validate([ 'email' => 'required|email|unique:waitlist_entries,email', ]); try { $entry = WaitlistEntry::create([ 'email' => $request->email, ]); // Send welcome email Mail::to($entry->email)->send(new WaitlistWelcome($entry)); return redirect()->back()->with('success', 'Thank you for joining our waitlist! Check your email for confirmation.'); } catch (\Exception $e) { return redirect()->back()->with('error', 'Something went wrong. Please try again.'); } } }