Tuesday, May 14, 2013

How to Start a Wedding Planning Business

If you love weddings and have a very organized personality, starting your own wedding planning business may be the right choice for you. This type of business is fun and exciting. You can help happy couples plan the weddings of their dreams. Read on to learn more.

Suggestions

  1. Research the current wedding trends. You need to know what is popular in weddings right now and also know all the basics of proper wedding etiquette. Purchase magazines like "The Knot" and "Modern Bride" to help with your research.
  2. Set up your business. Find office space, buy supplies and do any necessary loan and tax paperwork that is required. Look at the U.S. Small Business Administration website for advice on how to do this
  3. Price out your services. Wedding planners typically charge anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of the entire cost of the wedding.
  4. Begin to network. You'll want to network with possible clients and suppliers as often as possible. Build relationships with wedding vendors, including caterers, florists, reception venues and entertainment companies.
  5. Join a wedding planning association. You can look for a local network to join or apply for membership to the Association for Wedding Professionals. Member benefits include being able to advertise as a member, referrals, networking with other wedding planners and discounts.
  6. Build your portfolio. If you start a wedding planning business, you need a portfolio that showcases weddings that you have organized. To start, you can ask friends and family members to allow you to plan their weddings.
  7. Advertise your business. Use the Internet and local newspapers to market your new wedding planning business. Get a booth at a bridal fair and advertise this way as well. Lay out your portfolio and make sure that you have plenty of business cards on hand.


Other Tips

  • If you feel that you want to learn more about the basics of wedding planning before you start your business, sign up to take a class. You can see if your local community college offers wedding planning courses or use an online site like Universal Class.
  • Many wedding planners choose to apprentice first before they start their own business. This helps them learn the basics of the business before they launch their company.

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