Every week, another beautiful venue closes its doors within the first few years. The reason? It's the costly mistakes made before ever welcoming the first guest. In this episode, Lindsay pulls back the curtain on the 7 most expensive missteps first-time venue owners make and provide actionable strategies to avoid them.

Whether you're in the dreaming phase, applying for funding, ready to sign a lease or even a seasoned venue owner, this episode will save you time, money, and heartache by learning from others' expensive lessons.

🎯 Market research isn't optional

💰 The MVP approach saves money

📊 Know your real numbers

🏢 Location is more than rent

⚙️ Systems prevent disasters

📱 Marketing starts before opening

🧠 Mindset matters

Links + Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Funding 101
• Profit planner
• Operations Overhaul
• Free resources
• Freebie: Pre-Launch your venue

Kinsey and Lindsay both offer custom market analysis for 1:1 clients. Email Kinsey at kinsey@shecreatesbusiness.com or email Lindsay at hello@thelindsaylucas.com

Feeling like your dream of owning a wedding venue is slipping away?

Take a breath — and don’t give up.

In this solo episode, Lindsay Lucas, wedding venue consultant, shares a powerful mindset shift that could change everything: You don’t have to build the dream all at once. You just have to start smart.

If traditional funding options said "no," it might be time to go back to the drawing board and explore building your venue in phases — a strategic, sustainable approach that reduces financial risk, opens more funding doors, and even comes with added benefits like spreading out tax liabilities over several years.

You’ll learn:

• Why “no” from a bank isn’t the end — it’s feedback for your plan

• How breaking your project into 2–3 realistic phases can get you to the finish line faster

• The long-term financial and operational upsides of a phased approach

• How to regroup, rethink, and relaunch your venue dream without losing momentum

Whether you’re in the early dreaming stage or facing obstacles mid-build, this episode will help you realign with your vision and move forward — wisely.

Connect with Kinsey & Lindsay:

Website

Instagram

"Bookings are down for this year" - sound familiar? If you've been watching your lead pipeline slow to a trickle while refreshing your inbox hoping for inquiries, this episode is your lifeline.

Kinsey and Lindsay are pulling back the curtain on three strategies that are actually working to generate wedding venue leads right now (not the same tired advice you've heard a million times).

Grab your notebook (seriously, you'll want to take notes!) as Kinsey breaks down:

📱 Strategy #1: Leverage Social Media Consistently Learn the exact content formula that moves couples through their buyer's journey - 40% awareness content, 40% consideration content, and 20% decision content. Plus, discover how to use automation tools like ManyChat to be the fastest responder in your couples' DMs.

🤖 Strategy #2: Optimize for AI Search & SEO Visibility Traditional SEO is evolving rapidly. Find out how to position your venue for AI search tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google's Gemini. We'll share specific tactics for creating AI-friendly content that gets your venue found.

🤝 Strategy #3: Network & Collaborate Strategically Move beyond random networking events. Learn how to deepen relationships with your vendor partners, host meaningful gatherings at your venue, and become the go-to connector in your market.

Whether you're an aspiring venue owner or a seasoned pro looking for fresh ideas, this episode delivers actionable strategies you can implement today.

Resources mentioned:

ManyChat (for social media automation)
Claude by Anthropic
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Google's Gemini AI

Got questions or want to share your success? Find us on Instagram @yourvenueexperts or email us at shecreatesbusinesspodcast.com

P.S. Would you attend a venue owners conference in Colorado? Let us know - we might just be planning something special! 👀

In this episode Lindsay answers a listener's question,

"Should my wedding venue accommodations be in a separate LLC?"

If you're running (or planning) a venue with onsite lodging, this episode is a MUST-LISTEN 🎧

Lindsay breaks down exactly why smart venue owners separate their accommodations into their own LLC:

• Liability protection (because wedding drama ≠ lodging issues)
• Different insurance needs = different coverage
• Cleaner financials = better business decisions
• Exit strategy flexibility (sell one, keep the other!)

This listener question came at the perfect time - so many of you are adding accommodations or considering it. Don't make the mistake of lumping everything together!

Connect with Kinsey and Lindsay

Website

Instagram

In this episode, Kinsey Roberts and Lindsay Lucas break down the key steps for wedding venue owners considering selling their business.

With an increase in inquiries about buying and selling venues, they share practical advice based on real experience.

• Get your financials organized first - Buyers want to see actual profit, not just potential. Have your gross and net revenue clearly documented and ready for scrutiny.
  
  
• Prepare for thorough due diligence - Serious buyers will conduct what feels like a "financial cavity search." Be organized with all paperwork, documentation, and proof of income.
  
  
• Decide your selling strategy early - Determine if you're selling just the business, just the real estate, or both together. This affects your entire approach and gives you flexibility later.
  
  
• Get a professional business valuation - Hire a third-party evaluator with venue or hospitality experience, or start with DIY options like bizequity.com to reduce attorney hours.
  
  
• Ensure legal compliance - Review all licenses, permits, zoning requirements, and existing contracts with vendors and employees before listing.
  
  
• Manage your expectations - Buyers purchase based on current profit, not future potential. If they're buying for potential, expect a lower price since they'll be doing the work to realize that potential.
  
  
• Consider your personal brand - If you've built the venue around founder content and personal branding, start shifting to venue-focused content well before selling, as buyers see no equity in your personal brand.
  
  
• Prepare emotionally - Selling is an emotional journey for both parties. Don't take buyer questions personally - they're seeking facts, not criticizing your management.
  
  
• Use NDAs properly - Any serious buyer should be willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement. If they won't, they're not serious.

THIS IS PART TWO OF OUR TWO-PART PODCASTS ALL ABOUT ANSWERING THE QUESTION: How do you make your wedding venue stand out during tours?

Are your venue tours not converting the way you'd hoped? You're not alone.

Most venue owners focus solely on aesthetics during tours, but the venues consistently booking at premium rates understand something crucial: the tour experience is fundamentally a neurological journey.

In this episode, Kinsey and Lindsay break down the three neural systems that factor into venue decision-making and reveal why couples actually make their venue choice within the first 90 seconds of experiencing your space.

You'll discover how to create a multi-sensory experience that hits all five senses, learn to identify and eliminate "sensory dead zones" in your tour route, and understand how to create emotional anchors that help couples visualize their future wedding at your venue.

We're also sharing practical strategies for reducing decision fatigue, specific examples of how to incorporate scent and sound into your tours, and actionable steps you can implement immediately to improve your conversion rates.

This isn't about spending thousands on renovations - it's about working strategically with what you already have to create an unforgettable experience that moves couples from "maybe" to "yes."

Are your venue tours not converting the way you'd hoped? You're not alone. Most venue owners focus solely on aesthetics during tours, but the venues consistently booking at premium rates understand something crucial: the tour experience is fundamentally a neurological journey.

In this episode, Kinsey and Lindsay break down the three neural systems that factor into venue decision-making and reveal why couples actually make their venue choice within the first 90 seconds of experiencing your space.

You'll discover how to create a multi-sensory experience that hits all five senses, learn to identify and eliminate "sensory dead zones" in your tour route, and understand how to create emotional anchors that help couples visualize their future wedding at your venue.

We're also sharing practical strategies for reducing decision fatigue, specific examples of how to incorporate scent and sound into your tours, and actionable steps you can implement immediately to improve your conversion rates.

This isn't about spending thousands on renovations - it's about working strategically with what you already have to create an unforgettable experience that moves couples from "maybe" to "yes."


Shop Venue Owner's Favorite Resources:

https://stan.store/yourvenueexperts

Connect On Instagram

Email Kinsey and Lindsay:

kinsey@shecreatesbusinesspodcast.com

hello@thelindsaylucas.com

In this episode, Kinsey dives into a fascinating Harvard Business Review article that reveals why only 5% of social media content goes viral—and how you can strategically increase your odds.

Discover the powerful SPREAD framework that breaks down viral content into six key dimensions: Socially useful, Provocative, Replicable, Emotional, Ambiguous, and Distributive.

From Duolingo's viral owl to Taylor Swift's cryptic album drops, learn how major brands engineer shareability into their campaigns.

But going viral isn't just about creating buzz—Kinsey explores the critical backend systems you need in place to handle sudden traffic spikes and avoid the pitfalls that can crush unprepared businesses.

Plus, she tackles the honest question every business owner wonders: Should going viral actually be your goal?

This episode is for venue owners looking to create content that truly connects and spreads to the right audience.

Resources mentioned:

Harvard Business Review SPREAD framework article
Jay Baer's "Youtility" Book
Marcus Sheridan's "They Ask You Answer" Book

What's your take on going viral? Share your thoughts with us @yourvenueexperts