Episode 62 - Business Trip! Venue Relationships That Get You Referred with Shannon Tarrant
In this episode of Mind Your Wedding Business, we’re launching a brand-new podcast takeover segment called Business Trip! — where industry experts step into the host seat to interview Kevin Dennis and take a deeper dive into real-world wedding business insights.
For the first Business Trip, Shannon Tarrant, co-founder of Wedding Venue Map, takes over as guest host to tackle one of the biggest “hot topics” in the wedding industry: getting on venue preferred vendor lists and staying on them.
Shannon and Kevin break down why vendors chase these lists so hard, what preferred lists actually mean from a venue’s perspective, and why the real goal isn’t just being “listed”… it’s becoming the vendor the venue team genuinely trusts to deliver every time. They cover what venues notice, how event-day professionalism affects referrals, and why relationships, consistency, and being easy to work with matter more than trying to skip the line.
You’ll also hear practical, actionable ways to build stronger venue partnerships—like doing a site walk before your first event, showing up prepared, collaborating on social media in ways that benefit the venue, and sending the post-event follow-up that almost no one sends (but everyone remembers).
Shannon Tarrant is the co-founder of Wedding Venue Map, a Central Florida–based wedding venue search engine. With nearly two decades in the wedding industry, she’s passionate about connecting couples with trusted local experts and helping vendors build stronger, more effective venue relationships.
Highlights
Introducing Business Trip!, the new MYWB takeover segment
Why preferred vendor lists feel like “validation” (and what they really are)
The biggest mistakes vendors make when trying to get on a list
How to actually earn trust with venue teams over time
Event-day behavior: professionalism, timelines, tools, and respect
Post-event follow-up, feedback, and reviews that help you get referred again
Staying relevant: website, socials, and collaborating in a way that benefits venues
Highlights
Introducing Business Trip!, the new podcast takeover segment
What couples should decide before touring wedding venues
Why preferred vendor lists matter — and what they really mean
How strong venue relationships lead to better referrals
Why not every venue is the right fit for every vendor
The importance of feedback, follow-up, and staying relevant
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