The Venue Nest Podcast

By Ashley Shepherd + Kelsey Smith

The Venue Nest Podcast is where real venue owners come to feel less alone, get clear on what’s actually working, and learn how to run a profitable, organized, and experience, driven venue without t

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FAQs about The Venue Nest Podcast:

How many episodes does The Venue Nest Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 9 episodes available.

The Venue Nest Podcast episodes:

July 08, 2026 How Can Sales Strategies Transform Your Wedding Venue Business?
Want to book more weddings and convert more venue tours into bookings? The secret might not be better selling. It might be better listening.

In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith sit down with Venue Nest partner Matt, a wedding venue owner, investor, and former high-ticket sales leader. Matt shares proven sales strategies for wedding venues, including how to build trust during venue tours, use transparent pricing to attract the right couples, improve tour-to-booking conversions, and create a client experience that feels helpful instead of pushy.

He also explains how venue owners can increase profitability, generate more qualified leads, and build systems that make a venue business easier to scale or sell. Whether you're a venue owner, venue director, or wedding venue entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you book more weddings and grow a more profitable venue business.

00:00 Matt's Background in High-Ticket Sales
02:06 Why Wedding Venues are a Great Investment
05:37 Preparing Your Venue for Sale
09:57 The 80% Rule for Delegation
13:35 Building Trust with Couples on Tours
17:35 What Separates Successful Venues
21:20 Common Mistakes During Venue Tours

Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup

Follow Us
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest
Website https://www.venuenest.com/
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25min
July 01, 2026 Why Every Venue Owner Needs Better Systems
Starting a wedding venue is exciting, but the reality of running one can look very different than expected. From becoming the plumber and maintenance person to building systems that actually allow a venue to grow, the journey requires more than just loving weddings.
In this episode of the Venue Nest Podcast, hosts Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith sit down with Braden, a Venue Nest partner and multi-venue operator, to talk about his journey from real estate investing to scaling wedding venues. Braden shares the challenges of starting from scratch, creating systems, hiring the right venue directors, managing managers, and finding the balance between collaboration and competition in the venue industry. He also explains how those experiences helped shape Venue Nest into a platform built for venue owners and operators.
00:00 The Reality of Venue Ownership
02:13 Braden's Entry into the Wedding Industry
05:58 Hiring the First Venue Director
07:44 Advice for Overwhelmed New Owners
09:43 The Search for the Right Software
11:05 The Creation of Venue Nest
14:38 What Separates Venue Nest
16:00 The Challenges of Managing Managers
20:08 Outro
Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup
Follow Us
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest
Website https://www.venuenest.com/
Venue Nest Podcast https://www.venuenest.com/podcast

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21min
June 25, 2026 Turning Passion into Profit: Essential Steps for Wedding Venue Owners Ready to Grow
Scaling a venue business takes more than just booking more events. It requires the right people, systems, and mindset to move from simply owning a venue to building a sustainable business.
In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith are joined by Alex, a Venue Nest partner and venue owner, to discuss the journey of growing a venue business. Alex shares how he went from seeing venues as a simple cash-flow opportunity to understanding the complexity of operations, staffing, maintenance, cash flow, and scaling across multiple locations.
They discuss the importance of knowing your numbers, building strong teams, creating systems before expanding, delegating responsibilities, and surrounding yourself with the right people. Alex also shares insights on moving from one venue to multiple venues, the challenges of growth, and why community and collaboration are essential in an industry where many owners feel alone. Through Venue Nest, they aim to help venue owners connect, learn, save time, and build businesses that can grow beyond just the day-to-day operations.
00:00 Introduction
01:13 Alex's Entry into the Wedding Industry
04:57 Scaling to Multiple Venues
07:43 Advice for Buying a Second Venue
09:10 The Emotional Toll on Venue Owners
11:17 The Purpose of Venue Nest
13:50 When and How to Hire Staff
18:01 The Myth of Weekday Weddings
19:18 Final Advice on Growth
Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup
Follow Us
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@venue.nest
Website https://www.venuenest.com/
Venue Nest Podcast https://www.venuenest.com/podcast

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22min
June 17, 2026 Connect, Learn, Implement, Grow: Inside Venue Nest
What if venue owners had one place to connect, learn, streamline their operations, and grow their business? In this episode, Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith introduce Venue Nest and share the vision behind a platform designed specifically for venue owners and operators.

Connect is the free Venue Nest community, created exclusively for venue owners and operators. Ashley and Kelsey explain how the platform helps owners connect with peers, ask questions, share wins, find collaboration opportunities, and access support from people who truly understand the challenges of running a venue. Unlike traditional social media groups, the community was intentionally built for venue owners and includes features designed to encourage meaningful connections and industry-specific conversations.

Learn is Venue Nest University, the educational tier designed to help venue owners improve and grow their businesses. The platform includes lessons covering topics such as operations, sales, leadership, hiring, automations, and other practical aspects of venue management. Ashley and Kelsey discuss how the courses are built from real-world venue ownership experience and are designed to provide actionable steps owners can implement immediately.

Implement is Venue Nest's venue-specific software platform. Built exclusively for venues, it combines tools for communication, automations, contracts, payments, layouts, and client management into one system. Ashley and Kelsey share how the software was designed to simplify operations, reduce overwhelm, and give venue owners greater clarity and confidence in running their businesses.

Grow is the final tier, focused on done-for-you marketing. Designed for venue owners who are ready to scale, this service provides venue-specific advertising support to help attract more couples, generate leads, and continue growing their business without adding more work to their plate.

Whether you're exploring venue ownership, opening your first venue, or looking for the next step in growing an established business, this episode offers a complete overview of how Venue Nest helps venue owners connect, learn, implement, and grow.

00:00 Introduction to Venue Nest
03:19 The Venue Nest Community
07:35 The Structure of Venue Nest
09:37 Venue Nest University
13:02 The Venue Nest Software
18:34 Meeting You Where You Are

Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup

Follow Us
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest
Website https://www.venuenest.com/

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22min
June 09, 2026 Trust the Process: Navigating the Rollercoaster of Opening a Wedding Venue
Building a venue is exciting, but what does it actually take to turn an idea into a thriving business? Before the first booking, there are business plans to write, funding to secure, city approvals to navigate, and countless decisions that can make aspiring venue owners question whether they're on the right path.
In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, hosts Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith share essential advice for new and aspiring venue owners. They discuss creating a solid business plan, conducting market research, securing capital, navigating commercial lending and city ordinances, and building a team rooted in strong core values. Ashley and Kelsey also explore practical hiring strategies, marketing a venue that doesn't yet exist, and using storytelling, social media, and community trust to attract future clients. Whether you're building, buying, renovating, or simply dreaming about owning a venue, their message is simple: stay persistent, trust the process, and keep moving forward.
Through Venue Nest, they aim to create a supportive community where venue owners can connect, learn, and feel less alone in the challenges of building and growing a venue business.
00:00 Advice for New Entrepreneurs
01:54 The Business Plan and Market Research
04:09 Presenting to Investors
07:09 Defining Company Values
10:09 Effective Hiring Practices
12:28 The Challenges of Building a Venue
17:18 Selling a Venue That Doesn't Exist Yet
20:40 Building Trust and Community
Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup
Follow Us
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest
Website https://www.venuenest.com/

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24min
June 03, 2026 Why So Many Venue Owners Feel Alone
Running a venue can look glamorous from the outside, but behind every booked event are sleepless nights, financial pressure, difficult decisions, and the constant challenge of balancing business and personal life. From putting everything on the line financially to missing important family moments, venue ownership often comes with sacrifices that few people see.
In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, hosts Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith open up about the emotional realities of building and growing a venue business. They share personal stories about the isolation of entrepreneurship, the pressure of making payroll and mortgage payments, and the struggle of balancing motherhood, family, and work. Together, they discuss the importance of building a supportive team, setting healthy boundaries, and embracing community over competition. Through Venue Nest, they aim to create a supportive community where venue owners can connect, learn, and feel less alone in the challenges of building and growing a venue business.

Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup
Follow Us
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest
Website https://www.venuenest.com/

...more
19min
May 27, 2026 The Hidden Side of Running a Venue
In this episode of The Venue Nest Podcast, hosts Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith dive into the realities of venue ownership and the unexpected challenges that come with it. They share candid stories from behind the scenes, including handling a severe allergic reaction, managing an out-of-control intoxicated guest, navigating difficult client situations, and learning from mistakes along the way. Ashley and Kelsey discuss how setbacks, bad reviews, and stressful moments are inevitable, but how venue owners respond can shape both the client experience and their brand. Through Venue Nest, they aim to create a supportive community where venue owners can connect, learn, and feel less alone in the challenges of building and growing a venue business.

Join our free community!
https://live.venuenest.com/signup
Follow Us
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/venuenest
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest
Website https://www.venuenest.com/

...more
23min
May 20, 2026 What Nobody Tells You About Starting a Venue
In the first episode of the Venue Nest podcast, hosts Ashley Shepherd and Kelsey Smith share the story behind their journey into the venue industry. Ashley shares how starting a small catering business with her husband eventually led to becoming a venue owner and building their first event venue. Kelsey first entered the story as a client and later joined the team as venue director at just 19 years old, helping bring an unfinished vision to life. After taking different paths professionally, they eventually reunited and are now growing multiple venues together. The Venue Nest Podcast is where real venue owners come to feel less alone, get clear on what’s actually working, and learn how to run a profitable, organized, and experience-driven venue without the overwhelm. Through Venue Nest, they aim to create a supportive community where venue owners can connect, learn, and feel less alone in the challenges of building and growing a venue business. 00:00 Introduction to the Venue Nest Podcast 02:55 The First Catering Gig 05:47 The Idea for a Venue is Born 08:15 Kelsey Becomes Venue Director 12:02 Selling a Vision, Not a Building 17:56 The Birth of Venue Nest Join our free community! https://live.venuenest.com/signup Follow Us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/venuenest/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572069806041&ref=PROFILE_EDIT_xav_ig_profile_page_web# YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VenueNest Website https://www.venuenest.com/

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22min
May 14, 2026 Trailer
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2min

FAQs about The Venue Nest Podcast:

How many episodes does The Venue Nest Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 9 episodes available.