BUSINESS PLAN
What are the top 3 wedding venues in the world?
How do we produce the best weddings in the world?
OVERVIEW
This is a great business that is a wonderful asset to the community. Rembrandt is the only boutique wedding venue in Downtown Boulder, and it is unlikely anyone will ever build one again. Real estate development in Downtown Boulder is focused on luxury residential & office space. The key to developing this business is to create an incredible wedding experience for the Bride. The biggest challenge will be developing & managing our staff. Weddings can be stressful, and occasionally our customers can be rude to the staff. Our job is to create a positive workplace for our team. A wedding is a play, and also a form of fine dining. A wedding is also the single most expensive experience our customers will ever buy in their lives, and our job is to make it the best experience of their life.
1 SAFETY
1.1 VIOLENCE
This business has a small physical safety risk that can be improved significantly. Transients sometimes use the stairwell to use drugs & sleep. Our solution to this will be to have a trained & trusted security staff member of Rosetta Hall check in on the building at the beginning and end of their shift Thursday to Saturday (8PM & 1 AM). This will cost about $30 per week, or $1,800 per year. This will also help improve the life safety situation noted in the next section
1.2 FIRE SAFETY
Fire Safety has some minor room for improvement. The 2nd exit to the ground level is chained shut, which is not a good long term strategy in the event of an issue that prevents people from escaping the ground floor in an emergency. We will be restoring this to a safe condition.
1.3 ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Making sure our guests stay safe is the number one priority. Our venue is in Downtown Boulder, so that minimizes the risk of drunk driving that can be stressful for Brides who have weddings in more rural parts of Boulder. We will put great policies in place to make sure everyone has a great time safely.
2 SALES
1.1 TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC
Our target customer is a 25-35 year old woman who lives in Boulder or Denver County. The Bride and the Mother of the Bride will decide which wedding venue to rent. Thousands of affluent women in those 2 counties get married every year. Our business is built around just 100 of them choosing us.
Denver County Annual Weddings
Average Price Per Wedding
Total Annual Denver Wedding Market Size
5,400
$31,000
$170,000,000
Estimated Boulder County Annual Weddings
Average Price Per Wedding
Total Annual Boulder Wedding Market Size
1700
$35,000
$60,000
1.2 MID TERM SALES GOALS
Our plan is to increase our average ticket price to $15,000 per wedding by raising our existing prices for the facility rental, and adding additional products that will make the Family’s wedding better such as: Wedding Planning, Beverage Service, Hair & Makeup, Live Entertainment, Photography & various other value added services.
1.3 CURRENT PRICING
JANUARY, FEBRUARY & MARCH
Monday - Wednesday $2,500
Thursday & Sunday $4,500
Friday & Saturday $6,500
APRIL, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, NOVEMBER & DECEMBER
Monday - Wednesday $4,500
Thursday & Sunday $6,500
Friday & Saturday $10,000
MAY, JUNE, SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER
Monday - Wednesday $6,500
Thursday & Sunday $7,500
Friday & Saturday $12,000
1.4. PRODUCT CATEGORY
A Wedding Is A Play
A Wedding Venue Is A Theater
Rembrandt is a theater. All wedding venues are theaters. Our standard for excellence will be the best theaters & wedding venues on earth. Our goal with Rosetta Hall was to build the best food court on earth, and we achieved our goal. With Rembrandt we will do it again.
The Elements of a Play
Script
Actors
Sets
Props
Lighting
Music
Costumes
Hair & Makeup
Blocking & Choreography
DESIGN STYLE
1.5.1 Flowers, Forest & Fabric
What design do Brides want? Looking at the best wedding references from all over the world the same few style elements appear over and over again. Flowers are the most important design element for all weddings in all cultures. Outdoor themes are hugely popular, especially in popular. These use elements of wood & curving shapes. The third key element is fabric. Weddings are elaborate costume balls with lots of beautiful, flowing fabrics. Fabric is used to diffuse the ceiling lights and give a clean, flowing energy to the ceiling. Delicate curves of wood move across the face of the ceiling to allow a place to attach floral decoration. A light sprinkling of high quality artificial greens, white supporting flowers and a few pale pink head flowers will be attached to the rest of the curved “boughs.”
Seria at Eataly Flatiron
The visual reference for the design is the wildly popular top floor restaurant at Eataly NYC. These simple wooden bough elements can be easily re-dressed to change the entire personality of the space. The classic reference would be the first image with light greenery and simple white flowers. The last reference is too stylized, but shows how versatile the system is. It could be reused in vastly different styles over the years.
PRODUCT DETAILS
1.5.1 The Script
The modern wedding script has evolved organically over centuries (or longer), and is largely the same in all Western cultures and similar to most Eastern cultures as well. Our goal is to help create the best version of each of these scenes possible.
Scene 1
9 AM – MIMOSAS & MAKEUP
Bride, Mother of the Bride & Bridesmaids
Robes & Slippers, Champagne, Oysters & Tapas
Bridal Suite Playlist
The Bridal Party is welcomed to the Bridal Suite! A server makes everyone fresh squeezed mimosas and everyone excitedly talks about the day ahead. The hair & makeup team begins preparing the Bride & Bridal Party while the photographer snaps some candid shots. A light lunch will be brought in at noon for the Bridal Party to enjoy.
Hair, Makeup, Server & Photographer
PRODUCTION NOTES
This is one of the most important, most under rated scenes of the entire production. This may be the ONLY part of the day that the Bride actually gets to relax and enjoy herself, so it’s essential that she has a server to take get her cappuccino, champagne & fruit forward small plates. This scene lasts for almost 4 hours.
BRIDAL SUITE CAPITAL EXPENSE
Scene 2
12PM – BEERS WITH THE CREW
Groom, Father of the Groom & Groomsmen
Groom Party arrives to get changed in the East Suite. Lunch and a fridge full of beer are available.
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
The groom party is generally overlooked in Wedding Venues and simple area to improve. Both members of a couple should feel like this is their special day and they are being expertly taken care of.
Scene 3
1:30 PM – FIRST LOOK
Couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day.
Scene 4
2:00 PM – VINTAGE DRIVE
Drive to the flatirons in a historic car.
Scene 5
2:15 PM – WEDDING PARTY PHOTOS
Wedding party photos occur after the First Look in Downtown Boulder or at Chautauqua Park.
Scene 6
4 PM – PROCESSIONAL
Family and wedding party walk down the aisle. Groom waits at the altar, family members find their reserved seats, wedding party stands at the altar or find their reserved seats. Bride is escorted down the aisle or walks herself down the aisle. Two musical cues – one for wedding party, one for bride
Scene 7
4:05 PM – CEREMONY
The officiant runs the ceremony, couple says their vows, they say I-Do, exchange rings, then kiss!
Scene 8
4:30 PM – RECESSIONAL
Couple walks back toward the 3rd Floor Bar Room while their guests cheer. The wedding party and family follow behind. Music: upbeat love song.
Scene 9
4:35 PM – COCKTAIL HOUR
Couple walks back toward the 3rd Floor Bar Room while their guests cheer. The wedding party and family follow behind. Music: upbeat love song.
Scene 10
4:35 PM – FIRST MOMENT
After the bride and groom recess down the aisle after being married they step into the bridal room to have an intimate moment together (10-15 minutes). They will be greeted by a champagne toast and a lite appetizer. The lighting will be light, airy and romantic. They will not be bothered by any guests during this moment. Marriage license signing may occur after this moment.
Scene 11
4:40 PM – SIGNING MARRIAGE LICENSE & PRENUP
As couple shares a special moment they also take a moment to solidify their union by signing their marriage license. For an extra $10,000 up charge we will seamlessly convince either the Groom or Bride to sign the prenup. This fee is to be paid in cash in a discrete envelope.
Scene 12
4:45 PM – FAMILY PORTRAITS
Immediate family remains on upper level after ceremony for family portraits with the couple. Have cocktails available upstairs for family members since they will not be joining cocktail hour until after photos.
Scene 13
4:50 PM – GRAND ENTRANCE INTO RECEPTION
The couple is announced “Mr & Mrs. Smith ” over the speaker system. Guests are seated at dinner tables. Couple walks in from the Bar Room into the dining room. As the couple walks, they couple does a spin and a dip.
Scene 14
4:55 PM – WELCOME SPEECH
The couple is announced “Mr & Mrs. Smith ” over the speaker system. Guests are seated at dinner tables. Couple walks in from the Bar Room into the dining room. As the couple walks, they couple does a spin and a dip.
Scene 15
5 PM – DINNER
Guests enjoy a plated, buffet, or family style meal at their table. The couple is served their dinner first, followed by other VIP tables.
Scene 16
7PM – TOASTS
Best Man and Maid of Honor give a toast to the bride and groom.
Scene 17
7:20PM – CAKE CUTTING
Couple slices a piece of cake and feed eat to each other.
Scene 18
7:30PM – FIRST DANCE
Couple takes the dance floor for the first time as a married couple. They dance to a meaningful song while guests surround them on the dance floor. The couple’s first dance is often followed by parent dances.
Scene 19
10 PM – BOUQUET TOSS
The Bride is on the dance floor and the DJ announces it is time for the bouquet toss and for all the single woman to gather on the dance floor. With the bride’s back to all of the ladies, she tosses her floral bouquet over her shoulders. Whoever catches the bouquet supposedly is “next” to walk down the aisle.
Scene 20
11:45 PM – SPECIAL EXIT
Guests are ushered outside to say goodbye to the couple. Guests line the sidewalk and the couple runs through the crowd towards Downtown.
Scene 21
MIDNIGHT – AFTER PARTY
The Party heads over to a special reserved Mezzanine section of Rosetta Hall to continue dancing & enjoying the evening.
2 LABOR
2.2 CURRENT LABOR NEEDS
Our target customer is a 25-35 year old woman who lives in Boulder or Denver County. The Bride and the Mother of the Bride will decide which wedding venue to rent. Thousands of affluent women in those 2 counties get married every year. Our business is built around just 100 of them choosing us.
2.2 LONG TERM LABOR NEEDS
Main roles within the team at Rembrandt:
- General Manager (Officer)
- Executive Chef (Officer)
- Event Producer (Officer)
- Director of Sales (Enlisted)
- Beverage Director? (Enlisted)
- Event Manager (Entry-level)
2.2 JOB TITLES & DESCRIPTIONS
Executive Assistant:
- Maintaining and coordinating existing wedding business & staff.
- Schedule final walk-throughs to coordinate with Vendors and clients on timelines, event details & floorpans.
- Work with General Manager to develop strong sales pipeline.
- Work with General Manager to develop Rembrandt Wedding Planning Service.
- Initiate the research and development for in-house F&B program.
2.2 LABOR COMPENSATION
Executive Assistant: Starting at yearly salary of $60k. Benefits package includes
- 50% matched health insurance after a 60 day waiting period.
- 2 week of Paid Time Off (Accrual Period or Given all initially at the beginning of employment?).
- 40 hours of Paid Sick Leave (1 hour Paid Sick Leave for every 40 hours worked).
- 40% Food and Beverage discount at our sister company Rosetta Hall.
- $50 Rosetta Hall Gift Card.
- VIP music passes to Boulder and Fox Theater.
- Complimentary Downtown Boulder parking spot.
2.2 JOB TITLES & DESCRIPTIONS
Our target customer is a 25-35 year old woman who lives in Boulder or Denver County. The Bride and the Mother of the Bride will decide which wedding venue to rent. Thousands of affluent women in those 2 counties get married every year. Our business is built around just 100 of them choosing us.