Have you ever helped plan a friend or relative's wedding and thought, "I wish I could do this for a living!" Or you may already be in the event coordinating business and just want to expand your business to cover weddings. If so, you may be happy to know that anyone who is passionate about weddings, strong business skills and is well organized, can start a wedding planning business.
You might be wondering, "Is there demand for wedding coordinators in this economy?" Gone are the days of wedding coordination solely for affluent couples. Saving money is a critical skill for wedding planning. A skilled wedding planner can for example, save a a lot of money on flowers and favors by finding the best vendors for their budget. In addition, many people are busy and do not have enough time or energy to spend on wedding planning. You have the skills to assisist them with bigger projects such as choosing their wedding site to the smaller tasks like selecting their wedding favors. Wedding coordinators also develop event planning skills that allow them to plan a variety of events. This gives you the potential to expand your business to helping with bridal showers, birthday parties, funerals, and corporate events.
Another question you should ask yourself is, "What abilities do I need to succeed as a wedding planner?" Ask yourself these questions: Do you enjoy people? Are you well organized? Attentive to detail? Creative? Do you have a lot of patience? If you answered yes, you could become a good coordinator. A successful wedding planner has all of these qualities and more. You must also be great at locating the right vendors and negotiating discounts. If marketing, accounting and overall financial management is not your thing, you may want to think about taking courses or outsourcing to someone to help you.
Starting a business requires time and money. Before you leave your day job it's important to consider how much cash you will need to begin. Most event planners save a few thousand before they start their business and others save two years worth of expenses. Getting a mentor or professional training can help you succeed quicker. Classes also can range anywhere from $500-1,000 depending on where you go. In addition, research on the Internet, borrow books on wedding planning and network with other people to figure out how much you need to save.
Having the will to start your own company is a powerful factor in success, but you will also need to acquire knowledge and experience. Look for books, classes, and information on business and marketing in general. You might also contact wedding shops such as florists, caterers or even other wedding planners and ask if you could work for them so that you can learn the business. Attend any wedding events and bridal fairs and make sure to have some business cards handy. You might also think about printing your own brochures and flyers to promote your business. Network with other business professionals as well as to help you get ideas on wedding planning and promotion.
Finally, make sure to let all your friend know what you are planning on doing so that they can refer business to you. Sometimes the people you know will be able to refer others to your business. If you are currently working full-time, offer to organize your office parties and company picnics. Remember, any experience you get planning an event helps. Be sure to document the tasks that you did to successfully plan the event. This will help future clients get a good idea of your abilities. Acquiring experience in event planning is a wonderful way to network, learn about wedding coordinating and is a definite step in the right direction to starting your own wedding planning business.
You might be wondering, "Is there demand for wedding coordinators in this economy?" Gone are the days of wedding coordination solely for affluent couples. Saving money is a critical skill for wedding planning. A skilled wedding planner can for example, save a a lot of money on flowers and favors by finding the best vendors for their budget. In addition, many people are busy and do not have enough time or energy to spend on wedding planning. You have the skills to assisist them with bigger projects such as choosing their wedding site to the smaller tasks like selecting their wedding favors. Wedding coordinators also develop event planning skills that allow them to plan a variety of events. This gives you the potential to expand your business to helping with bridal showers, birthday parties, funerals, and corporate events.
Another question you should ask yourself is, "What abilities do I need to succeed as a wedding planner?" Ask yourself these questions: Do you enjoy people? Are you well organized? Attentive to detail? Creative? Do you have a lot of patience? If you answered yes, you could become a good coordinator. A successful wedding planner has all of these qualities and more. You must also be great at locating the right vendors and negotiating discounts. If marketing, accounting and overall financial management is not your thing, you may want to think about taking courses or outsourcing to someone to help you.
Starting a business requires time and money. Before you leave your day job it's important to consider how much cash you will need to begin. Most event planners save a few thousand before they start their business and others save two years worth of expenses. Getting a mentor or professional training can help you succeed quicker. Classes also can range anywhere from $500-1,000 depending on where you go. In addition, research on the Internet, borrow books on wedding planning and network with other people to figure out how much you need to save.
Having the will to start your own company is a powerful factor in success, but you will also need to acquire knowledge and experience. Look for books, classes, and information on business and marketing in general. You might also contact wedding shops such as florists, caterers or even other wedding planners and ask if you could work for them so that you can learn the business. Attend any wedding events and bridal fairs and make sure to have some business cards handy. You might also think about printing your own brochures and flyers to promote your business. Network with other business professionals as well as to help you get ideas on wedding planning and promotion.
Finally, make sure to let all your friend know what you are planning on doing so that they can refer business to you. Sometimes the people you know will be able to refer others to your business. If you are currently working full-time, offer to organize your office parties and company picnics. Remember, any experience you get planning an event helps. Be sure to document the tasks that you did to successfully plan the event. This will help future clients get a good idea of your abilities. Acquiring experience in event planning is a wonderful way to network, learn about wedding coordinating and is a definite step in the right direction to starting your own wedding planning business.