Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Mitchell
Hi Sarah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Construction on The Grand Victorian began in 1895 and was completed in 1897. The home was built for the George W. Layton family. Many have called it home but we have extreme gratitude for Rich and Marie Stevenson who bought the home in 1989 and lovingly restored and added onto it. Robert Wood Photography purchased the home in 2002 and turned it into The Grand Victorian event center. In 2019 Melissa Helquist and Valerie Nye bought the venue and renovated it into the beautiful venue we know today. Melissa purchased the venue because she met her husband Jason there in 1992! The Helquists and Nyes sold the venue July 2024. With new owners The Grand Victorian continues to honor the history of Utah and serve hundreds of couples. From weddings, birthday parties, holiday events and more we love being a gathering place for the people of Utah.
*Not sure if you want just the venue’s story or mine too so I will include it as well but no need to use it.
In 2019 my friend knew my then boyfriend and I were talking about marriage. She told me her mom had just bought a wedding venue and to look it up. We looked up The Grand Victorian and knew immediately that was where we would be getting married. The renovations hadn’t been completed but exterior of the home and beautiful grounds captivated us. We held our wedding there in August of 2020 and it was everything we could dream of.
After getting married I was hooked. I started working in a bridal shop and Melissa asked me if I was interested in working at the venue. I immediately said yes and started working as a host. I worked about two wedding seasons as a host and then began giving tours to potential clients and meeting with couples as a coordinator, helping them plan their wedding. After Melissa and Valerie sold I became managing the venue alongside the amazing Amy Simonsen.
It’s extremely rewarding to me to work in the wedding industry. It’s an honor to be a part of each couple’s story and I’m inspired by each vendor I work with. I love helping a bride’s vision come to life and do whatever I can to help the day run smoothly. The Grand Victorian is committed to making our couple’s dreams come true.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It can be difficult to maintain a Victorian era home. Although it’s been updated it requires great attention and care. Our two acres are also a big draw to couples and takes a lot of attention. With it being a Victorian home we’re often walking the line of having tasteful vintage influences while being updated for our couples. There are a thousand decisions to make concerning processes, updates, etc. It can be overwhelming to be making these decisions but we always make them with the couples best interest in mind.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Grand Victorian?
The Grand Victorian specializes in weddings but are happy and well equipped to host any event. Our unique architecture, expansive grounds, and full service staff sets us apart. Those that tour the venue marvel at the lost art of woodwork showcased in the home. Couples utilize our entire outdoor space for their ceremony, luncheon, dance floor, and even placing unique vendors outside. Our staff is committed to helping couples as much as they can on their wedding day. Couples are encouraged to visit the venue as many times as they want leading up to the wedding day. On the actual wedding day our staff sets up the tables, chairs, assists in decor, and help run the day. We pride ourselves in having limited add ons. We tell interested couples that we like to say yes more than no. The wedding day should be exactly as they dreamed! We also love being a part of the community! We are overjoyed each year to see the children from the community meet Santa at our Cookies and Milk with Santa. And we love opening our doors for murder mystery parties and workshops such as floral arranging and wreath making.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
The bride and grooms wishes are always first priority but having the confidence to lead others to execute those wishes is a huge part of the job. This may intimidate people but the confidence comes as you do the job. There will always be hiccups during an event and you may worry everyone notices and that’s all they’ll think about. The opposite is true. I have had plenty of events where I worry the couple will have a thousand complaints at the end of the night but they are leaving happy as can be. Trying your hardest to meet the couples wishes is the best you can do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.grandvictorianweddings.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandvictorianweddings/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandvictorianweddings/
