I just saw a post in a Facebook wedding forum that asked for referrals to “Event Venues. Not Wedding Venues.” And it sent my mind on a trip. Is there a stigma about wedding venues that some people want to avoid? Is there a difference? Or is this just marketing the same four walls differently? Doing the google SEO dance? As owners of four “wedding venues”, we’re going to let you in on a secret — we also host business gatherings, Bar-Mitzvahs, anniversaries, religious gatherings, birthdays, graduation parties, pop-up parties and more. We love them all!
This question had me doing some self-analysis and psycho-therapy about my own business. While lying on the proverbial couch, the picture that kept coming to mind is one of those long moving sidewalks at airports. I always wonder why people choose to not walk on them?! They’re so much easier and literally painless. I wonder if anyone on the moving sidewalk ever wished they took the long way instead?
I think of a “wedding venue” simply as a place AND team that has put that moving sidewalk in place for people getting married. It could be a building, a boat, barn, backyard, or even a parking garage. The passions and skill sets of the staff, systems behind the curtain, purchases that are considered a priority, business and vendor relationships, and the thoughts that keep the owners up late at night all weave together to make things smooth on your wedding day… and hopefully make you super happy you chose the moving sidewalk.
I could be way off, but I wonder if the original poster was just looking for the best place to create an unexpected wedding experience? To which I throw up my hands and say ‘heck yeah.’ That’s exactly the type of wedding venue I hope we will always be.