to mingle with those guests. Parents could consider hosting a party at their house for their friends to come celebrate the couple instead!

 

6. BONUS Tips. So this worked during COVID in 2020 to cut from 200 down to 50—no joke—it’s magic! Remember the first two weeks of COVID when we were in the shut down? Think about the people you still talk to regularly and check in with on a normal basis. Who did you call? Who called you? Parents, siblings, best friends, the other people that reached out—that’s it—there are your 50!

 

What are some key points that couples should be asking their venue when they are inquiring before they book?

  1. Always ask what is included and what is not included when it comes to your venue rental.

  2. “All in, out the door quote” that includes tax so that you can compare venues and what they’re offering you. It’s also nice to avoid any surprises!

  3. Gratuity! How does the venue handle gratuity? Is it included? If not, then it’s one more thing to consider budgeting for.

 

Thank you Sara Zarrella for including us on this incredible podcast! Here are some photos taken by Sara Zarrella, one of our favorite photographers!

Visit Sara Zarrella Photography to see more!