Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Saphire.
Jonathan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 1977, my parents, Roberta and Gerald Saphire, who are attorneys, heard of a turn- of –the century property in Sharon that was for sale. My mother had gone to camp in Sharon and loved the town. The plan was to make it their temporary law office and eventually sell the property. They ended up falling in love with the wedding business and so they continued the long and romantic history of the property.
Originally known as Wentworth’s, then Anapolsky’s, the Manor had been built to accommodate the vacationers, tourists, and celebrities who flocked to the area during the summer season. Legend had it that in the 1930’s, the great Leonard Bernstein used to perform in the Manor’s Grand Ballroom.
My parents bought the property, renaming it the Saphire Manor and Inn. I worked in various roles from dishwasher to bartender from the time I was seven and after graduating college in 1995, I worked my way up from an Event Planner to General Manager. In May 2006, my wife, Amie and I took over ownership of the property. Since that time, we have invested over a million and a half dollars to remodel the estate and the gardens, retaining its historic charm, while incorporating the latest in industry trends and amenities. Relaunched as Saphire Estate in 2006, the property has entered a new era of glory as one of the last exclusive, one at a time venues.
In 2008, we expanded our business and took over the clubhouse at Ridder Country Club, naming it The Villa. Also a great property with a fascinating history, the original building was a milking barn and to this day has the original cupola on the roof. The initial investment was about $750k to remodel the space and since then we have continued to update and expand the venue. The Villa has three separate, but very distinct spaces and is truly one of the most beautiful venues in the South Shore.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As with any business venture, the road is not always smooth. We experienced the natural pains of growing a business at the same time as growing our family. Our second venue, The Villa, was acquired just months after we welcomed our second child. The Villa was also acquired during the recession when banks were not loaning money and brides were spending less and less on their wedding. It was a risk to expand the business at that time and definitely caused a lot of stress, but we believed in the property and knew we were ready to expand. There is no doubt, looking back, that we made the absolute right decision.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Saphire Event Group story. Tell us more about the business.
As a company, we host about 350 weddings per year. Every Saphire Event Group couple has a personal wedding producer who is available throughout the planning process to assist with any detail from the menu planning to décor design and set up. We also have our own, in house culinary team that will create whatever our clients ask for. Each property offers indoor and outdoor ceremony options as well as stunning ballrooms with fireplaces and gorgeous hardwood flooring.
We are tremendously proud of our streamlined planning process. With over 40 years of experience, we have truly seen almost everything and are prepared to handle anything that comes up. I spent over 20 years creating detailed checklists, training manuals, a Wedding Guide Book for the clients and so much more. There is no “do-over” for a wedding, so we ensure, through training, that our staff are 100% ready and able to deliver over and above what the client expect and deserves.
One of the things that sets us apart is our commitment and never-ending focus on keeping the venues updated and modern. It is important to always stay ahead of the competition (and there is plenty of it) and this has been our successful action. Whether it is a complete overhaul in the ballroom, updating the bridal suite, replacing the ballroom floors, etc… We have on our staff a full time contractor as well as full time Housemen at both venues to meticulously inspect the properties weekly and ensure they always look their best.
But, what I am most proud of is our staff. I know it sounds cliché, but we have some of the most talented and dedicated employees in the business. It is not always easy executing the biggest day of someone’s life. It takes a lot of patience, empathy, coordination, knowledge and most especially communication to do what we do and do it right. Hiring and keeping great people is the biggest struggle for any business, regardless of the industry, location, economy, etc. The SEG staff are beyond incredible. You really need to love weddings and people to do what we do, and they do it with professionalism and care. It never ceases to amaze me the reviews and comments our staff receive.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not a big believer in luck. I think the decisions we make in life and how you treat others dictate the kind of “luck” ones has. Always doing the right thing will never get you in trouble in the end.
Contact Info:
- Address: 164 Massapoag Avenue
Sharon, MA 02067 - Website: www.saphireeventgroup.com
- Phone: 781-784-2400
- Email: info@saphireeventgroup.com
- Instagram: @Saphire_Event_Group
- Facebook: Saphire Event Group
Image Credit:
Aiden Rhaa Photography, Bharat Parmar, Black Thumb Studios, First Mate Photography, Metzger Studios, Alicia Petitti Photography, Berryphotos, Once Like A Spark, Fournier & Malloy
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