We're unpacking the essential steps to conducting a successful venue site visit, with the expertise of Dixie Bagley, a renowned wedding venue owner and wedding business consultant.  Choosing a venue is a major milestone in wedding planning, the reception gobbles up about half your budget and your venue sets the stage for your big day. Dixie and I will guide you through the entire process, from the initial online research to the in-person visit, ensuring you know exactly when to go, who to bring, and what to ask. Topics We Covered Timing Your Site Visit: Knowing the best moment to sched ule your venue exploration. Navigating the Site Visit: Essential steps to take during your visit. Choosing Your Visit Squad: Deciding who should accompany you. Packing Your Site Visit Kit: What to bring for a productive outing. Open House vs. Private Site Visit: Navigating the differences and benefits. Dealing with Venue Renovations: What to ask and expect if renovations are planned. Virtual Scouting for Destination Venues: Best practices for when you can't visit in person. About The Guest Dixie Bagley is a renowned wedding business entrepreneur, owning The Farm in Rome, Georgia, a picturesque European farm estate nestled in the northwest Georgia mountains. In addition to managing her venue, Dixie also owns The Sweet Bar Bakery, bringing culinary delight to her clients. Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, she serves as a Business & Personal Consultant for wedding and event professionals, specializing in growth and balance, while also excelling as a wedding planner and engaging speaker in the field of event education. Links We Referenced The Sweet Bar The Farm Rome, GA Dixie Events Click HERE to become a premium subscriber and unlock all of the amazingness: Ad-free, full episodes TBWPP Wedding Planning Resource Center Monthly Wedding Planning Happy Hours via Zoom with Michelle Bonus Episodes Extra tools and gifts get sprinkled in every so often! The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is... Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention! Inviting you to become part of our Facebook Group! Join us and our amazing members. Just search for The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Community on Facebook. Easy to get in touch with. Email us at [email protected] or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices