Page 162 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2020

FINAL SAY
ASHLEI MARIE
JOHNSON
Director of Sales and Marketing, South Beach Biloxi Hotel and Suites
photo by Teddy Lewis
Hello Everyone! I’m Ashlei Marie Johnson,
a Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
and Southern Miss graduate with years of marketing, hotel sales, wedding and special events experience. I’ve grown up on the Coast and love working and living in Coastal Mississippi.
When it comes to destination weddings, I feel like South Mississippi has something to offer that nowhere else can. My time at South Beach has been an exciting one as we have evolved
into a destination venue, being the only hotel that sits directly on the beach. We offer so much more to the “Coastal Bride,” and give guests the experience they are looking for when visiting Biloxi.
We offer multiple venue options depending on your preference. Our Beach Side Pavilion is the perfect location for a beach wedding or reception, just footsteps from the sand without the hassle of the beach. Our Beach View Terrace is another great event or reception location with a beautiful view of the coastline. In addition, the South Beach Event Center can host up to 360 guests for a wedding reception with a ballroom and bar/ lounge area.
When looking to book a venue, there are a
few key questions that a bride should ask. Of course, available dates are number one, followed by what all is included in the rental. Does the venue provide group room accommodations
if it is affiliated with a hotel, or do they have
a relationship with a local hotel that provides discounts? Of course, it is your wedding, but making the stay convenient and affordable is important for your guests that are traveling.
When it comes to the day of, our large two- bedroom suites are perfect for the bride and her
bridal party to get dressed and enjoy the day. With views of
the coastline, floor to ceiling glass windows and wrap-
around balconies, these rooms are a picturesque backdrop to capture the day-of preparations.
The hotel venue coordinator is a key resource if you are booking a destination wedding. They can connect you with the best vendors in the area and can usually help make those connections with those who have worked at the venue previously.
When it comes to what is
provided and what is not,
it best to make sure you are
very clear on what the venue is providing in rentals and services
so you can budget accordingly.
At South Beach, all of our
venue locations include set
number of chairs, tables and
linens. Anything beyond that,
it is the bride’s responsibility
to provide. At South Beach
Biloxi, we try and make it as
simple as possible by providing catering, bar packages, room accommodation, ceremony and reception locations. Booking the
best venue to fit your budget and
style is always important, so make it a priority to research and ask questions.
Happy Planning!
162 | February 2020
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