Planning weddings enables you to turn a couple’s dreams into reality by crafting unforgettable experiences. Wondering how to become a wedding planner? Allow Complete Weddings + Events to guide you as we unveil some of the most important things to consider — and what it takes to get started.
A Look into the Wedding Industry
After a dip following the pandemic outbreak, people returned to hosting grand celebrations. In 2021, Complete Weddings + Events recorded our highest yearly revenue. The wedding planning market continued its upward momentum, reaching $70.7 billion in the U.S. in 2022. There were 2.4 million weddings in 2022, and the average wedding cost was $29,195, according to Wedding Report . Inspired by TikTok and social media, couples are relying on unique party favors, over-the-top desserts, and fun entertainment to make their receptions memorable, a study by The Knot revealed.
Launching a career in wedding planning can be lucrative if you have the skill set, training, and support to be successful. Before you say “I do” to a new career path, understand the things to keep in mind as you make plans for your future.
Is Wedding Planning a Good Fit?
Weddings are filled with love, joy, and cherished memories. Behind the scenes, a skilled wedding planner orchestrates the symphony of emotions and logistics that go into making the day magical. Planning requires skill, support, and a customer service mindset. At least 29% of couples hire a professional to help with their wedding to save time and ensure their big day goes off without a hitch.
As you contemplate becoming an event planner, be sure to understand whether you have the traits required to succeed in this competitive market.
● You’ll need to effectively communicate with clients, vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure everyone is on the same page.
● Weddings involve numerous details, and being organized is crucial to manage everything smoothly.
● Meeting deadlines and coordinating various aspects of a wedding requires strong time management.
● Clients often seek unique and personalized weddings, so creativity is valuable.
● Weddings can have unexpected challenges, and staying calm under pressure is important.
● The ability to negotiate with vendors to secure the best deals for your clients is part of the job.
● Building relationships with clients and vendors is necessary for a successful wedding planning business.
● A good wedding planner knows how to balance a couple’s dreams and budget limitations and works diligently to optimize spending.
Types of Wedding Planning Businesses
Once you’ve determined you have the skills required to be successful in the wedding industry, it’s time to set your sights on the type of wedding planning business you want to launch.
Full-service wedding planners offer comprehensive planning services, handling all aspects of the wedding from start to finish. Event coordinators manage the wedding day, ensuring everything runs as planned. Some wedding planners cater to couples who want a destination wedding, and others set themselves apart by focusing on specific themes or cultures.
Starting Your Own Business vs. Franchise
Regardless of the type of wedding planning venture you pursue, you need to decide if you want to start a business from scratch or partner with an established brand by opening a franchise. Starting your own wedding planning business offers some flexibility over your brand and services. You can potentially develop a unique identity and target your specific market. But there are drawbacks to launching a startup. It can be difficult to access capital, and it requires a hefty time commitment, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce . Startup businesses also have to conquer legal and regulatory challenges.
On the other hand, there are numerous advantages to investing in a wedding planning franchise. Partnering with an existing wedding planning franchise like Complete Weddings + Events can provide you with a recognizable brand, established systems, and access to a broader network. Franchises can be beneficial for those who prefer a proven business model and marketing support. If you’re new to event planning, having a partner can provide you with the training and guidance you need to be successful.
Explore a Complete Weddings Franchise
Complete Weddings + Events is an all-in-one event planning franchise. For an initial investment ranging from $56,820-$71,070, you get a brand with nearly 50 years of experience in the wedding and event planning industry. Complete launched in 1974 with DJ services and in 2010 began expanding our lineup of services to include photography, videography, DJ, photo booth, lighting, and coordination services for any memorable occasion. And we customize service packages to help our clients trim costs and cater to customer needs.
“With Complete’s franchise system, it allowed us to focus on what we do well – selling and managing people. We would be in trouble if we had to come up with brochures, videos, logos, etc. Relying on them frees up time and sanity,” says Sarah Erb, a franchisee in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Let’s explore how Complete Weddings + Events gives you a competitive advantage.
● Award-winning business model. Our wedding and event planning franchise was recently recognized for low startup costs. We were named a “Top Low-Cost Franchise” and “Top Recession-Proof Franchise” by Franchise Business Review , a franchise research firm.
● Positive ROI: We’ve helped plan and execute more than 300,000 events, including more than 13,000 weddings a year, and have 66 locations systemwide. Our franchisees who’ve been open for at least a year hold an average of 23.7 events per month with an average spend per booking of $1,770.50. The top third of our franchisees doing business for at least a year generated average annual gross receipts of $704,934.40.*
● Multiple revenue streams. The bulk of weddings occur during months with sunny skies and mild temperatures. The most popular month for a wedding in the U.S. is October. To generate year-round business, Complete Weddings + Events provides event planning services for a variety of occasions. Our owners also help plan corporate events, anniversary parties, milestone birthdays, school events, and more.
● In-depth training: By becoming a franchisee with Complete Weddings + Events, you’ll be able to launch a business with confidence and learn how to become a wedding planner. We provide 10 days of immersive training at our corporate headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, where we cover a range of topics, including business development, operations, sales, accounting, marketing, computer software, and networking.
● Marketing support: Complete Weddings + Events provides robust franchise marketing support to its owners. Many couples go online for wedding planning resources, according to The Knot . As a result, our marketing solutions and partners focus on search engine optimization and digital marketing. We also provide traditional marketing tools to broaden your reach in your community.
Discover Your Match with Complete Weddings
Are you ready to launch a low-investment business with potentially high rewards dedicated to helping people make memories? Get started to learn how to become a wedding planner and the benefits of partnering with Complete Weddings + Events to open your new venture.
*This is a historical representation of what some of Complete Wedding + Event’s franchised agencies earned as described further in Item 19 of the FDD.
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