Once your venue options have been narrowed down, it’s essential that you reach out and communicate with each one to determine their availability and work. Furthermore, ask each venue what vendors they work with so as to save both time and money when planning your event.
Make sure to inquire about what’s included in the pricing so you can compare apples to apples.
The Knot Marketplace
The Knot marketplace not only connects couples with wedding vendors, but it also offers tools that assist them with budgeting and planning, guest experience management, wedding registries, and more. Over 25 million couples have used The Knot Worldwide’s lifestyle brands such as The Bump for pregnancy and parenting advice; GigMasters for entertainment vendors; and Lasting for healthy marriages to plan an ideal wedding experience.
Wedding professionals typically make most of their revenue during the wedding season, so it is crucial that they establish an efficient way of managing cash flow and tracking payments coming in and out. This could include using professional accounting software programs, spreadsheets, or even Excel sheets; whatever option suits best will depend on its ease of use and ability to maximize customer value; having strong review portfolios directly correlates with bookings – the primary revenue generator for weddings vendors.
Venue costs often consume the majority of a bride’s budget, which makes selecting one reflective of who you and your partner are both as individuals. Restaurants or country clubs with lower food and beverage minimums than luxury resorts or private estates often make for more cost-effective venues than resorts or estates.
Public parks and beaches make ideal wedding locations at an economical cost; beaches may even be free, while parks with beachfront access might incur only a minimal rental fee.
Museums and art galleries make for truly unforgettable wedding venues, such as Providence Public Library in Rhode Island – its beautiful early 1900s architecture is absolutely romantic!
Update your website regularly with photos, videos, and branded content to attract brides interested in your venue! Automated brochures provide another effective method of sharing pricing info with potential brides.
Wedding Wire
WeddingWire and The Knot both provide vendors with similar functionality, enabling them to create profiles with photos, descriptions of services offered, price ranges, and website addresses for easy browsing by prospective clients. Both platforms also have reviews from past customers which gives venues, photographers, cake bakers, and stationers confidence that their prospective client has the experience they require for the job at hand.
WeddingWire can be costly for small businesses. A boutique wedding professional that handles 20 amazing events may spend thousands for top placement on WeddingWire; large corporations with 500 subpar weddings annually may spend far less and still get a comparable listing.
WeddingWire vendors frequently complain of only receiving budget clients through this platform, not high-end ones. While these sites can be helpful, it is essential that you track what type of leads are coming your way and are properly qualifying them before using any leads that come your way.
T
he Venue Guide
Finding the ideal venue will have an enormous effect on every other decision related to wedding planning, so it is crucial that you compare your options carefully. Create a chart or spreadsheet (handwritten or Excel-friendly – whatever works for you) with key data for each venue you are considering and fill it in accordingly:
Capacity — How many guests do you plan to invite for the ceremony and reception, and is it taking place at one location or separately?
Pricing — When making comparisons, include all fees, taxes, and additional costs to get an accurate picture. Also, be sure to find out if there are seasonal pricing offers so you know when you might expect lower rental rates.
Amenities & Assets–Identify what each venue provides that you’ll require from outside vendors such as catering, floral, and photography services. Be mindful to also note any perks such as wedding suites or the use of specific rooms/areas for photos; use this to quickly eliminate venues that do not meet all your criteria.