Future Venue Owners - Don't Underestimate Your Neighbors

by Kristin Binford - Successful Venue Owner and Secret Sharer

It Only Takes 1 Complaining Neighbor...

If you are considering opening a wedding venue, there are many things you shouldn't do, and one is definitely don't underestimate your neighbors.

Neighbors can make or break your ability to open a venue. Yes - you read that right. Neighbors can stop you from opening a venue all together.

One huge mistake people make when planning to open a venue is thinking any piece of property is a possibility. It's not.

If you are buying a piece of property, especially in a peaceful and beautiful location to build a venue and host weddings, you'll likely be seen as 'the outsiders' planning to disrupt the neighbor’s peaceful home.

Have some respect for that - You might want to open a venue, but potentially this area has been the home of their family for generations.

Imagine this - you pick out the perfect piece of property and purchase it, only to find out that it's not zoned in a zoning that allows for wedding venues. If you apply for rezoning the neighbors will be notified and often they have the chance to speak for or against your plans.

You want them to speak for you - not against you.

Neighbors will worry about:

• Noise

• Drunks

• Trash

• Lighting

• Safety

In many areas, even if you pass the zoning change, you'll be required to apply for some kind of special use or conditional use permit. This is yet another step in the process where neighbors can help or hurt you.

Whatever you do, PLEASE DON'T start booking weddings until you are through the permitting process. It's your responsibility as a venue owner to book business responsibility - and it is not a given that you will be approved to open a venue.

Even if you ARE approved, if the neighbors don't like you, they can create problems. Can't you just imagine the angry neighbor who thinks it's time to practice shooting his gun every weekend around ceremony time? I've even heard a story of one neighbor purposely blocking the road to keep wedding guests out. 

It's not a isolated situation that a venue is not approved. Please don't think you won't have a problem. Hopefully you won't, but don't underestimate this hurdle. Also, neighbors are just one reason your (potential) new venue could be denied. More on that in a future article.

 

Did you enjoy this article?

Join my free Facebook group for prospective and new wedding venue owners here: Facebook.com/groups/openingaweddingvenue/