About the show
Wedding Planning Podcast for Real Answers
The Venue Underground is where engaged couples (and new vendors) get practical, tested solutions for wedding day problems. Each episode comes from venue owners who have run 1,000+ events, so the advice is clear, specific, and field-proven.
We record inside a Cold War fallout shelter beneath a historic bank in downtown Frederick, Maryland, which gives the show its name and spirit of “beneath the surface” problem-solving.
Subterranean
Inspiration
In 2021, Kate purchased the vacant Citizens National Bank in Frederick, Maryland. Built in 1908 and last renovated in the 90’s, the property was full of potential and history. Kate went viral turning the above-ground floors into a wedding venue. An entrepreneur at heart, Kate hates wasting non-income-generating space and set to work in early 2025 turning the Cold War-era nuclear fallout shelter in the building’s basement into a podcast studio where she, along with her team, shares valuable insight on business, building transformation and the booming events industry. The basement’s nuclear fallout shelter is now our podcast studio, an unexpected room built for focus, honesty, and useful tactics you can apply to your own wedding
Kate Dear
is the founder & CEO of Fêtewell and the voice behind The Venue Underground podcast. Holding an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, Kate combines business acumen with adaptive-reuse design and hospitality expertise to transform century-old banks, classic car dealerships and factories into thriving event destinations across the U.S.
A keynote speaker and industry consultant, she guides entrepreneurs through every phase of venue development: site selection, historic preservation, budgeting, and sales strategy. When she’s not negotiating leases or scouting her next franchise location, Kate broadcasts from her one-of-a-kind podcast studio (a Cold War–era bunker tucked beneath her flagship venue, Citizens Ballroom) turning real problems into simple playbooks: how to vet vendors, protect your layout, read contracts, and keep the dance floor full.
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Gemma
Gemma runs the systems behind Fêtewell’s venues, from vendor coordination to timeline execution. She brings logistics, checklists, and calm to the show: how to plan a clean load-in, where audio and power actually go, and the exact run-of-show that keeps guests happy.
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Rachel
Rachel is the voice of guest experience and team dynamics. She translates sticky etiquette into warm, workable scripts, including child-free policies, seating plans, and communication that prevents day-of friction. She also covers staffing, service flow, and the people skills that make celebrations feel effortless.
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