What if your next wedding booking came from a vendor who already trusts you?

Wedding venue vendor relationships can lead to more referrals, repeat business, and a stronger reputation. Ashley, Kelsey, and Alex share how to build genuine connections with photographers, planners, caterers, and even other venue owners without treating everyone like competition.

They also explain how giving value, asking for advice, and being willing to reach out can open doors for your venue.

Know a venue owner who wants more referrals? 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 Building Relationships for Recurring Business
01:31 Learning to Network
03:23 Why Networking Matters in the Wedding Industry
06:10 Building Relationships With Nearby Venues
08:58 Why Vendor Referrals Convert
10:54 Which Vendor Relationships to Build
13:06 Networking Through Conferences and Events
15:15 Just Ask and Show Up
16:41 Episode Takeaway: Ask Questions and Be Vulnerable
18:03 Closing and Community Invitation


Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup

Follow Us
Instagram (Venue Nest) https://www.instagram.com/venuenest
Instagram (Ashley) https://www.instagram.com/ashley.e.shepherd
Instagram (Kelsey) https://www.instagram.com/kelseyparcellsmith
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest

Is your wedding venue really ready for the next busy season?

The wedding venue off-season is when you should be preparing for what comes next. In this episode, Ashley and Kelsey break down four areas to focus on: marketing, finances, team feedback, and systems.

They share how they review the past year, plan their marketing budget, look at where the money is going, get honest feedback from employees, and make important changes before busy season starts.

Know a venue owner or venue director who needs to make better use of their off-season? 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 Hiring and Training During the Off-Season
00:53 Why Off-Season Preparation Matters
02:12 Marketing Review and Planning
05:54 Financial Review and Budgeting
11:09 Employee Feedback and Year-End Reviews
15:38 Updating Systems, Contracts, and Staffing Plans
17:50 Four Off-Season Planning Priorities
19:01 Closing and Community Invitation


Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup

Follow Us
Instagram (Venue Nest) https://www.instagram.com/venuenest
Instagram (Ashley) https://www.instagram.com/ashley.e.shepherd
Instagram (Kelsey) https://www.instagram.com/kelseyparcellsmith
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest

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/