Wedding firm’s $600k hitch
An Upper Hutt wedding venue that has lost $600,000 in bookings so far is preparing to hold socially distanced weddings and events in level 2.
It is one of hundreds of venues, restaurants, bars and cafes across the country working through how they will be able to reopen when the Government deems it safe enough to move down a level.
Aston Norwood Cafe and Function Centre near the Remutakas aims to pull through the Covid-19 crisis — but the owner says it will be by the skin of their teeth. She predicts a spike in “boutique weddings” sold in packages for groups of 20 people, and the temporary death of the self-serve buffet at receptions.
Belinda Devlin spent the past few months doing “triage” on the business accounts as bookings dried up and brides rescheduled to next year.
The cafe has now opened for takeaways for the first time and is offering high-tea packs for Mother’s Day — including a cake stand and miniature bottles of prosecco. It has more than 150 orders going out tomorrow, replacing its usual Mother’s Day tea in the ballroom.
They’re just a few of the ideas the business is trying out to combat the loss of revenue caused by Covid-19 and the lockdown.
Devlin said they were also open for takeaway coffee and had taken creative measures to attract motorists — this week two staff members dressed in dinosaur and shark costumes and posed on the side of the road with a sign.
But they’re also looking forward to being able to open fully again.
When that is allowed, Devlin will have tables set up at appropriate distances, and customers will use an app to order and pay from their tables, and another app to register for any contact tracing necessary.
Salt and pepper shakers will be replaced with paper sachets, cutlery will be packaged, food will be carried to tables with lids on, and tables won’t be set before guests arrive. There will be hand sanitiser wall units at each point of entry into the building, and all staff will wear gloves.
Devlin said they held five weddings right before lockdown began, so already had a good idea of how they would play out.
She was not quoting people for weddings of 150 people, only booking functions of 50. Level 2 allows gatherings of up to 100 if public health measures are followed and Devlin expects their “boutique wedding” packages for groups of 20 to be popular. The crisis has hit hard, with about 50 events cancelled over the next few months, costing $600,000, or about 50 per cent of their revenue.
“I’ve had a lot of jumpy brides . . . I’ve already filled up next year’s calendar. This will be a much quieter year.”
If they came out the other side, it would be “by the skin of our teeth”. A big loss had been tours from cruise ships, which Devlin said was their “bread and butter”.
The coronavirus had “taken everything”. “Everyone’s affected in the same way so everyone’s just trying to navigate the best way through.
“As long as we’ve got no cases I think we’re really safe to go ahead, but it only takes one person with the virus, doesn’t it, to upset the apple cart.”