(And That’s Why Your Calendar Has Holes)

Let’s talk about why your 200-person minimum is keeping your perfect couples from booking. Hint: It’s not because small weddings aren’t profitable – it’s because your pricing strategy is stuck in 2019.

Your Current “Strategy”

You’re scaring away couples with:

  • “Minimum 150 guests required”
  • “Saturday minimum: 200 guests”
  • “Peak season minimum: $30k food & beverage”
  • “Must meet $40k minimum spend”
  • “No weddings under 175 guests”

Meanwhile, your calendar looks like Swiss cheese and you’re wondering why.

The Real Cost of Your Minimums

You’re not just losing small weddings. You’re losing:

  • Luxury micro-weddings that would outspend your minimums
  • High-end intimate celebrations
  • Celebrity-style private events
  • Wealthy couples who want exclusivity
  • Quality over quantity clients

Why Your Math is Wrong

Let’s break down the reality:

  • 100 guests at $300 per person = $30,000
  • 200 guests at $150 per person = $30,000

Same revenue, but:

  • Less staff needed
  • Fewer rentals required
  • Less wear and tear
  • More dates filled
  • Higher profit margin

What Modern Couples Actually Want

The 2025 wedding landscape:

  • Intimate luxury celebrations
  • Quality over quantity
  • Personalized experiences
  • Flexible options
  • Value-based pricing

Smart Venue Pricing Looks Like

Instead of guest minimums, focus on:

Revenue Minimums That Make Sense

  • Peak Saturday: $25k minimum
  • Friday/Sunday: $20k minimum
  • Off-Peak: $15k minimum
  • Let couples decide guest count
  • Price for profit, not people

Flexible Packages That Convert

  • Micro-wedding offerings
  • Intimate luxury options
  • All-inclusive smaller packages
  • Premium small wedding experiences
  • Scaled service options

The Solution: Value-Based Pricing

Create packages based on:

  • Space usage
  • Service level
  • Time of year
  • Day of week
  • Overall experience

Not:

  • Arbitrary guest counts
  • Outdated minimums
  • Rigid requirements
  • Inflexible policies
  • Yesterday’s market

Success Stories You’re Missing

Smart venues are:

  • Booking luxury 50-person weddings at $500pp
  • Creating intimate wedding experiences
  • Filling mid-week with smaller events
  • Maximizing profit per square foot
  • Actually making more money

The Modern Minimum Strategy

Base Minimums On:

  1. Real Costs
    • Staff requirements
    • Setup needs
    • Space utilization
    • Service delivery
    • Actual overhead
  2. Market Reality
    • Local demographics
    • Competition analysis
    • Seasonal demand
    • Day of week
    • Target market
  3. Profit Margins
    • Operating costs
    • Labor efficiency
    • Resource utilization
    • Revenue potential
    • Long-term sustainability

Making The Switch

Phase 1: Analysis

  • Review current costs
  • Calculate real minimums
  • Analyze profit margins
  • Study market demands
  • Define target clients

Phase 2: Implementation

  • Create flexible packages
  • Develop scaled pricing
  • Train sales team
  • Update marketing
  • Launch new offerings

Phase 3: Optimization

  • Track results
  • Gather feedback
  • Adjust packages
  • Refine pricing
  • Scale success

The Bottom Line

Stop scaring away profitable weddings with arbitrary minimums. Start creating packages that actually fill your calendar and maximize your revenue.

Ready to stop counting heads and start counting profits?

[GET PROFITABLE]

P.S. If you’re still requiring 200 guests on a February Thursday, we need to talk about your business model.