Gathered Here

You're getting leads. But are you actually converting them — or are you leaving money on the table every single week?

In this episode of the Venue Masterclass Series, Dana sits down with Daniela Justus and Whitney Hodges, co-founders of LeadLock, a lead management software built specifically for wedding venues and wedding professionals. Together, they pull back the curtain on what's actually happening between the moment a lead comes in and the moment someone books — and why that gap is costing venue owners more than they realize.

They dig into why automation doesn't have to feel cold, how to stop writing off leads too early based on budget, what it actually takes to build a system your sales team can run without you, and why every investment you make — even the ones that don't go as planned — is just data pointing you in the right direction.

If you're an owner operator wearing all the hats, running high inquiry volume, or just ready to stop managing leads out of a spreadsheet — this one's for you.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Aisle Planner
Wedding Pro

Brite Biz

Lead Lock

Releventful

Event Guard
VenueX AI

Interested in learning more about The Venue Masterclass?

Join us February 21-24 in Tampa, Florida. Learn more here

Follow my new ventures:

https://mcalisterleftwich.com/
https://thegrahammill.com/

A few weeks ago, Kelsey said something that made me slightly spiral. 

When I asked her why she ignored her gut instinct in certain situations, her answer was simple:

Empathy.

That answer opened up a much bigger conversation about the moments in our lives when we know something doesn't feel right—but we explain it away, make excuses, or convince ourselves that someone else's needs matter more than our own instincts.

In this Quick Chat, I'm reflecting on the cost of not trusting myself, the difference between empathy and self-abandonment, and what happens when you spend so much time questioning your instincts that you stop believing them altogether.

After navigating one of the hardest seasons of my life, I found myself struggling to trust what I felt, what I knew, and even what was right in front of me. But healing has looked a lot like learning to listen to that inner voice again—and realizing it was trying to protect me all along.

If you've ever ignored a red flag, talked yourself out of what you knew to be true, or found yourself questioning your own reality, this conversation is for you.

Because sometimes the hardest relationship to rebuild is the one you have with yourself.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Aisle Planner
Wedding Pro

Brite Biz

Lead Lock

Releventful

Event Guard
VenueX AI

Interested in learning more about The Venue Masterclass?

Join us February 21-24 in Tampa, Florida. Learn more here

Follow my new ventures:

https://mcalisterleftwich.com/
https://thegrahammill.com/

Last week, Kelsey shared a simple thought that stopped me in my tracks:

What if I fail?

And then, just as quickly:

Then I'll start something new.

In this Quick Chat, I'm reflecting on why those words hit so close to home. From selling The Bradford and navigating one of the hardest seasons of my life to taking the leap into owning two new venues, I've spent a lot of time wrestling with fear, uncertainty, and the pressure to get it right.

But somewhere along the way, I realized something important: my success was never tied to a building, a business, or a specific path. It was tied to what I had learned, what I had built, and who I had become.

We talk a lot about success in entrepreneurship, but we don't talk nearly enough about the fear of failure—or the freedom that comes when failure stops having the final say.

If you've ever found yourself lying awake wondering if you're making the right decision, questioning your next step, or feeling stuck between playing it safe and taking the leap, this conversation is for you.

Because sometimes the question isn't What if I fail?

Sometimes the better question is: What if I'll be okay either way?

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Aisle Planner
Wedding Pro

Brite Biz

Lead Lock

Releventful

Event Guard
VenueX AI

Interested in learning more about The Venue Masterclass?

Join us February 21-24 in Tampa, Florida. Learn more here

Follow my new ventures:

https://mcalisterleftwich.com/
https://thegrahammill.com/

In this Origins episode, Dana sits down with Kelsey Correia to share the story behind Floriana, a historic Massachusetts venue that was in need of a fresh start.

Kelsey shares her journey from event planner to venue operator, how she convinced a hesitant ownership group to trust her vision, and the risks she took to help transform the property into a thriving wedding venue. From rebranding and rebuilding systems to taking catering in-house and creating an intentional guest experience, Kelsey offers an honest look at what it takes to grow a venue from the inside out.

This conversation explores entrepreneurship, leadership, trusting your instincts, and the realities of building a business when there is no guaranteed path forward.

Whether you're a venue owner, event professional, or someone dreaming about taking the leap into business ownership, Kelsey's story is full of practical insights and inspiration.

Check Out Kelsey's Amazing Property:

The Floriana
Also make sure you are following them on Instagram @florianaipswich

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Aisle Planner
Wedding Pro

Brite Biz

Lead Lock

Releventful

Event Guard
VenueX AI

Interested in learning more about The Venue Masterclass?

Join us February 21-24 in Tampa, Florida. Learn more here: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com

Follow my new ventures:

https://mcalisterleftwich.com/
https://thegrahammill.com/

Wedding insurance is one of those things nobody wants to think about… until they need it.

In this episode of Gathered Here, Dana sits down with Mitchell Busse, the driving force behind Event Guard  - the first AI-powered event insurance platform in the United States -  to talk about the realities of risk, liability, cancellations, and the misconceptions that venue owners and couples still have about wedding insurance.

From frozen florals and missing vendors to hurricane season and “friendors,” this conversation dives into the real-life scenarios that can completely derail an event, and how the right insurance coverage can protect not only the couple, but the venue, vendors, and the overall guest experience.

Dana and Mitchell also unpack:

• The difference between liability and cancellation insurance
• Why more venues are requiring cancellation coverage
• The biggest insurance misconceptions in the wedding industry
• What venue owners think they’re protected against (but aren’t)
• Why small weddings still carry big risks
• How insurance actually helps preserve client relationships during stressful moments

Whether you’re a venue owner, planner, vendor, or engaged couple, this episode is a practical and eye-opening conversation about the part of weddings nobody thinks about — but everyone should.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Aisle Planner
Wedding Pro

Brite Biz

Lead Lock

Releventful

Event Guard
VenueX AI

Interested in learning more about The Venue Masterclass?

Join us February 21-24 in Tampa, Florida. Learn more here: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com

Follow my new ventures:

https://mcalisterleftwich.com/
https://thegrahammill.com/

Wedding tipping culture has officially entered the chat… and people have thoughts.

In this very first edition of AITVA (Am I The Vendor Asshole?), Dana is joined by wedding planner and designer Irene of Irene & Co Events to unpack one very heated Reddit thread: a bride questioning whether she really needed to tip her wedding vendors 20%… including a $6,000 gratuity for catering staff.

From tip jars at wedding bars to service fees, self-employed vendors, bad DJs, and the pressure couples feel to tip everyone — nothing is off limits in this conversation.

Together, Dana and Irene dive into:

• Whether self-employed vendors should expect tips
• The difference between gratuity and service fees
• Why transparency matters more than ever
• How venues and vendors should educate clients
• Why handwritten notes and reviews often mean more than cash
• And whether tipping culture has officially gone too far

Funny, honest, slightly unhinged, and packed with real industry insight — this episode is for vendors, couples, planners, and anyone who has ever felt personally attacked by the iPad tip screen.

So… is the client the asshole here?

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Aisle Planner
Wedding Pro

Brite Biz

Lead Lock

Releventful

Event Guard
VenueX AI

Interested in learning more about The Venue Masterclass?

Join us February 21-24 in Tampa, Florida. Learn more here: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com

Follow my new ventures:

https://mcalisterleftwich.com/
https://thegrahammill.com/

This episode of Gathered Here: The Venue Masterclass Series challenges one of the biggest assumptions in the venue industry: that success only comes from weddings.

Dana sits down with venue consultant and sales strategist Adrienne Gardner to talk about diversification, burnout, staffing realities, and the pressure venue owners feel to become the “top wedding venue” in their market. Together, they unpack why more weddings are not always the answer — and how corporate events, galas, proms, celebrations of life, and repeat community partnerships can create more stability, better staffing balance, and a healthier business overall.

From honest conversations about ego and profitability to practical strategies for creating recurring revenue, this episode is a reminder that there is no single blueprint for success in the venue world.

If you’ve ever questioned whether the traditional wedding-only model is sustainable, this conversation is for you.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Aisle Planner
Wedding Pro

Brite Biz

Lead Lock

Releventful

Event Guard
VenueX AI

Interested in learning more about The Venue Masterclass?

Join us February 21-24 in Tampa, Florida. Learn more here: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com

Follow my new ventures:

https://mcalisterleftwich.com/
https://thegrahammill.com/

If You Look for the Good, You’ll Find It

In this Quick Chat, I’m reflecting on one of the biggest leadership lessons that’s been sitting with me since my conversation with Anthony Lambatos—and honestly, it hit deeper than I expected.

We talk a lot about team culture, hiring the right people, and building something meaningful. But what happens when someone who was the right person… isn’t anymore?

In this episode, I’m unpacking:

• The shift from “dream employee” to someone who no longer believes in the vision
• The leadership mistakes I didn’t see in real time (but see so clearly now)
• Why not everyone is meant to stay forever—and why that’s not always a failure
• And the mindset shift that’s changing everything for me right now: if you look for the good, you’ll find it

This one is honest. A little uncomfortable. And a reminder that even in the hard seasons—especially in the hard seasons—there’s something worth holding onto.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Aisle Planner
Wedding Pro

Brite Biz

Lead Lock

Releventful

Event Guard
VenueX AI

Interested in learning more about The Venue Masterclass?

Join us February 21-24 in Tampa, Florida. Learn more here: https://www.thevenuemasterclass.com

Follow my new ventures:

https://mcalisterleftwich.com/
https://thegrahammill.com/

Where I Got Culture Wrong — And What I’m Doing Differently Now

In this Quick Chat, I’m reflecting on my conversation with Anthony Lambatos—and more importantly, what it brought up for me as I step into building new teams and new venues.

We talk a lot about company culture in this industry, but what happens when you realize… you didn’t get the core right?

In this episode, I’m breaking down the three things that actually define culture:

• People doing work they’re good at
• Understanding the purpose behind the work
• And building relationships rooted in love, trust, and respect

But more than that, I’m sharing where I got it wrong.

From misaligned roles and burnout… to losing the “why” behind the work… to unintentionally creating a culture that felt more transactional than meaningful.

This is an honest look at what I’ve learned, what I would do differently, and how I’m approaching leadership as I build again.

Because culture doesn’t just happen.
It’s built—intentionally, daily, and often through failure first.

What if culture isn’t something you add to your business… but the thing that drives it?

In this episode, I sit down with Anthony Lambatos to talk about what it actually looks like to build a people-first business—and why so many leaders get it wrong.

Anthony shares how he transformed his family’s catering company by focusing on one simple goal: create a great place to work. What followed? Increased revenue, stronger retention, and a team that shows up when it matters most.

We get into:

• Why culture isn’t perks, ping pong tables, or beer carts
• The difference between generosity and just spending money
• How to identify (and handle) “red dot” employees before they derail your team
• Why burnout has less to do with hours—and more to do with the work itself
• And how to build a team that protects your culture even when you’re not in the room

If you’ve ever felt the tension between being a good leader and running a profitable business… this episode will challenge the way you think about both.

Show Notes:

To Follow Anthony and all his hustles: @footerscatering, @social_capitol_events

This Episode's Sponsors:
Information on Brite Biz
Information on Lead Lock

In Previous Episodes:
Event Guard
Releventful
Wedding Pro
Venue X AI
Aisle Planner

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