Earlier this year, Jodi from Blackton Grange approached Resolution Studios with an exciting new project in the pipeline for the upcoming months.
Jodi and her team had already transformed a farmhouse, nestled in 11 acres of picturesque North Pennines countryside, into a stunning getaway that accommodates 17 guests.
Their next ambitious undertaking was to breathe new life into a tired and neglected barn, with a vision to create an exceptional wedding venue. Jodi, however, was eager to start the marketing process for the venue as soon as possible, recognizing that weddings are typically booked 12-18 months in advance.
The site comprised both the charming farmhouse and the barn, Jodi and her team envisioned an "alternative" wedding venue – a departure from the ordinary. Their unique business concept was for couples to rent the farmhouse, comfortably housing 17 guests, along with the barns. This would allow them to craft their dream bespoke weddings against the backdrop of these historic structures, enabling celebrations to unfold over an extended period, in contrast to the conventional wedding "conveyor belt" often found at venues across the country.
Under the previous owners, the farmhouse and barn served as an outdoor activity centre, with the barn mainly functioning as a storage space for bikes and wetsuits. It was a far cry from the stunning wedding venue it was destined to become. The barn, constructed in a traditional stone style, had been divided into numerous small rooms, concealing its unique features. In its current state, it would be a hard sell to convince soon-to-be-married couples that Blackton Grange is the venue for them.
Jodi's passion lay in revitalising the historic building, showcasing its true potential, rather than allowing them to deteriorate, unused and unloved.
Although the farmhouse had been completed for a while and to a high standard, Jodi knew that for someone to book a wedding venue without a clear vision of the space was unlikely.
To market the barn effectively, Jodi needed a 3D visualisation that could help potential clients envision the space.
Initially, when Jodi began looking into 3D visualisers, she focused on providers in the North East due to the venue's location. However, after widening her search she came across Resolution Studios and felt that we offered a superior package and walked her through the process. Now, she's confident she has made the right choice, stating that we've exceeded her expectations and would recommend our services to others.
For the Blackton Grange project, Resolution Studios provided two internal visualisations and one external view. The 3D visuals showcased the new wedding space accurately, depicting its scale, materials, and potential decorations. However, Jodi said that it wasn't just the 3D images that attracted her to working with Resolution Studios, she said they went above and beyond. Jodi appreciated that we took the time to explain our processes, methods, and found our website's blog posts extremely helpful. She found that the one titled “What to expect while working with us” and “So how does it work, I want to know more” addressed her questions and was immensely helpful in understanding what we do and how we do it.
Jodi pointed out that while you could visit the site and appreciate its natural beauty and surroundings, visuals were essential to illustrate how the barn would look upon completion. At the time of writing, the barn is still enveloped in scaffolding and work is taking place, making it challenging to visualise its finished state.
When showing couples the venue, Jodi brings her laptop with her and stands in the exact spots where the 3D renderings were created and confidently declares, "Although you can't see it yet, this is precisely what the view will look like from this location when the venue is completed”.
Jodi has used the 3D images to show soon-to-be-wed couples a glimpse of the future and as a result, two separate couples have already secured their special day at Blackton Grange, underscoring the appeal of the venue and the clarity these visuals provided.
Jodi tells me that they have found these CGIs to be invaluable, especially when showing them to people without any construction experience, who struggle to imagine the final result. Jodi emphasised that the 3D visuals from Resolution Studios were not just mere artistic impressions; they precisely represented what would be built.
Jodi was keen on showcasing the barn's character in the 3D visuals, she wanted to highlight the timber beams and stone walls, while also conveying the space's height and volume to prospective brides and grooms. All these unique features were accurately modelled and incorporated into the 3D model, which Jodi felt showcased them exceptionally well.
Jodi's goal was to offer a venue where couples could tailor their weddings to their tastes. If they appreciated the barn's rustic charm, they wouldn't need to spend much on decorating the space. Jodi said that Resolution Studios captured her vision's ambiance perfectly, from the mismatched rustic chairs in the ceremony area, to the warm festoon lighting illuminating the reception room.
At this point in our meeting, Jodi smiled to herself and commented that the visuals resembled the space itself, not just a representation. Her only regret was not starting this process sooner to kickstart the venue's marketing earlier.
These 3D images enabled Blackton Grange to assemble a marketing package that wouldn't have been possible without them. Jodi stressed, "With the building in its current state, the images have been paramount in helping Blackton Grange win business."
The 3D images created for Blackton Grange were shared across social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the Blackton Grange website. Interested couples also received copies of the proposed CGIs, enabling them to examine the space and plan their weddings.
Jodi emphasised that the 3D images had a profound impact on their marketing efforts. While she could envision the finished scheme herself, not everyone could see past the scaffolding and construction work, making these visuals indispensable.
When Blackton Grange initially began promoting their wedding fair, due to take place in the spring, without the use of the 3D visuals only 10% of invitees expressed an interest in attending. However, after the completion of the 3D images, this conversion rate surged to 80%, with eight out of ten couples eager to visit the venue in person and see for themselves what Blackton Grange has to offer.
Jodi found the CGI images extremely helpful in bringing the space to life. Not everyone can visualise a floor plan and understand how the final scheme will appear upon completion. With the CGIs, prospective clients can see and experience the space's height, even though it's currently a building site surrounded by scaffolding, the 3D visuals offer them a glimpse into the future and allow them to appreciate the venue in all its rustic charm.
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About the Author
Jamie Wilkes has worked as a 3D visualiser and has over 20 years experience working with 3D CAD in the architectural industry. He is now owner and director of Resolution Studios, a 3D visualisation firm based in Halesowen in the West Midlands.
Starting out as an Architectural Technician, Jamie worked on a number of commercial and residential schemes, producing CAD plans, elevations & sections of buildings. After completing his Masters in Digital Architecture Jamie then followed his passion for 3D & took a role as a full time 3D visualiser working mainly in the leisure sector.
Resolution Studios was established by Jamie in 2008 and has since provided 3D visualisations, animations and interactive imagery for planning applications and marketing developments in many sectors throughout the UK and abroad.
Do you want to be making use of the latest tools and technology with your next project, if so then please get in touch and we can see how we can work together.
Email me at jamie.wilkes@resolution-studios.co.uk or 0121 674 40 20
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