From The Service Industry to Venue Success

In this episode of The Venue RX podcast, Jonathan Aymin interviews Kelsey and Tony Tenamore, the owners of Vezalay Mountain Venue in Dahlonega, Georgia. The couple shares their transition from the restaurant industry to running a wedding venue, offering insights into the challenges they faced and the strategies they've developed along the way. They emphasize the importance of clear communication with clients and careful strategic planning, which have been key to their success.

Kelsey and Tony also discuss their approach to improving the client experience by offering in-house services and all-inclusive packages, making it easier for couples to plan their weddings. They explain their decision to focus on social media marketing rather than traditional platforms like WeddingWire, highlighting the importance of authenticity and direct engagement with their audience. In addition to their business strategies, the Tenamores talk about balancing work, marriage, and family life while managing their venue, offering advice to others in similar situations.

About Our Guest: 

Kelsey and Tony Tenamore's journey to opening their own wedding venue began when fate brought them together while working in the service industry at a bar/restaurant in 2012. Though their careers eventually took different paths, their shared passion for hospitality would later unite them in a new venture. Kelsey moved on to work in corporate event planning for a large medical company, gaining valuable experience in organizing large-scale events. Meanwhile, Tony continued bartending, using the opportunity to learn the inner workings of small businesses and prepare for his future entrepreneurial goals.

As Tony's bartending career progressed, regular customers began requesting his services for private events, including weddings and parties. After working several small events, Tony quickly realized there was a significant demand in the market for his expertise. This sparked the idea of starting their own business, blending Kelsey's event planning skills with Tony's knowledge of the service industry. From this, their vision for creating a wedding venue was born.

Find Them Here: 

Address: 520 Hwy 52W, Dahlonega, GA 30533 

Email: info@vezalay.com  

Website: http://www.vezalay.com/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/vezalaymountainvenue

Facebook: http://facebook.com/vezalay