What is your position, and what does that job entail?
I am the banquet manager and owner. As far as for weddings, that entails making sure the event goes as planned. I oversee all of them. I not only book the weddings, I also work them — making sure that everything the couple wanted and requested happens. I’m not a coordinator, I am the manager.
What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
I love my job. I love to see wedding plans come to life. I love to see the start of the couple’s journey. I feel like I’m a part of their beginning.
What makes your venue unique as a wedding location?
The setting. I think our location is beautiful, from the property to our brand-new wedding gazebo that we built. We used to have a small trellis, and it wasn’t sufficient. We wanted to give our guests who are getting married something beautiful. The gazebo is a replica of the gazebo that I got married in at Disney, 23 years ago. It is really, really special for me, especially that our gazebo is exactly like the one I got married in. We are right beside the polo fields, and we have beautiful bougainvilleas surrounding the property. I’ve actually had couples tell me it looks a little like Italy. The property itself is surrounded by flowers. Our patio, where cocktail hours often take place, was voted the best patio space in Wellington. Because we have separate locations to utilize, for instance, the patio bar, the upstairs ballroom, the brides come down the stairs from the bridal suite — there are so many different elements to it that make it different than typical banquet facilities. Our guests have the option of getting married on site at the gazebo and then heading upstairs to the ballroom. I think that convenience sets us apart. While they’re in the bridal suite getting ready, they can see their guests arriving through the windows.
How do you work with couples to
customize their celebrations?
I sit down and find out what their goals are, what they envision their wedding to be, and I try to make that a reality for them. We talk about budget, alternatives and things we can do together to make sure that their perfect dream wedding comes to life. I help them achieve that.
What are some current wedding
trends that you have noticed?
I’m seeing many more grooms more involved in the planning process. I find that refreshing, to actually have grooms who want to be involved, who want to have their take on it, to have their own ideas in the mix. I love that. I think it should be exactly what the groom and the bride both dream of. Also, as far as the reception, I’ve been seeing many weddings getting away from the traditional seating charts with a lot of open seating weddings taking place recently.
Why should couples choose your
venue for their wedding?
A: The location.
B: Our food.
Yes, we offer traditional banquet food, but we also offer our tapas. We try to incorporate that into the banquets. That sets us apart and gives you something a little bit out of the ordinary. Our food is fabulous. And last, because I oversee the events, I make sure that everything goes according to plan. That’s my job. I think location, food, ambiance and me, are the reasons couples should choose Suri West for their wedding.
Suri West is located at 13410 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. For more information, call (561) 795-0080 or visit www.surirestaurant.com.
