S1E5: Choosing the Right Venue with Erika Bellitt of Array Creative Design

The cornerstone of the wedding day – venues play quite possibly the most influential role in how a wedding is experienced by the couple, guests, and vendors. Venues can define the personality and essence of a wedding, and can impact everything from the number of guests you can have, whether or not you can get ready or have the ceremony on site, how events flow from early to late into the evening, as well as additional rentals, florals, or amenities that must be considered in the overall budget. Even “last minute” details such as contingency plans, prep space for catering, parking, transportation, locations for photos, and proximity from nearby hotels are affected by the venue chosen for a wedding day. With all this pressure, how does one go about finding that perfect venue that will not only fulfill the vision, but also the ideal “flow” and vibe for everyone involved? During this episode, we talk with esteemed wedding planner Erika Bellitt of Array Creative Design, who walks us through every detail she considers (both good and bad) when helping her couples narrow down on the perfect venue. Besides just aesthetics, Erika touches on the more unsightly details such as vendor and decor restrictions, availability for set-up and tear-down, and even hidden fees that might pop up at certain venues. If you are an up-and-coming wedding planner or couple in the early stages of wedding planning, this is an episode you will not want to miss. Erika Bellitt is the owner and lead designer at Array Creative Design, a full-service wedding design and planning studio based in Santa Barbara, California and serving all of Southern California and beyond. Array Creative Design strives to produce original and authentic weddings inspired by each client’s vision and originality. Erika has featured designs in People Magazine, BRIDES, Over The Moon, Anti-Bride, 100 Layer Cake, Martha Stewart, and many more. Follow Erika and her team at @array_creative_design https://arraycreativedesign.com/  Cover image by Dani Toscano. Thank you for listening to Unveiled Interviews with Alyssa Vanzo. To hear more episodes or follow along on the journey, visit us at ⁠alyssavanzo.com/podcast⁠ or on Instagram ⁠@unveiledinterviews⁠.