Property turned into a wedding venue

Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes

I’ve read weddings can make 5-25k per wedding much more than any short term rental or traditional rental property. I’m simply renting out the property. Vendors such as florist, cake, tables, wedding planner is separate from my property ..?
any thoughts or suggestions are welcome 🙏😊

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Patrick Hannon

Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 14 votes

I started looking into wedding venues when my sister was touring farms that charged $4k for 10 hours to rent a tent on a piece of their land. $7k+ if you have a barn. Oh, and they're booked every weekend for the next year. I thought to myself this is the greatest real estate investment ever!

To the naysayers: no, this is not running a wedding business. The wedding couple hires people to do everything else, you just rent the land and/or barn.

I was surprised by the lack of support and information on BP about this. You're right to look into the zoning because from my research that's the biggest hurdle. Every county has their own rules. Someone near me was converting an old barn into a wedding venue and the county wanted them to put in a $200k sprinkler system with water holding tank and backup generator! This shouldn't stop you, but definitely do your homework ahead of time.

This is the best (and pretty much only) book I found on the subject and I thought it gave a good intro to the business:

https://www.amazon.com/Rural-P...

Good luck! Keep me posted on your success because I may be trying the same thing on the east coast.

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Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
🤣🤭
0 Reply
Alma Bagaoisan
Member since 2019 · 66 posts · 15 votes
6y
@Denisse Lara this looks beautiful and a great idea. Good luck.
1 Reply
Todd Goedeke
Contractor · Sheboygan, WI · Member since 2016 · 921 posts · 266 votes
6y
@Denisse Lara is your "barn" already constructed? I know that temporary structures, think large,tall greenhouse type structures are considered temporary and not subject in WI to all the zoning regulations and code requirements of a permanent structure.
0 Reply
Trevor Stratton
Contractor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2016 · 12 posts · 6 votes
6y
I know outdoor weddings are popular but I’m a little skeptical of this numbers. Maybe that’s just cause I’m cheap.
I’m getting married next August and there’s no way we are spending even $5000 on the whole thing.
1 Reply
Patrick J.
Rental Property Investor · Tucson, AZ · Member since 2019 · 173 posts · 87 votes
6y
@Trevor Stratton
There a people who spend 30, 40, 50k on a wedding. Emotions cause irrational decision making and weddings are very emotionally driven. People take out loans for weddings. It's crazy.
But there is money to be made for venue owners and event management companies. It's a billionaire dollar business.
50% divorce rate means a man is likely to be married more than once which means more business 😂
0 Reply
Mike Stadel
Flipper/Rehabber · Rapid City, SD · Member since 2017 · 39 posts · 11 votes
6y
@Denisse Lara
Nice out of the box idea I think your on to something there...
1 Reply
Joe Loschiavo
Investor · Huntsville, AL · Member since 2017 · 4 posts · 4 votes
6y
@Denisse Lara
Yep you mentioned the sprinkler system.... my county wanted that and many other things as well. This in rural Alabama no less. You wouldn’t believe the things I tried to come up with to avoid that installation.
Insurance, parking, bathrooms and the systems to support them and all the people you might have on property. The list goes on and on.
My wife and I purchased an actual farm with 40 acres(4 years ago) with the idea of doing this and eventually the costs + risks/liabilities became too much for us really pursue it. We decided to do other things with our capital. We had $100’s of K saved to do it, even after property purchase, and it still wasn’t enough to make us comfortable. If you can make it work, go for it and I wish you luck.
2 Reply
Robert ChuangPro Member
Realtor · Arcadia, CA · Member since 2014 · 145 posts · 46 votes
6y
@Denisse Lara I have been looking into wedding development in LA area as well! Would love to connect and see what you end up doing! So far we already have business plans and money partner line up...except the right land in the right city!

Was in contract with some parcel owners in malibu and tujunga but both didnt go through due to city's development limitation! Would love to see what you have to jump through to get your SUP in the urban areas.

Robert
0 Reply
Ned CareyPro Member
Moderator
Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
6y
@Denisse Lara My nephew just got married at the outer banks. We stayed in a beautiful place on the ocean. There was a whole string of these monster houses that slept 40-70 people. They were rented for the week mostly for weddings. They rented for about $35K+ a week in season.
So the wedding venue business can be pretty lucrative. But you knew that. You just need to do your research into the demand and the prices you can charge. Good luck.

1 Reply
Patrick Hannon
Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 14 votes
6y
@Denisse Lara It sounds like your zoning process is a lot easier than where I live if you already got a special use permit. That's great! My county requires public hearings so neighbors can voice their concerns and the whole process can take up to 6 months.

Ditto to what @Joe Loschiavo said. You should probably check with the building department too. Zoning cares about the land usage, but the building department cares about the safety of the structures. Remember you're turning a barn that's designed to store hay into the equivalent of a convention center. The building department could require handicap accessibility, sprinkler systems, fire exits, adequate restrooms to support 100+ people, etc. Again, definitely not trying to be negative, and maybe your town is more lax than mine, but just wanted to share the things that I learned when I first started researching for myself.

1 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
Thank you!
@Denisse Lara this looks beautiful and a great idea. Good luck.

0 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
Yes it is already constructed but good to know! Thank you for the info
Originally posted by @Todd Goedeke:
@Denisse Lara is your "barn" already constructed? I know that temporary structures, think large,tall greenhouse type structures are considered temporary and not subject in WI to all the zoning regulations and code requirements of a permanent structure.

0 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
Here are the rates for legends ranch venue in Las Vegas Originally posted by @Trevor Stratton:
I know outdoor weddings are popular but I’m a little skeptical of this numbers. Maybe that’s just cause I’m cheap.
I’m getting married next August and there’s no way we are spending even $5000 on the whole thing.

0 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
I agree with you 💯

Originally posted by @Patrick J.:
@Trevor Stratton
There a people who spend 30, 40, 50k on a wedding. Emotions cause irrational decision making and weddings are very emotionally driven. People take out loans for weddings. It's crazy.
But there is money to be made for venue owners and event management companies. It's a billionaire dollar business.
50% divorce rate means a man is likely to be married more than once which means more business 😂

0 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
Thank you Mike 😊 originally posted by @Mike Stadel:
@Denisse Lara
Nice out of the box idea I think your on to something there...

0 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
That’s very interesting. As far as parking we have about half an acre available for parking. Bathrooms We have 11 but can always get porta potties however as far as sprinklers I don’t know but I will definitely look into this. I also plan to get an insurance quote and will let you know what they quote me. Thank you for sharing your story with me. Originally posted by @Joe Loschiavo:
@Denisse Lara
Yep you mentioned the sprinkler system.... my county wanted that and many other things as well. This in rural Alabama no less. You wouldn’t believe the things I tried to come up with to avoid that installation.
Insurance, parking, bathrooms and the systems to support them and all the people you might have on property. The list goes on and on.
My wife and I purchased an actual farm with 40 acres(4 years ago) with the idea of doing this and eventually the costs + risks/liabilities became too much for us really pursue it. We decided to do other things with our capital. We had $100’s of K saved to do it, even after property purchase, and it still wasn’t enough to make us comfortable. If you can make it work, go for it and I wish you luck.

0 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
Would love to connect with you. Send me a message with your contact information
Originally posted by @Robert Chuang:
@Denisse Lara I have been looking into wedding development in LA area as well! Would love to connect and see what you end up doing! So far we already have business plans and money partner line up...except the right land in the right city!

Was in contract with some parcel owners in malibu and tujunga but both didnt go through due to city's development limitation! Would love to see what you have to jump through to get your SUP in the urban areas.

Robert

0 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
Sounds beautiful! And wow $35k a weekend
wish my ranch was next to the ocean ..
I have started my due diligence and I have a few more county and structural things to tackle. Thank you for your feedback :)
Originally posted by @Ned Carey:
@Denisse Lara My nephew just got married at the outer banks. We stayed in a beautiful place on the ocean. There was a whole string of these monster houses that slept 40-70 people. They were rented for the week mostly for weddings. They rented for about $35K+ a week in season.
So the wedding venue business can be pretty lucrative. But you knew that. You just need to do your research into the demand and the prices you can charge. Good luck.

0 Reply
Todd Goedeke
Contractor · Sheboygan, WI · Member since 2016 · 921 posts · 266 votes
6y
@Denisse Lara, I would not recommend porta-potties, not for a classy stylish event. Get some portable bathrooms, similar to those used at PGA golf tournaments.
How many rv s can park on your property overnight without you needing a campground permit??? More income
0 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
That’s great advise thank you!
0 Reply
Cori Leste
Rental Property Investor · Portland, OR · Member since 2016 · 22 posts · 46 votes
6y
@Denisse Lara Just want to point out that your answers suggest that compared to all of the naysayer repliers (mostly men who as a group are less likely to understand the realities of wedding planning and pricing), you seem to be the expert here on this model, and on the right path to success. Listen to yourself. Best of luck to you!
3 Reply
Todd Goedeke
Contractor · Sheboygan, WI · Member since 2016 · 921 posts · 266 votes
6y

@Joe Loschiavo, did you consider portable structure in which things like a sprinkler system would not be needed? People have events all the time in portable tent like structures; church picnics, non profit group dinners, corporate parties.
0 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
Thank you Cori.. There’s been some honest support on BP and yes it’s going to be great undertaking but I won’t know until until I try.. I have tons of support from my husband who owns royalty exotic cars. An exotic daily rental company who understands advertising, insurances and customer retention more than anyone!
Originally posted by @Cori Leste:
@Denisse Lara Just want to point out that your answers suggest that compared to all of the naysayer repliers (mostly men who as a group are less likely to understand the realities of wedding planning and pricing), you seem to be the expert here on this model, and on the right path to success. Listen to yourself. Best of luck to you!

1 Reply
Joe Loschiavo
Investor · Huntsville, AL · Member since 2017 · 4 posts · 4 votes
6y
@Todd Goedeke. Yeah it’s a good though. My wife and I certainly considered the idea of tents but it just wasn’t the way we really wanted to do things. Plus down here, you get a line of thunderstorms rolling through and say goodbye to your tent or other temporary structure!
0 Reply
Denisse Lara
OP
Member since 2019 · 38 posts · 47 votes
6y
Hi Todd
thank you for your comment. The sprinkler system is already in place we simply need to remove stalls, paint and make the barn look like a wedding space.. The cost to do so won’t be cheap and may have to wait until we get our tax refund
ginally posted by @Todd Goedeke:

@Joe Loschiavo, did you consider portable structure in which things like a sprinkler system would not be needed? People have events all the time in portable tent like structures; church picnics, non profit group dinners, corporate parties.

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