Manage My Wedding Podcast

Vows & Wow: The Valley Altar's Epic Wedding Magic MMW 215

• Yvette Sitters • Episode 215

Share episode

Send us a text

FAST, FUN, PHOTOGENIC AF!
Ever wondered what a warehouse can be turned into with a sprinkle of creativity and a dollop of love? Lei-Ahna Newell from Janda Events is about to give you a tour of The Valley Altar, a former storage space now reinvented as the dream venue for lovers of all things fun and unconventional. With her partner Jake, Lei-Ahna has conjured up an eclectic paradise for elopements and micro weddings, complete with a vinyl album wall and an epic permanent ceiling install. Imagine saying "I do" under the glimmer of disco balls – that's the kind of magic we're talking about!

Episode Highlights:

  • The warm, fuzzy benefits of intimate nuptials that could very well tempt you to ditch the big wedding extravaganza for something more personal and meaningful.
  • Discover why more couples are falling in love with intimate elopements and magical micro weddings at this vibe of a venue.
  • Spice up your hen party plans with a touch of glamour – dance the night away in style!
  • Picture-perfect moments await at every turn – from lush greenery to twinkling lights, your wedding photos will be nothing short of magical.
  • Personalised experiences tailored to your unique love story – because your wedding should be as special as your journey together and made easy.

We also whip up a batch of wedding planning tips and vendor recommendations to keep your special day as smooth as your grandpa's dance moves. Let your wedding dreams fly off the conventional track.


Full Shownotes and Resources:

🤍
WEDDING MUST-HAVES:

🤍

CONNECT WITH US:

Yvette Sitters:

Welcome to the Manage my Wedding podcast, where we believe your wedding is the most important time in your life and you deserve to feel supported and organised when planning the wedding of your dreams. I'm your host, yvette Sidders, so today I have Leana joining me on the podcast Now. She has joined me previously on behalf of Janda Events, which is her other wedding business. Now Janda Events they can basically help you with everything, so we're brands, bands, djs, soloists, and the list goes on and on.

Yvette Sitters:

But today she's here to talk about her new wedding biz the Valley Altar the best name ever and, as her Instagram says, fast, fun, photogenic, af, bed and not square elopements, micro weddings and legal only weddings. And I'm pretty sure I saw this week that they're doing even more than that. But I'm going to let Leana tell you all about it, because this new business is epic and I really want to get you thinking about, like, what you're doing for your big day and if it's truly what your heart desires and maybe some things you might want to reconsider. So I'm super excited to have you on the podcast today, leana.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Oh, I am so stoked to be here again. It's so exciting. Thank you.

Yvette Sitters:

So tell us, oh my gosh, tell us all about how, tell us about the Valley Altar, how you came up with the concept and what it's all about.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Well, I guess it would have been nearly two years ago. We moved into a warehouse space for Janda Events, and this space was where we were going to hold our meetings, for our clients to do all their paperwork. It was also a place where we store all our music gear and our muses could come and borrow any gear that they needed to any time. They could have jam sessions there, and then we have a beautiful office upstairs that we worked from as well. So it was just this space that we needed for Janda Events. And then I guess I love making things look pretty and you're good at it You're good at it. Okay, it wasn't just your usual office space, I suppose. So I had one couple who I was marrying. When was this? Probably, it was actually. They got married August last year, so August 20, 22. Gosh, I don't even know what year we're in, and they were coming in for meetings to just chat about their day and do their paperwork with me and they were like, gosh, why don't we just get married here? Or why didn't we just get married here? It's so awesome, it's amazing and it would be perfect.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

But they had already planned out their day and that sort of planted the seed of, oh, I guess we could turn this into a little space. It wasn't anything that I had really thought about before. I mean, I think everyone in the wedding industry always dreams about having a wedding venue themselves, but it's not some. It wasn't something that I had on the cards or anything like that, especially coming out of COVID. It was just more survival mode. But then we sort of started workshopping the idea and thinking, oh yeah, we could do this, we could move things around and figure out a way of how we would like it to be, and the main problem at that stage was we had nowhere to hide or put the music gear. But then the stars aligned, as they say, and another little space in our complex came up for Lee. So we grabbed that, put all the music gear in there and then started really working on how we wanted the space to be, and that would have been about oh gosh June this year, I think, june 2023.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, and oh my gosh, it looks amazing. So just to explain it's really hard. Like, obviously I'm going to show, I'll show photos in the show notes, I'll pop a few images so everyone can see it. But it's just bright, fun, but it's kind of got that warehouse feel. But you explain it because it's just. It's a very cool thing you've done.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yeah, I guess as a blank canvas. It was a white space with that New York industrial sort of feel to it. So there's black steel frames. The mezzanine upstairs has floor to ceiling windows that are just amazing and it's. But it's also got the warmth of the lighting as well, the different light fittings and things like that. So we sort of wanted to mix.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

I guess how we've ended it, like, honestly, we've had we didn't go in with a plan of, oh, this is the style that we want. I think it's just turned into our personalities a little bit. So Jake obviously is super about music and it's all about rock music and everything. So we've got a wall of all of our vinyl covers on the wall and honestly, in our opinion they're the best albums ever. So it's not just any old vinyl wall, it's not just anybody going to the flea market or something and picking up a vinyl that like they're the best of the best. And then At the end where you get married it's probably my personality a little bit. So it's all disco balls and colour. So we've got disco balls hanging from the ceiling and then we've got wall-to-wall streamer wall, rainbow streamer wall yeah, it's amazing, yeah.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

and then, to tie those two ends in, we've got a bit of a vintage eclectic look. In the middle of the room We've got a vintage style piano that's full of on wedding days. It's full of fresh flowers, disco balls, candles, lollies, lollipops, everything. And then on the other side we've got the luxe green velvet curtains that have flocking in them and it's just beautiful. And then we've got a big, massive mural that our friend Jamaica painted that says best day ever in your peach and pink colourways. And, yeah, it's just got a bit of a palm tree vibe down there, a bit of a palm spring vibe, and our roller doors painted peach. So it's just a bit of a vibe. It's no real certain look, it's just, I guess, a reflection of our personalities.

Yvette Sitters:

I love that. That's why it looks so good, though right when we go with what we love Exactly. I love it. I'm like going peach. I need to come and have some branding photos there.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yes, yes, that peach roller door took me ages to paint, so someone needs to come and use it. I love it. Oh, and actually I forgot, I've got the big install from the ceiling which is like a two story or more ceiling, and it's the big streamers. It's a bit like a chandelier, I suppose, which is pretty epic as well.

Yvette Sitters:

It looks great. If you're not considering a loping and you like the sound of this, you might want to or micro weddings.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yeah, yeah, it's really epic.

Yvette Sitters:

It's beautiful. We've done such a great job, aw thanks. I know, being celebrants, you're seeing a bit of a shift right at the moment in elopements and micro weddings, and why do you think this is I?

Lei-Ahna Newell:

think it's because of a few things, obviously. First up, financial reasons. I think that's always one of the big reasons that people elope or they have micro weddings. They don't want to put a house deposit down on a wedding. They would rather put that money towards their future and still have a wedding, but just have it in a smaller, more manageable size for them. So there's the financial reason, and then I think also oh, it's 2023. Traditional weddings don't have to. You don't have to have a traditional wedding anymore and it's not a bad thing to elope. I don't think it's got the connotation to it like it used to, like it was a bit of a shotgun thing or don't like my family, so I'm going to go away in a lope. I don't think it's like that anymore. It's just a new way of doing something and it's more meaningful doing it for yourself and not for everyone else. Yeah, I think they're the two big reasons. Yeah, and we do notice there is a shift in the way people are doing their weddings as well, like that.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, it's so true. Like people, the traditions they don't exist. They're not real. Someone just said one day that's going to be a wedding tradition and it might be dead set. Nothing that you like. And people seem to think, used to think I think that they had to do the traditions, but yeah, we've worked up with. That is not us Like.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yeah, totally, I think the generations that are coming up or people that aren't married yet, they're doing it for themselves and that's the main reason, like I guess our style is a bit of that Las Vegas style in a way, where it's all about the content, it's about the beautiful photos, it's all of that. But I guess where our ceremonies differ from the Las Vegas style is it's 100% written for you, like it's not a generic script. Everything is still bespoke. It's just going to be a little bit shorter because they're your right and guys who are with you, who are coming as your guests so they've been there from the beginning probably know your story. So let's do it in a fun way and, yeah, a bit more meaningful to you. And yeah, that's kind of how I see the elopement to micro weddings.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, it kind of leads into Monic's question, like what makes elopement since smaller weddings so special in your eyes?

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Oh yeah, you've got your closest people there. They're the people who, oh, they adore you and love you so much and they just want the best for you. And I'm not saying that you don't have that at bigger weddings, but you do have all those plus funds at the bigger weddings. Yeah, I don't know you, and they're there because they've been invited or they used to work with you or whatever. Like when it is a micro wedding or an elopement, it's a tight group of people that are there to support you on this thing that's going forward. It's not just about a wedding day, it's a marriage, it's a commitment, it's, yeah, more than just one day.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, and I think too like you can feel the love in those micro weddings and those elopements, like it just oozes emotion. Yeah. It really does you can see that, as a celebrant Like you, can really pick those weddings where you're like oh my gosh, that couple is so in love.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yeah, I 100% agree, and I think it's awesome. At times they've been together for a long time, possibly, and their families and their friends know each other, and when they arrive, you can feel this connection in the air. That's Different from other weddings and it's just so beautiful.

Yvette Sitters:

I've got so many couples at the moment that Listen to the podcast or use the app whatever, and they're saying to me like a lot of them, I think they're actually eloping or Having that small wedding and then they're doing the massive party when they had originally planned, which is just gonna be a big party. They're like whatever, just drink and feed everyone, whatever and have a good time, and there is not one person I think that I've ever heard turn around and say I wish I didn't do that. Like.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

I don't think anyone Know that. I know of anyway that is ever regretted doing An allotment or a micro wedding never but how many people do you meet and hope to regret not doing that right? Yeah, 100%. Yeah, it's everyone post wedding. Whether it's years on or not, they go. Oh, Would it be an easier just to do it small.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, and there's so many people that, like sitting on the fence right now that I communicate with they're like I don't know what to do. I'm just gonna upset everyone and I don't know what to do. But that's what my heart wants.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

I don't want all those 200 guests staring at me and yeah and yeah, that is the other thing like people are more aware of their emotions and their own feelings now and I think we're in a world where you can choose what you want to do now. If you are a shy person or you're an anxious person and Planning a huge wedding is going to drive you into a World that you don't want to be in, then don't do it. Have a smaller wedding that's more you and it's gonna be stress-free.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, because it'll it shows on the face on the day when they turn up. Yeah, you would see that as a celebrant, right, yeah, you do stress because I can't handle all those people and they're feeling anxious and I mean, it's everyone's biggest fear.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Walking down the aisle or saying their vows on a microphone in front of people, that is Everyone's biggest fear.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, yeah, I remember that moment. It's the moment you're thinking about the most right in the lineup, like that is the moment that is all you can think about and then you can't. It's like when you're walking you lose consciousness a little bit, like oh, I'm already at the end because, yeah, it is just going over and over like this and you can barely walk 100%. Really nervous people listening to me right now. But it's the most special, beautiful moment, but for some people it's so terrifying, yeah it is and it's it's good.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Nerves Most of the time, yeah, but I mean, it's the unknown and that makes you so nervous. You don't know what, what you're gonna, what it's good, what's gonna happen. Really, you don't know what to expect. So, yeah, that's why it's so nerve-wracking.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, and every single person is looking at you. So how much planning goes into these allotment and my micro sort of style weddings? How do you think it? How do you think it compares to the bigger wedding?

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Well, I I mean with us we try to take as much pressure off you as possible. So we kind of we work with the best of the best in the biz. So we've got the best photographers, videographers, cake makers, florists and all of that, and we do all of that to wing and fro wing for you. So if that's a thing that you're timed for, you don't have time to do it, you just want to deal with one person. That's how we kind of go into it with our planning. So we just make sure we're asking all the right questions and then we try to keep it hustle free.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, I love that you do that and I'm so glad that you said that, because there's a misconception that you guys strip away and what it is, and I've had this from so many brides that say this and people think, oh, I'm having a micro wedding, I'm only inviting 30 people, I'm doing that because I don't have time, but what literally ends up happening is because they're not going to a venue like yours where they do that for you Is it ends up being the actual same amount of work.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Oh, 100% it's only less people.

Yvette Sitters:

You still have to get the cake, you've still got to find it. You still have to get the guest favors, you've still got to organize the menu, like there's still everything. And I'm really upfront in telling people that now I'm like, just so you're aware, if you've got to a venue where you're doing it all yourself, the work is no less than doing 100 people Totally, because extra numbers aren't extra work, they're extra cost. Yes, totally extra cost. But you still have to organize the exact same things, exactly. So I'm so glad you mentioned that, because you can go to the Valley Altar and literally it does strip away all that time.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, if you are considering and you're listening, make sure you think that through. Pick a venue that is actually going to help you do those things like the Valley Altar do. Yeah.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

And I think we do do allotments and micro weddings through other people as well, and they kind of have the same sort of set up as a maybe not, as maybe don't take over the rain so much, but they do have preferred suppliers and I know, I hear it or I see it on Facebook groups oh, I've been given this preferred suppliers list. They're just pushing the people they like. Yeah, that might be the case, but they like them because they're professional, they're going to get the job done, they know they're going to do an excellent job and, of course, it might be a little bit more expensive, but I can guarantee you're going to get the best job that you could ever possibly do. So, yeah, I think, yeah.

Yvette Sitters:

I agree on that and I think I did a whole podcast episode on that, oh yeah, a long time ago, where I said that because the venue or wherever you're going to get married, they don't. They want it to be smooth. Yeah, every single vendor affects their job 100%. You would even know when you turn up to a venue and even if the venue is not on point, how much. And they're not set up, they're not ready to go, and you're the celebrant Like how frustrating is that? Yeah, it's just wild. What stylist do you like doing stuff like oh, it is stressful.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

It is so stressful You're working to a run sheet all the time and you want it to stay on time, and the only way it can stay on time is if you've got the professional people doing the right job at the right time. So it does make a difference. And as a vendor going to certain venues and things like that, you just love it because you're like this is going to be a great day and you get your supplier list from your couples and you're like, oh, this is going to be an excellent day. Yes, so when there's someone on there that you don't know, you're like, oh, how's it going to go? But I mean, you just got to go with the flow.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, I agree, it's so important. It's so important, so don't be too stressed people about the third list.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yeah for a reason?

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, is there for a reason and it reflects the people that have recommended them, so they're not going to recommend bad people ever. Totally, how many people can you fit at the Valley Altar?

Lei-Ahna Newell:

We can do like a legal zone which is just two people and we can supply the witnesses all the way up to 40 people. We kind of max it out at 40 people, yeah.

Yvette Sitters:

Well, I think after 40, it's no longer a micro wedding.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Really, I don't think so You're kind of pushing it at 40. But yeah, yeah, I think anything above 40 is just a small wedding.

Yvette Sitters:

Awesome. Okay, and did I see something else that you guys are going to start doing? Yes, did I see something coming on Instagram? Oh, yes, I'm like, I'm going to be doing this.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

No, no, this is a new idea and I don't even know how I came up with this idea. Well, I kind of do, but again, it was a past pride of mine. And she called me earlier this year in a tiz meeting to find somewhere to host her best friend's hands party, and she asked if she could hire the belly altar. And I'm like, yeah, of course, go on, let's do it. She hired the belly altar They'd be why I did drink. They had a life drawing session. They were just there for a couple of hours. They had the best time because obviously there's all the photo opportunities in the valley altar. They didn't have to buy props, they work on all the sunnies, they've got all the gloves and all the things. They just literally rocked up, had the best time of their life. And then they went out for dinner or whatever they did afterwards. And so that little scene was planted again. And because I've had I had a weekend off last weekend, let's just say and it got the juices flowing again, as it does as it does I was like why don't we add this to a little arm of the belly altars things we can do?

Lei-Ahna Newell:

So we are going to start doing the hands parties. Again, we've got a preferred supplier list that you can choose from any and it's all. We want it to be fun. We want it to be different. We don't want it to be corny or anything like that. So we're going to be partnering with people who will teach you a dance class or they'll teach you play in sip or paint and sip or what else was there. There was hula hooping and how to mix a drink and all things like that. So going to be doing packages like that and just making it easy for everyone again. Like you don't have to buy all the party decorations and then sell it again on Facebook marketplace. Like what a waste of time and money and adding to the environment. So we've got an epic space there. You just rock up with your girl and you book whoever you want to book in to do your entertainment, and then there we go.

Yvette Sitters:

I love this. This is very good. I love it. I love it. I'm going to myself. What about a Valoranule? Like as well?

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Oh yeah, oh my gosh, we're totally here for Valoranules too. Yeah, keep adding things on, keep adding things on. Yeah Well, you're 10 years. I've just had your 10 years or you're next year too.

Yvette Sitters:

No, 10 years is in.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

January yeah, oh yeah. So you got married in 2014 too. Yes, I did yeah, so ours is next year as well.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, and I don't know what, though I'm like I'd love to get married again, because how amazing how far weddings have come as in. To look at Like we're still doing the same things eating, drinking and Valoranule, yeah, but to look at my gosh, it's amazing, so different.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yeah, it's so beautiful, this stylist it just, yeah, I think there's just it has come a long way. There's so many different styles now, I know, compared to even just 10 years ago Massively. Yeah, it's fun, but yeah, we, yeah, I'm pretty excited about the Hens party thing.

Yvette Sitters:

I love that. That is so exciting. I'm excited for you. Just, it's a great venue. The photos they can get to it's like an Instagram venue. I'm telling you.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Totally. It is an Instagram venue and, like even the whole plan, was just for everyone to use their iPhones or whatever to take photos at the Hens party, but obviously we have loads of photographers that are on our list that I'm sure would love to take some pics at your Hens party.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, how fun. Some of those you might not want to show.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yeah, exactly, but we're trying to keep it tasteful.

Yvette Sitters:

Oh, I love it. I have loved.

Yvette Sitters:

I love what you've created, everyone, please go on to the show notes, find all the links and make sure you check them out. Look at all the pictures too. I'm going to share pictures from you. Give us your. I know this is always a hard question. I'll be interested actually in the end to go back and listen to how you answered this question last episode. Oh, and before I do ask this last question, if anyone wants to go back and listen to Leanna, it was episode 89. It was yeah, and it was wedding day musicians and top tips with gender events. So go back and listen to episode 89, because she gave heaps of like valuable advice on that one too. But can you share with us your number one wedding planning tip?

Lei-Ahna Newell:

I think it's probably going to be the same as what I said on that episode. I'm going to go back and listen after. You need to find your people. So anyone you work with on your wedding, you have to imagine you can sit down, have a coffee, have a drink with them and be super comfy. Because if you can't do that, that's the feeling that you're going to have on your wedding day and you don't want that feeling on your wedding day. You want to be super comfy and just loving the day. So our biggest tip is always to find your people.

Yvette Sitters:

I love that. I've got a feeling it was that one too that you did say that.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yeah, I think it might have been.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, I love that piece of advice. It's so important. There's so many people that doubt who they've picked and I'm like, if you're doubting it, change it. Don't do that to yourself because you're frustrated afterwards. It's so important, it is so important they really do.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

I know as celebrants and even as musicians, we try to meet with you as much as possible. Book in for those meetings. When you're inquiring with everyone, try to do it face to face and if you can't do a Zoom meeting or a video call because you've got to get a feeling, you've got to have that feeling so, otherwise it's too forced and it's just not going to work.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, I agree with you. That's such a great tip and I'm so glad you shared that one.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yeah, and I think, like for us anyway and I know there's plenty of other vendors out there that are like us we become 100% invested in your day from the very beginning. So you want someone on board who's going to be invested in you. So make sure you've got the feels.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, yeah, I agree, and I think it goes for the vendor too, doesn't it Like you want to work with people that you get the feels with too?

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Oh, 100%, and I think Jake and I are pretty lucky with how we come across in our copy and on our website and in our social media and that I think people get a pretty immediate feel for how we are and who we are. So, yeah, and I am quite honest, I'm not for everyone, that's okay.

Yvette Sitters:

So that's good, you don't want to be.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Yeah, exactly, there's plenty of everyone out there, so find your person.

Yvette Sitters:

Yeah, yeah, that's really good. I love that very. Thank you so much for chatting with me. Tell the listeners where can they find the Valley, elter and gender events. Tell us everything. Oh, you can remember.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

There's so many. The Valley Elter iscomau and we are on the gram as the Valley Elter. We are on TikTok as well, valley Elter. Let's cure those names. That was great. And then Janda event is Janda J, a, n, d A eventscomau and you can find our individual celebrant pages from there as well, and our Instagram is Jandaevents.

Yvette Sitters:

And we have a lot of people doing things Perfect, yes, fantastic. You guys are just a dynamite duo between you and Jake, your husband. You guys are doing amazing in the wedding industry, so nice to watch, and it's nice to see people doing things a bit different as well.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Thank you and a lot of fun making it fun. So we try to make it fun. We are still a duck. We're peddling pretty quickly underneath that water, I bet.

Yvette Sitters:

And with kids in tow. Yeah, you're doing great, though. Thank you so much for chatting.

Lei-Ahna Newell:

Thanks for having me, it's been awesome. Bye.

Yvette Sitters:

Music playing.