The Aisle Files Podcast

This is the last episode of season two, so thanks for tuning in to everything the past few months! At the time of recording, my venue is getting ready to head into our busiest time of the year, which is the fall. And then right after that is the proverbial booking season with the new year upon us. So this episode is going to prepare our venues for all that's to come over the next half of the year. How do we make sure we're ready for all of those newly engaged couples coming right after the holidays? Think of today's episode as a checklist of things that you can do to make sure your venue is in tip-top shape and that you're prepared as best you can be with my 15 ways you can maximize your off season! RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Today's show is a solo episode with host, Kelly Ewell. Kelly is the owner of 48 Fields, a century-old farm estate set in the heart of Virginia wine country. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside wedding experience. Having previously been a wedding photographer for 10 years, Kelly has experienced a lot when it comes to weddings – from the highs of seeing a surprise return of a loved one from deployment to the lows of no-show vendors. She can pin a boutonniere in record time, is a master of logistics, and still tears up every time a bride walks down the aisle. Especially if it's to the classic Canon in D. Played by a string quartet. When she's not hosting weddings at 48 Fields, Kelly can be found visiting Northern Virginia wineries with her husband, Steve, and dog, Piper. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Thanks for checking out another episode! You might have noticed by now that I like to mix things up sometimes and do things we haven't done before, and that's exactly what we're doing again with this show. Not only are we going to talk about website design and SEO and practical tips to make your website work better for your venue, but we're going to take listener websites and do a live review of what we see! We'll talk about what's working well and what's a quick fix that each of them can make. It'll be lightning round style and I can't wait to dive in to it all with my guest, Alex Collier! In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Alex Collier and hear her story Elements of a good website Page structure and why it matters What to strive for with your blog Top 5 Tips to make your website work better for your venue RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Alex Collier is a branding, logo, and website designer for wedding professionals. She started her business, Alex Collier Design, to help wedding pros set themselves apart in a crowded industry and attract more ideal clients. Her love language is typography, she dreams in hex codes, and nothing gets her pumped like a gorgeous mood board. Alex lives in San Antonio, Texas and serves clients all over the country. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here.

You've got me for another solo episode today, but everything I talk about today will come from you – because this is a Ask Me Anything Q&A show! I posted in our Aisle Files Community Facebook group a few weeks ago to see what you all were curious about, so thanks to everyone who submitted questions there or sent me an email! Are we ready? Let's dive in! In this episode, you'll hear about: What is your best tip for giving a great tour How do you keep track of things and what workflows do you use? How do you handle children at weddings who are being destructive? What is your craziest wedding story? What are you working on right now that most excites you? What is your favorite thing about doing this podcast? RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% Honeybook – Save 50% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Today's show is a solo episode with host, Kelly Ewell. Kelly is the owner of 48 Fields, a century-old farm estate set in the heart of Virginia wine country. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside wedding experience. Having previously been a wedding photographer for 10 years, Kelly has experienced a lot when it comes to weddings – from the highs of seeing a surprise return of a loved one from deployment to the lows of no-show vendors. She can pin a boutonniere in record time, is a master of logistics, and still tears up every time a bride walks down the aisle. Especially if it's to the classic Canon in D. Played by a string quartet. When she's not hosting weddings at 48 Fields, Kelly can be found visiting Northern Virginia wineries with her husband, Steve, and dog, Piper. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

As you check out to this episode, it's quite possible that you're in a busy wedding season. If not just a busy season of life! As passionate wedding venue owners, we always want to serve our clients well and exceed their expectations. But as you'll hear in my conversation today, your job is not your life. Even though it might feel that way sometimes! I'm sure we all know that boundaries are important and even necessary, but why is it so hard to put that into practice? Well today I'm talking with Emily Sullivan all about why and how we can start putting some structure and boundaries and sanity back into our lives. In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Emily and hear her story Why boundaries are so hard for people to set and follow through with The first steps Emily took to start setting her professional boundaries How long it took for her to start seeing benefit Practical tips and steps we can take to set boundaries with clients Practical tips and steps we can take to set boundaries with other vendors How boundaries can help us attract better or more ideal couples Emily's best piece of advice for those who are struggling with doing too much too often RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Emily Sullivan is the owner of Emily Sullivan Events, a boutique wedding and event-planning firm based in New Orleans, LA, that specializes in celebrations throughout the Southeast. With a passion for entertaining, she uses her intuition and attention to details to customize each and every wedding experience for her clients. Emily is a regular on-air personality in the region, as well as a sought-after national speaker, with recent and upcoming engagements including The Special Event, NACE, WeddingWire World, and Wedding MBA. She has also been recognized by several industry publications for her achievements and insights, including Country Living, The Knot, Southern Weddings, Style Me Pretty, and Catersource. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Today's show is a very hands-on, practical, actionable kind of show. Calendly is a program I use to help with so much automation, and I'll be walking you through exactly how I use it. If you have Calendly, you can walk through this with me here. If you're planning to get Calendly soon, you can bookmark this episode to come back to walk you through it then. In this episode, you'll hear about: What is Calendly? How I use it for venue tours A walk through what my settings and set up looks like How I use it for other types of meetings Using Calendly for payments RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Today's show is a solo episode with host, Kelly Ewell. Kelly is the owner of 48 Fields, a century-old farm estate set in the heart of Virginia wine country. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside wedding experience. Having previously been a wedding photographer for 10 years, Kelly has experienced a lot when it comes to weddings – from the highs of seeing a surprise return of a loved one from deployment to the lows of no-show vendors. She can pin a boutonniere in record time, is a master of logistics, and still tears up every time a bride walks down the aisle. Especially if it's to the classic Canon in D. Played by a string quartet. When she's not hosting weddings at 48 Fields, Kelly can be found visiting Northern Virginia wineries with her husband, Steve, and dog, Piper. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

In this episode, we are going to challenge some stereotypes perhaps as we look at the appeal of elopements and petite weddings! They're not all minimalist ceremonies planned under tight timelines. Some couples are still looking for meaningful and details events, but done on a smaller scale. My guest today is Linnie Hughes, and she's going to talk with us about the ins and outs of elopements and smaller weddings and how they might be used by venues to expand their services. In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Linnie and hear her story The difference between elopements and petite weddings Why they are gaining popularity How to create an elopement or petite wedding option What do most couples want in a smaller wedding How far out couples are planning elopements or smaller weddings The types of venues or features that are most appealing or suitable for smaller weddings How venues can be more appealing to help attract smaller weddings Best advice for venues wanting to get more involved with elopements or petite weddings RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Linnie Hughes is the owner, founder and lead designer at L&L Events, a multiple award-winning wedding planning company based in Northern Virginia. Founded in 2013, L&L Events is known for their signature colorful and romantic style, and has been published in numerous wedding blogs and in print in multiple magazines such as The Knot, Ruffled, Washingtonian Bride and Groom, United With Love, The Perfect Palette, and Virginia Bride Magazine. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Today's podcast is a fun one because my guest and I really take on two very different topics, but they all evolve out of her experience in the wedding industry. You'll not only hear what it's like to be an employee of several different styles of wedding venues, but also all about how putting a focus on public relations can help grow your business - even with small steps to begin. Who better to cover both of these than Meghan Ely? In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Meghan and hear her story What were the consistent practices from her work at different venues How the level of venue service changed from working at a non-profit vs a 5-diamond property Ways that venues can raise their level of service Best practices for running a wedding venue How Meghan transitioned from venues to the world of PR How PR efforts can benefit your wedding venue business Easiest and low-hanging-fruit ways to get started with PR Ways to work in partnership with photographers for PR submissions Resources to know when you are featured in the press What do publications want to see (and not want to see) Knowing what publications are ideal for your wedding venue Local or national PR – what's better? Recent media changes to be aware of Best advice for getting more publicity RESOURCES WE MENTION:  OFD Consulting – use code AISLEFILES to save $20 SCORE – business mentoring and resources Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Meghan Ely is the owner of OFD Consulting, where she combines in-the-trenches event experience with a love of wedding PR. She is a WeddingWire Education Expert as well as a regular contributor to Wedding Planner Magazine, Wedding Business Magazine, Catersource, and SpecialEvents.com. Meghan represents clients globally and has earned them coverage with the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Brides, Bridal Guide, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, the Travel Channel, HGTV, Brit & Co, and Refinery 29, among others. But before all that, Meghan got her start working at wedding venues. From a location with limited resources to a 5-diamond property, she'll share what it was like to be a venue employee. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

As we dig into another episode, I'm wondering – what are you doing right now? Are you driving in the car? Listening as you answer emails or try to squeeze in a workout? Whatever it is, I'll bet you're multi-tasking. Because the fact is, we're all busy all the time it seems. As an entrepreneur, we're always giving our attention to something and we probably feel we work way harder than if we worked for someone else. But what if you had another full time job as you ran your venue? Or not even a traditional 9-5 job. It could be raising children, homeschooling, caring for others, or any other multi-passionate endeavor. As much as we'd all like to devote our sole focus to growing our business, many venue owners have other responsibilities or jobs they have to maintain. So how do you do it – work a job and run a venue? In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Chelsey and hear her story Working the venue before it even opens The benefits of having another full time job To tell or not to tell couples about your other job What other staff or assistance she has for the venue What it looks like ot open a SECOND venue How Chelsey keeps her schedule sane and efficient The biggest challenge and surprises of running a venue Advice to others who also have another full time job RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Chelsey Politte is co-owner of the Barn at Lone Eagle Landing outside of St. Louis, MO. Although she works closely with her family, Chelsey's primary responsibilities occur behind the scenes. Whether it be the venue setup, website updates, accounting, or social media posts, Chelsey takes care of many of those backbone business items. Chelsey's passion lies in the marketing end of the venue, building a quality family business reputation, and in her attention to detail. On top of that, she also maintains a full-time job as a teacher. And – at the time of this interview – was deep into planning her own wedding. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

In this episode, we are continuing our mini series of interviews with new venue owners. Our last two episodes talked with ladies who had just reached the milestone of finishing their first year, but today we're talking with a venue that's just finished their second year. How have things changed and grown for her? And how are second year challenges different from first year hurdles? Well today's interview is pretty amazing! In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Kristen and hear her story How she get into starting a wedding venue The timeline and process to get the venue started Her background before weddings How roles and responsibilities among owners and staff When and how the venue starting hiring a staff Their communications approach to couples The biggest challenge the venue has faced One thing they'll never do again What she wish she would have know in the beginning How she would enhance her venue design if she could New challenges the venue is facing in year 3 and forward How they staff a wedding day How they launched to book 100+ weddings in the first year What is the most fulfilling part of running a venue Advice Kristen would give to new venue owners RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Kristen Minter is Co-Owner and Co-Designer of The Farmhouse wedding venue in Montgomery, TX. The Farmhouse is a wedding venue that opened in January 2017. Since opening we have hosted over 375 weddings and have booked almost 550 wedding dates. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

This episode is a continuation of our mini series of interviews with first-year venue owners. We're learning all about their successes and struggles, and sharing their knowledge so other venue owners can learn from their experiences. And, this show is a first where I'm talking with not just one, but TWO guests! In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet the ladies of Alvis Farms and hear their story How all five ladies came together for the venue What has been the biggest first lesson they learned How did the venue launch and get first couples booked What the ladies will never do again How they developed their first recommended vendor list What roles do each of the women play at the venue An unexpected benefit (and a challenge) of having five women working together What they wish they could have known before starting Things they consider when setting rental offers Is running a venue what they thought it would be Challenges they anticipate for year two The most rewarding part of being a venue owner Advice they would give to other new venue owners RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUESTS:  Rachel and Betsy are two of the five women who run Alvis Farms at Slate Creek. The ladies were looking for an additional revenue stream to supplement their family's dairy and grain farm. After hosting two family weddings on their property and receiving extremely positive feedback, they felt led to share the beauty of their farm with others looking for a special place to host their own wedding or event. And so Alvis Farms at Slate Creek was created. Couples are most impressed by the views and scenery on site – rolling hills in every direction, black and white Holsteins dotting the pastures, and white barns that set the stage for special wedding days. Let's find out more about how the ladies have launched Alvis Farms at Slate Creek. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Today's episode is a fun one! It's actually kicking off a short mini series where I'll be chatting with a few different new venue owners all about their first year in business. We'll find out what went well, what they'll never do again, and everything in between! There are some real lessons learned by these venues and I'm so honored to share their stories with you! In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Heather and hear her story The process of bringing everything up to code The layout of the space The most surprising thing about the wedding industry What things will change for the second year of business What Heather learned about raising prices How they found a reliable cleaning crew What staff roles look like How does she handle couples choosing vendors How they were able to book so many weddings so quickly The most rewarding part of being a venue owner Lessons she's learned of what not to do again How she uses Instagram to help generate inquiries Is running a venue what she thought it would be What second-year challenges are they having Biggest piece of advice to new venues RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Heather Lanker is the owner of the The Brick Ballroom, a renovated 1920's Chevy dealership in the heart of downtown Siloam Springs, AR. It has recently already been named the #1 venue in the state of Arkansas by Southern Celebrations magazine! Its original oversized windows, lofty wood trusses and mezzanines make it irreplaceable. Heather enjoys refurbishing old things into usable possibilities so the Ballroom is an expression of her love. . BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

OK, show of hands, who here sits around and talks about money like it's no big deal? I'm willing to bet, very few of you are raising your hand now. Money and finances are one of those taboo topics it seems that no one really wants to ask about but really has a lot of questions they want answered. Well, you're in luck because today our topic is what to do with and how to handle your money with our guest Braden Drake. Bookkeeping, taxes, and paying yourself. We'll cover all that and more! In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Braden and hear his story First foundational steps for your income Breaking down good bookkeeping needs When do you need a professional How to classify your expenses What things are tax deductible Managing profits and paying yourself Benefits of a S-Corporation Employees vs Independent Contractors Taxes you might need to pay RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order Small Business Start Up Guide book – use code AISLEFILE10 to save 10% The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Braden Drake is a California-licensed attorney who primarily works with creative small business owners. He also has a master's degree in tax law and serves as a tax consultant, bookkeeping, and tax preparer under his second business, Creativepreneur Consulting. Which also has its own podcast, the Creativepreneur Podcast. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Today's podcast is not only a topic I am really interested in learning more about, but I'll be talking with someone who is such a great resource in the wedding venue world – Kristin Binford. From the first time I met Kristin, I knew that she was passionate not only about running a wedding venue, but for simply running a business. With systems, processes, and a great team in place at her venue, it's freed her up to work ON her business instead of IN her business. That's a phrase that so many of us have probably heard before and you might wonder if you'll ever get there. But that's what we're talking about today – how to build a team and a business that works seamlessly and isn't dependent on any one single person to survive. In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Kristin and hear about her venue Kristin's role in the venue and how it's evolved Why building a team was important from the beginning How to rely on a team member when you're not available The key team roles at Haue Valley The biggest qualities to a successful team member The value of a checklist for all team roles The training process Fostering a great environment where people want to work What Kristin would have done differently earlier when building her team Advice to venue's starting to build a team RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Kristin Binford is Managing Partner and co-founder of Haue Valley, a well-loved and sought-after venue just west of St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to owning a venue, Kristin earned her Bachelor's degree in Marketing, an MBA in Strategy, and spent more than a decade in corporate marketing leadership roles. Kristin is passionate about teaching and paying it forward. She coaches venues around the country on the strategies to own and run their own successful wedding and event venue. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Today's podcast takes an inside look at some of our business decisions. More specifically, I'll be talking about “no” and all the things that we say “no” to doing at our wedding venue. So the word “no”. Do you say it enough? Not in the sense of being difficult or combative. But do you say it to help set boundaries? To make sure each couple you work with has the same guidelines or rules to follow? Or sometimes saying no can just make your life easier and less complex. I've learned over the years that strategically saying “no” is not a bad thing. Of course there are many situations where we want to jump up and down and say yes so excitedly and other scenarios that need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. But there are definitely other times where we know the answer is no. Today I'm going to walk you through some of those and talk about why that is. In this episode, you'll hear about: Unprofessional vendors Sparklers Food trucks Weddings without planners Friday weddings Linens And more (Hey, I can't give them all away here!) RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Today's show is a solo episode with host, Kelly Ewell. Kelly is the owner of 48 Fields, a century-old farm estate set in the heart of Virginia wine country. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside wedding experience. Having previously been a wedding photographer for 10 years, Kelly has experienced a lot when it comes to weddings – from the highs of seeing a surprise return of a loved one from deployment to the lows of no-show vendors. She can pin a boutonniere in record time, is a master of logistics, and still tears up every time a bride walks down the aisle. Especially if it's to the classic Canon in D. Played by a string quartet. When she's not hosting weddings at 48 Fields, Kelly can be found visiting Northern Virginia wineries with her husband, Steve, and dog, Piper. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Today's episode is coming at you with a bride's perspective on looking for venues! What stood out on tours, what kind of information was most important, and what can make or break a good first impression! My guest is Lauren Harbin, not only is she a wedding planner, but she's also a very recent bride. With all her planning fresh in mind, she's going to be a great resource to hear what it was like to book a venue. In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Lauren and hear her story Things bride's are most surprised about when looking at venues Types of informational materials the venues provide The power of Google reviews and Instagram photos Follow up to brides after tours What makes a tour stand out and be extra special Important things to showcase on a tour All-inclusive pricing vs. a la carte pricing Following up after tours How long it took after a tour to make a decision Things venues do that turn off couples Factors that go into making the final venue decision RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Kristin Binford Venue Consultant – new venue owners' Facebook group and Masterclass EventStable – save $100 on your order The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Lauren Harbin is a Virginia based wedding planner with a background rooted in events and design. Before serving brides, Lauren was the Director of Special Events for James Madison University's student programming board and a designer in JMU's Office of Admissions. After a brief stint in corporate design, Lauren realized she missed the energy and fulfillment of the event industry. Weddings became a natural fit as it combines her love for working with people, design, and event management. Her favorite part of the wedding day is the cocktail hour, when the bride and groom are first feeling the high of being married! BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Double surprise! We're back again with another Five Minute Friday bonus episode for you! This show is one that I think we can all relate to. It's the Five Biggest Wedding Day Challenges we face at our venue. Now I don't mean for this to come off as a gripe session! This is all in good fun and I'll be talking more about the challenges that I wouldn't have expected to have before becoming a wedding venue owner. I know there are some listeners here who aren't venue owners yet, but want to be one day. These are the types of things that they might not have thought of having to plan for! In this episode, you'll hear about: Challenge 1 [1:05] Challenge 2 [2:22] Challenge 3 [3:15] Challenge 4 [4:50] Challenge 5 [5:49] RESOURCES WE MENTION:  The Venue Owner Shop – Use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% Honeybook – Save 50% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Today's show is a solo episode with host, Kelly Ewell. Kelly is the owner of 48 Fields, a century-old farm estate set in the heart of Virginia wine country. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside wedding experience. Having previously been a wedding photographer for 10 years, Kelly has experienced a lot when it comes to weddings – from the highs of seeing a surprise return of a loved one from deployment to the lows of no-show vendors. She can pin a boutonniere in record time, is a master of logistics, and still tears up every time a bride walks down the aisle. Especially if it's to the classic Canon in D. Played by a string quartet. When she's not hosting weddings at 48 Fields, Kelly can be found visiting Northern Virginia wineries with her husband, Steve, and dog, Piper. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Surprise! Today is a bonus episode, and I'm popping in here with a quick Five Minute Friday show all about the Five Tools I Can't Live Without! These are the things that help me run an efficient and organized business, and I'd probably be lost without any one of them. In this episode, you'll hear about: Tool 1 – How I Keep Appointments Straight [0:48] Tool 2 – How I Save Time with Online Appointments [1:54] Tool 3 – How I Stay Financially Organized [2:46] Tool 4 – How I Get Couples to Envision Their Wedding Day [4:08] Tool 5 – How I Keep Client Information Organized [5:06] ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Today's show is a solo episode with host, Kelly Ewell. Kelly is the owner of 48 Fields, a century-old farm estate set in the heart of Virginia wine country. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside wedding experience. Having previously been a wedding photographer for 10 years, Kelly has experienced a lot when it comes to weddings – from the highs of seeing a surprise return of a loved one from deployment to the lows of no-show vendors. She can pin a boutonniere in record time, is a master of logistics, and still tears up every time a bride walks down the aisle. Especially if it's to the classic Canon in D. Played by a string quartet. When she's not hosting weddings at 48 Fields, Kelly can be found visiting Northern Virginia wineries with her husband, Steve, and dog, Piper. RESOURCES WE MENTION:  The Venue Owner Shop – Use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% Honeybook – Save 50% SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Whether you love or hate it, marketing and selling your venue is imperative if you want to keep your business afloat! Without bookings, our venues are not long for this world. Maybe you're already killing it and have figured out exactly what you need to do so that you're selling out your calendar each year. But I'm willing to bet that most of us would be open to booking more if we could. Or at least booking couples sooner or at a higher rate. Today's guest is set to throw down some knowledge on all of this. Joe Rare going to talk about the online marketing efforts that keep his venue booked solid! I know lots of venue owners have some pretty strong thoughts in that area, so let's get to it! In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Joe Rare and his venue [3:03] Setting the stage for why marketing is important [6:12] Why sales and marketing can intimidate people [8:35] Marketing is more than paid advertising [10:15] What is a sales funnel and the different stages of inquiries? [11:30] Why couples should opt OUT of being your potential client [14:22] Is it more important to generate more leads or to have better conversion? [18:28] Things venues can improve to help sales [20:01] Setting the foundation for your marketing efforts [22:08] Introducing email marketing automation with dynamic behaviors [23:46] How often do you follow up with a lead? [27:58] Does Joe advertise to attract new leads or to nurture existing leads? [31:27] How much should a venue spend on their marketing efforts? [34:43] How to determine if you're getting a good ROI [41:22] Learning your “business numbers” [46:30] Where to adjust if your efforts are falling short [48:59] Does your market competition matter? [51:23] RESOURCES WE MENTION:  The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Joe Rare is a partner of the Forest House Lodge, located 90 minutes east of Sacramento, CA in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The venue is a 27,000 square foot lodge with 27 guest rooms, and it only hosts all-inclusive weddings with a minimum one-night stay required. Joe is in charge of all things marketing and advertising there and is a wedding booking expert. Whether it's attracting new inquiries or converting them to bookings, Joe has developed a system for venues to leverage cutting-edge marketing and advertising efforts. He's had the benefit of being a natural born salesman coupled with his experience at a venue that does more than 100 multi-day weddings each year. When Joe stepped in to build their marketing system, the venue was stuck at 57 weddings a year. And in only 16 months he was able to get them over that 100-wedding mark, reduce their actual workload, and increase profits. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

We all have that one wedding.  The one that has stuck with you. The one that gets under your skin and irritates you to no end! You can still envision it and remember that it made you change your contract afterwards, right? Now I'm not trying to get you in a bad mood! And there could be a million different things that you're all thinking of right now! But I'll bet that some of you are thinking about cleaning. All the extra clean up and vacuuming and deep-down hands and knees scrubbing that you might have had to do. All due to some item that you now have banned at your venue! That's right – today we're talking about why every venue should have a list of banned items! You may not agree with some of these, but I hope that the potential reasoning behind each of them will at least give you something more to think about. BONUS: Be sure to check out the free download below from the show! In this episode, you'll hear about: Banned Item 1 – Certain Fasteners [2:20] Banned Item 2 – Sparklers and Fireworks [2:54] Banned Item 3 – Candles [4:11] Banned Item 4 – Certain Alcohol and Glassware [5:00] Banned Item 5 – Tiny Decor Pieces (Glitter, Confetti, Petals, etc.) [7:05] Banned Item 6 – Bubbles [7:53] Banned Item 7 – Additional Lighting [8:25} Bonus: Free Download the Banned Items Checklist [9:31} RESOURCES WE MENTION:  List of Banned Items – Free Download The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Today's show is a solo episode with host, Kelly Ewell. Kelly is the owner of 48 Fields, a century-old farm estate set in the heart of Virginia wine country. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside wedding experience. Having previously been a wedding photographer for 10 years, Kelly has experienced a lot when it comes to weddings – from the highs of seeing a surprise return of a loved one from deployment to the lows of no-show vendors. She can pin a boutonniere in record time, is a master of logistics, and still tears up every time a bride walks down the aisle. Especially if it's to the classic Canon in D. Played by a string quartet. When she's not hosting weddings at 48 Fields, Kelly can be found visiting Northern Virginia wineries with her husband, Steve, and dog, Piper. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online  Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

On this episode, we are chatting with Amanda Jackson of the Pick Inn Weddings and Events all about how she ended up buying the very place where she got married! Yep – the highs, the lows, the challenges, the celebrations. All the things along the learning curve for someone who didn't previously have a background in weddings. Get ready to be inspired as she shares her amazing journey with you today! In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Amanda Jackson [2:12] How her family had the idea to buy the wedding venue [5:35] Some of the first things Amanda did after buying the venue [10:40] What the previous owner that made it more challenging for new owners [13:30] Amanda's initial reaction to the idea of buying the venue [14:40] What happened during the year it took to purchase the property [17:24] How they started to interact with other local venues [19:23] What did she not realize comes along with running a venue? [21:15] Announcing they were the new owners to the community [22:22] Overcoming existing bad experiences from past clients and vendors [24:24] Some of the initial changes they made as new owners [26:47] Things they were not allowed to change [29:40] How they started to get their first bookings [32:28] How they approached the idea of staffing events [37:18] The new type of couple that the Pick Inn is attracting [41:22] How they are providing in-house services [44:01] Is running a venue what they thought it would be? [45:16] What was the biggest learning curve? [47:33] Her best advice for new venue owners [50:50] What's on the horizon for the Pick Inn [55:33] RESOURCES WE MENTION:  The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Amanda Jackson is the owner of The Pick Inn Weddings + Events located in Gallatin, TN (Just north of Nashville). She married her husband at the Pick Inn 4 years ago, and then her family had the opportunity to buy it! She runs the day-to-day operations of the venue as well as acts as the lead coordinator for their weddings. With her background in design, she loves the opportunity to get creative and help couples find ways to make their wedding unique. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

You may remember back in Episode 4 a few weeks ago, we chatted with Natalie Seng of Designed Perfectly Events all about how planners see venues and what they look for on behalf of their clients. Today, I am excited to take that idea a little bit further and hear what photographers think about venues! Why does this matter to you? You may hear some ideas of simple things you can do to improve the appearance and presentation of your spaces. Most venue owners love to see images from photographers after the wedding day so that we can showcase all that we have to offer. Wouldn't it be great if those photographers can better use our venues and settings and make us look even more amazing in those photos? Today's guest, Marirosa Anderson from Photography by Marirosa, will share her thoughts on how to provide the best photography experience for the venue, photographer, and of course the couple! BONUS: Be sure to check out this episode's free download below! In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Marirosa Anderson [3:13] Does where a couple gets married influence wedding photography? [9:29] Is there a favorite type of venue that works best for photography? [10:56] Are site visits really that important to see a new-to-you venue before a wedding day? [12:22] What do you look at venues for that clients might not pay attention to? [13:54] What makes a great photo location? [16:06] What are good and bad things that venues do that affect photography? [18:18] Who are a venue's good decisions really benefiting? [23:10] What kind of challenges do indoor ceremony spaces present? [25:46] Where is an extra important spot to allow extra space? [26:42] How certain elements of the ceremony determine aisle requirements [29:07] What makes a good getting ready space for brides and grooms? [32:56] Is it better to have multiple spaces or one big space for getting ready? [37:33] What are simple things venues can do to improve the photography experience? [43:04] What can a venue can add to their emergency kit? [44:52] Why does a photographer choose to share (or not share) photos with a venue? [50:01] Why is having your email address on your website important to the photographer? [52:28] RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Wedding Day Emergency Kit Checklist – Free Download The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Marirosa Anderson has been a wedding photographer with Photography by Marirosa for more than 12 years and has captured more than 250 weddings in that time. She is originally from Puerto Rico and is currently based in the DC Metro Area. With a degree in Marketing and Psychology, she has a passion for traveling, lots of coffee, and creating timeless connections for couples in love. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

This week's show is all about how to respond to your clients. More specifically, responding to initial email inquiries. I'm sure we all have couples who send us an email and want to know more, but then we never hear from them again. Now maybe it wouldn't have been the right fit in the end, but what if there were better ways to get back to brides and grooms that might increase your response rates? That's exactly what this episode will dive into. Complete with some free bonus downloads on our show notes page! In this episode, you'll hear about: The best way to respond to inquiries [2:14] How your ideal or typical client will influence the type of response you give [3:05] Why to avoid email attachments [4:59] What goes into our initial email content [6:18] What is NOT included in our initial emails [7:12] Time-saving tip for quicker responses [8:02] Bonus: a discount and a free download [9:00] RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Free Download – See My Venue's Initial Email Response Free Download – Email Templates Mini Bundle Complete Email Template Bundle The Venue Owner Shop – Use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% Honeybook – Save 50% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Today's show is a solo episode with host, Kelly Ewell. Kelly is the owner of 48 Fields, a century-old farm estate set in the heart of Virginia wine country. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside wedding experience. Having previously been a wedding photographer for 10 years, Kelly has experienced a lot when it comes to weddings – from the highs of seeing a surprise return of a loved one from deployment to the lows of no-show vendors. She can pin a boutonniere in record time, is a master of logistics, and still tears up every time a bride walks down the aisle. Especially if it's to the classic Canon in D. Played by a string quartet. When she's not hosting weddings at 48 Fields, Kelly can be found visiting Northern Virginia wineries with her husband, Steve, and dog, Piper. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Today's show explores a topic that all venue owners and venue managers should consider, but I'm willing to bet that this might be an area where a lot of people haven't put a lot of focus. Or at least not as much as they could. How much thought are you putting into trash? Or waste of any kind? That might include extra food, unwanted décor at the end of the night, using a lot of plastic serving pieces, having a recycling program, and so much more. Lauren Chumbley is my guest today and having weddings work towards zero-waste and creating sustainable events has become a passion of hers. She's here today to educate us all on what we can be doing if we want our venues to become more sustainable and earth-friendly. Be sure to check out the free download checklist from the show today too! In this episode, you'll hear about: Meet Lauren Chumbley [1:50] How Lauren started her work for sustainable events [4:40] What is a zero-waste event [6:16] Are couples or vendors driving the more toward sustainable event [7:25] What kind of costs are involved if venues want to invest sustainability [9:38] What kind of training or set up needs to happen for staff [12:34] What is done at the venue vs. a third-party service [14:05] Who should a couple talk to first and at what point if they want to have sustainable practices [15:46] How should venues position sustainable events to couples [16:55] What is the biggest source of waste at a wedding [19:14] What are the first steps someone can take to reduce waste [21:07] Do DIY or high-end or other styles of weddings produce more waste than others [25:22] The easiest first step to take [27:17] RESOURCES WE MENTION:  Top Ten Tips for Hosting More Sustainable Events – Free Download The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% on your first order Julia Spangler Events – Sustainable Event Consultant One Percent for the Planet – Donate 1% of your revenue to a sustainable cause ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Lauren Chumbley was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a degree in Public Relations. She went on to earn her Certification in Meeting and Event Planning, studying everything from Weddings to Trade Shows and Conferences. Over the years, Lauren interned at Elite Weddings and worked at In Style Weddings and Destinations before starting Eclipse Event Co. with Kristi DePew in 2015. Lauren has been a member of Meeting Professionals International and Wedding Network USA. She is currently serving on the Board of the International Live Events Association and is an active member of the Junior League and Associated Wedding Planners of Austin. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Consider these questions: What do others think of your venue? Are there things that you could easily improve or address that would make you stand out? Do you give the same tour, nearly word for word, week after week? Have you had the same packages for years? How do you know that they're really working? Or that they are appealing to newly engaged couples? So often as venue owners we get tunnel vision. We see what we want to see, and we lack the outside perspective that other vendors may have. Remember that they visit new locations every wedding and they have the luxury of seeing all the different things that other venues offer or do for their couples. Do you ever wonder how you compare? That's exactly what we are going to talk about today with Natalie Seng of Designed Perfectly Events. In this episode, you'll hear about: All about Natalie and her background in weddings [3:22] Types of planning services [7:31] How a planner interacts with a venue prior to a wedding [8:29] What a planner looks for when their couples are doing their initial venue search [10:17] How a planner wants to find out details about a venue [13:35] What a planner wants to see on a venue's website [14:14] Is it important to have the reception room set up during tours [16:20] What can make or break a venue tour [19:05] What can a venue do to make a planner's job easier and the wedding run smoother [22:08] How does having an exclusive catering list affect a venue decision [27:55] What is an ideal rental time frame for a wedding day [30:01] What emerging trends should venues pay attention to [35:20] Last pieces of advice for venues [36:42] RESOURCES WE MENTION:  The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Natalie Seng is the owner and principal planner at Designed Perfectly Events, a boutique wedding and events planning company located in Northern Virginia. Natalie's career in the special events industry started in 2004 and since then she has been part of more than 400 weddings. Her clients include professional football player Vernon Davis from the Washington Redskins, and her work has been featured in publications such as Martha Stewart, Washingtonian Bride & Groom, The Knot, WeddingWire, United with Love, and so many more. BE A FRIEND:  Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST:  Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode ">here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

We are still very new in our first season, but I think this is a topic that will catch everyone's attention. Everyone perks up just a little when they hear something related to legal matters, right? I think it's one of those things that so many are curious about and wonder if they're doing it right, but are too afraid to ask anyone. Or think is too outside of their budget to do right. Well today we've got attorney Paige Hulse on and she's going to walk us through things as they relate to our contracts and highlight some of the important things that she sees too many venue owners leaving out of theirs! Now you're curious about what those are right? Well let's get to it! In this episode, you'll hear about: How Paige got into contract law [4:28] All the purposes that contracts serve [7:26] At what point you need to start using contracts [13:34] What an indemnity clause should to include [16:31] Why using a contract from someone else (or Google) is a bad idea [18:48] Why you need to use an attorney licensed in your state [24:40] Does the length of a contract matter? [26:50] How a contract can shape your brand [31:08] Important clauses that many venue owners overlook [34:50] Cancellation, termination, and military clauses [43:30] Fire pits, number of walk throughs, clean up rules, and other super specific items [49:00] Using electronic signatures on contracts [53:28] Who should sign your contract? [55:40] RESOURCES WE MENTION The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% The Contract Law Shop – use code KELLYEWELL10 to save 10% ABOUT OUR GUEST Paige Hulse is an attorney and business owner based in Oklahoma who focuses on bridging the gap between the creative and legal worlds. After working as a contract litigator by day and practicing calligraphy by night, she followed in the footsteps of her entrepreneurial family and now merges the two together. To help make the law more accessible for creatives, she practices with Paige Hulse Law and also runs the Creative Law Shop with a variety of resources for all types of creative professionals. BE A FRIEND Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. — Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

As venue owners, we are constantly thinking about how we run our venue. But we might not think that much about WHO we run that venue with. If you're a single owner or your run your venue with a spouse, you can probably make some pretty independent decisions and keep things moving forward. But what if you run a venue with a partner who is not your spouse? How does that change what you do and how you do it when there is more than one voice that needs to be heard? That, my friends, is the topic of this week's show!   In this episode, you'll hear about:   About Kinsey and her venue [2:22] Getting started on the idea of a partnership [6:48] How venue construction began [8:16] The time frame to build and start the venue [10:49] How to show and promote the venue before construction was complete [13:50] How Year 2 was different from Year 1 [20:05] Dividing up day-to-day roles between the partners [22:31] Making final decisions when partners disagree [24:58] Has working with a partner been what was expected? [27:08] Biggest tip for bringing on a partner [33:51] Will additional staff change partnership roles? [35:57] Future plans for the venue [38:36]   RESOURCES WE MENTIONThe Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15%She Creates Business Podcast   ABOUT OUR GUESTKinsey Roberts is co-owner and co-founder of Vista View Events at Open Heart Ranch in Colorado. She and her sister in law Katie, specifically built the venue to host memorable celebrations like weddings and family events. The design of Vista View Events speaks to the love they both have for contemporary architecture and for bringing people together.   BE A FRIENDLeave an iTunes review here.   BE A GUESTAre you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview!   Find full show notes from this episode here.   Connect with Aisle Files Podcast OnlineWebsite: www.aislefilespodcast.com  Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast   The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Owning a wedding venue sure is an adventure! There are a million things you need to do to ready your spaces, create processes, develop your brand experience, write contracts, market to couples, hire staff, and on and on and on! And before you can even to that you need a safe and appealing space. If you're thinking of purchasing some land to build, or to renovate an existing structure, this show is all about my Top 5 Steps to Starting a Wedding Venue. In this episode, you'll hear about: How I chose the topic for our very first show [0:47] Tip 1 – Why you have to dream big [2:52] Tip 2 – Understand your local wedding market [4:13] Tip 3 – Know your risk tolerance and budget [6:20] Tip 4 – Hire an architect or project consultant [8:25] Tip 5 – Figure out the real priorities and how your projects are connected [10:36] RESOURCES WE MENTION: The Venue Owner Shop – use code FIRSTORDER to save 15% Five Tips to Starting Your Own Wedding Venue – free download Email me suggestions for future show topics and guests ABOUT OUR GUEST: Today's show is a solo episode with host, Kelly Ewell. Kelly is the owner of 48 Fields, a century-old farm estate set in the heart of Virginia wine country. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside wedding experience. Having previously been a wedding photographer for 10 years, Kelly has experienced a lot when it comes to weddings – from the highs of seeing a surprise return of a loved one from deployment to the lows of no-show vendors. She can pin a boutonniere in record time, is a master of logistics, and still tears up every time a bride walks down the aisle. Especially if it's to the classic Canon in D. Played by a string quartet. When she's not hosting weddings at 48 Fields, Kelly can be found visiting Northern Virginia wineries with her husband, Steve, and dog, Piper. BE A FRIEND: Leave an iTunes review here. BE A GUEST: Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here. Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online: Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.

Welcome to The Aisle Files Podcast! While this is a preview and not quite the official first episode, the show will highlight to all that's to come here on the podcast. Meet the host, Kelly Ewell, and hear about how she started in the wedding industry and came to own her venue, 48 Fields Farm. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why I started the Aisle Files Podcast [0:50] Who I am and how I came to own a wedding venue [1:56] Why this podcast publishing in seasons [3:43] ABOUT OUR GUEST: Today's show is a solo episode with host, Kelly Ewell. Kelly is the owner of 48 Fields, a century-old farm estate set in the heart of Virginia wine country. The venue focuses on working with couples who want to give their guests a relaxed but thoughtful countryside wedding experience. Having previously been a wedding photographer for 10 years, Kelly has experienced a lot when it comes to weddings – from the highs of seeing a surprise return of a loved one from deployment to the lows of no-show vendors. She can pin a boutonniere in record time, is a master of logistics, and still tears up every time a bride walks down the aisle. Especially if it's to the classic Canon in D. Played by a string quartet. When she's not hosting weddings at 48 Fields, Kelly can be found visiting Northern Virginia wineries with her husband, Steve, and dog, Piper. BE A FRIEND: Leave an iTunes review here BE A GUEST: Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge about running a wedding venue? Know someone who is? Email us at kelly@aislefilespodcast.com to let us know why you'd be a great person interview! Find full show notes from this episode here Connect with Aisle Files Podcast Online: Website: www.aislefilespodcast.com Email: kelly@aislefilespodcast.com Instagram: @aislefilespodcast Facebook: @aislefilespodcast The Aisle Files Podcast is created and produced by Kelly Ewell, owner of 48 Fields Farm.