For many people, a wedding is the biggest party they’ll throw in their entire lives. There’s no detail too small when it comes to planning these soirees — from napkin colors to sparkler length.
NB: This is an article from Tripleseat
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So, it’s no surprise that weddings are some of the most profitable events a venue can host. Because of this, many venues have a whole separate strategy for how they market their wedding venue compared to other events.
One of those venues is El Chorro. Nestled near Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Arizona, this venue has created special social media accounts and website pages to highlight its wedding offerings. We talked to Lindsey Rendon, their senior sales manager, to learn more about the marketing strategies that have led El Chorro’s wedding business to thrive.
Wedding Venue Marketing Tips: An Interview with El Chorro
1. Optimize Your Wedding Venue’s Instagram Page
Instagram is #1 for the El Chorro team. “We put a lot of focus on Instagram and social outlets,” Rendon said. “People are so social-driven — how they’re shopping, through photos and tags. We put a lot of attention into Instagram photos, Stories, and wedding features so people can visualize their own wedding here.”
Clearly, it’s working. Not only does El Chorro’s separate wedding Instagram page have more than 10,000 followers, but they now host approximately 80 weddings a year.
They’ve found so much success with Instagram that they don’t even buy ads. “Instagram is our most effective marketing tool, and it’s purely by us being consistent,” explained Rendon. “Being thoughtful about what and how we post has been our biggest source of getting (couples to book with us). So many people come to do a tour already knowing what it looks like and what we do.
2. Leverage National Publications That Feature Weddings
As far as publications go, Rendon said her team goes for placement in national brands over local ones. “Our target is on a national level,” she said. “Arizona is destination-driven, so we want to have our reach further than just local.”
There are a few ways to be featured in national publications. You can purchase ads, of course. But most industry publications (both print and online) also do wedding features of past nuptials. Work with your couples and their photographers to see if they’re game to have their wedding photos submitted to these magazines. It’s win-win: you get the exposure, and the couple gets to see their big day in print!
3. Partner with Local Wedding Vendors
Wedding industry pros know how crucial it is to form good relationships with local vendors. This gives you a whole extra set of advocates. These businesses can also recommend your venue to planners and engaged couples, and vice versa.
