Hey! I’m Madelyn -
I’m obsessed with wedding venues, chronically over-caffeinated, and on a mission to hand every venue owner the cheat sheet I never had.
How I Got Here
I am a human absolutely obsessed with wedding venues. My intro to the wedding industry was a soft one that really got me hooked, followed by a hard thud when my naive, fresh college-grad self, learned that running a wedding venue meant I was wearing all the hats. Hats I didn’t even know existed, like being a family therapist/mediator during weddings or being Bob-the-Builder and sanding tables in the off-season.
The venue I started with was a blank slate where the owners gave me virtually free reign to figure out how to make it the next best wedding venue. I started by running their social media my senior year of college, and then it became my life once I finished my degree: Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a minor in digital media marketing.
I LOVED it. Seeing that venue grow from the ground up, pouring my literal blood, sweat, and tears into it was a feeling like no other. And a feeling that only you as venue owners or managers can wholeheartedly understand.
I was with this venue for a few years until my health took a turn. We parted ways as this illness took away my ability to work. I put all my energy into my very long healing journey. With the love and support of the amazing humans in my life, I made it out on the other side where my new reality was completely different than my post-illness life. All I knew then was that I wanted to get back into the wedding industry somehow. And that’s where Venue Handbook started to come to life.
Now, I get to do what I love.
Giving wedding venue owners and managers the tools, resources, and support they need to streamline operations, grow their business, and finally take control of their success without attending a million and one seminars.
I can’t wait to say hi, talk about your dreams, and figure out how we can grow your venue together. Hearing the passion behind how you all came into building your wedding venues fills my heart, so let’s chat soon!
Madelyn — Venue Handbook
The Venue Handbook Team
Meet Madelyn
The Venue Educator
I’m not only obsessed with wedding venues, I also nerd out on operational systems. (Surprise.) Outside of work, you’ll find me moving slowly on purpose. Walks with Whiskey, a chai latte I’ve been reheating since 9am, and a nap I feel zero guilt for taking. I’ve never met a more passionate, creative, and genuinely good group of humans than the wedding venue world. That’s the part that makes all of this worth it.
-
Spends free time
Hiking & training my doggo -
Favorite way to relax
Snuggie, snacks, & a good book -
Addicted to
Chai lattes -
Biggest personality trait
Sarcasm -
Ideal superpower
Teleporting -
Can’t live without
My dog (they live forever, okay?!)
Meet Josh
Hourglass Media - The Website Expert
Josh is passionate about helping businesses of all kinds succeed online. He has over 20+ years of experience with search engine optimization (SEO) and building websites in every area you can think of. We met years ago in a local networking group and have been working together since. Once Venue Handbook started taking shape, I knew partnering with Josh and his business, Hourglass Media, was a no-brainer. His obsession with creating beautiful websites is equivalent to my obsession with all things wedding venues, making this the perfect match for delivering custom websites that will bring your ideal couples to you.
-
Spends free time
Being creative -
Favorite way to relax
Hiking, games, and time with friends -
Addicted to
Buffalo chicken pizza with blue cheese -
Biggest personality trait
Listening -
Ideal superpower
Flying -
Can’t live without
The first sip of coffee
Meet Whiskey
Madelyn’s Moral Support
Whiskey is the cutest, fluffiest, sass-filled fur ball you’ll ever meet. If she had it her way, she would never stop, as she has an endless amount of energy. She’s a mix of Australian Cattle Dog and Border Collie. A literal psychopath that would crawl inside my skin and wear it if she could. As insane as she is, she loves to work with me and has a heart of gold. She goes just about everywhere I go and will most likely join during meetings.
-
Will do anything for
Peanut butter -
Obsessed with
Playing ball -
Nicknames include
Little Psycho, Baby girl, & Nugget -
Spends free time
Hiking & napping -
Biggest personality trait
Audibly sighs & will sass back - Is the best doggo ever? Yes.
Who I am
Knowledgeable and experienced, offering practical advice based on real industry insights and experience.
Who I am not
I am not a know-it-all. While I have the expertise, I know every venue is unique, and I respect your journey.
Support for Every Venue Owner
Owning a wedding venue is exciting. Running one is a different story, and that’s the part that burns people out.
Venue Handbook exists for the running-it part so you can actually spend time on the part you got into this for.
Your Venue, Your Way
Every venue is different. The guides are built to be adapted, not followed blindly. You know your venue. I’ll give you the framework.
More Joy, Less Burnout
With the right systems, you spend less time managing the chaos and more time enjoying that work-life balance you have been looking for.
Where to next?
Freebies
Get a taste of the full guides with these actionable tidbits to see how they can set your venue up for success.
Services
Not a DIY-er, or just want someone in your corner? That’s what the 1-1 coaching and intensive programs are for.