The Venue Nest Podcast

Ashley Shepherd + Kelsey Smith
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Entrepreneurship

The Venue Nest Podcast is where real venue owners come to feel less alone, get clear on what’s actually working, and learn how to run a profitable, organized, and experience, driven venue without the overwhelm.

  1. 15h ago

    Wedding Venue Off Season Plan: Rest, Honest Feedback, and Staff Appreciation

    Burned out after wedding season? Here's how wedding venue owners can rest, run annual reviews, and thank their staff in the off season. Ashley and Kelsey of Venue Nest share what busy season really looked like across their three venues, including the exhaustion, the time management struggles, and a year of nonstop maintenance problems. In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, you'll learn how to recharge by going back to your why, how to set boundaries with yourself, and why every venue needs a maintenance budget. Ashley and Kelsey also walk through their annual review process for venue directors: the questions they ask, how to take honest feedback without getting defensive, and how to decide which feedback to act on. Plus, how a monthly content day works, how marketing incentives are set up for venue directors, and simple ways to show your staff appreciation during the holidays. Ready to plan your off season? Start with one step from this episode: send an annual review to your team, block off a monthly content day, or plan a real thank you for your staff. Then join the free Venue Nest community to share what you're trying and learn from other wedding venue owners. You can also learn more about the Venue Nest community, education, and software at venuenest.com. 00:00 Connection Beats Gifts 00:51 Wedding Venue Off Season Plan 01:07 Wedding Venue Busy Season Recap 02:46 Venue Maintenance Problems and Costs 03:57 Venue Maintenance Budget and Hiring 05:11 Venue Flooring Repair Story 06:39 Venue Marketing During Busy Season 07:56 Off Season Rest for Venue Owners 08:27 How to Recharge: Go Back to Your Why 09:25 Setting Boundaries as a Business Owner 10:38 Venue Staff Annual Reviews 12:40 Best Annual Review Questions for Staff 14:02 How to Take Honest Employee Feedback 15:23 Venue Director Marketing Incentives 17:20 Venue Content Day for Social Media 19:44 Setting Goals for Your Venue Team 20:50 Which Feedback to Act On 22:46 Holiday Staff Appreciation Ideas 24:31 Connection Over Gifts 25:47 Off Season Action Items for Venue Owners 26:51 One Thing Challenge 27:30 Join the Venue Nest Community Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram (Venue Nest) https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Instagram (Ashley) https://www.instagram.com/ashley.e.shepherd Instagram (Kelsey) https://www.instagram.com/kelseyparcellsmith Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/ Venue Nest Podcast https://www.venuenest.com/podcast HASHTAGS (YouTube) #WeddingVenueOwners #VenueManagement #VenueNest #WeddingVenueBusiness PINNED COMMENT SUGGESTION Which off season step are you starting with: annual reviews, a monthly content day, or a thank you for your team? Drop it below 👇 And if you want to compare notes with other venue owners,

  2. Oct 28

    Venue Break-Even Number: How Many Weddings Do You Need?

    Why do so many wedding venue owners feel like they have no money, even when they have a wedding almost every weekend? If your venue finances feel confusing, your cash flow swings between busy and slow months, or you're not sure you're actually profitable, this conversation is for you. In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley, Kelsey, and returning guest Matt Monson, Venue Nest co-founder and owner of four wedding venues with his partners, break down the money side of running a venue. You'll learn the difference between fixed and variable expenses, how to find your venue's break-even number, how to manage cash flow between peak wedding season and slower months, and why money in the account isn't always money you can take. They also cover where venue money quietly disappears (including a $20,000-a-year lawn lesson), the difference between gross and net revenue, and why a profit on paper can still leave you short on cash. Know a venue owner who's booked all season and still stressed about money? Share this episode with them, then join the free Venue Nest community to swap questions and practical advice with other wedding venue owners. 00:00 Why Venue Owners Feel Broke With Weddings Every Weekend 01:56 Fixed vs. Variable Venue Expenses 03:38 Escaping the Month-to-Month Money Mindset 04:49 Seasonal Expenses and Consistent Bookings 06:55 The 30-Minute Weekly Money Check-In 07:29 Managing Venue Cash Flow Highs and Lows 09:52 Where Venue Money Disappears: The $20K Lawn 12:04 Common Misconceptions About Venue Numbers 12:42 Profit Isn't Take-Home Pay: Taxes on Money Never Received 14:18 Gross vs. Net Revenue Explained 16:19 Cash Flow Projections: Spreadsheets, Bookkeepers, or Venue Software 18:05 How to Find Your Venue Break-Even Number 19:10 Action Item: Review Your Last 90 Days 19:45 Closing Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram (Venue Nest) https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Instagram (Ashley) https://www.instagram.com/ashley.e.shepherd Instagram (Kelsey) https://www.instagram.com/kelseyparcellsmith Instagram (Matt) https://www.instagram.com/matt_monson1 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/ Venue Nest Podcast https://www.venuenest.com/podcast #WeddingVenueOwners #VenueManagement #VenueNest #WeddingVenueBusiness #VenueFinances

  3. Oct 21

    Is Your Venue Management Software Making Your Job Harder?

    Is your venue management software saving you time, or making your job more complicated? In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley, Kelsey, and Braden discuss how the right venue management software can simplify operations, automate tasks, and help venue owners make better business decisions. You’ll learn which features to look for, how marketing analytics can help you track leads and bookings, and how automation can free up time for clients and sales. If you’re overwhelmed by manual processes or struggling to find software that fits your venue’s needs, this episode will help you identify what’s missing from your operations and what to look for in a better system. Know a venue owner who’s spending too much time managing tasks instead of growing their business? Share this episode with them! Then join the Venue Nest community to connect with fellow wedding venue owners and exchange practical advice. 00:00 Venue Ownership’s Stress and Purpose 02:06 From Pen and Paper to Software 05:09 The Cost of Avoiding Software 07:29 Support for Less Tech-Savvy Owners 09:39 Why Venue-Specific Software Was Needed 11:13 Data, Automation, and Simplicity 14:12 Connected Workflows and Better Experiences 16:16 Marketing Analytics and Venue Nest Features 17:24 Client Portals and Increased Value 18:34 Episode Takeaways 20:10 Closing Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram (Venue Nest) https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Instagram (Ashley) https://www.instagram.com/ashley.e.shepherd Instagram (Kelsey) https://www.instagram.com/kelseyparcellsmith Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest

  4. Oct 14

    Want More Wedding Venue Bookings? Build These Relationships

    What if your next wedding booking came from a vendor who already trusts you? Wedding venue vendor relationships can lead to more referrals, repeat business, and a stronger reputation. Ashley, Kelsey, and Alex share how to build genuine connections with photographers, planners, caterers, and even other venue owners without treating everyone like competition. They also explain how giving value, asking for advice, and being willing to reach out can open doors for your venue. Know a venue owner who wants more referrals? Share this episode with them! Then join the Venue Nest community to connect with fellow wedding venue owners, exchange real-world advice, and get practical support for managing clients, protecting your business, and growing your venue. 00:00 Building Relationships for Recurring Business 01:31 Learning to Network 03:23 Why Networking Matters in the Wedding Industry 06:10 Building Relationships With Nearby Venues 08:58 Why Vendor Referrals Convert 10:54 Which Vendor Relationships to Build 13:06 Networking Through Conferences and Events 15:15 Just Ask and Show Up 16:41 Episode Takeaway: Ask Questions and Be Vulnerable 18:03 Closing and Community Invitation Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram (Venue Nest) https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Instagram (Ashley) https://www.instagram.com/ashley.e.shepherd Instagram (Kelsey) https://www.instagram.com/kelseyparcellsmith Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest

  5. Oct 7

    Busy Season Only Rewards What You Built in the Off Season

    Is your wedding venue really ready for the next busy season? The wedding venue off-season is when you should be preparing for what comes next. In this episode, Ashley and Kelsey break down four areas to focus on: marketing, finances, team feedback, and systems. They share how they review the past year, plan their marketing budget, look at where the money is going, get honest feedback from employees, and make important changes before busy season starts. Know a venue owner or venue director who needs to make better use of their off-season? Share this episode with them! Then join the Venue Nest community to connect with fellow wedding venue owners, exchange real-world advice, and get practical support for managing clients, protecting your business, and growing your venue. 00:00 Hiring and Training During the Off-Season 00:53 Why Off-Season Preparation Matters 02:12 Marketing Review and Planning 05:54 Financial Review and Budgeting 11:09 Employee Feedback and Year-End Reviews 15:38 Updating Systems, Contracts, and Staffing Plans 17:50 Four Off-Season Planning Priorities 19:01 Closing and Community Invitation Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram (Venue Nest) https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Instagram (Ashley) https://www.instagram.com/ashley.e.shepherd Instagram (Kelsey) https://www.instagram.com/kelseyparcellsmith Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest

  6. Sep 30

    Data vs. Gut: How Should Venue Owners Make Business Decisions?

    When should a venue owner trust the numbers, and when should you trust your gut? In this episode, Ashley and Kelsey break down proactive vs. reactive decision-making and how venue owners can use data, client feedback, and gut instinct to make better business decisions. You’ll learn how to recognize when you’re stuck in reactive mode, what numbers and feedback to review regularly, when to trust your gut with people, and how to plan ahead for repairs, updates, and changes before they become urgent problems. If you feel like you’re constantly putting out fires instead of planning ahead, this episode will help you step back, figure out what’s actually working, and make clearer decisions with the next 3–5 years of your venue in mind. Know a venue owner who is constantly putting out fires? Share this episode with them! Then join the Venue Nest community to connect with fellow wedding venue owners, exchange real-world advice, and get practical support for managing clients, protecting your business, and growing your venue. 00:00 Reactive Versus Proactive Decisions 04:33 Setting Aside Funds for Future Updates 06:39 When to Trust Gut or Data 08:59 Building Systems to Escape Reactive Mode 10:16 Reviewing Marketing, Feedback, and Finances 12:34 Team Check-Ins and Vendor Decisions 14:40 Balancing Data and Intuition 16:50 Envisioning the Future and Seeking Advice 19:06 Monthly Review Action Item 20:10 Closing and Community Invitation Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

  7. Sep 23

    Setting Boundaries As Venue Owners

    Setting boundaries with wedding clients can be uncomfortable, but saying yes to everything could cost you more than a booking. In this episode, Ashley and Kelsey share real stories of how bending the rules led to unpaid invoices, frustrated staff, and unhappy clients. They explain which boundaries should never be negotiated, when flexibility makes sense, and how to set expectations without damaging the client experience. Share this episode with a venue owner or venue director who needs help setting stronger boundaries, and join the Venue Nest community for more resources and support for wedding venue owners. 00:00 Introduction to Setting Boundaries 02:02 The Importance of Clear Boundaries 06:03 Attaching a Cost to Exceptions 09:44 Non-Negotiable: Payment Schedules 11:01 The Nightmare of Late Payments 15:53 Examples of Negotiable Items 18:31 Setting Boundaries in a Warm Way 21:12 Actionable Steps for Venue Owners Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest

  8. Sep 16

    The Wedding Venue Automations You Should Start Using

    What if automations could give you your time back without taking the human connection out of your business? In this episode, Ashley and Kelsey break down wedding venue automations and how they use them to streamline their business, save time, and manage 150 weddings per venue each year. They share what to automate first, how to keep automations personal, and why some parts of the client experience should always stay human. They also share how automating appointment reminders, final walkthrough forms, and Google review requests can reduce busywork while creating a better client experience. it into an automation, and build from there. When you're ready to automate more of your business and get your time back, sign up for Venue Nest and let it help you streamline your venue operations while keeping the human connection at the center. 00:00 Introduction to Automations 01:08 Addressing Fears About Automation 03:24 Personalizing Automations 07:53 Simple Automation Starting Points 10:05 The 80/20 Rule of Automation 12:23 Automating the Final Walkthrough 17:22 Controlling Your Automations 19:31 Automating Google Review Requests 21:20 Creating a "Review Barrier" 23:22 Action Item for Listeners Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest

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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The Venue Nest Podcast is where real venue owners come to feel less alone, get clear on what’s actually working, and learn how to run a profitable, organized, and experience, driven venue without the overwhelm.

Information

  • Creator
    Ashley Shepherd + Kelsey Smith
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Venue Nest Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Venue Nest Podcast

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