Diamondhead Country Club is conveniently located between New Orleans and Gulfport/Biloxi at Exit 16 of I-10 and near all area attractions. Diamondhead Country Club offers 5,400 square feet of meeting and banquet space. Diamondhead Country Club provides opportunities for couples to host their ceremony to reception at their beautiful facilities. Wedding packages can be tailored to meet the needs of the most intimate to the grandest of weddings. The staff at Diamondhead Country Club ensure all their clients that their wedding is a memorable occasion. Nancy Perkins, Director of Sales & Marketing, shares her insight and expertise from working with Diamondhead Country Club.
Nancy, how long have you and your colleagues been in business?
Between the 3 of us, we have 96 years of experience! I am the Director of Sales & Marketing and have been working in the business for 40 years (I started when I was 5).
Eli Biggers, Director of Club Operations, has been in the business for 52 years, and Paige Hedden, Event Coordinator, has been in the business for years. Eli & Paige are the two that are working with the brides at the Club from start to finish. I’m in the background.
How did you all get started in the catering/hospitality industry?
Eli started in his family restaurant as a child where he started from the bottom up and has learned all phases of the restaurant/catering business. Experience like this is invaluable in a field like ours when brides are looking for something different to make their wedding stand out from others.
Paige learned under fire when she stepped in for a previous coordinator that left suddenly during our busiest time of the year and she has never looked back.
I (Nancy) started her career with the New Orleans Marriott right out of college in the management training program in sales. After 3 years in the tour & travel market she was transferred to Houston as Sales Manager for the Corporate & Professional Sports Market, after a year she transferred to Atlanta as Director of Sales for the Corporate & Special Events markets as well as supervising 3 Sales Managers. After almost two years, transferred to Marina del Rey, CA as Director of Marketing where she was responsible for all aspects of the sales & marketing department including events such as the Summer Olympics, Super Bowl and other special events and training of managers as they rotated in for the Marriott Training Program. Finished career as opening Director of Marketing of the Long Beach Airport Marriott.
So, between the 3 of us, we’ve seen it all and love the restaurant/catering/hospitality industry!
What do you all like the most about your work with Diamondhead Country Club?
Eli likes the excitement of the industry…everyone’s needs are different and the dynamics are changing every day! Paige loves planning parties from start to finish and working with the happy bride! I (Nancy) loves the creative portion of it now.
Tell us more about Diamondhead Country Club.
The Diamondhead Country Club has 5,400 square feet of space including our Ballroom which can hold 250 people for a beautiful wedding reception. We like to think that we make the brides wedding day dreams come true. We provide the set-up, food, beverage and beautiful facilities. All the bride has to provide is her cake, centerpieces, groom and a beautiful smile! While we have an extensive banquet menu, our staff loves creating specials menus for the bride and groom. Eli will even do ice carvings such as Swans, Hearts and so on.
If you could give a bride one tip/one bit of advice, what would that be?
Eli would advise brides to create a comprehensive list of their desires & expectations from their first to last appointment with the Event Coordinator. As with a successful marriage, communication is key! Share this list with a trusted member of your wedding party…on your wedding day you want someone to have your back so you can enjoy the special day with your groom, family & friends.
Nancy’s advice is to make sure to eat something during the reception (no one wants a bride to pass out) and keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. Paige wants brides to make sure they are completely familiar with the venue so there are no last minute surprises. Most of all, relax and have fun!
For more information on Diamondhead Country Club, call Paige at 228 255-2917. Diamondhead Country Club is located at 7600 Country Club Circle, Diamondhead MS.