In this episode of The Venue RX podcast, host Jonathan Aymin sits down with marketing expert Kai McInnes to explore the power of advertising for wedding venues. Kai shares his journey from managing marketing and sales at his family’s venue, The BarnYard, to co-founding The Wedding Marketers, a marketing agency dedicated to helping venues attract newly engaged couples through highly targeted advertising campaigns.
Throughout the conversation, Kai dives into the advantages of using paid ads over traditional wedding directories, explaining how strategic advertising can generate higher-quality leads and drive more bookings. He breaks down key performance metrics that every venue should track—such as cost per lead, conversion rates, and return on ad spend—highlighting how data-driven decisions can optimize marketing efforts.
Jonathan and Kai also explore the differences between the UK and US wedding markets, touching on cultural variations in booking behaviors and marketing approaches. Kai introduces the concept of “twilight weddings,” a popular trend in the UK that offers a later ceremony start time with an evening-focused reception, and discusses how venues can leverage creative packages like this to differentiate themselves. Beyond ads, Kai emphasizes the importance of authentic engagement and a comprehensive marketing strategy that nurtures leads from first contact to final booking.
About Our Guest:
Kai McInnes, Co-Founder of The Wedding Marketers, developed a deep understanding of the wedding industry while working at his family’s venue, The BarnYard. In 2020, he took over marketing and sales, driving exponential growth while maintaining exceptionally high profit margins. Through refining his strategies, he created a proven framework that other venues can replicate to achieve similar success. Now, through The Wedding Marketers, he empowers venue owners with the tools and systems needed to accelerate growth, increase bookings, and maximize profitability.
Find Him Here:
Email: kai@theweddingmarketers.com
Website: https://www.theweddingmarketers.com/
