(Your Competition is Fully Booked Despite The “Economy”)

Let’s have an honest conversation about why you’re blaming the economy while your competition has a waitlist. Here’s a hint: It’s not inflation making couples ghost your inquiries.

The Excuse Parade

We’ve all heard the same tired lines echoing through empty venues. “The economy is making couples hesitant.” “No one’s spending on weddings right now.” “It’s just a slow season.” Meanwhile, the venue down the street just raised their prices and is booking into 2026.

The Real Truth About Wedding Spending

Here’s what’s actually happening in 2025: Couples aren’t spending less – they’re spending differently. And more importantly, they’re spending where they see value. Some are going all-out on luxury experiences, while others are choosing budget-friendly venues that own their market position. The key? Both types of venues are thriving because they understand their value proposition.

The only venues struggling are the ones stuck in the middle, too afraid to either embrace their budget-friendly position or commit to premium pricing.

It’s Not The Economy, It’s Your Strategy

Your marketing reeks of survival mode. You’re throwing out desperate “inflation-fighting” discounts instead of either owning your budget-friendly position or establishing your premium value. If you’re a budget venue, there’s nothing wrong with competitive pricing – but position it as smart value, not desperate discounts. If you’re premium, stop undermining your worth with random promotions.

Your sales process is screaming “we need money” instead of “we provide value.” Whether that value is luxury service or budget-friendly efficiency doesn’t matter – what matters is you believe in what you’re offering.

What Successful Venues Are Doing

The venues thriving in this economy aren’t all luxury venues – they’re venues that understand their market position. The successful budget venues are streamlining operations and proudly offering value pricing. The successful luxury venues are enhancing experiences and confidently charging premium rates.

Both types share one thing in common: They know exactly who they are and who they’re serving.

Creating Market-Proof Demand

Understanding your market position isn’t about just adding luxury features or slashing prices. It’s about aligning your entire operation with your target couple’s expectations:

Budget-Friendly Success: Create efficient systems, streamline operations, and proudly offer competitive pricing that makes sense. Your couples aren’t looking for luxury – they’re looking for value and honesty.

Premium Position Success: Invest in experiences, enhance service levels, and confidently price for your market. Your couples aren’t looking for deals – they’re looking for excellence and assurance.

The Fix: Stop Surviving, Start Positioning

Whether you’re budget or luxury, start by getting clear on your position. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. If you’re budget-friendly, own it. Create efficient systems, streamline your processes, and proudly offer competitive pricing. If you’re premium, invest in those experiences and confidently charge for them.

The Bottom Line

Stop using the economy as an excuse for poor positioning. Your competition isn’t succeeding because they’re all luxury venues – they’re succeeding because they know exactly who they are and who they serve.

Ready to stop making excuses and start making sense of your market position?

P.S. If you’re still running that “inflation-fighter special” while also claiming to be a luxury venue, we need to have a serious conversation about identity crisis.