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Isn’t it about time your wedding venue gained a free Bridebook Business profile?!

UK wedding venues have discovered the secret to free marketing and more bookings.

Don’t you love it when leads come flooding in without you having to do very much at all?

What’s that now? You’re still working hard to book weddings at your venue?

Well we may have just the answer…

Introducing Bridebook Business

Something pretty exciting is happening at Bridebook HQ and we want to shout it from the rooftop (of your wedding venue, preferably)…

UK wedding venues are now choosing to ‘couple up’ with Bridebook Business and feature for free on our wedding planning platform as part of their lead generation strategy, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it.

We’re huge advocates of wedding supplier networking and in wedding venues and businesses working together to support each other.

That’s why we’re so keen to encourage more wedding venues to register with Bridebook for free and take advantage of these kinds of blissful benefits:

• Access to more than 40,000 couples who are registered on Bridebook right now

• Exposure to our 250,000 social media followers

• Connections to over 14,000 wedding businesses keen to share knowledge and support each other with local referrals

• Opportunities to chat with couples via direct email enquiries

• The chance to show off your portfolio, awards and client reviews and testimonials

• Enhance your SEO with a featured listing on our high ranking wedding planning platform

How does it work?

Your job is to set up and manage your venues’ personal business account which is quick and easy to do. It only takes 10 minutes to set up your account and then you can spend as much time as you like adding to it.

Of course the more information you provide the better, as couples on Bridebook can filter supplier searches by capacity, style and location, meaning that the more information you include on your profile the better matched you’ll be to newly engaged couples and the higher you’ll rank in searches.

Plus you’ll be more likely to impress the couples that land on your wedding venue profile page and subsequently, they’ll be more likely to get in touch with you and enquire about a visit.

Management-wise, it’s just a case of making sure that all of your wedding venues’ details are kept up to date and relevant – particularly with regards to contact details, pricing and images.

Once your account is set up you’re ready to start attracting the thousands of couples who are searching for wedding venues just like you.

What can wedding venues include on their Bridebook profile?

You really can add as much information as you’d like to your Bridebook profile and if you’ve any recommendations for us in terms of developing our platform to allow for more information to be featured, please feel free to get in touch.

Here’s what you can include…

• Unlimited photos

• Direct Contact Details

• Description of services

• Links to Social Media

• Pricing Information

• Client reviews & testimonials

• Supplier recommendations

• Unlimited videos

• Selection of products

• Industry awards and features

• FAQs

• A personal message from the Manager of your venue

How couples get in touch with your wedding venue

Couples can contact you directly through our direct messaging system (which goes straight to your email inbox) so it’s really important that you keep your contact details up to date to avoid missing out on enquiries.

It’s about time your wedding venue gained a Bridebook Business profile

Wedding venues in particular benefit from a presence on the Bridebook platform simply because choosing a venue is one of the greatest decisions a couple will make when planning their wedding, and using an online directory to shortlist all of the venues in their chosen location is the method of choice for most brides and grooms.

If you’re not visible alongside other wedding venues in your area, you could miss out on those all important bookings.

Effortlessly pack your calendar with weddings in your area whilst also filling your mid-week, off season and late availability dates without stress when you get in touch today or get started on your free Bridebook Business profile.

3 things wedding suppliers can do to stay motivated as we near the end of peak wedding season 2017.

Wedding suppliers are often believed to have one of the best jobs in the world. Working with giddy couples to build their dream wedding sounds just wonderful doesn’t it.

And although we know you really do love what you do it’s OK to admit that sometimes the behind-the-scenes client meetings, venue walkthroughs, contract negotiations and paperwork can leave you feeling a little fed up.

But being demotivated is a luxury that wedding suppliers can’t afford to indulge in for too long.

Being on top of your game for each and every wedding you work on for each and every couple you work with is essential. It’s unfair to the couples you work with to be anything other than 100% dedicated to making their wedding day everything they dream it will be.

3 ways to stay motivated for the weddings you’re working on now

Here are 3 things you can do to help you stay motivated and push through any weariness as we approach the end of peak wedding season 2017.

1. Stop procrastinating

Research into motivational factors discussed in Psychology Today suggests that people who just get the job done procrastinate less and are more motivated to move on to the next task than those who spend too long thinking about and assessing one individual task.

We all know how great it feels to check something off of our to-do list. It’s great for motivation and self esteem. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and demotivated, begin by completing the smaller tasks and this feeling of accomplishment will spur you on to tackle the bigger ones.

2. When it gets too much, step away

Some days, no matter what you do you just can’t bring yourself to tackle that mountain of ‘urgent tasks’ and sitting at a desk staring at your screen is only going to make you feel worse.

When you’re feeling utterly uninspired, the best thing to do is unplug, step away from the workplace and take a break. Go for a walk, go grab a coffee, do some reading or hit the gym. Do whatever it takes to help you switch off and unwind so that you can return to your to-do-list with a clear head and a revitalised outlook on the task at hand.

3. Think about the bigger picture

When helping plan a wedding, it’s easy to get lost in the detail of all the subtasks that need addressing and lose sight of what it is you’re really doing and why.

Think about why you chose to run a wedding business or work in the wedding industry in the first place.** **

Weddings are your passion! Remind yourself of all the things you love about being a wedding venue or wedding supplier and write down all the fantastic things you’ve accomplished. Read good feedback from newlywed couples whose dream wedding day was achieved because of things that YOU did.

Feeling uninspired is a horrible feeling but step back and look at the bigger picture. This fed up feeling will soon pass and you’ll be back to your best. Sometimes, a little mental refocusing is all we need to pull us through the tough times.

Stay motivated by addressing ‘autonomy, mastery and purpose’

If you’re particularly interested in finding out more about what motivates people in business, we’d recommend you read Dan Pink’s Drive: the Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.

He focuses on three intrinsic elements to motivation at work: autonomy, mastery and purpose.

Having the power to direct your own life and control the activities you manage is essential. Having the desire to continually improve at something you love to do really matters. And knowing that what you do makes a difference to someone, somewhere is what drives us.

Do you have autonomy, mastery and purpose when it comes to managing your wedding business?

By preparing just a few small things now in time for November your wedding business will guarantee more bookings for 2018.

It barely feels as though we’ve gotten going with peak, summer wedding season but lo and behold, engagement season is just around the corner.

Statistics show that around 40% of couples who will be engaged in the next 12 months will do so between November and February, which means wedding suppliers only have a couple of months to get their house in order in time for the prime wedding business bookings period.

Here are 4 things wedding suppliers like you need to be doing NOW to ensure you’ve the best chance of winning bookings throughout engagement season…

1. Review your online presence

Just as we advised you to prepare your online business for the 2017 peak wedding season, it’s now time to readdress and revisit your website and all online profiles to check that all of your business information is correct and that your wedding portfolio is up to date.

Your brand image and contact information must be consistent across all online platforms and you must make it as easy as possible for engaged couples to find you and get in touch. If your information isn’t instantly accessible and readily available, newly engaged millennial couples won’t waste much time searching for it before moving on to your competitors.

Is your Bridebook Business profile complete, relevant and up to date? Share your best photos, include up to date pricing information and post good feedback from the couples you’ve worked with throughout wedding season 2017 on your profile to really maximise your chances of being spotted and shortlisted on this platform.

Remember, your professional image could suffer if you’re presenting your wedding services in a different way in different places online. Pricing information, images and contact information must be consistently included and updated wherever your business features on the web.

And finally, don’t neglect your social media accounts.

Remember to update them with fresh content regularly and tag couples in your posts to encourage engagement and show you’ve forged good relationships with the couples you’ve worked with this year.

Potential new clients will often check out the social media profiles of wedding businesses they’ve shortlisted before they get in touch to get a feel for the service you offer, to see pictures of weddings you’ve catered for this year and to find out what other happy couples have to say about you.

2. Publish and promote the reviews and recommendations you’ve collected this wedding season

We’ve already highlighted the importance of reviews when it comes to helping wedding suppliers secure new bookings so we just want to take this opportunity to reiterate that recommendations from couples you’ve worked with this wedding season are your best asset when it comes to attracting newly engaged couples and securing bookings for 2018.

Did you know that the average couple reads 7.6 reviews before contacting wedding professionals? Make it your goal to publish any reviews you’ve gathered on your website, social media accounts and on your Bridebook profile. If you’re still waiting for feedback from some of the couples you’ve worked with, chase them up now.

Newlyweds love to talk about their wedding and the majority will be more than happy to write a few words on how you contributed to making their day so special. In fact, 70% of customers will leave a review for a business if you ask them for it.

What are you waiting for?!

3. Check that your calendar is up-to-date

Your availability is going to be a hot topic during engagement season. Couples will need to know exactly when you’re available and when you’re not, and being able to access this information and reply to their queries quickly will give you the best chance of securing their booking.

Try to fill in your calendar with as many details as you can about your bookings for wedding season 2018, not forgetting to factor in time for site visits, travel and administrative tasks too. Don’t be overly optimistic with your time – be realistic. You don’t want to let couples down because you’ve incorrectly estimated time commitments and you don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on yourself to fulfil everyone’s needs either.

4. Do your research and make a good first impression

Once you’ve clarified your availability and agreed a time to meet with a newly engaged couple, the real work begins.

Making a good first impression depends largely on whether you’ve done your research. Take the time to learn a little about the couple you’re meeting and you’ll make a great first impression.

Check back over your email conversations to get an idea of the style of wedding the couple you’re meeting are looking for. Open your meeting by asking the couple questions about themselves and how they met, and ask them to tell you their engagement story. Facilitating this kind of personal connection will help you secure bookings and work together with the couple more harmoniously during the wedding planning process.

And finally, be prepared to discuss the latest wedding trends and arrive at the meeting armed with a portfolio of your weddings from 2017 to demonstrate the kinds of things other couples are choosing to include on their wedding day.

Make engagement season work for you

Engagement season shouldn’t be made to feel like a relentless continuation of peak wedding season that demands late nights, early mornings and difficult requests.

By preparing just a few small things now in time for November your wedding business will be best placed to attract couples looking to wed next year with little time investment required from yourself.

A wedding supplier’s guide to gaining exposure through great content

We’ve highlighted some of the ways in which wedding professionals can approach the creation of newsworthy PR stories guaranteed to boost bookings but how do you then deliver that story into the right hands and in the right way?

It’s all well and good having a fantastic story to share about your company, your successes or your sector but how do you get the attention of the right people in the media?

Think about how many other wedding industry professionals like you are currently researching or writing an engaging piece of content. Now imagine being an editor and having one space to fill in your next supplement but 50-100 content submissions to sift through?

Standing out in the crowd is the difference between PR success and failure.

How wedding suppliers should approach content submissions

Here are 5 steps you should take to ensure you’re giving your wedding business the best chance of exposure through publication of your content…

1. Check that your wedding website is up to scratch

The first thing to do before you kick start any PR campaign is to review your company website. Make sure that all of your information is up to date and that your content is conveying the right message for you and your brand.

Believe it or not, the success of story submissions can often be down to how professional you seem as a wedding supplier. Editors aren’t going to want to associate their media publications with businesses that appear out of date or unprofessional.

Plus, you’re unlikely to convert business from press stories if your website falls short!

2. Produce a shortlist of relevant media contacts

Do your research and create a wishlist of websites, blogs and publications you’d like to feature in; making sure that the media you pursue are relevant to your target audience and if possible, local to your business.

Take a look at the kinds of content each media outlet is showcasing to decide whether your work and your writing suitably matches their tone, style and subject.

Tip: getting your work published takes time and whilst it may be tempting to email every media outlet you know of, the best approach is to properly research the publications that best suit your brand and location.

3. Review submission guidelines

It is so important for you to spend time reading submission guidelines on the websites of media outlets you’re hoping to contact.

So many businesses don’t do this and fall short as a result. Follow submission rules and you’re already ahead of much of the competition.

4. Include a detailed summary with your submission

When submitting your story to the press, it’s important that you provide a detailed excerpt that succinctly describes exactly what your story is about.

Take time preparing your pitch and highlight the key details of your content AND your business, e.g. state that you specialise in unique wedding cakes, modern floral design or bespoke wedding dresses, and include details of where you’re based. Many local media outlets will be more inclined to publish stories from local businesses.

Tip: remember to tailor your pitch to each media outlet. A few sentences aimed specifically at the publication you’re contacting could be the ones that catch the eye of an editor looking for a wedding supplier who’s done their research.

5. Attach images

If you take the task of having to source imagery away from editors, they’ll love you for it. Plus, when you accompany text with images it instantly makes a story stand out. Photos are excellent at instantly conveying emotion and telling their own story; even without the support of written words.

PR success is just a carefully crafted submission away

Getting content published is tough but when you start to enjoy the fruits of your labour you may find that the exposure is exactly what you need to take your wedding business to the next level.

Approach PR in a strategic and controlled way; knowing who you want to reach, the message you want to convey and where best your content will succeed.

Ensure that your efforts are measurable through google analytics and contact forms and remember that there are multiple benefits to PR aside from direct business, such as brand awareness, third party credibility and links to your website (for SEO points).

So in the words of Benjamin Franklin, all that’s left to do now is “write something worth reading or do something worth writing about”.

Get out there and leave your mark on the wedding industry because in PR, we create our own luck.

Nowadays, wedding suppliers can expect to work on weddings of couples differing in body shape, age, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.

The importance of building an inclusive wedding business online 

Spend a few moments thinking about the couples you’ve worked with in the past year or two.

Think about what they looked like, how their personal styles differed and whether they surprised you by being that little bit different to others you worked with years ago.

These days, wedding suppliers can expect to work on weddings of couples differing in body shape, age, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Society is becoming increasingly diverse and thankfully, increasingly accepting of diversity too.

But the media and the online wedding world is still playing catch up and we’re not seeing widespread diversity when it comes to advertisements, magazines and websites. Here are the top Google image results for the phrase ‘UK wedding magazine’:

Not astoundingly diverse results, are they.

We can see that no men feature on the front of any of these magazines, nor do any older people. And the only addition of any ethnic variation comes from a magazine specific to ‘Black Brides’.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of wedding websites, social networks and advertisements still only cater to one type of client.

And yet according to a recent Wedding Industry Insights fact sheet, 40% of straight grooms and 50% of brides and grooms of color admit that it’s difficult for them to relate to, or see themselves reflected in the content and imagery of magazines and online media. Same-sex couples agree that this is a challenge for them when wedding planning.

So how can we, as wedding industry professionals, ensure that we’re being inclusive and welcoming all clients with open arms on our business website, social networks and in our marketing materials?

How wedding professionals can portray an inclusive online presence

Ask yourself; are all of your recent clients (from the past year) reflected, represented and considered in your marketing content?

If your answer is no, here are five simple ways in which you can incorporate diversity and ensure your content is applicable to all modern day couples on your website:

1. The simplest way to ensure your website is relatable to millennial couples is to showcase a diverse assortment of visual content. Include same sex couples and couples of varying ethnicity in your main website image and ensure that your photo albums and video content also includes men and women of all ages and body types.

2. Ensure that your diverse portfolio of images is mirrored on all social media profiles you own. Consistency in image content and tone across all online platforms (blogs, social media and website) is the most effective way of building a brand with couples of today.

3. List out all of the types of weddings you service on your website to make it clear that you’re open to working with same-sex couples. You could detail the types of weddings you cater to on your services page or even on the FAQ section of your website.

4. If you’re struggling to gather original imagery that represents all the types of weddings you have – or would – cater to, purchase stock imagery that doesn’t necessarily focus on people. Use high quality images of wedding decorations, wedding cakes or wedding flowers instead to avoid alienating potential clients.

5. Ensure you’re using inclusive language on your wedding website and in all marketing materials. Ditch the term ‘bride’ in favour of the word ‘couples’ whenever you can so that same sex couples can relate to the words on your pages.

As we near 2018, we should expect to see more wedding businesses portraying a more diverse and inclusive brand image to potential couples – both online and offline.

Avoid being left behind and ensure your wedding business isn’t deemed ‘out of touch’ with couples of today by addressing your image now and ensuring you’re speaking to real couples in the right way.

How wedding suppliers can educate others and begin to carve a reputation as a thought leader in the wedding industry.

If you’ve had an epic year working on some of the best weddings yet, you want the world to know about it, right?

Getting your brand out there and letting newly engaged couples know what you do and where you do it will help you secure bookings now and into 2018, and it will also help you build your reputation amongst other suppliers AND build your profile generally in the wedding industry.

But to shout about your successes and unique selling points takes skill, tact and, well, a strategic and well-implemented public relations (PR) campaign.

The first step in organising any kind of campaign is to know and understand your audience and to have something really great to talk to them about.

Success in PR is fundamentally down to whether you have an attention grabbing, newsworthy story because there’s a lot of noise out there and to have your story published by an editor, it needs to stand out.

So what makes a story newsworthy?

Empowerment, progression and inspiration

Wedding planner, Sharn Khaira, had her story published in the Swindon Advertiser and earned a link to her website after sharing her entrepreneurial journey in a bid to empower Asian women and encourage them to take the plunge and get into business.

Her website Desi Bride Dreams ranks number one in Google for Asian wedding blog and she has since gone on to host workshops aimed specifically at Asian women in business and founded a group called AFEC where she can now interact with like-minded women. The group now boasts over 300 members.

If you’re sitting on a success story that challenges cultural expectations, demonstrates progression and empowers others to succeed, it’s time to share.

Win an award

If you really are the best of the best, you should most definitely be entering local and national awards. And if you go on to win, it’s likely you’ll feature in published press releases without even having to prepare anything yourself.

That’s what happened to Gemma from Castledawson when she was recently named as Cake Designer of the Year in Ireland’s prestigious Wedding Journal Reader Awards. Her story features in the Mid Ulster Mail and is likely to drum up some attention amongst locals.

Contribute unique insights

You’re working at the front line of the wedding industry which means that nobody on the outside possesses the unique insight you do when it comes to knowing what’s happening with weddings right now.

Gather stats or highlight trends in your wedding sector that you think couples and other wedding suppliers would find interesting and informative.

Data and insights gathered by Bridebook enabled the team to commission an article titled: Pippa Middleton’s Wedding Is Expected To Cost £246,949, and this piece earned over 100 engagements in more than 30 countries.

Or perhaps you’re a wedding caterer and you’ve had a myriad of odd food requests this year that you think would entertain and delight an editor and your target audience.

The content queens at Huffington Post recently featured an article on Food Trends For Weddings 2017. Could you have contributed or produced something similar?

Data is the hardest thing to come by when editors are looking to place content into the media, so make a note of the changes you notice and the numbers you gather and provide unique and insightful content to the media that’s got a great chance of getting published.

Are you ready to get started?

Start gathering ideas today for topics you could educate others in and begin to carve a reputation for yourself as a thought leader in the wedding industry.

For more PR tips check out our How to Get Published in PR article.

5 quick and simple things to bear in mind today that will help you attract newly engaged couples and secure more wedding bookings around autumn / winter time.

Chances are you’re so busy preparing for the weddings you’ve booked for right now that the last thing you’ve got time to think about is keeping your wedding business ticking over in the slower, winter months.

But with winter weddings becoming more popular thanks to better value for money, more availability and the romance of winter settings gaining greater appeal, you could find yourself with a few fantastic slow-season booking opportunities if you put in a tiny bit of prep work now.

Fortunately, we’ve prepared a checklist of 5 quick and simple things to bear in mind today that will help you attract newlywed couples around autumn / winter time and beat the competition to the punch!

1. Ask for testimonials and reviews as you finalise each wedding

As you come to the end of each wedding you cater for, be sure to ask for and chase up reviews, recommendations and testimonials as the chances are, if you sit back and wait for them to trickle in, newlyweds will forget to send them at all.

According to a recent survey, 70% of customers will leave a review for a business if you ask them for it.

Recommendations play a significant role in winning new business and securing more bookings as a wedding supplier, and it is a pretty quick and straightforward way to ensure you’re ahead of the competition as we approach off-peak wedding season.

To read more on the impact reviews have on wedding bookings and how best to approach gathering recommendations, view this article.

Upload all good feedback to your Bridebook Profile as you collect it, as it’s better for SEO and for generating new business steadily if you can publish new content regularly rather than bulk upload it.

2. Make sure your Bridebook profile is up-to-date and complete

With more and more newly engaged couples opting to use wedding directories to search for wedding suppliers, it is essential that you ensure all profiles you own are complete and up to date – particularly with regards to contact details, pricing, reviews and photographs.

It should take no more than 30 minutes to fully complete your profile on Bridebook and with exposure to around 40,000 wedding-planning couples, it’s a marketing channel that pretty much takes care of itself whilst you’re busy managing your bookings during peak wedding season.

Wouldn’t it be nice to benefit from SEO, exposure and a valuable database of leads and contacts to follow up as we approach off-peak wedding season without having to do very much at all?

3. Share photographs of your weddings as you go

Get into the habit of taking photographs and uploading them to Facebook and Instagram as you prepare for and complete each of your summer weddings.

By creating a presence for yourself online now during peak wedding season, you’re much more likely to have your content discovered online during off-peak wedding season.

Wedding suppliers who attempt to upload photos all at once will find themselves at a distinct disadvantage to competitors who have been present online and keeping their content relevant throughout the spring and summer months.

4. Keep an eye out for local wedding fairs you’d like to attend 

Most wedding fairs take place during off-peak season and these events often provide a golden opportunity for you to show off your summer portfolio and book new clients.

National wedding fairs are good for inspiration and large scale networking but can often carry a high cost. Keep an eye out for local wedding fairs (or host your own) and put your name down as an attendee early on to ensure you guarantee your place for a great price.

The clear benefit of attending local wedding fairs is that you’re likely to meet local engaged couples – your core target audience – as well as local suppliers who you can network with for the sake of recommendations and repeat business.

5. Offer deals and special packages

Towards the end of peak season you could start promoting special offers and deals to attract off-peak brides and grooms.

If you choose to adopt this strategy, make sure that you prepare marketing material a few months beforehand and that you start promoting your special deals on social media towards the end of the summer and at any wedding fairs you attend.

This requires a little more time than the other tactics we’ve listed above but can be a very effective way to secure last minute bookings.

Are you prepared to peak during the slow season?

If you’re planning to stay busy as the wedding season draws to a close why not try out a few of the above techniques to keep your wedding business brand front of mind for engaged couples preparing for a winter wedding.

Most of these tips are considered best practice anyway so get into good habits now and you’ll benefit from bookings and exposure in the long term.

Wedding venues are 90% more likely to be shortlisted by couples if they pick a powerful profile picture.

Wedding venues are 90% more likely to be shortlisted by couples if they pick a powerful profile picture.

As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

The profile picture you choose to introduce your Bridebook portfolio or indeed any social media profiles your wedding business owns is more important than any other content on the page.

A recent Bridebook survey of registered UK based ‘wedding planning’ couples revealed that ⁹⁄₁₀ brides and grooms shortlisted their wedding venue based on its profile or thumbnail picture alone.

The profile picture is the opener; the hook that encourages newly engaged couples to stay on your page and scroll through more photographs or read more information about your wedding services.

Your profile picture is the online equivalent of eye contact, a smile and a firm handshake when meeting potential clients face to face.

So what makes for a good profile picture?

Many wedding venues and suppliers will choose to use a profile picture that succinctly captures what their wedding business is all about; such as a photograph of a wedding venue or a wedding cake.

And whilst this is the right approach in terms of needing your profile picture to be relevant and able to instantly tell first time viewers exactly what your wedding service or product is all about, we mustn’t forget to inject personality, fun, love and warmth into our profile picture.

Weddings are about love, and couples looking for wedding venues, wedding planners, dresses or florists will be drawn to photographs that exude emotion over those that don’t.

Let’s take a look at some examples.

Sandhole Oak Barn is a beautifully designed oak wedding barn set in the rolling Cheshire countryside. However, the first picture we see when we visit their Bridebook profile simply doesn’t do the venue justice. Despite the blue sky in the photograph the overall image feels a little cold and unromantic.

When we scrolled through a few more images of the venue we discovered two beautiful photographs that would work much better as profile pictures.

These images are warm, romantic and the presence of people in the pictures enables newly engaged couples to better relate to the venue and its purpose.

This first image shows a crowd of wedding guests enjoying themselves amidst a hazy backdrop and the second image is of the front of the wedding venue – as per the original profile picture above – but includes a newlywed couple standing in the entrance which makes for a far more impactful image.

Nancarrow Farm is a glorious wedding venue made up of a number of barns on a working farm  near the Cornish coast, and they’ve got it right with their chosen profile picture.

This beautiful photograph is the first thing we see when we land on their Bridebook profile page and it features the wonderful rustic barn with a happily married couple embracing in its doorway; evoking a feeling of love, romance and simplicity.

Elmore Court is a stunning manor house situated in Gloucestershire and overlooking the Cotswolds, and despite their profile picture effectively advertising the venue in all its grandeur, we can’t help but think adding newlyweds and a little sunset glow would make for a more affecting profile picture.

Here’s their current profile picture:

And here’s what we’d prefer to see when we land on the wedding venues profile page:

Choosing the right profile picture for your wedding business is ultimately down to you and your preferences. What makes an image stunning is partially subjective but you can follow a few general rules to increase the chances of your profile picture winning you wedding bookings.

Personality is vital when choosing a profile picture to represent you and your wedding business.

Include people in your picture – ideally the married couple but wedding guests work well too – as this will help newly engaged couples searching for a wedding venue or supplier to better picture their big day with you and relate to the emotions conveyed in your image.

We are all visual creatures and with so much choice out there for couples planning their wedding it is more important than ever to stand out. Grab visitors attention with your profile picture and thumbnail and you’ll be 90% more likely to be shortlisted for bookings.

Who needs a thousand words when you’ve got a showstopping profile picture…