Saturday Weddings: Overrated or Just Tradition?

Kevin Dennis (0:0.718)

All right, folks, welcome to another episode of Now That I'm Engaged, How Do I Get Married with the one and only Anne Ogden from Wintay Vineyards as our guest. So Anne, yeah, oh yeah, I'd like that, yay. So Anne, welcome to the podcast and tell us a little bit about Anne. How did we get to Anne today?

Ann Ogden (0:9.945)

Yay!

Yay. Yes.

Well, you know, you know, I've been dying to come on this. I've asked you how many times, how many times? Um, yeah, I am Anne Ogden. I work at Winti Vineyards. Um, I have done basically every position possible here at Winti Vineyards. Uh, car girl, um, event coordinator worked in the restaurant for a little bit. Um, and then have worked my way up now to a director of sales. So I have been with the Winti Vineyards for 25 years.

Kevin Dennis (0:22.358)

Yes, dying. Five thousand.

Ann Ogden (0:48.155)

And I'm proud of that. It's such a great, great family to work with. And just driving down Arroyo Road is amazing because it's a beautiful view and if you've been to Winti Vineyards, just the whole venue is just amazing. So it's so beautiful here and I'm just lucky to work here.

Kevin Dennis (1:5.174)

And I would say when you drive in, you get to experience all the seasons that you drive through Wintay Vineyards, because you get to watch the grapes go through. Yeah, it's a lot of fun. Like right now.

Ann Ogden (1:11.536)

Oh, for sure. Yeah. Especially every time right after Thanksgiving, like the vines are so amazing, the colors. You see everyone out there taking their photos for Christmas photo. I still haven't done it, but I see everyone else doing it.

Kevin Dennis (1:19.831)

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (1:26.586)

Well, it's Christmas Eve, so hopefully you get your Christmas photos done today, since Christmas is tomorrow. Yeah, OK. All right. I know this was the first year that we stopped doing some traditions that we normally did, because the kids are just too old for that anymore. So it is what it is.

Ann Ogden (1:32.245)

Yeah, probably not happening, but yeah.

Ann Ogden (1:43.270)

Yeah, I make my kids every year have gone to see Santa and that is their one Christmas gift to me is to go see Santa. So I always ask him, you seen Santa yet?

Kevin Dennis (1:50.179)

There you go.

August Yocher (1:50.428)

Aww.

Kevin Dennis (1:54.323)

Perfect. All right. So we're here talking about why are Saturday's weddings overrated. So let's start off. Traditionally, Saturdays are considered like the prime wedding day. So why do you think that was the case?

Ann Ogden (2:10.150)

Why was Saturday so popular before? Yeah, well, because I think like, you know, a Saturday that just makes sense. Everyone's off work. You can have people fly in. It was just accommodating probably to most of your guests. Popular, popular day, but I just see that trend. It's kind of moving away from that. Prior to COVID, we probably had a, you know, a handful of Thursday weddings. So I think it was kind of moving into the Thursday weddings. A little bit of Mondays.

Kevin Dennis (2:12.194)

Yep.

Ann Ogden (2:38.109)

But now we have a few Wednesdays as well. So I actually have a Wednesday couple coming in in May. They have never been to Winti Vineyards. They are flying in from Tennessee and they've never seen the property. But yeah, they thought it would just be a great way to come out and then have everyone join them and then extend that Wednesday into the whole weekend instead of having your guests flying on a Friday just to turn around, leave on Sunday. So make a longer week of it.

August Yocher (2:50.276)

Wow.

Kevin Dennis (2:52.226)

Wow.

Kevin Dennis (3:6.114)

Yeah, make a little vacation out of it for more of a destination. So it's kind of funny because I feel like we're becoming more more like Vegas, where we have weddings almost every day of the week now. And that, think, is a product, like you said, since COVID. People are a little bit more. More people work from home. More people have more flexible schedules than they ever did before. So it's getting easier and easier for these couples to plan weddings on multiple days.

Ann Ogden (3:31.058)

Right.

Ann Ogden (3:35.676)

Yeah, well,

August Yocher (3:36.048)

Well, and I think with midweek too, know, the Tri Valley itself has kind of been a new vacation type destination, right? We kind of have our own small, you know, vineyard area wineries and we're really close to the city. So it is pretty easy to make a full itinerary for the week if you do have a lot of people coming from out of town.

Ann Ogden (3:57.147)

It's true. Yeah. And also like Fridays.

I always like people are like struggling with the traffic here too, right? It's like how many Friday weddings are you like, oh, holding up because half the guests aren't here because it's a Friday. So it's just, it's kind of nice just to like have a, like a more mellow like Wednesday. I feel like your staff's even more refreshed, right? It's like, you know, oh, I just worked the night before, you know, doing another wedding up till two in the morning. But so yeah, I think Wednesdays, Thursdays are great. And actually a lot of like Indian weddings that we are doing here too, typically we'll have

Kevin Dennis (4:16.556)

Hmm.

Ann Ogden (4:30.044)

like some sort of celebration during the week, which is nice. So we're really filling in those weekdays, not just with golf tournaments and corporate, but just weddings. So it's nice.

August Yocher (4:41.968)

Very nice. What are some other advantages to midweek dates other than we can extend it into the weekend? What other advantages do couples see?

Ann Ogden (4:54.621)

Right, well, probably availability, right? Because everyone's looking for that Saturday. So availability is one. Vendors are less expensive. Is that true, Kevin? I'm just thinking, like, you know, if you're not so

Kevin Dennis (5:6.762)

No, it's funny because we get asked that and it's more for the venues than it is for the vendors because it costs us the same day or the same price to do a wedding, whether it's on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, whatever the day is, pick a day, it's the same price. it's more it's, you know, and for you guys, it's real estate is the way I think of it. And so you guys charge more for the prime real estate. And then, you know, if you want to have a Wednesday wedding, it's going to cost you less because,

Ann Ogden (5:16.786)

Right.

Ann Ogden (5:24.680)

So.

Ann Ogden (5:28.776)

Okay.

Kevin Dennis (5:36.642)

that real estate's a little bit easier to get. that's where I think the biggest saving. No? No. Everyone I talk to pretty much keeps the same rate on our side because the same amount of work.

Ann Ogden (5:37.180)

Yeah. Right. So yeah, the state fee, but

So like even photographers, don't you think? Photographers though, don't they have like different rates?

Ann Ogden (5:52.657)

Okay, yeah, right. Our food is still the same, but yeah, you're just getting the discount on the snake fee.

Kevin Dennis (5:57.197)

Yeah.

August Yocher (5:59.522)

the availability too with vendors too, right? Obviously, you can snag a really cool date and if you do have a date maybe that's sentimental to you, that might be easier to snag if it's a weekday. I mean, yeah, even with other vendors, Saturdays book up really quick. So it's nice to have a little bit more freedom and options with a midweek date.

Ann Ogden (6:19.910)

Yeah, I definitely agree. And then like transportation too, like the venues, you know, if you want to like transportation, you know, lot of the hotels here wouldn't say a lot, but there are they provide shuttle service, you know, being able to provide that is nice. That's a huge thing because down here at Wente, we're a little bit down the road. So being able to provide that shuttle service too is a great and then accommodations as well. Right. So just that midweek is probably a little bit cheaper than the weekend too. So.

Kevin Dennis (6:47.938)

Yeah, I like that a lot. And just not to be freaky or not, but I just got a text message from Wente Vineyards that it's looking for a last minute gift. So it's kind of ironic that we're talking to you right now from Wente Vineyards. Well, did. I've already purchased my Christmas gifts. Thank you very much. And I purchased my Wente wine already. Thank you.

Ann Ogden (7:0.712)

Well, are you going to purchase some gifts? know there's no Eric Chardonnay right now, but...

Ann Ogden (7:9.082)

Oh, wow.

August Yocher (7:9.666)

I some, Anne. I might stop by.

Ann Ogden (7:18.032)

Okay, good. Well, thank you for supporting us. Okay, good. Good. Yes. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (7:20.398)

Well, I'm a club member. I support.

Kevin Dennis (7:27.534)

All right, do you find that couples who choose alternative wedding days, like a Wednesday, Thursday, have more flexibility with vendor selection and timelines? What do you think? Yeah.

Ann Ogden (7:36.818)

Yeah, definitely. I mean, it's hard to get the fantasy sound to be available. I mean, usually you could find them on a Wednesday, Tuesday, definitely. Yeah, I just carry.

Kevin Dennis (7:43.702)

You

Kevin Dennis (7:49.868)

Yeah. Well, I feel like they might have more options than be able to get what they're looking for and have a little bit more flexibility. So yeah, I think that's good.

Ann Ogden (7:59.773)

Yeah, and also another thing too that like I feel those midday week, those are like a little more casual, maybe a little more intimate, which I kind of like, you know, it's not, I don't feel like you're gonna get your 200, 300 person wedding midweek. I feel like it's gonna be 50 or less or something like that. Like I said, it's just a little more intimate, a little more special maybe.

Kevin Dennis (8:9.358)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (8:17.804)

Mm-hmm.

Ann Ogden (8:26.162)

for them a little, you know? And maybe that date means something to them.

Kevin Dennis (8:28.098)

What?

Well, now you say it too, it's maybe we're a little bit because, know, having a wedding, don't get to being a couple at your own wedding, you don't get to enjoy it as much as you do. So maybe like having a weekday, more intimate wedding, you're going to be able to enjoy the party a little bit more too.

Ann Ogden (8:45.990)

Yeah.

August Yocher (8:46.246)

Well, I think that could be a benefit too if you're like, maybe you have a really big guest, like two or three hundred people and you're trying to narrow it down a little bit. Maybe choosing a Wednesday or a Thursday is an easy way to kind of shave off some numbers there too.

Ann Ogden (9:0.870)

Yeah, that's too funny. guess I was actually speaking with someone earlier and we were saying that I'm like, that would be great. Cause then if you wanted to chew under person wedding, but you don't want to invite everyone have it on a Wednesday. No, you know, if you can't make it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know what else I do find for those midweek are, um, people are maybe like a little more food centric. They're not so much about the

Kevin Dennis (9:11.171)

Oh, I didn't even think about that. That's really smart too, yeah.

Ann Ogden (9:26.078)

party, what I find. So, you know, we have the buffet, we have a three course and we have a four course. And lots of times they want the four course, like they want, it's like more of like a food production. And then maybe not a lot of dancing, but just more of mingling. So yeah, it's interesting to see that, that it's really like, we'll do the four course, you know, smaller four course, everyone gets to enjoy the food and then just maybe light dancing.

Kevin Dennis (9:27.010)

Hmm.

Kevin Dennis (9:33.613)

Hmm

Kevin Dennis (9:52.237)

Hmm.

August Yocher (9:52.572)

And that's kind of related to my next question is, do you think couples do that a lot because maybe they're getting a lot of savings from not having their wedding on a Saturday and they're kind of using those savings to enhance the menu or enhance things further? Do you think there's any other creative ways that couples can enhance their day with the savings they're getting from having a midweek event?

Ann Ogden (: 10:18

Um, yeah, and I think they take advantage of that food, right? They make it more of like a sit down more like intimate. Um, yeah, definitely. sometimes it's the older couple that maybe wants the midweek and they don't want to be the center of attention as well. You know,

Kevin Dennis (: 10:31

I like that.

Mm-hmm. Oh, that's a good point, too, for the couples. We had someone on here talking about courthouse weddings, which I would have never even thought about. But now that you tie it in, and someone can do like a small little intimate courthouse setting and then have a little bit bigger of a dinner party on a Wednesday, that would be awesome. Yeah.

Ann Ogden (: 10:43

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (: 10:52

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, I would prefer that if I was getting married again. I'm not, but if I was, you know, it's just, it's just simple.

Kevin Dennis (11:0.006)

Are you breaking news on the podcast, something we should know about?

Ann Ogden (11:4.584)

Sorry, guys.

August Yocher (11:7.972)

No, it's true though. When I used to coordinate and I did have a few older couples, I honestly, during the open dancing time, I kind of found them outside just like hanging out with their guests and kind of mingling a little bit more. So I mean, you every person is different, every couple is different, but I just don't think they're into as much as the dancing scene as younger couples are. yeah, I mean, maybe extending the dinner service a little bit is a nice little treat for everyone.

Ann Ogden (: 11:33

Yeah, I find like the older couples, they it's more of you're gonna want the big dance party, right? Like for the younger couples are like, I don't know, should I do plate it or buffet? And then it's like, if you want to like kind of go through, do the buffet, get out dancing, you know, you just want to like, go, go, go. They want this like my main thing is to get on the dance floor. It's like, well, then let's just do that, you know, where others want to extend that and don't want to be the center of attention. That's usually what I find in the midweek. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 11:57

Yeah. When you think about it, the weekday weddings can be just a little bit more chill, like you're saying, a little bit more relaxed. so with that said, do people come into Wente to tour the venue and go, I want a Saturday wedding, and then think about going somewhere else? Or do they come in already with a date in mind? Or how does that work from the initial inquiry?

Ann Ogden (: 12:20

Um, I feel like both. A lot of times they have a date, but they'll say flexible. Some will say they're not flexible. Um, and usually when they come in, they just want to see the property, you know, we tour the property, you know, go through the whole nine yards, um, show them everything. And then, you know, usually I'll ask, Oh, do you have other venues tours today? And usually they do. And it's usually, you know, down the Costa Rio.

Kevin Dennis (: 12:28

Mmm.

Ann Ogden (: 12:46

Castlewood is like, I know you guys are going to all those places, you And so I kind of get a feel when they're looking at those places, like maybe like, oh, I see what you're looking for. A lot of people come to Wendy Vineyards because of, well, it's a winery, obviously, but it's outdoors. We have a lot of outdoor space. I know a lot of people like the outdoor space. We don't have a lot of indoor space, 150 people, but.

Kevin Dennis (: 12:50

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (13:1.282)

Mm-hmm.

Ann Ogden (: 13:11

And it's intimate, like, you the grass surrounds the trees and it's just a nice, you know, the buildings, like a little Spanish style. So it's different than just your cookie cutter, like wedding venue, I think. I think it has a lot of different aspects to it. We take you up to the eighth hold overlooking the winery for the sunset photos. And then, you your guests can come here and enjoy experiences, right? We have a golf course, we have the tasting room, we have the grill.

Kevin Dennis (: 13:36

Mm-hmm.

Ann Ogden (: 13:40

They can have lunch. So it's nice to have those things, even if they don't do it the day of the wedding, they can come back the next day or do it the day before. And another thing that I like to do also is we have our historic sandstone caves and we could fit.

40, up to 40 people in there and like how many times can you say, oh, our guests, you know, we had a rehearsal dinner in the caves. It's like when I walk them through there, there's like, oh my gosh, this is amazing, right? And I even say, if you don't get married here, you can still do your rehearsal dinner here. So.

Kevin Dennis (14:5.390)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 14:13

Yeah, and that's, I love the caves. The caves are a great little place to, I've done wedding ceremonies in there. We've done, like you said, intimate dinners, know, small weddings, all kinds of fun stuff in those caves. that's a great guest experience right there. know, something that people don't always get to experience is having dinner in a cave.

Ann Ogden (: 14:17

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (: 14:35

And how many times are you like, oh, do you want to see the caves? You we do rehearse. What? You have caves? you know, half the, I mean, probably 90 % have never even seen the caves. Know that we had one. So it's just, it's, it's amazing to go show them and just see their face, how cool it is. And they're taking photos and just love it.

Kevin Dennis (: 14:42

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 14:55

Well, and the other thing too, when I think of Wente, I think of the history, you know, the oldest, longest continuing running family winery. So that, mean, that is something to be said right there.

Ann Ogden (15:7.186)

Yeah. Yeah.

August Yocher (15:7.908)

Yeah, I was going to ask, a lot of couples come just because of the name recognition too. Like it's kind of a wow factor when they announce that to their guests.

Ann Ogden (: 15:16

Definitely, know, when he's been around, like you said, it's 141 years now. And so there's a lot of legacy there. And I have people whose family like, oh, my mom and dad actually got married here, you know, and they're with them and they're like, we got married right here. Or, you know, we've been coming to the concerts here our whole life.

Kevin Dennis (: 15:31

Mm.

Ann Ogden (: 15:35

So there's a lot of things that they're attached. Oh, we came to the restaurant for our birthdays and every holiday and stuff. there's so much history here and like the Livermore Valley, it's just amazing how those people, Livermore, I mean, Wente Vineyards connects them. so it's nice to work here. like when people do come and they get so excited about the venue, it's just like, oh, yes.

August Yocher (: 15:56

That's so sweet. It has like a nostalgic or sentimental value to a lot of people in the community.

Ann Ogden (16:1.706)

Oh, definitely. Definitely. So yeah.

Kevin Dennis (16:4.447)

Well, and as director of sales, it sure makes your job easier than when they come in like that.

Ann Ogden (16:8.710)

You know, it's, it's very easy just because it is so beautiful, you know, and there was like, you work here. I'm like, I know it's not the worst place. I drive eight miles through vineyards. So yeah, no, it's great. I, I've always loved my commute here. I've loved working here. And like I said, just being in this environment is just, you know, you have a hard day. like, I'll just go walk outside for a little bit. That's beautiful. Which Kevin reminds me. So last week.

Kevin Dennis (: 16:19

Yeah, not about.

Kevin Dennis (: 16:33

We need that. I think we need to move our office.

Ann Ogden (: 16:38

Last Thursday we actually had a wedding in the caves. It was for 20 people. And then they did their summing a little bit outside and then they went inside for dinner in the caves, which it was a Thursday wedding. Yeah, but small, intimate. They just wanted something simple. They didn't want to like the big fuss of it all. And it was perfect.

Kevin Dennis (: 16:43

Oh.

Kevin Dennis (: 16:50

Yeah, see? So.

Kevin Dennis (: 16:59

Yeah, but I feel like it's intimate, yet classy and fun. And it's a guest experience, again. It goes back to that. yeah. So now, Ann, do you think there's a specific time of the year when guests or couples are moving to that during the week? Or is it more all year round that they're looking for alternative dates?

Ann Ogden (17:3.642)

Mm-hmm. And less pressure.

Thank

Ann Ogden (: 17:22

I feel like it's all year round, to be honest. Yeah, yeah, all year round. What I am finding too though, with the heat now, people are moving away from like, for me, I feel like it's not the August, September, you know, weddings. Now I'm finding a lot of tours are November, like, oh, we're looking for November. I'm like, November, it's interesting, you know, so.

Kevin Dennis (: 17:25

Okay.

Kevin Dennis (: 17:31

Hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 17:40

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 17:44

I feel like out here, November's becoming a really popular wedding month too, because you think about it, especially if you can get a date around Thanksgiving, then family will come in and then they'll be able to have Thanksgiving with everyone. I always found that to be a really good thing. And the other thing too is, last year we didn't have a lot of fires, but the fire, because people don't want smoke on their wedding day. So that's another thing to think about is those August, September's.

Ann Ogden (: 17:48

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (: 17:54

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (18:8.339)

I always ask, say, not? Like, why November? And they say, oh, the wildfires. And I'm like, oh, that's interesting because like, I would never think of that. And I actually had a wedding that was worried about the wildfires. It was a 500 person wedding and you know, there were wildfires. And you know, if you want to cancel, you can cancel, but I'm like, you just plan this whole thing.

August Yocher (: 18:14

Mmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 18:25

Oh my God.

Ann Ogden (: 18:34

And they still, went through with it, you know, but it's like, yeah, the AQI was who knows, but are you really going to cancel all this planning just because of the air quality? And it made for some really great sunset photos. I'll tell you that.

August Yocher (: 18:48

I bet it's super orange, huh?

Well, and Anne, do you guys have, as far as pricing goes at Wenti, do you have different seasons? Because I know at the venues I used to work at, November actually wasn't as popular because it was kind of the end of the peak season. So I thought kind of more people lean towards October or December, actually.

Ann Ogden (19:7.134)

it.

Ann Ogden (: 19:13

Yeah. Well, in the past, our December's, usual, was holiday parties. We did have the one this year, for, I don't know, Wente's just not too popular for weddings in December. I don't know. I don't know if you guys find it popular. Well, Kevin, do you guys do a lot of December? I'm not sure. It's more corporate for us.

Kevin Dennis (: 19:30

Well, I feel like they're competing with the holiday, you know, so lot of the corporate people are nabbing up the midweeks and even nabbing up the Saturdays. So when we do get weddings in December, it's the on Sundays because a lot of companies won't have holiday parties on Sundays, but then they also will have them as like

August Yocher (: 19:35

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (: 19:47

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 19:50

As we get closer to Christmas, like the weekend before Christmas sometimes, we'll get some weddings in there. And then in between Christmas and New Year's, I find we do get a fair amount of weddings. Because again, people are home. It's easier to get families to come together because they can celebrate Christmas and the wedding at the same time. So my wife and I picked New Year's Eve because I never wanted to work on New Year's Eve again. And that's why I picked New Year's Eve.

Ann Ogden (: 19:53

Right.

Ann Ogden (: 19:59

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (20:3.601)

Right.

Ann Ogden (: 20:11

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (: 20:19

But here you are working on New Year's Eve.

Kevin Dennis (: 20:20

For some re- I know, I know. But I've only done- I've only worked a New Year's Eve wedding once since we got married because of COVID. And it was a reschedule, a couple that already I had that was getting married during a different time of the year, they rescheduled their wedding in New Year's Eve because that was available. So.

Ann Ogden (: 20:27

Yeah.

Yeah.

August Yocher (: 20:32

Hmm.

Ann Ogden (: 20:39

Yeah. Yeah. But I guess, yes, to your question, yes, there is different pricing. And it actually starts in November and goes to February, which maybe I need to re-look at that. Maybe it's the same year.

August Yocher (: 20:51

Well, no, think that's great then because that's kind of your winter season, right? Like the venue I used to work at, was December through March. So like when I worked there, it was a little bit harder to sell November, but I could see it's probably easier for you because that's when your winter season starts.

Ann Ogden (21:8.808)

Yeah, but the funny thing is this time change, right? There's the time change. So when you're booking it, you know, they're like, oh, I want it at six o'clock. It's like, okay, but your ceremony is going be in the dark if you want it outside, right? So that's something to consider. I'm always like, oh wait, after that second week and whatever, I think it's that Sunday, right? Yeah. So there's that. then, mean, they'll tend to just, Hey, that's a backup. Shh. But yeah.

August Yocher (: 21:12

Mmm.

August Yocher (: 21:26

Yeah, November, yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 21:29

but you do have the garage building.

Ann Ogden (: 21:37

that I always tell them, like you probably want to be like maybe start four to nine or something and so you don't want to do the six to 10, right? Yeah. Some people like that. We've had a few people get married in the dark with lots of lights. It's pretty too.

August Yocher (: 21:48

Yeah.

August Yocher (: 21:52

Yeah, I guess I've never seen that, but I also love I kind of love the winter time when couples do decide to do like a four to nine event because they're getting married right around sunset, which if they're OK with that, they kind of sacrifice the sunset photos, but they have such a beautiful background for their serum.

Ann Ogden (: 22:10

Right. Yeah, no, I agree. mean, lots of lights and stuff can be really beautiful. I prefer the trees with lots of leaves and greenery, but people love those winter weddings.

August Yocher (: 22:17

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 22:19

Yeah, I was gonna say we did a wedding out at the well, myriad as well one time where they got married in the dark and we surrounded them with light bulbs all around them. And it was really, it was, yeah. Yeah, so I mean.

Ann Ogden (: 22:28

Thanks.

August Yocher (: 22:29

Oh, I've seen those photos. Yeah, that was gorgeous.

Ann Ogden (: 22:32

Well, one of our coworkers, were you at that one? Yeah, that was a beautiful wedding. Um, yes, but that's what particularly as I'm talking about was Mir as well. So that's our other venue that is six miles away from Wente vineyards. Um, Mir as well as a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful spot. Um, yeah, but that's where I tend to be like, okay, it's going to be dark. Lots of lights. It's, it's, it's pretty cool.

Kevin Dennis (: 22:35

Maybe.

Kevin Dennis (: 22:51

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (23:1.334)

Yeah, I agree with you on that. So how do you think couples, I mean, because you deal with them when they're going on tours, how do they come to the decision on picking a date?

Ann Ogden (23:3.539)

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (: 23:13

how on the date.

Kevin Dennis (: 23:15

Yeah, or just, you know, the day and the date.

Ann Ogden (: 23:20

Yeah. mean, sometimes, like I said, it could be an anniversary. Sometimes it can just fit their schedule. What I'm finding a lot now, a lot of firefighters and nurses, doctors trying to juggle their schedules. that, I mean, even with touring, it's hard, you know? So I feel like I have like four or five couples this year that are firefighters and nurses and just juggling that.

Kevin Dennis (: 23:36

Hmm.

Ann Ogden (: 23:48

is hard, I think, you know, their jobs and so maybe the midday works best for them, you know, that's you can't even get them to tour together.

Kevin Dennis (: 23:53

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 23:57

I'm thinking, yeah, I just did a meeting in our venue and they had the groom on Zoom the entire, or not on Zoom, but on FaceTime the entire time. Yeah, so the poor guy.

August Yocher (: 23:59

Yeah, that's hard.

Ann Ogden (24:7.582)

Thank you.

August Yocher (24:9.372)

Yeah. Well, and Anne, I wanted to ask too. I would get this a lot when I was touring venues, but with some cultures, they are very like auspicious about certain dates too. Like it could mean bad luck for the wedding if it was that day or, you know, it has to align with both of the bride and the groom or the couple. And a lot of times they would have to consult with their parents and make sure that this was

Ann Ogden (: 24:10

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (: 24:23

Mm-hmm.

August Yocher (: 24:38

an okay date before they moved on. So a lot of times they would hold a couple dates and be like, okay, I think these are okay, but we just have to double check. So I don't know if you get that a lot at Wenti as well.

Ann Ogden (: 24:47

Oh yeah, we get that all the time. And then also the location of the ceremony. it's like, I think it's as far as like where the sun's setting or rising something in the East or West and it's something like that. But yeah, there's, there's, get that a lot now. It's interesting. And I'd love learning about it all.

August Yocher (: 24:56

Right.

August Yocher (25:5.306)

Yeah, I think with some Indian cultures, it was they have to be facing east, like the direction of the ceremony. So, yeah, very, very cool to learn about.

Ann Ogden (: 25:12

Yeah, something. Yeah. Yeah, I've learned a lot.

Kevin Dennis (: 25:16

That's one of the cool things because we are here in the Bay Area and being a melting pot here in the Bay Area, we get to learn all the different traditions and culture and all that kind of stuff. I always get excited when we do something new. We did a Tibetan wedding this year and we had to hang a bunch of banners and a bunch of different things because they all meant something. It was very specific on how we had to hang it, but it's just fun. It's a different challenge. It's a different... That's what I think is really cool about it.

Ann Ogden (: 25:35

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (: 25:43

Yeah. Yeah. What I think is really cool is like, we have that lawn space, right? And, you know, typically in the past, it's like, oh, ceremony here, do your setup here. Now these like structures are being built. And like, I've seen that lawn be used in so many different ways now that I'm like, it's a blank slate, do what you want. I mean, in the pictures and the photos of some of these things, I'm like, oh my God. And like, how did they think of that? Like, it's so amazing.

Kevin Dennis (: 25:55

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 26:13

Well, and I feel like that and then they get inspired by what they see to make it their own. And that's what I think is exciting for future clients as well.

Ann Ogden (: 26:18

Yeah.

Right. Yeah. Yeah.

August Yocher (: 26:24

Yeah, each event, it's like a snowflake, you know?

Kevin Dennis (: 26:27

Yeah.

Ann Ogden (: 26:28

Everything's different. Yeah. Yeah, I know.

Kevin Dennis (: 26:30

Yeah, I agree.

Perfect. Well, what advice would you give to couples who might be hesitant to move away from the Saturday traditional day?

Ann Ogden (: 26:43

I would tell them if it makes sense for them and it's something they can actually pull off and get the family to come to and make it their day, less pressure, I would say go for it. It's so much easier for everyone, I think. Just getting to the venue and traveling, transportation. Yeah, definitely do it. There's nothing more.

Kevin Dennis (: 26:59

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (27:7.906)

Yeah, and I think it's...

August Yocher (27:8.038)

Yeah, I think you just kind of have to...

August Yocher (: 27:12

I think you just kind of have to remind them and weigh like on the benefits, right? Like the advantages of a midweek. Cause you know, there were times where I'd be touring couples and I would, you know, kind of put the idea out there like, Hey, how about a Thursday? Like we would always say like Thursdays are the new Fridays, you know, like why not just think about it? And you know, you're getting a better price. You're locking in a date. You're, um,

Kevin Dennis (: 27:12

No, go ahead.

August Yocher (: 27:38

you know, getting all of these advantages and some couples were still very hesitant, like, no, they're so set on a Saturday. It can't be any other day of the week, which I do get, you know, like we said at the beginning, that is typically, you know, most people have Saturdays off. But I think it's just reminding them of the advantages and all the benefits you can get from having a weekday.

Ann Ogden (: 27:59

Yeah, I agree, Kevin. And fantasy sounds probably available.

Kevin Dennis (28:5.804)

No, we're very but no, I'm just teasing. probably. We try to accommodate as many couples as we can over here at Fantasy Sound, ma'am. all right, we're getting to tips. I always go first, but I'm going let the ladies go first this time because I have several tips.

August Yocher (28:6.236)

Probably.

Ann Ogden (: 28:13

I know you do. You guys are amazing.

Ann Ogden (: 28:23

Hmm.

August Yocher (: 28:23

Wow.

Ann Ogden (: 28:26

For what?

August Yocher (: 28:27

So, Ann, you can go first. We do one takeaway from our conversation. What's one tip you can pull from this episode that you think is beneficial for couples to know?

Kevin Dennis (: 28:27

Tips.

Ann Ogden (: 28:41

Okay, there's lots of tips, but I would probably say the biggest tip is, I guess it's a little bit both, but the discounted site fees during the week and then also the less pressure. I mean, it's just, and the vendor availability too.

Kevin Dennis (: 28:54

Hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 28:59

Mmm.

Kevin Dennis (29:6.505)

You're taking all the tips, that's not fair.

August Yocher (29:6.928)

Yeah. Well, and I think, it's even better for those couples. And we've talked about this a lot over the last few episodes, but for short-term bookings, because that has just become so popular after COVID. especially if you are needing a lot of vendor availability, if you are doing a short-term booking, then midweek is definitely the way to go.

Ann Ogden (29:8.978)

That's three.

Ann Ogden (: 29:31

Yeah, agreed.

Kevin Dennis (: 29:32

Oh, that's a good tip. And my tip was going to be.

August Yocher (: 29:35

I mean, that was kind of more Anne's tip. I can do another tip if you'd like an extra tip. Well, I mean, just kind of recapping from the beginning, but I mean, my biggest thing I would always tell couples about midweek dates is you can make a whole weekend out of it, right? So if it is a Thursday or a Wednesday, like Anne said in the beginning, people can fly in. They don't have to worry about a quick turnaround and getting back the next day. They can.

Kevin Dennis (: 29:39

Well, yeah, let's go August. Roll another one out, girl.

August Yocher (30:2.244)

Make a whole weekend out of it. Create an itinerary. Go to the city. know, explore little more Valley wine country. There's so much to do around here, so might as well show your guests a good time.

Ann Ogden (: 30:13

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 30:15

Yeah, and as someone that grew up here almost my whole life, it's weird for me when people are coming here as a destination when they pick Livermore. So I think it's cool, but it's also kind of strange. I think the biggest tip I walked away from is just couples need to have an open mind when they're going in to make their decision. Because if they go in with that open mind and see the options, whether they're trying to get a date specific that they're trying to get, or they don't have to go with the Saturday because maybe they want a little bit more casual, a little bit more fun.

Ann Ogden (: 30:22

Ha ha.

Kevin Dennis (: 30:44

you know, at a wedding and enjoy it. But I like it if they go in with an open mind when they do their tour. So that's my tip.

Ann Ogden (: 30:51

Yeah. I love your tips. I love it.

August Yocher (: 30:53

Good tip.

Kevin Dennis (: 30:55

Yeah, well, I always go first because I always have a hard time, but I felt like today, Ann, you gave me lots of knowledge, so I had lots of tips.

Ann Ogden (31:3.665)

and knowledge is power.

Kevin Dennis (31:6.242)

Well, it is. Paris pizza.

August Yocher (31:6.736)

Empowers pizza.

Ann Ogden (31:8.990)

True.

August Yocher (: 31:11

Do you guys watch Parks and Recreation? That's a quote from there.

Kevin Dennis (: 31:14

I do. I do love me some Parks and Rec. All right, Anne, another, well, before we go, how do we get in touch with you?

Ann Ogden (: 31:24

you can email me at ann.ogden.com or you can call me at 925-456-2441 and I'd be happy to tour you around and book any weekday wedding.

Kevin Dennis (: 31:43

So we will put.

August Yocher (: 31:43

I love that.

Kevin Dennis (: 31:49

Well, and you'll be happy to book a Saturday, too, if it's available. let's be straight. anyway. All right. And then before we let you go in, I want to know what your favorite, since you blurted out what one of my favorite Wente wines is, what is your favorite Wente wine?

Ann Ogden (: 31:52

Oh yeah, they're all blue.

Ha

Ann Ogden (32:7.839)

That's so funny. It's the morning fog Chardonnay. I know we have, mean all of our wines are great and I know, I know our Reaver Ranch is super popular. Everyone knows that, but I just, really like our morning fog Chardonnay. But, but I would, I like Eric's too. I mean Eric's is moving up there.

Kevin Dennis (: 32:11

Is it really?

August Yocher (: 32:12

Mmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 32:17

they are.

Kevin Dennis (: 32:23

It's funny, and I'm not big white wine person. I tend to drink more red than I do white, but.

Ann Ogden (: 32:31

Oh really? Because all you ever want is Nicky's Rosé and Eric Chardonnay. So I don't know what that means.

Kevin Dennis (: 32:35

Well, Nicky's Rosé is for my wife and Eric Chardonnay is for my father-in-law and I. It's our pool wine. It's the best wine ever for a pool. So it is. It's my favorite. And I was sad when you said there's none available right now.

Ann Ogden (: 32:45

Yeah, it is. It's for any time,

Ann Ogden (: 32:54

It sells out fast, hopefully we'll have, well, it's coming soon. Coming back.

Kevin Dennis (: 32:57

I'm not going to say it's got to be coming soon. Tell them over there to blend it up. Let's get it going.

Ann Ogden (33:0.349)

Yeah, I know.

Ann Ogden (33:7.209)

I'll save you extra cases. I will. I will.

Kevin Dennis (33:9.240)

Please, please do. All right, well, Merry Christmas, everyone. We made it. It's hard to believe. It's hard to believe this year's almost over.

Ann Ogden (: 33:14

Merry Christmas guys! Thanks for having me!

August Yocher (: 33:19

Mm-hmm.

Ann Ogden (: 33:19

I know. Let's do it again next year.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:23

You can be back for our first episode next year. You can be back.

August Yocher (: 33:28

or our Christmas Eve episode again, but we want you back sooner than that, so.

Ann Ogden (: 33:29

Yes. Yeah, we'll do something. We'll collaborate.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:32

Yes.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:36

Well, that's

August Yocher (: 33:36

We'll see what holiday falls on a Tuesday and then we'll pick you for that one.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:41

you

Ann Ogden (: 33:41

Perfect. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:45

No, and thank you. You see, it's not as bad as you thought it was going to be, right?

Ann Ogden (: 33:50

It was great. It was wonderful.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:52

You're so bad.

August Yocher (: 33:52

She hesitated.

Ann Ogden (: 33:55

I wasn't sure which way to go when I was, I'll go this way.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:58

All right. All right. Well, Merry Christmas, everyone. We'll see you next week. Have a great Christmas tomorrow.

August Yocher (34:2.630)

Merry Christmas!