Marketing Your Hotel as a Wedding Destination

Marketing Your Hotel as a Wedding Destination

If you’ve ever planned a wedding, you know how painstaking it is. There’s the venue, the food, the lodging for guests, transportation to and from the reception, the list goes on. It’s enough to make any bride—or groom—go crazy from the pressure. As if that wasn’t enough, according to The Knot, “the average cost of a wedding was $33,391, with high spenders—those spending an average of $60,000 or more on their weddings—spending an average of $105,130 on their wedding day.” One way couples can consolidate the process of marriage is to host all aspects of their event—ceremony, reception, catering, lodging, etc. in one location. Typically, a hotel is the best bet. But does your hotel have the resources to attract consumers looking to host their big day in style? Here, we discuss marketing your hotel as a wedding destination.

Make Your Photos Shine

Ever had a wedding at your venue before? Brag about it—photographically, that is. Take the professional photographs that came from previous weddings and get them printed in your wedding marketing materials. Photographers are able to capture the beauty of your establishment better than any mobile device could. What’s more, no one—especially a stressed-out bride—wants to see stock wedding photography when looking through sales materials, so keep it out (and keep it real).

Promote Yourself

Aside from putting real photos from real weddings you’ve hosted into your marketing collateral, remember that brides are all over social media and (albeit less so) wedding magazines while planning their nuptials. A great way to promote your hotel is to work with the photographers shooting a wedding at your venue to submit those photos to popular wedding websites, magazines, and blogs. This will really help get your name out there.

Bridal Expos

While you may be surrounded by the competition, bridal expos are a great way to get the word out about your hotel. But being a vendor at shows often comes with a hefty price tag. That’s why you’ve got to make the most out of your booth. Expos drive hundreds of new brides and grooms, so your potential clientele is huge. Check out this article from Tough Nickel to learn how you can get the most bang for your buck at bridal shows. And don’t forget about the networking opportunities available at events like this! Often, wedding pros are seeking out vendors to refer their brides to—and you can’t win a recommendation if you don’t show up.

Think Outside the Box

Where do couples go before they actually start thinking about a venue? Surprisingly, many brides today will opt to find their dress before even considering where and when their wedding will take place. Provide marketing materials to local bridal shops so brides can look through your book while seeking out the perfect gown. Local jewelers are also a solid bet to plant your promotional goods at.

Venue Tours

Nearly every couple will book a tour of their prospective venues before putting down a deposit. Offer group tours every several weeks, allow couples to book private appointments, or both. In any case, you should also welcome possible clients with open arms and show them all the possibilities available when hosting their wedding at your hotel. Spread the word about tours on social media, through email messaging, or through in-location marketing materials.

The key to increasing your business’s visibility (and in turn, putting more revenue in your pocket) is also the right marketing strategy. Be sure to check back with our blog at ARF Financial every week for more insider information on what’s hot in the industry, plus the best way to finance your future success.