Opening a Wedding Venue 101: What You Need to Know

Have dreams of opening a wedding venue? Whether you have experience in the events industry or you just want to use your entrepreneurial skills and dive into the booming industry of weddings, you may be considering opening a wedding venue.

While it’s a large endeavor, the wedding industry is secure and exciting. Couples continue to splurge on wedding venues for their big day, with an average spend of 29K for a wedding venue in 2022. When you own a property that gets booked for weddings, your investment can potentially pay for itself in a relatively short time. Being an event expert company, we will show you what you need to know to open a wedding venue.

Opening a wedding venue – from a wedding venue owner

Tripleseat had the opportunity to talk with Danielle Hansen, owner of Duncan Estate in Spartanburg, S.C., about the experience of opening a wedding venue and how she’s turned it into a success.

1. Research competitors in your market

Before making the decision to open a wedding venue, research local competitors. How many wedding venues are there in your area? Are there any venues that offer what you want to offer? If there are, figure out how you can give your clients a one-of-a-kind experience. “Be unique,” said Hansen. “There have been a lot of barn wedding venues and warehouse venues opening in my area in the past few years, and I can’t see how they differentiate themselves from each other. Be different and offer couples something they can’t find anywhere else.” For example, if you own an apple orchard, offer fun activities that will keep guests entertained the whole weekend, like fishing or apple picking.

2. Look at the cost of building a wedding venue

Envision what you want your wedding venue to look like, and then assess your current finances. Do you want to build a wedding venue or take over an existing space? Are you able to put down a down payment or do you need financing? Should you consider investors? The answers to these questions will help you figure out what type of small business loan or business line of credit you must apply for. “If you can, make improvements [to your venue] in stages as you earn income from the business,” Hansen said. “I didn’t secure any financing other than my mortgage — I just kept reinvesting my income.”

3. Choose a location to build a wedding venue

If you’re taking over an existing space, your location is already picked out for you. But if you’re building your own wedding venue on a plot of land, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to the location. Do you envision endless rolling hills in the countryside as the backdrop for wedding ceremonies or do you picture your clients saying “I do” in the hustle and bustle of a big city? “I stumbled upon this historic, 120-year-old mansion one day on the way to go grocery shopping,” said Hansen. “I thought it would be a great place for weddings, and somehow I got approved for the mortgage.” The mansion that Hansen bought had always been a private residence, so there were a lot of renovations to be done to turn it into an event space. Her biggest challenge? Navigating local zoning laws and building regulations.

4. Prioritize renovations and repairs

It’s tempting to wait until you finish all of the repairs and renovations before you open your doors. But if you’re under financial constraints, that might not be possible. Figure out what the highest priority is and what can wait. Things like bathrooms, catering space, and parking are important main elements. Once you come up with a list, work with a contractor to figure out how much these initial renovations would cost. Remember that you can always improve as you start to book more clients and bring in more income.

“I did minor renovations to the house, including updating the kitchen to make it more friendly for caterers, adding an additional bathroom downstairs, and turning a bedroom into a bridal suite,” Hansen said. “Outside I created a three-tier garden for the wedding ceremonies, removed some landscaping to open up a great back lawn, and cleared a lot of bamboo to make a parking lot. The rest of the outside renovations happened throughout the years as I identified my needs and wants.” She also added a tented area with a brick floor, fire pit, and outside lighting.

5. Set up a reliable network of wedding vendors

Once you’ve come up with an airtight business plan and a good location, it’s time to start building up your portfolio of wedding vendors. Creating a strong network of professionals in the wedding industry before your venue is open will help it flourish. “[I came up with my vendors through] trial and error,” said Hansen. “If a vendor did a good job, I recommended them. If they didn’t do a good job, I’d try not to have them back. We have an open vendor policy but I do have a preferred vendors list.”

6. Open your wedding venue for business

So, you’re ready to start booking? Hosting an open house will help you meet new professionals in your industry and get the word out about your venue. You can also offer discounts to the first few couples who book weddings with you. “I kept my prices low in the beginning to get more bookings,” said Hansen. “I also booked some weddings while we were still under construction, so I had to be ready to open by the first wedding date. Those last few weeks I felt like I was on one of those high-stress home renovation shows. Our stove got delivered three days before the first wedding!”

7. Market your new wedding venue

One of the top resources that engaged couples use to find wedding venues are venue directory websites, like EventUp, the largest event venue directory helping restaurants, hotels, and unique venues capture new leads and increase event revenue.

EventUp powered by Tripleseat was founded on the bold idea to completely streamline the event planning process by bringing the best venues across the globe onto one platform. Designed with corporate, social, and wedding event planners in mind, EventUp, the largest venue directory, allows planners to browse and book the perfect venue for their event.

Another essential marketing tool for wedding venues? Social media is a vital component of your marketing efforts. And don’t forget about how powerful in-person networking can be for your business. “With my background in marketing, I didn’t want to pay for traditional advertising,” Hansen said. “I donated my venue for community events and networked with local bridal dress shops. I used their photos in all my social media and requested online reviews. Eleven years later, we still don’t pay for advertising!”

While Hansen did have a background in event marketing, she had never planned a wedding when she decided to open up her own wedding venue on a whim. Since then, her Spartanburg venue has hosted more than 350 weddings over more than a decade. It can be a big undertaking to start your own wedding venue, but with the right planning and execution, you can create a space where engaged couples would love to say “I do.” Check out EventUp, the leading global venue marketplace, for your venue search. EventUp makes finding an event space of any type or size easy. From bowling alleys to concert venues and everything in between, EventUp has what every event planner is looking for.

8. Manage your wedding bookings with the best hospitality industry software

Once you open your venue and start booking weddings, Tripleseat can help you manage and streamline every detail. If you aren’t yet a Tripleseat user and are curious how Tripleseat’s event management tools and CRM features can improve your process, schedule a demo by filling out the form below to take a closer look.