Marketing for Wedding Venues: Behind the Scenes of a Website that Works for You
Marketing for wedding venues is unlike marketing for any other vendor in the wedding industry. As a brand and website designer, I’ve seen so many gorgeous venues struggle to get inquiries because their website simply wasn’t pulling its weight. So today, I’m going to break down everything you need to know about designing a website for wedding venues so you can start attracting your dream clients!
Why Wedding Venues Need a Professional Website
Some wedding vendors might be able to get away with not having a website, or at least, not a very good one. I don’t recommend it, of course, but it’s possible. Unfortunately, wedding venues are not one of those.
If you’re a wedding venue, you need a website. There’s no way around it. And if you want to attract high-end couples, it needs to be a well-designed website. The venue is likely the largest investment couples will make in their wedding. It’s probably one of the first things they’ll book, too, and it will determine the overall feel of their wedding day. Even the most go-with-the-flow couple is going to do a ton of research before booking their venue. And your website needs to be up to the task! It needs to be professional, high-quality, and easy to navigate.
Beyond that, it needs to form an emotional connection with the reader. Your website can either act as a brochure, simply listing benefits, or it can be a preview to their day, showing them what their wedding can feel like. When it comes to marketing for wedding venues, I’ll let you guess which one will be more effective.
4 Things Wedding Venues ABSOLUTELY Must Include on Their Website
Okay, so now you know you need a website. But your website can’t just be pretty. Wedding venue websites must include certain information to expect an inquiry. I recommend that every venue include the following info:
Starting Prices
I know, I know, there are a lot of opinions on whether or not to include prices on your website. But I’ve been doing this a while, and I will happily die on this hill. Including your prices allows couples to self-select in or out. If they don’t want to pay that price, great! You’ve just saved yourself the time and energy of communicating with a lead who was never going to book.
Pictures of Your Property & Amenities
Pictures are your new best friend. Before anything else, couples want to know the vibe. They want to picture themselves at your venue, getting ready, walking down the aisle, and dancing the night away. Including images of all of your highlighted spaces lets them envision their wedding.
What’s Included
I feel like this should be obvious, but you’d be shocked by how many venue websites don’t include this information. You might have a separate document that you send to couples after they inquire, and that’s fine, too! But you need to have some of this info on your website for couples to decide if you are worth reaching out to. Plus, this is a great way to advertise any unique offerings you have, like full weekend availability, luxury event rentals, on-site lodging, etc.
Testimonials
I cannot stress enough how important social proof is!! Having positive testimonials on your website instantly builds trust. Bonus points if the review mentions how the venue and staff solved problems and created a seamless experience for the couple and their guests.
Local SEO & Your Google Business Profile
Marketing for wedding venues must include local SEO. It is the best way to gain traction and get found by couples searching your area. I do a deep-dive about local SEO in this blog, but here are the cliff notes!
Local SEO relies on geographic keywords, like “Austin, Texas Wedding Venue” or “Wedding Venue Near Me.” This is where blogging comes in handy! Location-specific blogs show up in all those “near me” searches, and show Google where you’re located so it can place your website in the correct searches!
It’s also so important to set up your Google Business Profile (GBP). Claiming and optimizing your GPB shows Google who you are and helps it place you in the correct searches. And as you collect reviews, it shows search engines that your website is trustworthy, boosting your ranking even further! Read this blog to learn more about your GBP and how to optimize it!
Okay, this is the last thing about local SEO. You’ve gotta get those backlinks. When other local, reputable websites link back to your website, it’s another green flag to Google that your website is trustworthy and helpful! I recommend joining local directories and connecting with other local vendors to start accumulating backlinks.
Brand Photos for Wedding Venues
I briefly mentioned how important images are on wedding venue websites, but it’s worth mentioning again. You already have an edge up on your competitors because you look different, and you’ll attract different couples. But that only works if you actually show these differences!
If you want your website to work for you, I highly recommend an intentional brand shoot. You might have dozens of styled shoots and wedding photos at your venue, and that’s amazing. But a brand shoot specifically designed for your website allows you to show off amenities that your couples use, but wouldn’t think of photographing on their wedding day. Imagine having images that show off an obscure space in the venue that’s perfect for a first look… if only your couples knew it existed! Plus, you can add videography to your brand shoot to capture the feeling behind these moments.
As a web designer, one of the worst things I see is a gorgeous website held back by outdated photos. That’s why I’ve partnered with Kati from The Social Reco to offer brand shoot strategy and styling that aligns with your professional brand and website. Click here to learn more!
Branding, Web Design, and SEO for Wedding Venues
I love marketing for wedding venues. Designing brands and websites for wedding venues is often more challenging, but so rewarding. Nothing beats seeing a website come together that accurately and authentically represents the experience you offer your couples! It’s got to be emotionally aware and strategic, and I thrive in that intersection.
If you want a website that connects to your clients and actually shows them what it’s like to get married at your venue, I would love to work with you. My House Special Service includes everything you need for marketing your venue: a cohesive brand, beautiful design, and a strong SEO strategy. Fill out the contact form to get started!
