Writing for the Venue
what a venue page has to answer, and the register that answers it
Venue copy fails in a predictable way: it describes a feeling instead of a room.
Answer first, atmosphere second
"The second-floor room seats [n] for dinner or holds [n] standing, and opens onto the roof deck."
"A stunning light-filled space where unforgettable memories are made."
Every page opens with what the reader came for. Atmosphere is what the photographs are for.
The bracketed numbers stay bracketed until they're confirmed. A placeholder that looks like a placeholder never ships by accident; a plausible-looking guess does.
The register
Plain, warm and direct. The same voice as the rest of MOWP's writing, with one difference: this site is selling something, and it can say so.
- Contractions, short sentences, no marketing vocabulary. No "elevate," no "curated," no "bespoke," no "journey."
- Second person. "Your guests arrive at street level" rather than "guests arrive at street level."
- Numbers wherever a number exists. Capacity, hours, dimensions, price.
- Say the limits. What the room can't do belongs on the page.
What each event-type page has to answer
The same three facts, in a different order, for a different reader.
| Page | Leads with |
|---|---|
| Weddings | Whether the ceremony and reception both fit, and how a day runs |
| Meetings & Events | AV, setups, parking, and whether catering is handled |
| Celebrations & Memorials | Capacity, price, and whether the family can bring their own food |
The mission line
One sentence, on every page that has room for it, and told in full in one place.
"Every booking helps fund meals for older adults across the Portland metro."
"Your celebration feeds 400 seniors" — unless there's a figure behind it.
Anything stated about what a rental funds needs to survive being quoted back. See Positioning.
Words to be careful with
- "Affordable" invites the reader to decide what that means. Publish the number instead.
- "Unique" is what every venue says.
- "Perfect for" followed by a list of eight event types tells the reader the space isn't built for any of them.
- "Inquire for pricing" reads as expensive. See Rates & Availability.
For the standards these follow, see the main website's writing guidance, which this site shares.