Want to Go Full-Time with Your Wedding Business? Start Here

Business tips, advice, and resources to help 

The story of how and why you started your wedding business is unique. From wanting to have a creative outlet or be your own boss to wanting to work with couples on one of the biggest days of their lives, every wedding pro we’ve had the pleasure of talking to has a different story to tell. But, even though your “why” is different, there is a common thread—it’s not unusual for wedding pros to start their businesses as a side hustle. And we understand why. Starting a business can feel like a big thing with a steep learning curve. It can also be a matter of timing. So today, we wanted to talk about that moment in time—you know, the one where you actively (and maybe constantly) debate whether you should take your business from part-time to full-time. Read on for business tips, advice, and resources to help you make that full-time dream a reality from pros who’ve done it themselves!

“Business savvy mindset is essential”

Becoming a full-time business owner where your life literally depends on your business is one of the most courageous decisions a person can make. But the beautiful thing is the leap can happen without a lot of growing pains—if you have a well thought-out plan. And, by a well thought-out plan, I’m talking about knowing how your business is going to make money, spend money and be fully operational for at least the first 3 to 6 months. Being passionate helps but leading with a business savvy mindset is essential when talking about full-time self-employment. Get into business books, listen to podcasts and be intentional about understanding the business landscape. –  Jasmine Smith 

Things to do based on Jasmine’s advice

1. Set short and long-term goals for yourself
2. Create a business plan
3. Create a marketing plan 
4. Brush up on your business skills

“Explore nontraditional paths”

When you are building your business in the background or as a side hustle, you’ll start to build a reputation and connections. And it’s likely you will receive offers for full time employment while you’re at it (at least I did). During that period where I was on the cusp of going full-time with my business, several venues approached me about being in-house with them. It was an interesting offer, but I wanted to work full-time for myself—not someone else. So, I decided to propose a consulting relationship with them, and it ended up being a win-win. I was able to keep building my network and business with my own brand while having steady work. The moral of this story is that there isn’t one way to take your business from part-time to full-time and that you shouldn’t be afraid to explore nontraditional paths. – Jason Rhee of Rheefined Company

Things to do based on Jason’s advice

1. Build a diverse network
2. Find a mentor to support you 

“Your systems and process will save you”

Running a full-time wedding business is not for the faint of heart! And when you are committed to making it your full-time career, there is one thing that can save you—systems, systems, systems. Because, even if you have perfected your craft, are known as one of the best vendors in your market and your clients rave about your services, you’ll still feel like you are flying by the seat of your pants if you don’t get organized. The key is to have your entire process (from inquiry to client review) written down. Here is how I approached it. I created a checklist of every step I take starting at the initial inquiry and wrote down everything I do to sell and onboard my couples. Then I created one-page resources for frequently asked questions that I can easily send over in minutes when asked. I also started utilizing email templates and canned responses to give myself a starting point. The options are endless, and I promise you will feel much more organized and confident going from part-time to full-time if you put these together for yourself. – Pamela Littlejohn of Aisle Say Yes

Things to do based on Pamela’s advice

1. Research small business software 
2. Set up your business systems
3. Create a client onboarding process

“Taking the leap is the best step”

Going from part-time to full-time in my business was a true game-changer in terms of how seriously I was taking my business’ progress and success. Beforehand, I was making the mistake of thinking that I needed some other kind of validation to take my own venture to the next level, but taking the leap was the best step I could have taken for myself and my company. Something that truly helped me with the transition was knowing where my business stood and also my personal goals in terms of finances. – Samantha Kin of To Be Loved Events

Things to do based on Samantha’s advice

1. Write a mission statement
2. Be authentic with everything you do
3. Set up your business finances

“Cultivate a strong community”

A strong community that consists of your close friends and new and seasoned business owners is essential especially when you’re first starting out. There will be mental roadblocks that will impact your mental stamina and you’ll need close friends to be your cheerleaders to remind you of your why, when you need it the most. But being able to share your feelings and business challenges with others who are also self-employed will be incredibly therapeutic. You’ll draw your strength from those conversations. – Jasmine Smith

Making the transition to running your wedding business full-time is an exciting one! But, before you do, remember to make sure you have crossed all these important business tasks off your list.

Photo Credit: Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock.com