16 Wedding Venue Marketing & Advertising Tips to Increase Bookings

November 18, 2025
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Written by:

Heather Apse

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For many, a wedding is the most significant celebration they’ll ever host. In the U.S., couples typically allocate 30% to 50% of their total wedding budget to the venue, making weddings a major investment—and one of the most profitable event types for venues.

This is why many venues take a unique approach to marketing weddings compared to other events.

El Chorro, a picturesque venue near Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Arizona, has embraced this approach by creating dedicated social media accounts and website pages to showcase its wedding offerings. We spoke with Lindsey Rendon, senior sales manager at El Chorro, to uncover the real-world strategies that fueled their event business.

Table of Contents

Why is Wedding Venue Marketing Important?

Wedding venue marketing is crucial because the industry is competitive, and couples are making massive financial and emotional investments. Effective marketing helps you stand out, attract ideal clients, and maximize bookings.

  • Increases Bookings & Revenue: A strong strategy ensures a steady stream of inquiries to fill your calendar.
  • Differentiates Your Venue: Highlights unique features (views, history, packages) in a crowded market.
  • Builds Trust: High-quality visuals and testimonials validate your credibility.
  • Attracts Ideal Clients: Targeted SEO and ads ensure you reach couples who match your price point and style.
  • Strengthens Industry Relationships: Marketing partnerships with vendors lead to referral networks.

Digital Presence & Social Media Marketing

1. Optimize Your Wedding Venue’s Instagram Page (And Embrace Video!)

Instagram is #1 for the El Chorro team. “We put a lot of focus on Instagram and social outlets,” Rendon said. “People are so social-driven—how they’re shopping, through photos and tags.”

While photos are essential, video is now king. Platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok are dominating wedding research. Use these formats to show “A Day in the Life” of a wedding at your venue or behind-the-scenes set-ups.

Actionable Tips:

  • Be Consistent: “Instagram is our most effective marketing tool, and it’s purely by us being consistent,” explained Rendon.
  • Use Strategic Hashtags: Mix broad terms (#weddingvenue) with niche, location-specific tags (#paradisevalleyweddings).
  • Engage: Reply to every comment and DM promptly.

2. Promote Your Venue on Online Marketplaces

Publications are a quality resource, but go-to sites like The Knot, Wedding Spot, and WeddingWire are vital.

Crucially, ensure your venue is listed on EventUp, the largest venue directory and marketplace. These sites drive high-intent traffic from brides-to-be, enhancing your credibility and SEO presence.

3. Leverage Pinterest to Market Your Wedding Venue

Pinterest remains a powerhouse, with over 40 million users utilizing the platform specifically to plan their weddings.

Images are the key to clicks. To win on Pinterest:

  • Create Visual Boards: Showcase diverse themes (e.g., “Boho Chic,” “Winter Wonderland”).
  • Link Back: Ensure every Pin links directly to your inquiry page.
  • Install the “Save” Button: Make it easy for website visitors to pin your images to their boards.

4. Use Google Business Profile to Boost Visibility

If your venue is not listed on Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business), do this immediately. It is often the first place couples look.

  • Optimize: Add address, phone, and high-res photos.
  • Keywords: Use terms like “wedding venue” and “event space” in your business description.
  • Reviews: Respond to all reviews to build trust.

5. Create Targeted Wedding Venue Ads

While organic social is great, paid ads on Google and Facebook allow you to target specific demographics (e.g., “Engaged” status, specific zip codes).

Content & Visual Marketing

6. Showcase Past Weddings at Your Venue

Great photos with cake, happy newlyweds, and twinkly lights sell the dream. “For anyone newly starting out, you definitely have to reach out to photographers,” said Rendon.

Pro Tip: Always get consent from the couple and the photographer, and credit them in your posts.

7. Create a Blog Full of Wedding Topics

You don’t need to be a professional writer. Blog posts improve your SEO and help couples find you.

  • Topic Idea: “Top 5 Photo Spots at [Your Venue Name]”
  • Topic Idea: “Real Wedding Spotlight: [Couple Names]”

8. Host a Virtual Venue Tour

In the digital age, virtual tours are a game-changer, especially for destination weddings. A wedding blueprint or 360-degree tour or Tripleseat Floorplans visualization allows couples to explore your space from their couch.

Relationship Building & Networking

9. Partner with Local Wedding Vendors

Rendon adds that keeping vendor relationships strong is key. “Tagging is really huge. When posting another photographer’s work… those businesses want to be recognized.”

Build your ecosystem: Connect with florists, planners, and caterers. When they succeed, you succeed.

10. Promote Your Wedding Venue at Tradeshows

Bridal expos are perfect for face-to-face networking. Use these events to see what competitors are offering and to strike up conversations with vendors you don’t know yet.

11. Collaborate with Wedding Planners & Influencers

Influencers and planners are the gatekeepers.

  • Planners: Offer incentives for referrals.
  • Influencers: Offer free access to your venue for photoshoots in exchange for social exposure.

12. Leverage Reviews & Testimonials

Nothing builds trust faster than social proof. Encourage happy couples to leave reviews on Google and The Knot.

Level Up: Collect video testimonials to use in your Instagram Reels and website.

Traditional & Targeted Marketing

13. Leverage National Publications

Rendon’s team targets national brands because Arizona is a destination market. Don’t just wait for them to call you. Look for “Real Weddings” submission pages on major blogs (like Style Me Pretty or Green Wedding Shoes) and submit your best high-res galleries. It’s a win-win: you get exposure, and the couple gets published!

14. Offer Exclusive Discounts for Off-Season Weddings

Fill the gaps in your calendar by creating packages for:

  • Weekday weddings
  • Winter/Off-peak dates
  • Last-minute booking windows

15. Build a Wedding Venue Email List & Nurture Leads

Email marketing is not dead. Build a list from website inquiries and send them a nurture sequence:

  1. Exclusive Booking Offer
  2. Thank you & Brochure
  3. “Real Wedding” Spotlight (Inspiration)
  4. Vendor Recommendations

Innovation & Adaptability

16. Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New

“We were one of the first Arizona venues to personalize our account,” Rendon said. They created a separate Instagram account just for weddings because they knew the market was there. Experimentation is key.

Why a Multifaceted Approach Works

The wedding-venue market is highly competitive, with couples investing both emotionally and financially.

Couples today don’t shop like their parents did. They start online—on Instagram, Pinterest, Google—but they also want to meet people, touch fabrics, check out the space in person. A purely digital presence or purely walk-in only strategy won’t cover both phases of their decision-journey.

Vendor relationships and tours add the “human” layer: trust, recommendations, personalized service. Meanwhile SEO, Instagram, marketplace listings provide discovery, reach and scale. Combining both means you’re covering reach and resonance.

Quick Action Plan (30-60-90 day)

  • 30 Days: Audit your website and listings (Google Business Profile, wedding and event directories). Refresh your Instagram with new reels behind-the-scenes. Reach out to top 3 referral vendors and propose a styled shoot.
  • 60 Days: Publish a blog (e.g., “Why our venue works for winter weddings”). Host an open house or mini-tour event for couples + vendors. Launch a small paid ad campaign targeting engaged couples in your geography.
  • 90 Days: Review analytics (which ads/posts generated tours/inquiries). Collect and post a testimonial video from a recent couple. Attend a bridal show or co-marketing event with a vendor partner.

Ready to Take Your Wedding Venue Marketing to the Next Level?

Once you start generating awareness, you need a system to manage the bookings. Schedule a demo of Tripleseat to see how we can help you streamline your event management.

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