SEO for wedding pros doesn’t have to feel confusing or overly technical, it just needs a clear plan that matches how your dream clients actually search. In this episode of Engage Your Brand, I sat down with my friend and SEO expert Sara Dunn of Sara Does SEO, to unpack how wedding professionals can boost visibility online without the tech overwhelm.

Sara’s known for her approachable, plain-English teaching style—she’s spoken at countless conferences, taught hundreds of pros through her Wedding SEO Bootcamp, and helped planners, photographers, florists, and venues climb Google’s rankings (and stay there).

🎧 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or play it directly below.

Why SEO Still Matters for Wedding Pros

Your brand might tell your story beautifully, but SEO is what gets it seen. In the wedding industry, visibility is everything especially when engagement season hits and couples start searching for “Austin wedding planner” or “Chicago garden wedding venue.”

Referrals and social media are powerful, but search traffic is consistent and sustainable. It’s how you keep inquiries flowing even when algorithms or engagement drop.

When your SEO is working, you’ll notice:

• Couples reference something they read on your site (“We loved your Hill Country venue guide!”).
• Inquiries come directly through your contact form, not just Instagram DMs.
• You can increase prices because you’re consistently booked with qualified clients.

The 10-Minute Homepage Setup Most Wedding Pros Skip

One of Sara’s biggest red flags that a website isn’t set up for SEO: the browser tab just says “Home.”
That simple detail tells Google nothing about your business.

Fix this in 10 minutes:

• Choose your primary keyword: [Location] + [Service] (like Portland wedding florist or Dallas wedding venue).
• Add it to your SEO title → Portland Wedding Florist | Wildflower Studio
• Write a meta description (150–160 characters) that shares what you do and who you serve.
• Use your keyword in the first headline (H1) and the opening paragraph.
• Add a strong call to action above the fold (“Check your date,” “Book a tour,” or “Inquire now”).

It’s one of the simplest, highest-impact ways to improve SEO for wedding pros—no coding required.

Platform Myths: What Actually Matters

Should you use Showit, Squarespace, WordPress, or Wix? The truth is, they can all rank well on Google.
What matters is how you use the platform, not which one you pick.

Choose the one you feel confident editing. If you can’t update your blog or change your alt text without calling your designer, you’ll struggle to maintain SEO long-term.

The best platform for SEO is the one you can manage.

Sara recommends focusing on:

• Controlling SEO titles, meta descriptions, and image alt text.
• Creating clean URLs (like /austin-wedding-venues instead of /page123).
• Publishing consistent, keyword-rich content.

The Redesign Danger Zone: Avoid Losing Your Rankings

Sara shared a story that made a designer stomach drop—a planner who loved her new website but lost nearly all of her Google rankings because her designer forgot to migrate the blog.

If high-ranking posts disappear during a website transition, Google removes them from search results and it can take months to recover. That’s one of the most costly mistakes in SEO for wedding pros.

Before launching a redesign:

• Export your full blog and keep the same URLs.
• Set up 301 redirects for any changed links.
• Keep original meta titles, descriptions, and keyword-optimized copy.
• Submit your new sitemap to Google Search Console on launch day.

A gorgeous website means nothing if no one can find it.

Google Business Profile: Your Local SEO Engine

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most powerful tools for SEO for wedding pros, it’s often how couples find venues, planners, and florists before they ever visit your website.

Quick GBP optimizations:

• Choose the right category (e.g., “Wedding Planner” instead of “Event Planner”).
• Fill in every service and add clear descriptions.
• Use the “Products” section for your packages or collections.
• Add new photos monthly (recency matters more than perfection).
• Collect and reply to reviews regularly with keywords and venue mentions.

Think of GBP as your mini website in search results—keep it as polished as your main site.

How to Measure What’s Actually Working

SEO is only useful when you know what’s improving. You don’t need to track everything, just a few key numbers that show visibility and conversions.

Track weekly:

• Top 5 keyword rankings (homepage + primary service page)
• Organic clicks in Google Search Console
• Top landing pages and which ones lead to inquiries

Track monthly:

• Keyword position trends
• Page conversion rates (especially on Contact/Inquiry pages)
• Blog posts that bring the most organic visitors

Pro tip: If a post brings traffic but no inquiries, add a stronger CTA or internal link to your services page.

Service Pages That Rank and Convert

One of Sara’s top SEO tips for wedding pros is to create dedicated service pages for each offering or location. This not only helps with search rankingsm it also gives potential clients the clarity they need to inquire confidently.

For example:
If you’re a planner serving both Dallas and Fort Worth, create two pages:

• Dallas Wedding Planning
• Fort Worth Wedding Planning

Each page should include:

• An overview of who you serve and what you offer
• A few recent weddings or testimonials from that area
• Mention of popular venues and vendor partners
• Clear calls to action (“Check availability in Dallas”)

Google (and your clients) love this level of detail.

Internal Links That Guide Couples to “Yes”

Internal links are how you guide visitors through your brand story. They quietly move couples from “just browsing” to “ready to inquire.”

Add these to your site:

• From venue guides → service pages (“Planning your wedding at [Venue]? See how we help.”)
• From real weddings → contact page (“Want this look? Let’s plan your day.”)
• From blogs → other helpful resources to keep readers on your site longer

Even 2–3 well-placed links per blog can strengthen your SEO foundation.

Image SEO That Keeps Your Site Fast and Beautiful

You don’t need to be a tech expert to optimize your photos. Here’s Sara’s quick workflow for image SEO for wedding pros:

1. Resize images to 1600–2400px (longest side).
2. Compress them to 200–250 KB.
3. Rename files clearly: dripping-springs-wedding-ceremony.webp.
4. Write descriptive alt text: “Outdoor ceremony at Ma Maison with floral arch.”
5. Use WebP format if your platform supports it (Showit now does!).

Your photos stay stunning while your site loads lightning-fast.

The AI & ChatGPT Shift: What’s Next for SEO

Here’s the big news, couples are already using AI tools like ChatGPT to search for wedding vendors. They’ll type, “Best Austin wedding planners for outdoor venues”, and ChatGPT will recommend a few businesses.

Those recommendations often come from companies with clear websites, consistent branding, and proven experience.

To increase your chances of being found:

• Add your years of experience or number of weddings served.
• List your service area clearly (“Serving Austin, Dripping Springs, and Hill Country”).
• Show proof of credibility—press features, venue partnerships, reviews.
• Keep your copy conversational but detailed.

AI visibility starts with strong traditional SEO—it’s the same foundation, just with a new layer of opportunity.

How to Pick Keywords That Actually Work

Choosing the right keywords can feel like guesswork, but Sara’s rule of thumb is simple:
Aim for at least 10 searches per month and low-to-medium difficulty.

Example:

• “Austin wedding planner” → high competition, hard to rank quickly
• “Dripping Springs wedding planner” → lower volume, easier to win

You’ll see faster wins by mixing low-difficulty keywords with occasional stretch goals.
Think: one easy post, one ambitious post each month.

Update Old Blogs Before Writing New Ones

If you’re short on time, prioritize updating instead of constantly creating.
Refreshing content signals to Google that your site is active and improving.

Refresh checklist:

• Add your target keyword to the title and first paragraph.
• Expand content with FAQs or local details.
• Compress new images and add alt text.
• Link to new service or contact pages.
• Resubmit the post to Google Search Console.

A 30-minute refresh can outperform a brand-new post.

Your 90-Day SEO Plan for Wedding Pros

You don’t need a massive overhaul—just a plan you’ll actually stick to.

1st Month:

• Update your homepage title + meta description.
• Refresh your Google Business Profile.
• Re-optimize two blog posts.

2nd Month:

• Create two venue guides and one service page.
• Collect six new client reviews.

3rd Month:

• Update two more blogs.
• Publish one educational post (like “How to Plan a Hill Country Wedding”).
• Reach out for three backlinks from vendors or venues.

Track your results in Search Console—it’s the best free SEO tool available.

Common SEO Mistakes Wedding Pros Make

Avoid these simple but costly errors:

• A homepage title that just says “Home.”
• Service pages that cram multiple locations or offerings together.
• Huge image files that slow your site.
• Missing reviews or testimonials on main pages.
• Blog posts without clear calls to action.

Fixing these five things can instantly elevate your SEO for wedding pros.

Final Thoughts

SEO for wedding pros isn’t about algorithms—it’s about visibility, connection, and confidence. The more clear and helpful your website becomes, the easier it is for dream clients to find you, trust you, and book you.

And if you’re ready to take your visibility further?

🎧 Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or play it directly below.

Or, if you’re ready for a brand and website that’s built with SEO in mind from day one, let’s make it happen together.

Inquire about your project, and let’s build a brand that gets found and remembered.