Stephanie Hile - The Diamond Room - Omaha Wedding Venue

For today’s episode, Kelly is joined by Stephanie Hile, general
manager and co-owner of the Diamond Room in Omaha.


The Diamond room is a wedding and events space, awesomely located
almost exactly cattycorner from the Omaha ballpark, that bills
itself as “industrial chic.” Think cool cement floors and garage
doors – but make it fashion. Stefanie says couples love the space
because it’s just so versatile – a cool and modern blank canvas.
(2:30)


Right out of college, Stephanie began a career in internet
retail, (3:46) doing everything from social media, to SEO, and
email marketing. She attributes this experience with giving her a
solid base from which to begin her own business. Coming from the
entrepreneurial family that she does, Stephanie’s dad and her sat
down to draw a business plan for what later became the Diamond
Room and began to look at spaces in 2008. (4:26)  After
coming up empty handed for the perfect space, Stephanie moved on
and continued working for internet retail for another 5
years.  One day her dad let her know that he had found the
perfect place – and 3 months later she had the keys in hand.


Today, Stephanie’s role primarily consists of assisting with
tourism bookings and helping the clients through their planning
process When it comes to weddings, she meets with couples at 60
days out, and then again at 30 days out to go over all concerns,
questions and logistics – leaving nothing until the last minute –
or worse – to chance. Stefanie likes getting couples into the
venue space early on to truly visualize how everything is going
to come together.


A blank canvas can be overwhelming, but Stephanie guides couples
throughout every step of the process. To walk couples through
planning their perfect day, she begins by discussing what the
couple is envisioning for centerpieces. (2:20) She then suggest
table shapes and layouts, as well as head table options to create
the look and feel they’re going for.


In the past few years, Stefanie has definitely sensed a shift
toward more unique, personalized weddings. While the first few
weddings she did were all sort of the same as far as look and
vendors, brides are now coming up with their own unique ideas and
visions for what they want on their big day.(6:22)


Kelly then asks Stefanie to share three things clients may not
know about her. She shares a little about her fun role as a dance
mom, her possible caffeine addiction, and her love of comparing
her life to her favorite tv shows. (She’s a Charlotte, if you’re
curious.)


When it comes to things she wishes couples were asking, Stephanie
reassures that they should feel comfortable asking anything and
everything they want. There is no such thing as a dumb question,
as we’re not all expected to be wedding pros. (That’s what the
pros are for, after all!) She also wishes couples would really
get into the weeds of their contracts with vendors as well as
their venue. (12:00)


Stephanie finally shares her advice on choosing vendors couples
love (17:40) and prioritizing what is most important to them, as
well as looking out for red flags that could lead to issues
further along in the planning process.


You can find out more about the Diamond room on Instagram
@DiamondRoom605, or at www.diamondroomomaha.com