Book more weddings, boost revenue, and master venue sales all in one power-packed day.
Beyond the Aisle is an exlcusive one-day event designed for wedding venue owners, sales teams, and managers who are ready to:
- book more weddings
- convert more tours
- run a smoother, more profitable business
With top industry experts, hands-on strategies, and real talk from professionals who actually know venues, you’ll walk away with insights you can implement immediately.
With only 100 spots available, this intimate, high-impact event will sell out fast.
Secure your spot before it’s gone.
Tickets & Pricing
- Early Bird (before April 30) — $195
- General Admission (May 1 – May 31) — $225
- Late Registration (June 1 – June 12) — $250
- Last Minute (if available) — $275
- WVM members don’t forget to use your member code for a $50 discount per ticket!
Program
What to Expect
- Expert-led educational sessions focused on sales, marketing, and operations
- Interactive roundtable discussions with industry Problem Solvers
- A live marketing panel covering what’s working right now
- Opportunities to connect with other venue professionals
- Coffee, breakfast, lunch and refreshments throughout the day
See What Beyond the Aisle Is All About – A Look Back at Last Year…
Schedule
- 8:45 AM — Check-In, Hot and Cold Coffee Specialty Drinks by by Kineo Coffee and Cafecito Mio, Breakfast by Done Wright Culinary Services
- 9:30 AM — Welcome from Emcee Shannon Tarrant
- 9:45 AM — Session 1: Emily Rochotte
- 10:30 AM — Session 2: Renee Pool
- 11:00 AM — Morning Coffee Break by Piccolo Coffee Co.
Roundtable Breakout Sessions
Twelve interactive, small-group discussions focused on solving specific business challenges with industry Problem Solvers. Each attendee will select two roundtables to participate in.
Roundtables choices will be selected in advance: WVM Members select starting May 25 & Non-members select starting June 4
- 11:15 AM — Roundtable 1
- 11:40 AM — Roundtable 2
- 12:00 PM — Lunch
- 1:00 PM — Session 3: Chelsea Hand
- 1:45 PM — Panel Discussion: More Leads, Better Bookings: What’s Working Right Now in Venue Marketing moderated by Shannon Tarrant and panel of leading Venue Marketers
- 2:45 PM — Afternoon Break
- 3:10 PM — Session 4: Sophie Robinson
- 3:55 PM — Keynote Session: Melyssa Allen
- 4:45 PM — Goal setting and Wrap Up
Problem Solvers
Meet the Problem Solvers
Running a wedding venue takes more than bookings. It takes the right tools, resources, and expert support.
Problem Solvers are hand-selected industry professionals who help venues:
- improve operations
- increase bookings
- solve real business challenges
They’ll be available throughout the day for conversations, guidance, and support.
Featuring:
More coming soon!
Celebrate Creative
Emily Rochette
Here Comes the Guide
IDo Marketing
Releventful
WeddingPro
Local Event Sponsors
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors:
Venue
Ocoee Lakeshore | ocoeelakeshorecenter.com
Event Coordination
Just Marry! | justmarry.com
Food & Beverage
Cafecito Mio Orlando | cafecitomioorlando.com
Kineo Coffee | kineocoffee.com
Piccolo Coffee Co. | piccolocoffeeco.com
WinterBrooke Mobile Bar Co. | winterbrookebar.com
Done Wright Culinary Services | donewrightculinary.com
Arthur’s Catering and Events | arthurscatering.com
Sugar Divas Cakery | sugardivascakery.com
Sweet Lady Dayne | sweetladydayne.com
Decor
Nuage Designs | nuagedesigns.com
EventWorks Rentals | eventworksrentals.com
Impekable Flowers | impekableflorist.com
The Flower Studio Oxford | tfsoxford.com
Audio/Visual
iRock Your Party | irockyourparty.com
Contempo Photo + Video | contempophotos.com
Hair & Makeup
M3 Makeup Artists | m3makeup.com
Activations
My Bosem | mybosem.com
The Editorial Photo Booth by Kossina Creative | editorialphotobooth.com
Artistic Talent Group | artistictalentgroup.com
Seminar Descriptions and Speaker Bios
Meet Your Emcee:
Shannon Tarrant is the founder of Wedding Venue Map and a wedding sales strategist known for helping venues and vendors book more business with a clear, no-fluff approach.
With over 15 years of experience as a caterer, venue manager, and industry educator, she brings real-world insight into what’s actually working right now in the wedding industry.
As the emcee of Beyond the Aisle, Shannon will guide the day with energy, honesty, and practical takeaways, helping you stay engaged, connected, and ready to take action.
Main Stage Session 1: TREND HUNTING: How to Find What Couples Want Before They Ask for It presented by Emily Rochotte
Couples are telling us exactly what they want, they’re just not directly telling venues. From TikTok to Reddit, today’s wedding trends are being shaped in real time across platforms most venues aren’t actively watching. In this session, you’ll learn how to uncover what couples are actually saying, spot trends before they hit your inbox, and translate that insight into smarter sales conversations, packages, and offerings.
Takeaways include:
- Where to find real, unfiltered conversations from engaged couples
- How to identify trends early instead of reacting late
- Ways to turn trends into revenue-generating offerings
Bio:
Emily Rochotte is a social media strategist, SEO blog writer, and marketing educator for wedding pros.
With over a decade of experience in the industry working with wedding pros and publications, Emily knows how to help you build brand awareness and grow your business with engaging content that speaks directly to your ideal client. She is passionate about empowering wedding business owners to feel confident about their marketing and will be your biggest cheerleader!
Say hi to Emily over on Instagram or TikTok @emilyrochotte
Main Stage Session 2: INQUIRY TO “I DO”: Intentional Lead Management That Books the Right Clients presented by Renee Pool | WeddingPro Signature Session
Many wedding professionals aren’t struggling to get inquiries – they’re struggling to turn those inquiries into bookings with the right clients. When every lead is handled the same way, inboxes fill up, response times slow down, and ideal couples slip through the cracks. This session explores how to move from reactive inquiry management to a clear, intentional lead process that helps the right clients move forward.
Takeaways include:
- Define what the “right client” looks like for your business
- Build a clear inquiry-to-booking workflow
- Improve conversions without increasing inquiries
Bio:
Renee Pool, CPCE, brings nearly two decades of experience in hospitality and events to her role as Regional Sales Manager for Special Events at AFR Furniture Rental. A graduate of UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, she began her career in hotel management with Marriott International, building a strong foundation in service, operations, and leadership.
After relocating to Houston in 2015, Renee expanded her career across multiple facets of the industry – from managing a historic venue to co-owning a specialty linen rental company. She joined AFR in 2025, drawn to a team that reflects her energy, drive, and commitment to exceptional experiences.
Known for her people-first approach, Renee remains deeply involved in the events community. She is a Past President of NACE, a National CLC Mentor, and a 2025/2026 WeddingPro Educator – roles that reflect her passion for leadership and mentorship.
Outside of work, she enjoys getting lost in a great book, spending time outdoors, and reliving her days as a dancing cookie in the Universal Holiday Parade.
Main Stage Session 3: STOP GETTING GHOSTED: A Venue’s Guide to Closing More Tours presented by Chelsea Hand
You gave a great tour. They loved it. And then… nothing. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone and it’s probably not what you think. In this session, venue consultant Chelsea Hand breaks down why couples go quiet after tours and where the real disconnect is happening.
You’ll learn how to guide the entire experience in a way that keeps momentum moving, builds confidence in the decision, and makes it easier for couples to move forward instead of stalling out. Because when every part of the process is intentional, ghosting becomes a lot less common.
Takeaways include:
- How the pre-tour experience sets the tone for everything that follows
- Why “it’s not in our budget” is rarely about the budget and how to have that conversation in a way that actually lands
- How to end every tour with a clear next step so couples stay engaged, feel excited, and stop going silent
Bio:
Chelsea Hand brings 17 years of hands-on experience in the venue and hospitality industry. Throughout her career, she has worked in nearly every aspect of venue operations—planning events, managing sales and marketing, overseeing teams, maintaining facilities, and developing bar programs that are both profitable and simple for venues to run.
As a venue owner herself, Chelsea understands the common challenges that come with offering in-house services, especially when it comes to building or improving a bar program. Her practical, approachable guidance helps venue owners navigate pricing, compliance, staffing, inventory, and guest experience with confidence.
Chelsea is known for her ability to break down complex processes into clear, realistic steps. She focuses on helping venue owners streamline operations, strengthen their systems, and overcome the everyday obstacles that can make the business feel overwhelming.
Main Stage Session 4: SELLING YOUR SUPERPOWERS: How Relationship-Driven Venues Win More Business presented by Sophie Robinson | Here Comes the Guide Signature Session
When bookings slow down, many venues default to competing on price. But the venues that consistently win know exactly what makes them desirable and how to communicate it. In this session, you’ll learn how to identify your venue’s “superpowers” and use them to strengthen your positioning, improve your tours, and increase your close rate without relying on discounting.
Takeaways include:
- Identify your venue’s top differentiators using real data and feedback
- Strengthen your positioning through clearer messaging and visuals
- Use your superpowers to improve tours, sales conversations, and close rates
Bio:
As Florida’s Customer Relationship Manager at Here Comes The Guide, I get the fun job of keeping our amazing venue partners happy, supported, and feeling the love.
I’m the go-to gal for our current clients — answering questions, troubleshooting, and making sure everything’s running smoothly behind the scenes. My role is all about relationships (my favorite part!) and helping venues not just maintain their listings, but make the most of them.
I’m always looking for ways we can grow together and make the right kind of impact — the kind that gets more dream couples through their doors.
I work closely with my fabulous sales partner, Regan (aka the other half of Team Florida!), and together we’re on a mission to help venues across the state feel seen, celebrated, and supported by the HCTG team.
After years of working behind the scenes with wedding pros on the systems side of things, this role feels like a full-circle moment — I still get to serve this industry I love, just from a new perspective.
Main Stage Keynote 5: DESIGN Your Venue From the Inside Out presented by Melyssa Allen
Running a wedding venue isn’t just about executing events, it’s about leading people, managing pressure, and sustaining energy through every season.
When you’re burned out or disconnected, your team feels it, your couples feel it, and your business reflects it.
In this closing keynote, Melyssa Allen shares her DESIGN framework, helping venue owners rethink how they lead, operate, and show up day to day. Using the same intentional approach you bring to your events, you’ll learn how to realign your business, your team, and yourself for stronger performance and long-term success.
You’ll leave with a clearer vision and a practical way to operate at a higher level without running yourself into the ground.
Takeaways include:
- How to use the DESIGN framework to realign your leadership, team, and daily operations
- Where burnout is impacting your business and how to shift out of reactive mode
- A clearer path to running a venue that supports long-term performance, not just busy seasons
Bio:
Melyssa Allen, MA, NBC-HWC, DipACLM, is a double board-certified lifestyle medicine coach with over 15 years of experience in behavior change. She holds degrees in Biology and Psychology and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida.
As the author and host of Healthy Living Doesn’t Have to SUCK, Melyssa uses a practical, evidence-based approach combining lifestyle medicine, positive psychology, and coaching strategies to help individuals and teams create sustainable change.
She has contributed to research on well-being in high-pressure industries, including healthcare, with a focus on preventing burnout and improving performance.
Melyssa is passionate about helping “Change Makers” build better habits and create lasting transformation through small, consistent actions.
SWAG & RAFFLE SPONSORS
Menu
Dietary restrictions will be collected during registration so we can ensure appropriate options are available.
Breakfast Provided by Done Wright Culinary Services | donewrightculinary.com
- Fresh Seasonal Fruit Display
- Chia Seed Pudding
- Garden Veggie Frittata
- Quiche Lorraine
- Chicken & Waffles
- Applewood Smoked Bacon & Turkey Sausage
- Assorted Danish & Muffins
- Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice & Water
Lunch Buffet Provided by Arthur’s Catering | arthurscatering.com
- Lunch menu coming soon!
Travel & Accommodations
Traveling in or making a night of it?
We recommend the following hotel located near the venue: Hampton Inn by Hilton Ocoee Orlando
BOOK YOUR ROOM HERE:
https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/beyondtheaisleroomblock/
You can also use the group code BTA when booking directly on the Hilton website or through the Hilton Honors app.
We recommend booking early, as rooms may fill quickly.
For those flying in, the closest airport is Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is also a convenient secondary option.
The venue is approximately 30–40 minutes from MCO, depending on traffic.
Wedding Venue Map Trusted Vendors for this Event
