Why do couples disappear after a venue tour? It may have less to do with your price and more to do with the connection you created.

In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith discuss why couples often "ghost" venue owners after tours. Drawing from a sales psychology training with expert Matt, they reveal how missed emotional connections can lead to lost bookings and share practical strategies for asking meaningful questions, practicing tour scripts, creating gentle urgency, and handling common objections with confidence.

The key takeaway? Successful venue sales isn't about being pushy. It's about listening, building trust, and guiding couples toward a decision that feels right for them.

Rate, review, and subscribe, and join the Venue Nest community for more support and resources for venue owners.


00:00 Introduction
03:27 Common Mistakes Venue Owners Make
05:01 The First Five Minutes of a Tour
07:14 Key Questions to Build Trust
09:30 Creating and Practicing a Tour Script
14:33 The Power of How You Make Couples Feel
19:28 Handling Common Objections
23:36 Actionable Takeaways for Listeners


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Google reviews can make or break your wedding venue’s reputation.

In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith break down how venue owners can build a strong reputation through Google reviews, client testimonials, vendor relationships, and consistent customer experiences. They share practical strategies for getting more reviews, responding to negative feedback, repurposing testimonials on social media, and capturing authentic client experiences.

The key takeaway? Your reputation is built through thousands of small moments that create trust.

Rate, review, and subscribe, and join the Venue Nest community for more support and resources for venue owners.


00:00 The Power of Reputation
03:00 Strategies for Getting Initial Reviews
06:03 Incentivizing Employees to Collect Reviews
08:39 Responding to Negative Reviews
10:31 The Importance of Reviews for AI and SEO
11:32 Repurposing Reviews for Social Media
13:34 Capturing Reviews on the Event Day
16:02 Building a Consistent Brand Over Time
18:15 The Optimal Timing for Review Requests
20:19 Leveraging Vendor Relationships


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Website https://www.venuenest.com/

Competition is everywhere in the wedding industry, but does it have to be?

In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith explore what can happen when wedding professionals choose community over competition. Ashley shares the experience that completely changed the way she viewed other venue owners and vendors, including the powerful lesson that “there is room for everyone.”

That lesson eventually inspired Vendor Friendsgiving, an annual event that brings 150+ wedding vendors together for connection, vulnerability, networking, and service. Ashley and Kelsey break down how the event works and share practical ideas for creating a supportive vendor community of your own, even if you’re starting with just 10 or 20 people.

They also share a full-circle moment from last year’s Vendor Friendsgiving, when Ashley and the very venue owner who taught her that there is room for everyone showed up wearing the exact same outfit—pants, vest, undershirt, and even glasses. What began as a difficult lesson about competition eventually became a genuine friendship built on trust, respect, and mutual support.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re competing for the same clients, struggled to trust other vendors, or felt like you have to figure everything out alone, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to build your business in isolation. There is room for everyone.

Rate, review, and subscribe, and join the Venue Nest community for more support, connection, and resources for venue owners.


00:00 A Lesson in Community
03:24 There is Room for Everyone
05:45 Introducing Vendor Friendsgiving
09:05 How to Organize a Community Event
12:54 A Full-Circle Moment
17:16 Building a Support System
18:37 Start Small and Find Your People


Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup

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Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest
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Website https://www.venuenest.com/