Listen to the Podcast About The Keeler Property
Podcast Summary
In a recent episode of Eventful Endeavors, the host, Meny Leizerovich, was joined by Jennifer Keeler, the events manager at ‘The Keeler Property’. This stunning historic venue, located in Jacksonville, Florida, seamlessly blends traditional charm with modern aesthetics, drawing attention for its unique offerings and striking features.
Jennifer shared that The Keeler Property is well-known for having the only covered bridge in the area, a feature that magnetically draws couples seeking a romantic setting for their nuptials. Apart from being the only venue in Florida to offer such a distinctive feature, The Keeler Property has been hosting events for the past two decades, showing its longevity within the events industry.
Apart from its architectural charm and historical significance, The Keeler Property is also home to an unexpected resident – Maggie, a baby deer who has made the property her home. Embracing her role as the venue’s mascot, Maggie has even been known to photobomb wedding pictures and join in on the event itself, adding an extra layer of warmth and charm to the gatherings held at The Keeler Property.
Far from being just a wedding venue, Jennifer emphasized that The Keeler Property caters to a range of events, including parties, baby showers, and fundraisers. With facilities to comfortably accommodate up to 500 guests, it’s a venue that can create the perfect ambiance for any occasion. In conclusion, whether you desire charm, history, or exclusivity, The Keeler Property stands out as a versatile venue that’s been creating unforgettable experiences for the past 20 years.
Learn more about The Keeler Property
This interview was provided by Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos
Podcast Transcript
Felix And Fingers (00:24)
Hello, hello everybody. Welcome back to Eventful Endeavors. Happy Friday. I’m here today with Jennifer Keeler who is the events manager at The Keeler Property, which is an historic venue, weddings located in Jacksonville, Florida. Jennifer, thank you for being here today.
Jennifer Keeler (00:43)
Thank you for having me.
Felix And Fingers (00:44)
Of course, of course. So I took a glance on your Facebook page and I was really amazed by how the venue is first of all, super pretty. It’s very historic, but yet super modern. Tell us about the venue a little more. And not a great fact, I saw it. You guys are the only covered bridge in Florida. This is insane.
Jennifer Keeler (01:04)
Yes, we have the only covered bridge in Jacksonville, Yes. That you can get married and have a certain degree.
Felix And Fingers (01:09)
Wow, wow.
Yeah, and I see that people are doing like their ceremony over there on the debris. Like this is really cool. I’ve never witnessed anything like it before. So this is like a really nice man attraction, I guess, for couples who want to have this like romantic aspect. Yeah, I guess this is a really, really amazing feature about the venue. So that’s great. So I’m just curious for how long now
The Keleer Property is going now. When was the avenue built?
Jennifer Keeler (01:39)
It was built, it’s been around for about 20 years now. So I just come into it in the last two years, but it’s been around for 20 years.
Felix And Fingers (01:45)
Wow.
Got it, got it, got it, got it. Wow, okay, okay. And it’s, it has the historic aspect to it and the beautiful lake surrounding it. And I also, you know, I came across another fun fact. Apparently you have a mascot at the venue. Can you tell us about it?
Jennifer Keeler (02:02)
We do! We do! We have a baby deer here.
Yes, Maggie! She is a baby deer who showed up here when she was a baby and she just made herself at home and so she lives here and she just joins herself at every event.
Felix And Fingers (02:18)
this is
so super cool. I mean, I feel like, okay, is Maggie like she’s like, well, you know, I’m kidding at this point. I’m just like, I feel like it could be a great idea to use Maggie services. She could bring the rings right during the ceremony. She can do that.
Jennifer Keeler (02:30)
She has, she’s been in a weddings.
They have put our links in photos.
Felix And Fingers (02:34)
Wow. Okay,
so.
You know, when I got married, I never had a deer in the venue. So I would say, like, people out there listening, if you want deer during your wedding, this is where you want to go to. This is so cool. I’ve never witnessed anything like this. So I’m… How old is she by now? Probably pretty old. She’s just eight months?
Jennifer Keeler (02:54)
She is sweet.
She’s eight months old.
Yes, she’s a baby.
Felix And Fingers (03:05)
Wow,
she’s a baby. She’s a really baby. OK, so you were not kidding. She is a baby. This is super cool. OK, well, I hope I’m going to bump into Maggie one of these days. And this is great. And do you guys mostly do weddings at the venue? Is it a little bit like of everything? What is like your main focus?
Jennifer Keeler (03:09)
Yes.
Me too, it’s too sweet.
We do
little bit everything. We do parties, celebrations of lives, we do proms, we’ve done Quincy areas, done birthday parties, baby showers. We’ve done any kind of events. We’ve done fundraisers out here. So we really can accommodate anything.
Felix And Fingers (03:41)
This is super cool. So literally everything. How many people at the venue can accommodate? Like what’s your hold?
Jennifer Keeler (03:48)
We
can accommodate up to 300 people, but I’ve seen more. I’ve seen up to 500 people in out there. So it’s a pretty large space. The bridge comfortably seats 300 guests. The barn itself where you have your receptions and the hall, it holds up to about 500 people in there comfortably.
Felix And Fingers (03:53)
We have to… Wow!
Wow.
Wow, wow, see, that’s amazing. So you can really have everybody out there. wow, 500 holes, this is impressive. This is really, really nice. So it’s great for big weddings or any kind of event, honestly. This is amazing. You know, a lot of the questions that I’m usually asking here are usually generic. And of course, you’ve seen so many weddings and events in the past, but there is one question that I’m always talking about, and maybe our listeners too. Since you started at and…
Jennifer Keeler (04:20)
lot.
Felix And Fingers (04:38)
like at this and to what are what is like the most big like changes you’ve witnessed in the wedding industry like something people are doing more of something people are doing less of something that pops into your mind like like a trend or something people are like steering towards
Jennifer Keeler (04:54)
That really they’re wanting outdoor wedding, open weddings outside natural light and natural beauty is what I’m seeing. That’s what people want. They want to see the natural trees and flowers outside that’s all natural. And that’s what we try and keep around here is everything natural and just vintage and just, you don’t have to too many decorations. It’s just beautiful just as it is. And that’s what I’m seeing more is people are wanting the outdoor wedding.
Felix And Fingers (05:19)
That’s great and that’s actually a really good point. As a performer, I can see myself that a lot of the people these days, they really are looking like into really nice background as well. So it’s not just about having like a really just nice venue like for the reception. They also looking like for a really nice and romantic or historic atmosphere. And I feel like in Jacksonville is such a great spot for it. It’s such a beautiful area, very green. You have a lot of beautiful nature over there. I’m from the Orlando area.
So for me, you know, we got Disney, but that’s pretty much where it ends. So yeah, this is actually a really good point. I am actually witnessing this myself. And I believe that The Keeler Property will definitely provide an amazing experience when it comes down to like really nice views. You know, another one of my favorite question is, and this is like, so weird. So What is like,
Jennifer Keeler (05:47)
yeah, see. Yeah.
Felix And Fingers (06:12)
one thing that is like the most like cringe-worthy thing that you know that you’ve seen at a wedding like something you don’t recommend people doing at all.
Jennifer Keeler (06:22)
Number
one, think everyone will agree with me. Do not let anyone propose at your wedding. Do not let another couple come in and propose. No proposing. Do not take any time away from the bride, the bridal party. Don’t do that. No. That’s number one.
Felix And Fingers (06:40)
So people, my God, my God, number two.
Jennifer Keeler (06:43)
Number two is speeches. When you’re doing a speech, don’t make it forever long. Like when people are yawning because your speech is long. Like, short and sweet. Short and sweet, get back to your dancing. That’s it. That’s why I’m scared.
Felix And Fingers (06:51)
I agree.
I agree, so yeah,
first of all, that is so true, you know? One, I have witnessed that myself, I feel like once in my life when somebody proposed on a wedding and I’m like, okay, this is really cute, but you’re also kind of stealing the show too of what’s going on. Right, right, I mean, there’s so many other good spots to do that. And I’m sure, yeah, so.
Jennifer Keeler (07:08)
Yes, you don’t do that.
First, I’m to tell you a little bit about the day.
Felix And Fingers (07:18)
Exactly. you know, I also feel like the number two, yeah, the speeches. Yeah, just like you mentioned, I’ve actually seen, that was like, that was a really long time to go on, honestly, but there was a wedding that was, know, speeches time, and I could just see that people are, you said yawning, yawning is great. I saw one person falling asleep. Now, I don’t know if they hit the bar too early, and they were just like, okay.
Jennifer Keeler (07:35)
I break my
Felix And Fingers (07:42)
can chill for a little bit or they were like, okay, this is terrible right now. But yeah, definitely keep it short and sweet. So that’s a great advice. That’s really great advice. Now, you know, I believe like there are so many ongoing trends like going on these days right now. Is there something really cool you witnessed recently that people are doing that you say like, this should be actually a thing?
Jennifer Keeler (07:47)
Yeah.
Right.
there’s a lot of new trends and especially with the younger people, they are doing a lot of new stuff. I can’t pinpoint any of them really because they’re all great and they’ve been around forever as well. So I don’t really have a clue on that one.
I guess.
Felix And Fingers (08:24)
Yeah,
I mean, and I don’t think probably what is in some. Yeah.
Jennifer Keeler (08:28)
But I think the outdoors is people are using just the outdoors more with coming outside and using sparklers for their weddings. And that’s pretty new. there’s no more rice. No one throws rice anymore. And they use sparklers. I think that’s beautiful is what people have been doing.
Felix And Fingers (08:43)
Right. Right.
Right. That’s actually that’s really nice to see that today. I also me myself I also witnessed like a lot of people and I don’t know how came across this. Let me know. People are using a lot of photo app sharing today so they will have like a QR code.
Jennifer Keeler (08:55)
They
do in a photo booth. That is really interesting. I’m glad you mentioned that because I have really loved seeing people come in here with a photo booth. So the photo trucks that come in here and they set that up and people can go in there and take photos. And they’ve also had Polaroids. They’ve had Polaroids that people will come and take a Polaroid and just leave the Polaroid picture there for a guest book. But pictures, pictures, pictures. That’s the new.
The new thing is people want all these photos and pictures taken by guests, not just by a photographer. They want the guests to come in and take pictures. I think that’s a very neat idea. I love that idea. So not only do they have the photographer.
Felix And Fingers (09:36)
Yeah, it
is amazing though.
you guys have a photographer, still. I guess you know today with how.
Jennifer Keeler (09:41)
Yep, but you have the guest view as well.
Felix And Fingers (09:44)
Correct, correct. Like I guess like, you know, with today’s reality on social media, people, you know, they’re trying to collect as many possible content to share. I feel like this is becoming a trend and yeah, I mean, I’m glad you said it too. Like it’s very, very, it’s very common these days. It’s actually super cool. So I can see that.
Jennifer Keeler (09:53)
Yeah.
Felix And Fingers (10:04)
Okay, another question, which is interesting. So once a couple gets to The Keeler Property if you have like a bride and groom that just got engaged, what’s like your number one advice you could offer like upfront?
Jennifer Keeler (10:10)
Mm-hmm.
Okay, when you get engaged, my number one advice is book your venue and your photographer. Those are the first things you need to do at least a year to a year and a half in advance because it takes that long to get everything. So get a checklist, have your checklist ready and do your venue first. Number one, pick your venue. That way you have it on your books and you have your deposit for there. And then next I would say your photographer because photographers, they book up quick.
really quick and if you’re going to use a wedding planner find a wedding planner ASAP you know probably before you find your venue you want to get your wedding planner because they book up quick very very quick and it takes about a year for all this to happen so at least go a year in advance at least at the most for a wedding
Felix And Fingers (11:03)
Yeah,
that’s, sometimes, and I agree, a lot of people are asking, even me as a performer, and we are doing a lot of as well, they’re asking like, how early should we book? I’m saying a year early is not too early. Trust me, this is good. This is good.
Jennifer Keeler (11:13)
here.
Felix And Fingers (11:18)
Definitely not too early. There are so many things you have to worry about on your special day and you want to make sure everything works properly.
Felix And Fingers (11:25)
thank you so much for doing this. Thank you for being here. I really hope one day that I’m gonna come meet you and Maggie over there.
Thank you so much. Thank you and we’ll see you soon, hopefully. Thank you so much.
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