Starting a business that offers rental space to couples who are getting married can be both fun and lucrative. Weddings are a very fun event in general, and having something to do with the organization and complete of a joyous event can have rewards that go well beyond money. However, just like any other business, you need to make sure you do your research and know exactly what you’re doing in order to be prosperous. Whether you are looking to offer a space for the ceremony, reception, or both, starting a wedding venue business can be expensive to get going and blow up in your face if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Choosing a Location
When you are picking a location for your wedding venue, you will want to think about things like the population of the city and what other cities are nearby. There are only so many couples looking to get married each year in a given area, so making sure that there are enough people in your chosen area to stay booked up is vital to having success in this business. You also want to scout the city you are considering and other nearby towns to make sure there isn’t too much competition. Too many “hands in the cookie jar” can result in you having a vacant wedding venue during peak season.
Picking a Building
Once you find the city in which you want to purchase your venue, you’ll need to pick a building. You should make a list of things that are important such as whether or not there is an area for using wedding sparklers and if there is ample room for parking. Also, you should be considering things that will make your venue stick out from the crowd such as landscaping details or historic value. Lastly, you want to make sure the building has all the facilities you need such as a kitchen or a dance floor. The facilities you require will depend on what type of wedding venue you are trying to offer, but it is easier to have them already in place versus trying to add them later.
Booking Couples
Once you have your venue all setup and ready for business, you’ll need to start booking couples. The best part of booking couples is that once you are getting a steady flow of weddings, they typically start spreading the word on your behalf. To get started, make sure you are advertising the major wedding websites and that you have a professionally built website of your own. Most couples will find their wedding venue online, so you basically don’t exist if couples can’t book you from your website. Also, make sure you encourage reviews from all your happy couples. Most people like to see what others have said before booking a wedding venue, so this can help a lot when you’re first starting out.
With the proper knowledge and preparation, starting your own wedding venue as a business can be very enjoyable and profitable. Like all businesses, it’s important to do your research and know what you’re getting yourself into so you can make the most out of your new career choice.
