We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Darmayne Robertson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Darmayne below.

Hi Darmayne, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Business for The Event Suite came out of necessity well before Covid hit. When we made the decision to move our business to a larger location our initial goal was to find a building suitable for the bakery. Although we hosted mini events (10-25 guests) in our old location we had decided our focus would be more effective if we were to only produce wedding and custom cakes, this meant no more mini events. Well, finding a location the perfect size was a challenge in our area, we could find a warehouse style building to call our new home however, it would require us to remain hidden from our clients, work extremely long hours and hire a lot of skilled and unskilled employees to become more of a full service bakery. That was not something we wanted to do. We had to redefine our goal, our wants and what would drive our business. After some very intense and long discussion we talked about every aspect of our small business, We discussed what we like about our old location, what we didn’t like, what our clients liked and what they asked for. We discussed what our local area had to offer our clients in respects to event spaces, we heard all too often most events had to be held in hotels, large kiddy venues, or huge firehouse that had the capacity for events. Our clients were searching for intimate venues, something that would accommodate around 60 guests, that didn’t treat them like cattle rushing them out in 2 hours OR even worse having to decorate a facility that is 4-5 times larger than what they needed.
We listened to our customers and decided we wanted a location that would allow us to remain an intimate custom bakery with the flexibility to host Summer Cake Camps, Cake decorating class, and/or Micro Events for up to 50 guests. We still remain a gem in community allowing us to attract the right client for our business while not having to work extended hours.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

The Event Suite came out of necessity well before Covid hit and just shortly after opening our doors Covid hit. Large events were prohibited. And even upon the return of large events many clients were forced to reevaluate their planned events and determine how to proceed with an intimate event as many were forced to downsize due to the job market and economy. Because of this, smaller Venues became more popular in our case we have a smaller venue that happens to have a bakery attached allowing the client to maintain an intimate event, while not having to transport cake and/or deserts but still have full control over their choice of cater. At The Event Suite we offer our clients the option of decorating the vee themselves OR selecting our Platinum Luxe’ package where we complete the setup and design based on the clients theme and color scheme.

We host intimate weddings, Our Wedding/Reception Package includes Complimentary Bridal Suite, Setup as well as transformation from the Wedding to the Reception. With the Wedding & Reception package the Facility will ensure the event gets started on time (as long as all participants are on site) so that you may end on time without incurring additional late fees. Additionally, you are not charged extra fees for items such as Shimmer Wall, Payette Curtain backdrop, Cocktail tables, non-heated tent rental. This is a stress free event. No stress finding vendors for design and setup, coordinating vendors or even having to purchase decorations for your special day. Sit back relax and let us handle it.

Not planning a wedding?
As your Birthday Party Venue, Bridal Shower Venue or even your Babyshower Venue, The Event Suite at Sweet Confections creates unique moments that leaves lasting impressions. What differentiates us from our competitors is that we really listen to our clients, creating distinctive events tailored to their specific needs and desires. Our innovative mix of solutions ensures that every detail is covered.

We are a group of seasoned artist specialists, passionate about curating unforgettable experiences that inspire. As accomplished event producers and some of the most creative minds in the industry, our Event Planning delivers on every project, from initial concept through the event itself. We have worked with a large number of clients from many different backgrounds, tailoring each event to meet their specific needs and desires. We love taking care of people, and thrive on making your dream event a reality.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

We purchased our building initially to operate as a bakery. Once we determined we would add the Venue we save money, hosted our first event, and used the funds from the event to put back into the business.

Once we decided to add the Venue we began advertising our as a Micro Wedding Facility. Letting locals know we had a beautiful facility in which they could provide their own catering and decorating, As we hosted more events we began putting back into the business purchasing decorations and equipment for allow us to add the ability to design, setup and host micro weddings as well as birthday, babyshowers and other gatherings.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Well, just as we started getting off the ground, the Event Suite opened its doors January 2019, We had hosted 4 events, booked several more events then.… Covid hit, shut our business down. We had collected funds from clients however, clients were forced to cancel contracts because of the mandated shutdown, Our clients wanted refunds. Having a legal binding contract is extremely important, having your contract reviewed by an attorney familiar with your state laws is even more important, Because we were able to work with our clients to change dates or offer other options it allowed use to retain the funds paid into our business without backlash from our clients and without having to refund money. So many other businesses did not have solid contracts in place and were forced to refund money which put a strain on the business and in several cases forced them to shut down permanently. We have continued to grow The Event Suite, adding a Bridal Suite, and Tent for cocktail hour.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theeventsuitepa.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeventsuitepa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theeventsuitepa/

Image Credits
Emerald Stone Photography