In my last blog post I talked about the 5 signs you’re not ready to start a wedding planning business. Don’t worry if any of the signs described where you are right now. You can quickly take action to be ready to have the top wedding planning business that you want.
Here, I take my 5 signs that you’re not ready and tell you what you need to do to get ready now:
1) If you’ve only planned one wedding, get some experience
Talk to family members and friends and see if anyone knows of someone planning a wedding who could use help. You can start small by offering to do things such as research venues and vendors, gather inspiration and ideas for a wedding theme or help manage a timeline or budget. Whatever you do, take it seriously and fulfill your commitment, just as if you were doing it as a paid professional. These brides may be so happy with your work that they refer you to others who could be your first paying clients.
2) If you’ve just had a major life event, take some time off
Starting a business after you’ve just gotten married, had a baby or had another big change in your life can be very stressful. This may not be the best time to jump right into starting a new business helping brides during their most stressful time. Consider instead taking some time to adjust to your new life. Then decide how much time, money and energy you want to and can put into a wedding planning business and make a plan that includes having a successful business and personal life.
3) If you’ve never had a business, take some classes
Community colleges, adult education programs and small business administration offices often have classes that teach the basics of starting a business and charge very little for them, sometimes they even offer them free. You need to learn how to write a business plan, do simple bookkeeping, marketing and customer service in order to be successful.
4) If you don’t know anything about the wedding and event planning industry, get out and meet professionals
Join a local chapter of a wedding or event planner association and attend their conferences and networking events.
You might also consider getting an internship with a wedding planner, caterer, florist, bridal shop or wedding photographer. Internships are usually not paid positions but you’ll learn about the wedding industry and get great experience.
5) If you don’t have a plan, start creating a vision for your business
Dream big and decide whom your brides will be, what types of services you’re going to offer them, how big your business will be, where you’ll be located and what a successful business would look like to you. Then write it all down in detail and take action every day towards having the top wedding planning business you want.
And if you want help to become a top wedding planner, sign in to get my ezine “Wedding Planner Tips.”