Wedding Photos at The Peachtree Club in Atlanta, GA

The Peachtree Club is perhaps one of the coolest rooftop wedding venues in Atlanta. It offers a beautiful skyline view of the city – a truly stunning backdrop for your wedding or proposal! The Peachtree Club offers in house coordinators, an incredible chef, and amazing staff and team members to make your wedding or proposal dreams come true. We cannot say enough positive things about this phenomenal wedding and event space and all of its spectacular people who run it. ❤️

An Interview with The Peachtree Club Atlanta GA

Jaimie

This is Jaimie with Jaimie Dee  Photography. I am sitting here with Megan from the Peachtree Club today.

Megan

Hi everybody.

Jaimie

Megan has been working with the Peachtree Club for about..

Megan

Three years.

Jaimie

About three years now. Megan, what is your official title with Peachtree Club?

Megan

My official title is Director of Catering and Events.

Jaimie

Ok. So, we have a couple of questions here today for Megan. This is a quick interview about interesting information that brides may be interested to know about the Peachtree Club. We’re going to start off with just some quick background information questions. Megan, how long has the Peachtree Club been in business?

Megan

The Peachtree Club has been here since 1989. So 28 years coming up for us. We were a club put in place to help build up the community of Midtown when they were really developing this area. When they built the building, they contracted with the club to kind of make it a featured amenity for the 999 Peachtree Building.

Jaimie

How long have you been doing weddings? That entire time?

Megan

I think they’ve been doing private events and weddings for that entire time, but definitely our wedding business really changed when we added on the terrace a few years ago and that ramped up what we were able to do in terms of private events.

Jaimie

Are there any interesting historical facts or anything about the particular location or building that you think brides might find interesting?

Megan

Not necessarily about our building. Definitely that we have been here since Midtown really became a place. I’ve always heard that when the building was put here it really was the only office building, and it was a lot of industrial like restaurant nightclub space and the community of Midtown the way it is today is not how it was when it started.

Jaimie

Yeah.

We’ve seen the whole turnaround of Midtown get built up around 12th Street and 14th Street. Since that club has been here, they’ve seen that development grow.

Jaimie

Yeah.

Megan

Our biggest landmark is the Margaret Mitchell House. It’s across the street from us. It’s a little historical place to go check out if you’re not from Atlanta and something to do that is right there.

Jaimie

Do you know how old that is just out of curiosity?

Megan

I’m not sure. It was the house that she either grew up in or the house she lived in when she was writing the book.

Jaimie

Ok. That’s really cool.

Megan

So you can go in there and see the room that she lived in and stuff like that.

Jaimie

Ok. So, switching gears a little bit. As far as the actual space at the Peachtree Club, what size of an event can you guys cater towards? Like, how small? How big?

Megan

Really, I would say any size. As small as you want to make it, we can accommodate. I certainly have done weddings for 30 people before, but really our max capacity is 200 guests throughout the whole space.

For ceremonies we really try to keep it at 170 guests just because that’s the seating for the terrace outside. But the restriction for us is 100 guests for a seated dinner. We’re definitely looking at if you’re over that 100 guests, that’s going to be more of a cocktail style reception and you don’t have full seating for everyone. It’s a little bit different style if you go over that 100 number with us.

Jaimie

Out of curiosity, pertaining to your average event and your average wedding, how many guests would you say you guys normally have?

Megan

We’re usually around the 100 mark, but 110 to 125 guests is probably where we average.

Jaimie

Ok. So, in terms of business, I’m sure you guys do a lot of things every year. What would you say are your busiest seasons or busiest months of the year?

Megan

Definitely for us I mean September, October are consistently becoming our busiest months of the year.

Jaimie

More than Spring?

Megan

More than Spring. I would say probably a couple of years when I started here May and June were our busiest months.

Jaimie

Ok.

Megan

I’m really seeing it shift into April and May now. I think brides are getting away from the heat.

Jaimie

Yeah.

Megan

And I think that’s why September and October are so popular because you’re really getting past that Summer heat into the nice and cooler weather.

Jaimie

Do you think that climate change has anything to do with that?

Megan

I wonder about. You know, I don’t know, but I think trends of having a winter wedding or fall wedding are becoming more known and something you can do and becoming a little trendier. So I see it shifting that way.

Jaimie

How many weddings do you guys typically do a year?

Megan

Typically, we’re doing anywhere from 45 to 55 weddings a year. We’ve been consistently adding on a couple more every year. When I started here we were doing about 48 weddings and now we are supposed to be doing 53 weddings for 2017.

Jaimie

Do you guys do multiple weddings in a day typically or is it more spread out than that?

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Megan

It’s more spread out. I mean usually it’s going to be one wedding a weekend day, a Friday Saturday or Sunday. Certainly not all three days of the weekend. Every once, we we’ll do a wedding in the morning and then a wedding at night. We can do a ceremony only. Sometimes we’ll have a couple come in and just have their ceremony with us in the morning or afternoon and then we’ll do a ceremony or reception that night. And that’s kind of as most that we would want to do in our space.

Jaimie

Back to back weddings are definitely very intense. In terms of couples booking with you guys how far in advance does the average couple tend to book with you?

Megan

We’re actually seeing it around nine months to a year. Every once in awhile I’ll get a bride who books with me 16 months out or something like that. But usually it’s around that year mark or even to nine months. We kind of see everything. I have brides that are still looking for March of next year so we are well within that six month mark. But most of the time it’s nine months out.

Jaimie

What’s the farthest in advance that you guys allow brides to book with you?

Megan

Probably two years. We really say I probably can put you on the calendar regardless of the date. But to me, so much is going to change in terms of your menu and the pricing that I probably would advise you to pick a closer date or to look at your options before you decide booking for 2022 because that’s a little far out.

Jaimie

Do you guys host events other than just weddings? Do you do corporate events or anything else?

Megan

We do rehearsal dinners, that’s our second biggest weekend event that we do. But definitely corporate events throughout the year, small cocktail parties for our members or people who work in the building with us. We do corporate anniversary parties and for us December is not so much a busy wedding month but a busy corporate holiday and party month. So we’re definitely seeing that side shift when we get into December and January.

Jaimie

Between corporate events and holiday parties and weddings what would you say that you book more of? Are you more of a wedding venue, more corporate, or both?

Megan

I would say we’re more of a wedding venue. That’s definitely where we spend our focus in terms of our marketing and SEO is trying to bring in that bride. It’s the money game. I mean it’s a bigger bang for your buck in terms of weddings for us. But I say, we definitely stay busy throughout the week and at those off days where you’re like, “Oh, I have an open weekend.” Corporate will come along and fill that spot on your calendar for you.

Jaime

We have a couple of questions in terms of the vendors. For new brides who are coming to work with you for the first time, do you  allow brides to bring in outside vendors with them?

Megan

We do allow outside vendors. Really the only restriction that we have is the catering in-house. And, of course for us, our liquor license. All beverage has to be in house. We definitely leave it up to them in terms of choosing their florist, their photographer or their DJ. Any of those extra amenities, like if they wanted to bring in rental furniture, dance floor, or a photo booth, that’s up to them. We certainly let them know we’re here to guide them in terms of finding those people and vetting for them. But it’s really up to them.

Jaimie

Do you guys have like a list of vendors that you do refer out to your new clients?

Megan

We do have a preferred vendor list, and we emphasize that they are just people that we’ve worked with numerous times and people that are familiar with our space. We’re not the typical big ballroom that anything can fit in. We encourage them to look at those people that at least know our space and are familiar with us a little bit, but we’re not that hands on. As I was saying earlier, that’s my goal for 2018, is to be a little bit more hands on in terms of helping them find those professional vendors.

Jaimie

As far as features go for the Peachtree Club, you guys definitely have a really cool set up with being at the top of the city and being able to see everything. Why do brides typically choose your venue? What makes you stand out from other wedding venues out there?

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Megan

Definitely the rooftop space and the outdoor space.  I think that’s number one sell and that’s the reason they find us is looking for that rooftop venue. I think something that can set us apart from other places that we are inclusive, meaning that you’re the only event that’s going on here and there. It’s not going to be another wedding down the hall that you could run into. You have the entire space. It’s a little bit more intimate, a little bit more private. It’s a little bit more exclusive for that bride. We’re more of a traditional looking space, so we’re finding that brides who want that rooftop space but want to keep it a little bit more traditional. It’s not a bar wedding.  It’s not an industrial chic wedding. So, that’s the bride that we’re finding, is the one who is looking for that  traditional style.

Jaimie

That was actually my next question is the type of style or wedding that you guys attract. How do most of your brides typically find out about you?

Megan

I think they are finding us either through a Google search or we’re on the Knot and Weddingwire. It’s probably equal between those three. We do have a couple websites, Peachtreeclub.com and Atlantarooftopweddings.com. We are getting traffic from both those places.

Jaimie

Are you guys finding that people find you on social media at all? We’ve heard that random brides will pop up on Instagram and that’s how brides are finding some of their vendors now.

So, I was curious if you guys had experienced that.

Megan

I haven’t been seeing that. I definitely think that’s where they’re kind of vetting us is through those channels. They might not find us that way, but they’re definitely scoping us out through that. We really ramped up our social media presence a couple of years ago and did feel a big change in bookings. So, we think that’s great. It’s definitely an avenue that we’re trying to really support because it just makes them be a little bit more confident in their decision with us. I think the struggle that we have is we’re kind of a well-kept secret around Atlanta, but you run into people who either know the club business but don’t know the Peachtree Club or they know the wedding business but they don’t know the Peachtree Club. We’ve been here for a while so we are trying to get our name out there a little bit more and backing it up with “yes” we are around and “yes” we do weddings all the time. You found us on one Google search but we’re all over. We do have a presence.

Jaimie

With social media, you said that you started your social media or tried to ramp it up a couple of years ago. Which social networks do you guys focus on?

Megan

For me it’s really Facebook. I guess I’m right maybe the older generation.

Jaimie

I’m right there with you.

Megan

It’s a great way to share information. I always want to make sure that I’m giving credit to the photographer and they’re not my photos, it’s their photos. Or the DJ who put together that great mix like I feel like I can credit a lot more people in my Facebook post and share a lot more, it’s not just one photo. I can put 20 photos up there on a wedding we did. So to me Facebook is a great platform to let them see a lot of stuff about our space, but we try to be on Instagram as much as we can. I think that’s where younger brides are looking. Snapchat, I just can’t figure that out. I can get into  that. I do need some young blood to help me with that. But definitely Facebook and Instagram.

Jaimie

Ok.  this is a little bit more feature wise as far as like the space goes. What are your contingency plans in terms of bad weather? So I imagine the rain wouldn’t affect you guys too much but I’m curious about if it’s too hot outside or if it’s too cold, do you have heaters or some units, or what you do in terms of the extreme weather?

Megan

We are an outdoor space. It is open air year round so we do have to play with that weather a little bit and bend to it. We always say we’re going to do everything we can to keep you outside. For the winter time we do have some propane heaters that go outside and I always encourage my brides if that’s their fear they can always rent more heaters to fill that space. It’s not going to be as warm inside. It’s also Atlanta, and I think we’re lucky that we have generally warm weather 10 months out of the year so we’re pretty good. In terms of rain, we have a little bit of backup plans in place always whether it’s in our heads or we’ve communicated that with the bride. And we can do everything inside and we always are keeping that in mind in terms of numbers and capacity. If we had to bring that 170 person ceremony inside what would we do? How would we do it? So it’s always in place for us. In the summer, generally, we have awnings that can extend across the terrace. Those will protect from light to medium rain. So that’s  a great backup if a shower blows through then you’re usually ok. But definitely in those hot summer months you can shade the terrace, and it is a really noticeable change in temperature out there. I definitely feel if couples are from Atlanta they’re used to this Atlanta weather. it’s not something that’s going to throw them off. It’s usually when you have a family from New York who comes down in August. They are little surprised at how hot it is or vice versa. That family from Florida and they’re here in November and it’s actually 50 degrees outside, it’s a little chilly. So, the contingency is understanding your guests that are coming in and preparing them for what it will be like.

Jaimie

I imagine in the summertime, is it a little bit breezier up here than it might be if you’re on the ground level? Because you are on the 28th floor, is it a little bit breezy up here?

Megan

It can be. I always had it described to me, and I feel it holds true that we’re up here to where there’s nothing blocking us from getting that wind. You don’t have a building that’s going to block it. But you also don’t have a building that’s going to create like a wind tunnel or something like that. You are in the element of a true weather forecast situation.

Jaimie

Do you guys do in-house catering? I think you mentioned you do.

Megan

We do all in-house catering. The only thing that we’re not doing right now is wedding cakes. So that is something our couples can bring in from outside. But yes, everything is in house. We try to do as much as we can. Our chef is amazing at trying new cuisine, and he has a lot of experience in doing not just your typical Southern American cuisine. He likes to branch out and do other things, I’m sure.

Jaimie

What’s your favorite menu item or your favorite thing that your chef has put together?

Megan

That’s a tough question. It’s hard to say. It’s like a crowd pleaser and it’s always good. He does this bow-type pasta, and it has a creamy pesto sauce. It’s really good. Probably our most popular station, because you can’t go wrong, is the Comfort Zone. It’s a braised beef short rib. It is amazing every time. The consistency of it is what I’m blown away by because he can blow it out of the water every time. And who doesn’t like like a good hearty piece of meat with gravy over mashed potatoes? That’s a great one.

Jaimie

What would you say is like a bridal favorite? Is there something that a lot of brides tend to come back to a lot every time?

Megan

The Comfort Zone is pretty much on every menu which is to beef short rib with mashed potatoes and it’s a seared salmon and vegetables. So you have the best of everything on that station in terms of people being hearty. For us, in terms of stations, which is what we do most often. The Cajun station has been really popular. I think that was kind of a trend over the last year, it was kind of Southern and bringing that hearty Southern stuff back to your menu. But then we also do a Thai station that has been really popular.

Jaimie

Those lettuce wraps were really good by the way.

Megan

I think brides have fun with that because it’s not your typical wedding food. It’s not something you’re expecting to get when you go to a wedding. Our chef says that his favorite food is Thai, so he loves putting that station together.

Jaimie

That food was so good. It was delicious.

Megan

It’s a good one.

Jaimie

Do you guys offer any additional special or nontraditional services? I noticed you had sunglasses out that had Peachtree written on the side. It makes sense that you guys are rooftop venue and you provide sunglasses. Is there anything else like that that you guys do?

Megan

We’re trying to always keep it a well-rounded experience for our guests. We do the sunglasses. We try to have little pashmina wraps if it’s chilly outside. We’re always prepared. We’re trying to implement some new water. We usually have a flavored water on the bar for people to supplement their alcohol consumption with. And we provide little take home waters or things that  helps complete the whole event for them. And there isn’t somebody who’s left wishing they had some sunglasses or wishing they had a jacket they could throw on. We’ve got those kind of

elements put together for you.

Jaimie

I love that you guys do that. I like that you think aboutthe guest experience, and that’s really great. That’s awesome. Trends. So, just as far as in the industry have you noticed any trends over this last year and any kinds of trends that you think might be coming up soon?

Megan

It’s hard to say. You get those brides who are very minimal and they want to keep it very simple and low key. And I can see that being a trend. In that weddings are get into a bride is going to be more focused on her menu than her decor or her bar package than her decor. But I definitely have had a handful of weddings this year that have gone all out in terms of bringing in cool lighting and furniture and decor stuff that really makes it a different experience with a couple. As far as menus go, I think the stations is something that we’ve been doing for the last five to seven years. It’s definitely becoming a little bit more known and accepted that it doesn’t have to be that traditional seated dinner. I’m definitely doing a lot more weddings out there like a fully butler passed wedding and it’s a cocktail party. You’re not really getting into that traditional like sit down and have a meal. They are really getting away from that. So it was exciting to see.

Jaimie

Do you think Pinterest has a heavy influence on, I guess, a lot of things that are trending right now? For instance, we started seeing mac and cheese bars or mashed potatoes bars and the little martini glasses and stuff. In D.C., like a lot of brides requesting things that they’ve seen on Pinterest.

Megan

Yes, I think Pinterest is playing a huge role even if they’re not telling you that they found it on Pinterest. That’s where they’re getting their idea or that’s where they’re saying, “ Oh, I saw that picture and that was pretty, I want to do that.” Yes, I feel like we’re seeing that a lot in terms of decor and kind of room set ups that they’re following, floral arrangements or color schemes that  they’ve found on Pinterest. In terms of food and menu,  I think it they’re getting more customized. We go to this restaurant and this is our favorite restaurant. This is what we always order, and so I want to incorporate that into my menu. I had a couple coming up, Katie and Ben, that it was their thing that whenever they travel they would try out new barbecue places. And so they are doing a barbecue menu and they really wanted to bring that experience that they’ve gone through with their relationship to their guests and tying that in.  And I think that’s what we’re seeing a lot more in the menu. I had a couple who was really into bourbon and they did a bourbon barrel cap for their guestbook, and really tied in their love of whiskey into everything that they did. And they made sure that their bar had these kind of special whiskeys that they enjoyed. Their signature drink was a whiskey drink that they picked out. I think it’s just kind of becoming a little bit more about bringing your personal life into that experience for all of your guests.

Jaimie

And you guys are able, as far as the menu goes, like you said for Katie and Ben, are able to customize the menus specifically to what brides are looking for? Different types of cuisines of foods?

Megan

Yeah,  we definitely try to accommodate what they’re looking for. I think Chef has fun when he can branch out and it’s not making the Comfort Zone again. He can do something different. I think that, yeah, we definitely have some fun with that and it hasn’t been too much that they’ve run into that we aren’t able to do. I know I see on here we did have a kosher wedding just like a couple of weeks ago. That was new for me. It was fully kosher, and we did allow an outside caterer to come in and handle that for them, So that they could do in our space. That was a little different for us. I mean, yes. Chef has fun getting to do different foods. He’s done Caribbean cuisine and African cuisine. I’ve had couples want to go very authentic Italian food or barbecue. He’s done and seen it all, and we’re excited to play on those ideas that they have.

Jaimie

I guess as far as the future of Peachtree, are there any future plans for growth? Do you see Peachtree Club moving in a certain direction, or pretty much keeping things as they are now?

What direction do you see yourself going in?

Megan

We’re kind of always, of course, looking to grow from the year before. We want to make sure that the number of weddings on the calendar is consistent and growing. I think for us it’s really kind of probably trying to find that bride that’s the best fit for us because we’re not that farm wedding and we’re not that industrial chic  kind of space. If we have a bride that comes and looks for us, we want to be able to guide her and know that, like her, that’s not our space or you’ll be a better fit here, so that we really are getting kind of the best fit bride that’s booking with us and is on our calendar. We actually changed our pricing a little bit for 2018 so that smaller groups can come into our space and it is still was financially acceptable for us to do those smaller groups. Because that 100 person wedding it really is a great fit for us. And being able to work with our pricing so that the 100 person wedding can come in and still have a great wedding with us and not feel like they have to invite 150 people to spend the money that we need to make on a Saturday. That doesn’t sound greedy. I don’t know what led to that.

Jaimie

So coming into the homestretch now. We just have a couple more questions about the advice that you might have for future brides. So, for the bride who’s looking for her wedding venue right now, what is the biggest piece of advice you could give as far as like helping her choose her wedding venue?

Megan

I feel like my experience with brides has been like you have a vision in your head as to what that day is going to be for you. Whether it’s just like a glimpse of you picturin yourself sitting there with a cocktail and mingling with your friends or it’s that ceremony and that walk down the aisle that you have been envisioning for the last how many months that you’ve been with this person that you’re marrying or your whole life and staying true to that vision that you have. Does this venue that I found or these vendors that I found, do they fit into vision? Definitely utilize those vendors to help you realize that vision. If it’s something you can’t really put into words, you know what you don’t like or you know you’re looking . Use those vendors to help you really figure out how to say this is the type of wedding I’m looking for. But staying true to that vision that you have, inevitably, it’s going to come back to that when you’re making your plans and mak your decisions down the road. So I think staying true to that in the beginning of your process will help you with That whole planning.

Jaimie

So stay true to your vision. For all of your brides that have already booked with Peachtree Club, What’s  the biggest advice that you could give to them as far as having the best possible experience on their wedding day?

Megan

Like I said before, utilizing your vendors to really help you pull everything together. It’s a lot of work and a lot of pieces that come together from your family, from all your vendors, from your friends, and utilizing those vendors to make sure that it’s  seamless. They’re there to help you to have that great day, so use them. But also communicate with your vendors and say “Hey I saw this on Pinterest, and I liked it. What can we do?” Or “Oh my gosh.  I just talked to mom and there’s going to be five kids that are coming.” Tell that to your photographer. Tell that to your venue, so that everybody is aware even if it doesn’t affect any of your plans. I think having it being out there that everybody knows like this is what’s going on or is what you’re thinking will make the whole process a little bit more seamless.

Jaimie

So when you are touring the venue with new prospective brides that are coming in to see the space for the first time,  are there any questions that they might neglect to ask when they tour the venue that you think that they should be asking?

Megan

Not necessarily. I feel like I am a little OCD,  and I try to get all the questions answered before they ask them. I think for our space it’s definitely about capacity. If you come to me and you say it’s 100 guests and then it changes to 150 guests,  then we’re looking at a very different style wedding than you were originally thinking. So being open and honest and it really asking those questions of what can you fit? This is what I want to do. Can you do this? To really understand like what your venue can provide is important. Hopefully I’m answering that question before they get to it.

Jaimie

Do you guys have brides that book with you often without actually even coming to see the venue in person? And do you recommend that?

Megan

Yeah, it’s rare. I definitely have had couples where they were the last person to see this space. It was their wedding planner that came and saw it. And then mom and dad came and saw it. And then they came in at the very end and gave it a look over and said, “ Ok, yes.” I’ve definitely had couples who have seen it one time and then they live out of the country or live somewhere else so. So they’re really not seeing it all again until they’re back for their wedding. But I don’t think I’ve had anyone that has never seen it. I’ve had grooms that have never seen before but not a bride.

Jaimie

And this last question,  it’s a little bit more for for me I guess, as well. Is there any advice that you would give to brides who are booking a venue from out of town,  So,  brides from New York or just out of state who are looking to put their wedding out here.  What t is the biggest piece of advice that you could give to them?

Megan

For me,  the way that we do business.  we can do everything through email and probably just establishing that with your vendor that this is how I need to communicate. If you can’t do email say it upfront that it has to be over phone. I need you to be sending me pictures or texting me pictures. I’ve definitely seen that with my couples.If  they’re not here,  it’s emails with pictures, it’s phone calls and I’ve done a Skype tour before of this space to let them try to and get an idea of the space.

Jaimie

Are you running around with your laptop or your phone?

Megan

With an iPad or cell phone. I think it probably goes back to those vendorsusing them. You find your venue. Who does that venue recommend for other vendors. Asking that DJ  which venues do they like to work in? You’re trying to use everybody to see what they’re saying in terms of knowing that space that you’re not familiar with probably would be helpful.

Jaimie

Awesome.  So.  I think we’ve pretty much covered everything that we had on the agenda today. Was there anything else that you wanted to throw in or anything else that you want to let future brides know about Peachtree Club that we might not have already covered.

Megan

I don’t think so.  Just we would be excited to have you here on your wedding day. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re always excited to show off our space, show off that terrace. Come up here take a look at it.  You’ll be impressed.

Jaimie

Well thank you so much again,  Megan.