Tips for Newly Engaged Brides As Sales Manager for the Salem Convention Center, Merrissa Burleigh helps brides and grooms make their dream wedding a reality by finding the space that best fits their vision. Merrissa makes a point of getting to know the couples who come to her on a personal level so she can better understand what's most important for their special day whether it is food, ambiance or theme. Salem Convention Center Sales Manager, Merrissa Burleigh Having worked with brides and grooms for over 10 years, Merrissa understands how daunting the beginning stages of wedding planning can be. She says the first step in planning your wedding should be setting a budget. This will help guide many of your decisions regarding your special day. It's very important for brides and grooms to determine a realistic amount they are prepared to spend. Once you have set a budget, you can begin creating your guest list. It's necessary for brides to decide if the amount of guests on their list fit within their budget. If not, you must trim the guest list down. 'You can place your guests within A, B, C & D categories. Category 'A' guests are the people you can't imagine not sharing your wedding day with. Category 'D' guests are guests you haven't seen or corresponded with in years' she says. 'You might feel bad categorizing people, however this really is a great tool to use in narrowing down your guest list.' Once these two steps have been taken, you are now ready to shop for a ceremony & reception site. When a couple chooses the Salem Convention Center, they work with an experienced wedding coordinator to outline every detail of their wedding. In addition, they will have a professional service staff the day of their wedding that will completely set up and tear down their event space. 'Believe me, friends and families really appreciate being able to fully enjoy the day without worrying about decorating the banquet hall and then cleaning it up at the end of the evening,' advises Merrissa. 'The Salem Convention Center truly offers the best bang for your buck when it comes to planning your wedding.' The Salem Convention Center is your one-stop shop for wedding needs. We have a hotel to accommodate visiting guests as well as bride & groom rooms, a restaurant to host intimate rehearsal dinners and beautiful banquet halls that can host your ceremony & reception. To learn more, click here to fill out a Request for Proposal.
