In the competitive world of wedding and event hosting, efficiency, accuracy and customer satisfaction are paramount. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Tanith, Wedding & Event Manager at The Orchard in Otham, Kent. She shared her transformative experience with Sonas, a platform that has revolutionised their operations. From tackling last-minute menu adjustments to streamlining communication with couples and suppliers, their journey highlights how innovative technology can elevate a business’s service quality and profitability.

In this interview, they delve into the challenges they faced at the venue before adopting Sonas, the features that made the platform their top choice and the tangible benefits they've experienced since implementation.

Can you describe your business and the main challenges you faced before implementing Sonas?

Our business specialises in hosting weddings and events, ensuring that each couple’s special day runs seamlessly. Before implementing Sonas, we faced several challenges, particularly with continuity in menu choices, managing table plans efficiently, and couples not always having a clear understanding of what was included in their package. These issues often led to last-minute adjustments, increased admin work, and potential miscommunications.

What specific features of Sonas attracted you to choose it over other solutions available in the market?

We were particularly drawn to Sonas for its intuitive menu selection feature, which made it easy to customise food and drink choices. Additionally, we loved how it allowed our couples to seamlessly add extras and upgrades, making the upselling process smoother for both them and us. This not only enhanced their experience but also helped maximise revenue opportunities for our venue.

Photo Credit: The Orchard
"We loved how it allowed our couples to seamlessly add extras and upgrades"

How did the implementation process go for your team? Were there any standout moments of support or ease of integration?

The implementation process was smooth and well supported, thanks to Holly, who was fantastic throughout. We especially appreciated how seamlessly all our weddings were transferred from our old system to Sonas, making the transition hassle-free. The invitation period for our couples also went really well, they found the platform easy to navigate and appreciated the clear explanations on how everything worked.

Could you share a particular instance where Sonas directly impacted your business operations for the better?

Previously, we faced an issue where incorrect food choices were recorded and not updated in our old system, leading to a potential mix-up on the wedding day. Thankfully, our amazing chefs managed to fix it before anyone noticed! With Sonas, this is now impossible as couples select their menus themselves and every guest’s choice is accurately recorded, ensuring a seamless dining experience. This has significantly improved our accuracy and eliminated the risk of errors.

How has Sonas affected your relationships with couples and suppliers?

Sonas has greatly enhanced our relationships with both couples and suppliers. Our couples feel confident using the platform, as it provides a stress free experience and allows them to ask questions directly through it. This has improved communication and reduced uncertainty. Additionally, the ability to easily add supplier details and communicate with them seamlessly has streamlined our coordination process, making everything run more smoothly.

Photo Credit: The Orchard
"Since adopting Sonas, we've seen significant improvements in our sales and marketing efforts"

In terms of sales and marketing efforts, have you noticed any significant improvements since adopting Sonas? Can you provide examples?

Since adopting Sonas, we've seen significant improvements in our sales and marketing efforts. The ability to easily pull reports on key data - such as where couples have heard about us and their location, has been invaluable. This insight has helped us refine our marketing strategies, target the right audiences more effectively and ultimately boost our sales.

Are there any specific tools or features within Sonas that your team finds invaluable? How do they contribute to your daily operations?

One of the most invaluable features within Sonas is the ease of payments and transactions. The ability for couples to pay online and choose how much they want to pay off at any time has made the payment process far more flexible and convenient. This has reduced administrative workload for our team while also enhancing the experience for our couples, making the entire process smoother and more efficient.

Could you quantify the impact Sonas has had on your business, such as time saved, increased sales, or improved customer satisfaction?

Sonas has had a measurable impact on our business by saving invaluable time for the office team. With tasks like creating table plans, checking dietary requirements and ensuring they’re clearly marked for the catering team now handled seamlessly within the platform, we’ve been able to focus on more appointments and client interactions. This has not only increased our efficiency but also led to increased sales as we can devote more time to growing the business.

Photo Credit: The Orchard
"Their willingness to enhance the app has played a key role in our satisfaction and success with Sonas"

How has our ongoing support and any updates or improvements to the app influenced your satisfaction and success with Sonas?

The ongoing support from the Sonas team, especially Holly, has been exceptional. They are always quick to respond to any queries and are incredibly helpful. We also appreciate how they take our suggestions for app improvements seriously, always striving to make the platform more user friendly and tailored to our needs. This level of support and their willingness to enhance the app has played a key role in our satisfaction and success with Sonas.

Finally, would you recommend us to other wedding venues facing similar challenges? Why or why not?

We would highly recommend Sonas to any wedding venue facing similar challenges. It’s a fantastic system that simplifies the process for couples while also freeing up a significant amount of time for the office team. This allows us to focus more on the personal touches that truly enhance our clients’ experience. Sonas has made a noticeable difference in how we operate and we believe it can do the same for others.

Photo Credit: The Orchard

Whether you're a venue owner considering new solutions or simply interested in how technology is reshaping event management, Tanith's insights offer valuable lessons and inspiration. Find out more about Sonas at www.sonas.events