Holiday Engagements: How Wedding Venues Prepare for a Busy Booking Season
The holiday season is an extremely popular time for couples to get engaged and to look for their perfect wedding venue – this is known as the wedding “booking season.” Did you know there are almost two times as many engagements in December than in any other month? With wedding booking season fast approaching, wedding venues must start preparing for the influx of event inquiries and bookings.
As a wedding venue owner or event planner, it’s important to take advantage of this busy time. Get your venue ready to attract and accommodate potential wedding clients. Here are some tips on what wedding venues must do now to prepare for the holiday engagement season.
Update Your Website and Social Media
Before engagement season kicks off, ensure you’re ready for wedding booking season with your digital presence, including website and social media pages. The internet is usually the first place a couple goes to start their wedding planning journey. Your website is arguably the most critical tool for booking new clients. Ensure it is up-to-date with high-quality photos (and video if you have it) of your venue, detailed information about packages and pricing, and clear ways to contact your venue and take the next steps. Ensure your website has clear navigation and is mobile-friendly, as many couples browse casually from their phones. Your website could be the couple’s first impression of your venue, make sure it is a positive, strong, and lasting one.
Offer Special Wedding Packages
Consider offering special packages or promotions to stand out from other wedding venues. This could include discounted rates or perks for weddings booked in say January or February, historically slower months for wedding bookings. These promotions can entice couples to choose your venue over others and can also help increase bookings.
Update Wedding Venue Listings
Many potential customers discover your venue through wedding venue listings, so prioritize reviewing your listings in various places. Take a moment to review your listing and assess whether the venue description could benefit from a rewrite. You want your listings to truly showcase your venue’s full potential. Ensure you utilize the most captivating imagery available. Check that all links are updated and working.
Partner with Local Vendors
Collaborating with other local wedding vendors can be beneficial for both parties. Reach out to photographers, florists, and caterers in your area and offer to promote their services in exchange for them promoting your venue. This can help attract more clients to your venue and provide a one-stop-shop for couples planning their wedding.
Host an Open House
Hosting an open house is a great way to showcase your venue and attract potential clients. Present your venue in the most positive way and offer tours to interested couples. Perhaps you do research on recent wedding trends so your venue can add those special touches. You can also provide samples of food and drinks to give couples a taste of what their wedding could be like at your venue. This is also a great opportunity to network with other local vendors and potentially collaborate on future events.
Update Your Availability Calendar
Make sure to update your availability calendar on your website and social media pages. This will help potential clients see when your venue is available and can also help you manage your bookings during the busy holiday season. If your venue is already booked for certain dates, consider offering alternative dates or referring clients to other local wedding venues.
Evaluate Your Sales Process
Don’t wait until wedding booking season is in full swing to evaluate the effectiveness of your sales process and the technology that manages it all. Take the opportunity now to sit down and thoroughly assess your team’s readiness to handle the upcoming surge in inquiries. Quick response time is crucial, and event teams are frequently stretched thin, making it challenging to allocate time for managing the schedule and planning weddings for existing bookings – let alone handling follow-up emails and conducting venue tours. Event management software like Tripleseat can help you respond to couples who are eager to gather information and make decisions promptly. Make each couple feel special with personalized communication. This is also easily done with Tripleseat, addressing the couple’s specific needs and preferences.
By following these tips, wedding venues can prepare for the holiday engagement season and attract more clients during this busy time. Remember to showcase your venue’s unique features and offer special wedding promotions to stand out from the competition. Happy holidays and happy booking!
Learn About How Tripleseat Can Help Your Venue Book More Weddings
Tripleseat simplifies wedding venue management like never before. Our cloud-based platform equips your team with the necessary resources to increase bookings, enhance the planning process for wedding clients, and ensure seamless communication throughout all departments. Request a demo today.
