Have you ever considered a career in the wedding business? It is an additional advantage if you have exposure to different types of weddings, as this can help you become a wedding planner.
TIPS ON HOW TO START A WEDDING PLANNER BUSINESS WITH A LIMITED BUDGET
Weddings play the most important role in many people’s lives and people are willing to spend a lot on this important day of their lives. You can easily consider starting a wedding planning business from home, without having to pay office rent.
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO RUN A WEDDING PLANNING BUSINESS
Source: Pexels.comIf you love to organize parties and events, it is a great option for you. You must be good at handling people with diplomacy so that you can maintain a calm and stress-free atmosphere during a crisis. Good management skills and an eye for detail will be a great help for you to be a successful wedding planner.
When it comes to the costs of starting wedding planning, you do not need a lot of equipment, just a laptop or tablet and a printer to print contracts.
Take a look at the job duties of a wedding planner before venturing into it. Cultivate the best skills such as budgeting, negotiating, organizing, planning, troubleshooting, and networking and presenting.
If you have a great sense of color and style, it will be useful in coordinating decoration, flowers, napkins, etc.
HOW TO BECOME A WEDDING PLANNER? LEARNING THE ROPES
Source: Pexels.comGet experience in this line of business before becoming a wedding planner. Try planning events for birthday parties, family functions and gatherings to start.
Work with an experienced event planner to understand the business before investing on your own. Get experience as an assistant for special events.
Check out the best wedding planning books to get tips and secrets from the best wedding planners.
1. PROGRAM ASSISTANCE / ACCREDITATION
Although certification is not mandatory, there are many community colleges that offer these skills and a wedding planner certification. There are also several courses of online wedding planners that you can attend to obtain accreditation. You can add them to your resume, proving that you are a certified wedding planner to impress potential clients,
2. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
Work free with popular wedding planners to gain experience before starting a wedding planning business. Work as a wedding planner in hotels or banquet halls to gain experience and you can slowly build your portfolio.
You can even specialize in a niche, such as destination weddings, celebrity weddings, low budget weddings outdoor weddings and more.
3. WEBSITE CREATION
Source: Pexels.comEventually, you will want to create a website and describe your services, wedding testimonials of friends you have planned your certifications and samples of your work.
You can use Website Development Services for a professional website to fit in great images and attract potential customers.
4. MARKETING STRATEGY
Decide the cost for your services while considering a wedding event planner business. Check the competition and the fees they are charging.
Market your wedding planner business through social networking pages. You can also get a booth at trade shows, business events in your city and through the chamber of commerce
Use the usual means of advertising, newspapers and business cards. Network with other event managers.
Offer some free services in churches to put your name out. Meet catering companies, florists and photographers. Consider the prices and reliability factors. Develop connections with suppliers of different price ranges to adapt to different budgets.
5. BUSINESS LICENSE
Name your business
Get it registered (fees vary by state). Check with your city and county also.
Consult a lawyer to create contracts with clients.
Understand accounting requirements and filing taxes, etc.
IN CONCLUSION,
In a nutshell, here is a summary wedding planner business plan:
- Learn more about the business.
- Get related experience, attend weddings, create networks and try to connect with potential clients and suppliers.
- Obtain the necessary license and develop a solid marketing strategy.
- Obtain certification through wedding planning courses.
- The wedding planning business is not your get-rich-quick ticket. The business is a bit unpredictable, so you should be careful and be flexible. This is not a 9 to 5 job, but it sure is exciting and rewarding since you never know what challenges await you. The time must be precise, the music, the arrivals, the cut of the cake, everything needs a time of precision.
- Being a wedding planner is hard work, but it’s worth it! You would be surprised to know that there were 2.4 million weddings in the US. in 2016, so there is a lot of demand.
As for the scope of the wedding planning business, wedding consultants can earn an average of around $14 per hour, according to payscale.com. The market is prosperous, why not take advantage of it?
