(How to craft a response that actually gets replies.)

You know the one. The email that lands in a couple’s inbox seconds after they inquire:

“Thanks for reaching out! We are busy helping our couples, but we will respond as soon as we can!”

Wow. Riveting. Truly a life-changing email.

Couples read that, feel zero excitement, and move on. Meanwhile, you’re wondering why your inbox is full of ghosts and unresponsive leads.

Why Your Auto-Reply is Failing

Most venue auto-replies fail because they:

  • Say nothing useful. Cool, you’re busy. So is everyone.
  • Put all the work on the couple. Now they have to wait around for you to reply.
  • Miss the opportunity to engage. This is your first impression—why waste it?

Instead of a generic, throwaway email, your auto-reply should make couples excited to hear from you.

What to Include in a High-Converting Auto-Reply

Every good auto-reply should:

  • Acknowledge their inquiry (but without sounding robotic).
  • Give them something to do while they wait.
  • Offer instant-access resources (pricing, real weddings, FAQs).
  • Set expectations for response time (without making them feel ignored).

The Auto-Reply That Actually Works

Instead of:

“Thanks for reaching out! We’re busy helping couples, but we’ll get back to you soon!”

Try something like this:

Hey [First Name]!

We’re so excited to connect with you about your wedding at [Venue Name]! We’re currently responding to inquiries and will personally get back to you within [timeframe].

In the meantime, here are a few things to check out while you wait:

Let us know if there’s anything specific you’re looking for—we’d love to help!

Chat soon,[Your Name] [Your Venue Name]

Why This Works

This version keeps couples engaged while they wait. Instead of refreshing their inbox, they’re:

  • Looking at your pricing. (So they don’t waste your time if it’s out of budget.)
  • Checking out your real weddings. (Which makes them emotionally invested.)
  • Getting their FAQs answered. (So they don’t flood you with the same questions.)

By the time you actually respond, they’re already more informed, more excited, and more likely to book.

The Bottom Line

Your auto-reply isn’t just a placeholder—it’s your first impression.

If you’re still using “Thanks for reaching out, we’ll get back to you soon,” you’re wasting a golden opportunity to nurture leads before you even speak to them.

So fix it. And watch your inquiries actually turn into conversations.