Thinking about taking a leap of faith from your career to your calling? Not sure what you are really passionate about and whether it can be profitable? Have you always loved weddings? Does the concept of planning a bride’s dream day appeal to you? If it does, then you might consider starting your own wedding planner company. For you to be a successful wedding planner, there are many things that you need to take into account, as like any industry, it is not an easy one to break into.

However, the good news is now is a great time to start out in the wedding planning industry, as more than ever before, couples are choosing to reduce their wedding planning stress by hiring a wedding planner. Wedding planners need to have specific personality traits if they are going to be successful. The more motivated, organized and driven you are, the better your chances are of accomplishing your goals. You will also need to have excellent people skills, work well under pressure and be good with finances.
If you have read all of that and working as a wedding planner still appeals to you, below is a guide to what it takes to make a success of running a wedding planning business.

Startup funds are not optional

While you can start any business on a small budget, if you are serious about making a success of your venture, it pays to have a decent amount of funds in place. Starting a wedding planning business is not hugely expensive. For example, you won’t necessarily need an office space to start out with because you can run your business from the comfort of your own home. Having a home office initially not only saves you money but reduces some of your stress – no commuting! Costs that you should take into consideration are things like having an attorney on hand to help with any legal matters, an accountant to deal with your bookkeeping, any insurance that you may need, as well as the cost of any marketing that you will require.

Networking skills are necessary

In any industry in the business sector, having networking skills is vital. If you want to have the ability to win clients over, you need to have a range of useful connections. As a wedding planner, a great place to network is at wedding fairs as there are plenty of wedding companies to connect with. What you want to do is fill up a portfolio with information on wedding companies offering a variety of services, such as order of service wedding cards, for instance. Once you have researched their pricing structure, you are then able to price your services at a slightly lower price which presents an incentive for your clients. The more connections that you can establish within the industry, the better, which is why networking is so crucial. In addition to attending networking events in person, another great way to network is virtually by taking part in online networking events. These events are held on Twitter, Facebook, as well as part of webinars. These events are an excellent way to meet new people and spread the word about your business.

Know what it takes to land clients

One of the most difficult things about starting any business is landing your first client. Competition can create mindset blocks, leaving you struggling to get your first break.
The best way to get started is to look for couples that you know who are getting married and offer them your services at a significantly discounted rate. When you take this type of approach it, not only tests your skills but if you do the job well, you end up with a wedding added to your portfolio and a great client testimonial. Remember, when it comes to business success, the more experience you can gain, the better you become at your business. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, work hard and watch how your business begins to grow.

Learn how to effectively market your business

As a business owner, it is vital that you take marketing seriously from the onset. If your budget to provide you with the luxury of hiring someone to handle your marketing needs, it will be incumbent upon you to increase your own knowledge. From social media marketing to print marketing, there are plenty of options when it comes to marketing your wedding planning business; it’s just a case of taking the time to determine what will work best for you. It could be worth taking the time to look at the marketing methods that your competitors have in place, to see what tends to work well for them. If you find that you are struggling to manage your marketing yourself or are not achieving your desired results, you may have no alternative than to outsource the task. Consider using a freelancer initially who has all of the knowledge and skills to provide you with a highly effective marketing plan. Marketing is not an area to try and cut corners or hope that you get the results that you need to be successful.

The fact is that there is a lot of potential for success in the wedding industry as a wedding planner. Because it’s a popular and exciting industry, it’s one where there are many vying for the same success that you are. That is why it pays to take the time to gain as much experience as you can, and ensure that your wedding planning venture has everything needed to be a success; from the right connections to an impeccable marketing plan. Implement the tips and advice above, and you can give your dream business a fantastic chance of success.