Advertise on podcast: The Venue Nest Podcast

When should a venue owner trust the numbers, and when should you trust your gut? In this episode, Ashley and Kelsey break down proactive vs. reactive decision-making and how venue owners can use data, client feedback, and gut instinct to make better business decisions. You’ll learn how to recognize when you’re stuck in reactive mode, what numbers and feedback to review regularly, when to trust your gut with people, and how to plan ahead for repairs, updates, and changes before they become urgent problems. If you feel like you’re constantly putting out fires instead of planning ahead, this episode will help you step back, figure out what’s actually working, and make clearer decisions with the next 3–5 years of your venue in mind. Know a venue owner who is constantly putting out fires? Share this episode with them! Then join the Venue Nest community to connect with fellow wedding venue owners, exchange real-world advice, and get practical support for managing clients, protecting your business, and growing your venue. 00:00 Reactive Versus Proactive Decisions 04:33 Setting Aside Funds for Future Updates 06:39 When to Trust Gut or Data 08:59 Building Systems to Escape Reactive Mode 10:16 Reviewing Marketing, Feedback, and Finances 12:34 Team Check-Ins and Vendor Decisions 14:40 Balancing Data and Intuition 16:50 Envisioning the Future and Seeking Advice 19:06 Monthly Review Action Item 20:10 Closing and Community Invitation Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

Setting boundaries with wedding clients can be uncomfortable, but saying yes to everything could cost you more than a booking. In this episode, Ashley and Kelsey share real stories of how bending the rules led to unpaid invoices, frustrated staff, and unhappy clients. They explain which boundaries should never be negotiated, when flexibility makes sense, and how to set expectations without damaging the client experience. Share this episode with a venue owner or venue director who needs help setting stronger boundaries, and join the Venue Nest community for more resources and support for wedding venue owners. 00:00 Introduction to Setting Boundaries 02:02 The Importance of Clear Boundaries 06:03 Attaching a Cost to Exceptions 09:44 Non-Negotiable: Payment Schedules 11:01 The Nightmare of Late Payments 15:53 Examples of Negotiable Items 18:31 Setting Boundaries in a Warm Way 21:12 Actionable Steps for Venue Owners Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest

What if automations could give you your time back without taking the human connection out of your business? In this episode, Ashley and Kelsey break down wedding venue automations and how they use them to streamline their business, save time, and manage 150 weddings per venue each year. They share what to automate first, how to keep automations personal, and why some parts of the client experience should always stay human. They also share how automating appointment reminders, final walkthrough forms, and Google review requests can reduce busywork while creating a better client experience. it into an automation, and build from there. When you're ready to automate more of your business and get your time back, sign up for Venue Nest and let it help you streamline your venue operations while keeping the human connection at the center. 00:00 Introduction to Automations 01:08 Addressing Fears About Automation 03:24 Personalizing Automations 07:53 Simple Automation Starting Points 10:05 The 80/20 Rule of Automation 12:23 Automating the Final Walkthrough 17:22 Controlling Your Automations 19:31 Automating Google Review Requests 21:20 Creating a "Review Barrier" 23:22 Action Item for Listeners Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest

What if the booking isn’t lost during the tour, but in the follow-up afterward? In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley and Kelsey break down post-tour follow-up strategies for wedding venues that can help turn more tours into bookings without chasing or pressuring couples. They explain their 1–14 day post-tour follow-up strategy, why the first few days matter most, and how to follow up without being pushy. They discuss their follow-up cadence, including sending the contract and estimate before the couple leaves the venue, followed by touchpoints at 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and seven days. They also share why personalized messaging, giving value before asking, and varying communication across different channels can make a difference. If your tours are great but your bookings aren't following, this episode will help you rethink what happens after the tour and how your follow-up process can improve conversions. Share this episode with a venue owner or venue director who needs to improve their follow-up process, and join the Venue Nest community for more resources and support for wedding venue owners. 00:00 Sending the Contract During the Tour 01:15 The Importance of Multiple Follow-Ups 03:28 A Personal Story of Being Too Pushy 04:33 How to Follow Up Without Being Pushy 07:46 The Ideal Follow-Up Timeline 09:48 The Peak-End Rule in Tours 13:05 Handling Objections to a Quick Booking Window 15:19 Automating the Follow-Up Process 17:26 Making It Easy for Clients to Say No 19:16 Actionable Advice and Episode Wrap-Up Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest

How many wedding leads are you losing simply because you're responding too late? In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith break down why response time matters when connecting with today’s couples, especially Gen Z. They discuss why text and DMs are becoming more important, how quickly couples expect a response, and five communication habits that can help venue owners convert more leads. They also share practical ways to improve response time, stay organized across multiple communication channels, and avoid losing leads simply because you responded too late. If you’re a venue owner looking to connect with more couples and convert more inquiries, this episode is for you. Like, subscribe, and share this episode with another venue owner who needs to hear it. And join the free Venue Nest community to connect with other venue owners and grow together. 00:00 Communicating with Gen Z 00:45 The Importance of Response Time 01:19 Key Statistics on Response Speed 03:27 The Psychology of Quick Responses 04:42 Understanding the Gen Z Client 06:20 How to Communicate with Gen Z 10:29 Venue Nest's Unified Chat Solution 12:40 Best Communication Habits for Gen Z 15:55 Actionable Tips for Venue Owners Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

Your venue's data could reveal why you're losing leads, tours, and bookings. Are you tracking it? In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith break down 6 key metrics every wedding venue owner should track to understand what's working, what's not, and where revenue is coming from. They cover: Lead Source Breakdown – Where your leads are coming from, including Instagram, TikTok, WeddingWire, The Knot, and Google. Lead-to-Tour Conversion Rate – How many leads actually book a tour. Tour Conversion Rate – How many tours turn into bookings. Tour-to-Booking Date Gap – How long couples take to book after touring your venue. Total Bookings – How many bookings you're generating each month. Revenue Analytics – Tracking booking deposits, projected revenue, and actual revenue received. Ashley and Kelsey also share how tracking these numbers helped them make smarter marketing decisions, identify sales gaps, understand seasonal trends, and reduce the stress of making decisions based on emotion or guesswork. You don't need to track everything at once. Start with one metric, set a baseline, and let the data guide your next decision. Rate, review, and subscribe, and join the Venue Nest community for more support and resources for venue owners. 00:00 Making Data-Driven Decisions 04:00 Internal Data: Employee Performance 06:18 The Six Key Metrics 06:39 Metric 1: Lead Source Breakdown 08:26 Metrics 2 & 3: Number of Leads & Lead to Tour Ratio 10:44 Metric 4: Tour Conversion Rate 14:56 Metric 5: Tour to Booking Date Gap 15:58 Metric 6: Total Bookings and Revenue 18:07 Automating Data with Venue Nest 19:08 Actionable Steps for Listeners Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

Competition is everywhere in the wedding industry, but does it have to be? In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith explore what can happen when wedding professionals choose community over competition. Ashley shares the experience that completely changed the way she viewed other venue owners and vendors, including the powerful lesson that “there is room for everyone.” That lesson eventually inspired Vendor Friendsgiving, an annual event that brings 150+ wedding vendors together for connection, vulnerability, networking, and service. Ashley and Kelsey break down how the event works and share practical ideas for creating a supportive vendor community of your own, even if you’re starting with just 10 or 20 people. They also share a full-circle moment from last year’s Vendor Friendsgiving, when Ashley and the very venue owner who taught her that there is room for everyone showed up wearing the exact same outfit—pants, vest, undershirt, and even glasses. What began as a difficult lesson about competition eventually became a genuine friendship built on trust, respect, and mutual support. If you’ve ever felt like you’re competing for the same clients, struggled to trust other vendors, or felt like you have to figure everything out alone, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to build your business in isolation. There is room for everyone. Rate, review, and subscribe, and join the Venue Nest community for more support, connection, and resources for venue owners. 00:00 A Lesson in Community 03:24 There is Room for Everyone 05:45 Introducing Vendor Friendsgiving 09:05 How to Organize a Community Event 12:54 A Full-Circle Moment 17:16 Building a Support System 18:37 Start Small and Find Your People Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

Google reviews can make or break your wedding venue’s reputation. In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith break down how venue owners can build a strong reputation through Google reviews, client testimonials, vendor relationships, and consistent customer experiences. They share practical strategies for getting more reviews, responding to negative feedback, repurposing testimonials on social media, and capturing authentic client experiences. The key takeaway? Your reputation is built through thousands of small moments that create trust. Rate, review, and subscribe, and join the Venue Nest community for more support and resources for venue owners. 00:00 The Power of Reputation 03:00 Strategies for Getting Initial Reviews 06:03 Incentivizing Employees to Collect Reviews 08:39 Responding to Negative Reviews 10:31 The Importance of Reviews for AI and SEO 11:32 Repurposing Reviews for Social Media 13:34 Capturing Reviews on the Event Day 16:02 Building a Consistent Brand Over Time 18:15 The Optimal Timing for Review Requests 20:19 Leveraging Vendor Relationships Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

Why do couples disappear after a venue tour? It may have less to do with your price and more to do with the connection you created. In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith discuss why couples often "ghost" venue owners after tours. Drawing from a sales psychology training with expert Matt, they reveal how missed emotional connections can lead to lost bookings and share practical strategies for asking meaningful questions, practicing tour scripts, creating gentle urgency, and handling common objections with confidence. The key takeaway? Successful venue sales isn't about being pushy. It's about listening, building trust, and guiding couples toward a decision that feels right for them. Rate, review, and subscribe, and join the Venue Nest community for more support and resources for venue owners. 00:00 Introduction 03:27 Common Mistakes Venue Owners Make 05:01 The First Five Minutes of a Tour 07:14 Key Questions to Build Trust 09:30 Creating and Practicing a Tour Script 14:33 The Power of How You Make Couples Feel 19:28 Handling Common Objections 23:36 Actionable Takeaways for Listeners Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith reveal why some wedding venues thrive while others struggle to get noticed. They explain why visibility is now the currency of the wedding industry and how venue owners can adapt to today's digital landscape using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube. You'll learn why authentic, behind-the-scenes content often outperforms polished marketing, how to repurpose content across multiple platforms, use location tags and strong hooks to reach the right audience, and even leverage AI to generate content ideas. The biggest takeaway? Consistency, not perfection, is what drives long-term growth. If you're a wedding venue owner looking to increase visibility, attract more qualified couples, and book more weddings, this episode is full of practical marketing strategies you can start using today. For a deeper dive into venue marketing, be sure to check out Venue Nest University. 00:00 Introduction to Venue Marketing 02:54 The Evolution of Venue Marketing 04:25 Repurposing Content Across Platforms 07:02 Overcoming Perfectionism 11:31 Targeting the Right Audience 13:18 The Power of a Good Hook 14:47 Understanding Viewer Psychology 17:16 How to Stay Current with Trends 19:27 Consistency is Key Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

If you're afraid no one will care about your venue as much as you do, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith explore why hiring a venue director can be the turning point for a growing wedding venue. They explain the difference between a venue coordinator and a venue director, share their proven hiring process, reveal the qualities they look for in strong leaders, and answer the biggest concerns venue owners have, including "What if they leave?" and "No one will love my venue like I do." Whether you're hoping to scale from 50 to 150 weddings a year or simply step away from the day-to-day without sacrificing your client experience, this episode offers practical leadership and hiring strategies to help you build a stronger, more sustainable venue business. If you're ready to stop being the bottleneck in your business and start building a team that can carry your vision forward, this episode is a great place to start. Be sure to like, subscribe, and join the Venue Nest community for more practical advice to help you grow your venue with confidence. 00:00 Introduction 01:08 What is a Venue Director? 02:25 Venue Director vs. Venue Coordinator 05:32 Finding and Filtering Candidates 07:40 The Problem with Traditional Hiring 09:57 Implementing a Video Application Requirement 12:15 Qualities of a Great Venue Director 17:41 Objection: "It's Easier If I Do It Myself" 19:58 Objection: "What If They Leave?" 22:20 Episode Wrap-Up and Call to Action Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest

Feeling overwhelmed as a venue owner? It might not be a time problem. It might be a systems problem. In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith share why so many venue owners become the biggest bottleneck in their own business. They break down three practical ways to reduce overwhelm, including brain dumping every role you handle, creating canned responses for repetitive questions, and mapping out your client journey. They also explain why documenting your processes makes it easier to delegate, protect your business, and create more freedom without sacrificing the experience you provide. If you're ready to spend less time putting out fires and more time growing your venue, this episode is for you. Be sure to like, subscribe, and join the Venue Nest community for more practical strategies to help you build a thriving venue business. 00:00 Introduction 03:37 You Are the Bottleneck 05:01 Documenting Processes to Create Freedom 08:47 The Many Hats of a Venue Owner 10:16 The Power of Transparency 13:24 Tip 1: Identify and Offload Roles 14:25 Tip 2: Use Canned Responses and Automation 18:26 Tip 3: Define Your Client Journey Stages 20:21 A Resource for Venue Owners Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest

Want to book more weddings and convert more venue tours into bookings? The secret might not be better selling. It might be better listening. In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith sit down with Venue Nest partner Matt, a wedding venue owner, investor, and former high-ticket sales leader. Matt shares proven sales strategies for wedding venues, including how to build trust during venue tours, use transparent pricing to attract the right couples, improve tour-to-booking conversions, and create a client experience that feels helpful instead of pushy. He also explains how venue owners can increase profitability, generate more qualified leads, and build systems that make a venue business easier to scale or sell. Whether you're a venue owner, venue director, or wedding venue entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you book more weddings and grow a more profitable venue business. 00:00 Matt's Background in High-Ticket Sales 02:06 Why Wedding Venues are a Great Investment 05:37 Preparing Your Venue for Sale 09:57 The 80% Rule for Delegation 13:35 Building Trust with Couples on Tours 17:35 What Separates Successful Venues 21:20 Common Mistakes During Venue Tours Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

Starting a wedding venue is exciting, but the reality of running one can look very different than expected. From becoming the plumber and maintenance person to building systems that actually allow a venue to grow, the journey requires more than just loving weddings. In this episode of the Venue Nest Podcast, hosts Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith sit down with Braden, a Venue Nest partner and multi-venue operator, to talk about his journey from real estate investing to scaling wedding venues. Braden shares the challenges of starting from scratch, creating systems, hiring the right venue directors, managing managers, and finding the balance between collaboration and competition in the venue industry. He also explains how those experiences helped shape Venue Nest into a platform built for venue owners and operators. 00:00 The Reality of Venue Ownership 02:13 Braden's Entry into the Wedding Industry 05:58 Hiring the First Venue Director 07:44 Advice for Overwhelmed New Owners 09:43 The Search for the Right Software 11:05 The Creation of Venue Nest 14:38 What Separates Venue Nest 16:00 The Challenges of Managing Managers 20:08 Outro Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/ Venue Nest Podcast https://www.venuenest.com/podcast

Scaling a venue business takes more than just booking more events. It requires the right people, systems, and mindset to move from simply owning a venue to building a sustainable business. In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith are joined by Alex, a Venue Nest partner and venue owner, to discuss the journey of growing a venue business. Alex shares how he went from seeing venues as a simple cash-flow opportunity to understanding the complexity of operations, staffing, maintenance, cash flow, and scaling across multiple locations. They discuss the importance of knowing your numbers, building strong teams, creating systems before expanding, delegating responsibilities, and surrounding yourself with the right people. Alex also shares insights on moving from one venue to multiple venues, the challenges of growth, and why community and collaboration are essential in an industry where many owners feel alone. Through Venue Nest, they aim to help venue owners connect, learn, save time, and build businesses that can grow beyond just the day-to-day operations. 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Alex's Entry into the Wedding Industry 04:57 Scaling to Multiple Venues 07:43 Advice for Buying a Second Venue 09:10 The Emotional Toll on Venue Owners 11:17 The Purpose of Venue Nest 13:50 When and How to Hire Staff 18:01 The Myth of Weekday Weddings 19:18 Final Advice on Growth Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/ Venue Nest Podcast https://www.venuenest.com/podcast