Starting a wedding planner business is scary! And fear is a very real thing. The worst thing about fear is that it stops us from achieving great things. Fear is often caused by the unknown. And if you’re contemplating starting a wedding planner company, there’s lot of unknown!
Starting a Wedding Planner Business
But there are a few myths out there that I want to dispel for those of you who are seriously thinking about getting into the wedding planning business. I see many wedding planners being held back by their preconceived notion of what they “think” they need to be a successful wedding planner.
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1. You Need a Website
The lack of a website is no longer an excuse for not starting a wedding planner business. In fact, I have seen many wedding planner companies start with just an Instagram and Facebook page. The planners didn’t feel like they had enough of a portfolio to design a website and didn’t want to create one until they had done few styled shoots first. This is totally okay. Yes, you want to eventually have a website, but you can start your business without one.
2. You Need to Be Certified
Having to be certified is probably of the biggest myths out there about becoming a wedding planner. You do not need to be certified. However, it is a good idea to look into educational courses. Educational courses can help give you confidence and will help you serve your clients better.
3. You Need an Office
Offices are super expensive and a total waste of money, in my opinion. You do not need one to start a wedding planning business. A coffee shop or a hotel lobby is a great place to meet potential clients. If you’re convinced you need one, look into a shared space with other wedding vendors.
4. You Need Lots Experience
Things will be a lot easier for you if you have experience, but it’s not essential to start a company. Most wedding planners get into the business after planning their own wedding. And though, technically, this is considered “experience,” the day was about them and what they wanted.
When you have to plan someone else’s wedding day, there’s a whole new skill set that has to be cultivated.
It’s nice when you already know vendors and have been seasoned by hard situations, but I will say that confidence is far more important than experience when you’re new. You can seek out opportunities while you’re building your business. Read this article for more ideas on how to get experience when you’re new.
5. You Need a Large Portfolio
You can start a wedding planning company without having a large portfolio. Many newer wedding planners use their own wedding when designing their own website and social media content. You can totally do this. You can also look into using stock photos for more diverse content.
I see nothing wrong with buying stock photos, especially if you’re trying to build a certain type of brand. I believe you’ll attract the type of bride you’re looking for with the right photographs. Read about how to use stock photos here.
Conclusion
Don’t let fear dictate your passion. And don’t let it be an excuse for not following your dreams. You just have to be willing to work hard and spend time doing research. We are not only business owners, we are also social media strategists, psychologists, and tech support. I have seen many successful wedding planners start out with only a contract and an idea. So I know you can do it too!
Want to know more about starting a wedding planning business? Check out the Launch Your Wedding Biz Masterclass. Inside this course you’ll learn how to kick-start your wedding planning business. We’ll show you how to take a DIY approach to branding, marketing, and website design. You’ll receive guidance on registering your business, contracts, insurance and much more.
