How do you know when it’s time to walk away - from a bad-fit lead, or from a season of business that no longer feels aligned? In this final episode of The Venue Helpline, we tackle one of the hardest (and most important) conversations venue owners face: discerning when pushing through becomes forcing something that’s quietly costing you more than it’s giving back.

From red flags during the inquiry process to honest reflections on burnout, resentment, and financial stress, this episode is about choosing clarity, peace, and sustainability over obligation.

• Clear signs a wedding venue lead is not the right fit—and when walking away is the smartest move
• How to redefine what a “good client” actually looks like for your venue
• When it may be time to reassess the venue business itself, not just individual bookings
• Why walking away doesn’t mean failure—and how to reframe it as wisdom and discernment.

Couples booking your venue, disappearing for months, and then resurfacing 60 days before the wedding shocked by rules they already agreed to is one of the most common frustrations venue owners face.

In this episode, we break down why this happens, how poor expectation-setting creates late-stage chaos, and how a simple onboarding meeting can help wedding venues stay informed, protect their rules, and avoid last-minute conflict that leads to bad reviews.

• Why couples “forget” venue rules after booking — and why that’s not actually the problem
• How an onboarding meeting within the first 30 days sets expectations without turning you into a planner
• What to cover in your onboarding meeting, including floor plans, timelines, rules, and vendor guidelines
• How to stay in the loop on vendor bookings so you’re not blindsided 60 days before the wedding

• Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline#subscribe
• Call and leave us your venue frustration: (713) 367-1009
• Submit your challenge online: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline
• Enjoying The Venue Helpline? Leave us a review or share this episode with a fellow venue owner.

Unattended kids running through your venue while parents disappear into cocktail hour? You’re not alone. And you’re definitely not a daycare.

In this episode of The Venue Helpline, we talk through why unattended children at weddings are more than just “cute chaos,” how they impact safety, liability, and staff workflow, and what venues can do to set boundaries without sounding anti-family.

This is a must-listen for any venue pro who’s ever played accidental babysitter on a wedding day.

• Why unattended children at weddings create real safety and liability risks for venues
• How to set clear expectations with couples before the wedding day
• Simple ways to establish physical boundaries in your venue space
• How to empower staff to address unsupervised kids professionally and calmly
• When and how to partner with couples on childcare solutions

• Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline#subscribe
• Call and leave us your venue frustration: (713) 367-1009
• Submit your challenge online: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline
• Enjoying The Venue Helpline? Leave us a review or share this episode with a fellow venue owner.