Trellis 925 Updated Covid Stance

At Trellis 925 we are dedicated to keeping our clients and their guests safe. 

Since February 2020 (and perhaps before) our world was struck by the unknowing and life threatening CoronaVirus. With our world changing to social distancing, quarantine, masks and more sanitization, to say this virus has affected everyone is an understatement. Nonetheless, we are trying our best to have loved ones together and in celebration for all events as safe as possible. 

In June, Governor DeSantis began opening the State of Florida after the initial lockdown, and by fall, Florida moved into “Phase 3” which allowed us to open to 50% capacity with social distancing. Orange County issued a mask mandate recommending that all citizens wear masks in public spaces. With these mandates in mind, we require all staff and vendors to take their temperatures prior to arriving at the venue, stay home if they have symptoms, wear masks while they are inside the venue, and wash their hands frequently.e also installed touchless sanitizing stations and 2 hospital/commercial-grade air purifiers in the Sojourn Lounge and in the Grand Central to help increase air filtration and circulation. 

How Covid Affects Your Event:

As hosts of the event, we encourage our clients to have their guests wear masks during their event, except while dining. We encourage social distancing with table and chair layouts, while dancing, through signage, and keeping barstools away from the bar, etc. 

Clients differ on their approaches with their guests, with most exhibiting concern about their guests and posting their own signs regarding keeping safe/distant/wear masks (such as providing personalized masks for guests at entrance), yet others have been less concerned and not taking as many precautions. Our approach has been that we are here to serve and support you, in how  you want to host your event and protect your guests, as ultimately this is your wedding and you know your guests and their preferences while following mandates and orders.

Who Will Help You Plan Your Covid Safe Event?

In June, we hired a Customer Service Specialist to focus on keeping up with the ever-changing pandemic, mandates, and client’s growing questions and concerns. We took an individualized approach encouraging clients to reach out to Sarah through email or scheduling a call to discuss possible solutions to their concerns based on their particular circumstances, and came up with numerous free options to proceed safely, such as:

• Changing their event to our 12-acre Lakeside Enclave outdoor venue for increased social distancing and 100% outside air circulation,
• Extend their time in the venue to separate guests into groups for entry/exit with no additional hourly fees (any start/end time desired), 
• Rescheduling, waiving payments due until 60 days prior to a new date, and keeping the original contract special offers/discounts if the new date selected is a Monday – Thursday date.
• Using our glass garage door to allow everyone to see the ceremony, yet keeping more vulnerable guests separate from others.
• Hosting a “virtual” wedding ceremony using our projector/screen and professional sound system [link to Aiyana’s wedding here].  

We also did a series of Facebook live interviews over the summer to address the situation and communicate our approach as well as direct emails to our current clients regarding openings and mandates.

We have added a “Flex Date Option” to our contract to give our wedding clients an option to change their date with the peace of mind to do so without penalty, change fees, cancellation or default. Essentially, this contract holds a date on a “first right of refusal” basis, allowing the client up to 60 days prior to give notification they are considering changing their date, and up to 30 days prior to be locked-in and the date removed from our availability calendar. 

If a Federal, State or Local government capacity mandate directly impacts a client’s anticipated guest count if a date is locked-in, we will allow the client to cancel their current contract, and re-contract with a new date when they again feel comfortable accommodating their guests using funds previously paid toward the new contract, again with no change fee.  

Our hope is that all of our clients and their guests stay healthy while still being able to celebrate with their friends and families as we know that each event – birthday’s, wedding’s, Quinceanera’s, engagement parties, etc – is a very special part of life. 

If you have any questions about your event and how Covid could affect it, please be sure to reach out to sarah@trellis925.com and talk with Sarah about your concerns!