Advice From Someone With 19 Years in The Business…
Now, on its sixth-year at Artscape Wychwood Barns, this one-of-a-kind #PinterestGoals event with a chartreuse board of exhibitors show-up to help you plan the wedding people envy (see the highlights on our IG stories).
Hosting a highly anticipated, boutique-inspired wedding showcase like this —is no easy feat (it’s similar to planning a wedding in itself), so how does the team pull it off!
We met up with Catherine Lash, Creative Director and Owner of The Wedding Co, at this year’s 2020 Market and asked her. Here’s what she told us…
Shot by AboutUsFilms.co
Artscape: Can you tell us about a specific person who The Wedding Co. Market helps?
Lash: The Wedding Co. bride or Wedding Co. couple are people who know exactly what they want. They are very aware of what they want to spend their money on. They know their budget, they shop locally, they love the idea of investing in local businesses and they love coming to places like the Wychwood Barns (that has a farmer’s market).
That’s one of the reasons we chose the Wychwood Barns it’s because it has that great community feel. And The Wedding Co. is a community of spectacular wedding vendors. The Wedding Co. bride and groom are passionate about their local community.
“The move-in the move-out (is a breeze) and brides and grooms get the energy off this venue.”
Artscape: How long has The Wedding Co. been running?
Lash: Hello, 19 years!
This is our 19th year and we’re trying to figure out how we’re going to explode in 2020. We can’t wait to do it here at the Barns! We’ve been here for the last six years and it has been the best venue so far. The move-in the move-out (is a breeze) and brides and grooms get the energy off this venue. They feel so comfortable and they feel like they’re at home. And so, the exhibitors, their work just illuminates in this industrial feel.
Artscape: What have you learned over the last 19 years running The Wedding Co.?
Lash: Running the wedding company, our ultimate goal is to build a community of wedding professionals. What we do outside of the physical show and the seminars we run —it’s secondary to making everybody (who’s a part of the Wedding. Co) feel like they’re part of a community and have businesses that are constantly moving forward.
We’re not sitting around and complaining. We’re constantly figuring out how we can help each other move forward. And that’s the golden part about The Wedding Co. —we’re all supportive, but we’re all propelling forward as opposed to just talking about the past. And that’s what makes it so much fun to help somebody who’s on the same wavelength or to work together on a style shoot or help somebody move their booth into the show. It’s so enjoyable!
Artscape: Is there a particular moment or memory that stands out for you since hosting at Artscape Wychwood Barns?
Lash: To be honest, one of the best things about this show, it closes at five. And I’m having dinner at seven o’clock. I think that’s funny, but it’s also an example of how easy this venue is to get things done and to get people out, but also to get people in. If we can move-in smoothly, our vendors are so happy and that’s how they start the show. And if we can give them that opportunity (and the Barnes lets us do this with ease) then they’re going to have a great show.
If they start on the wrong foot by having a horrible move-in, it’s not a good way to start the show. So for me, number one, the natural light is really good (at Wychwood Barns), but the move-in and the move-out of this venue and the staff that help us are incredible.
Artscape: In addition to the spectacular Wedding Co. showcase, every visitor that stopped by our booth snagged themselves 10% off our venue rental fee (one of our 6 spaces) and a lucky grand prize of 50% off because locking down the venue is the #1 thing you want to check-off your list.
See you next year!
