New business in Events...where to start?

[AngieB30]

I am looking to start up a home business in Wedding and Event planning. I have completed an online home learning course on Wedding planning but would like to broaden my opportunities by offering more than just Weddings. Im not rushing into this as I still have my youngest at home until he starts pre-school so just trying to do as much research as possible and getting advice from anyone that may have any experience in this or can offer me some guidance? I have great customer service skills and have worked in the hospitality industry and over seen functions and events and have had a brief stint in business travel also. Just trying to make the most of my time and my 'career break' to think of what I really want to do, so any help, advice would be gratefully received thank you

I got married earlier this year. I met wedding co ordinators at the many wedding fairs that I attended in the months leading up to my wedding. Can you attend a local wedding fair, look out for the free publications, in our area there are two magazines produced, they contain articles which are contributed by the advertisers and the adverts are organised into services so in effect they are a local directory of current wedding suppliers.

I would expect that you need to build up a large network of contacts of people in the industry, we hired most of our suppliers based on the rrecommendations given by others, our ice cream supplier actually has a printed list of otner suppliers who she thinks are great that she sent to us with her quote.

Good luck

Thank you. That's the thing, I do know quite a few people already working in the industry, Bridal Dress shop owner, Florist, a bespoke vintage bouquet maker and a limousine hire company owner I know I would need to do a lot of research into venues and catering and I think this would be my biggest challenge. Are you saying that having a wedding co-ordinator would've been easier for you or the fact that the magazines actually gave you all the information you needed to do it yourself?
I know people love planning their big day, I know I did, but I'm also aware people are worker harder and longer hours now and sometimes wont have all the time to do the research themselves into price comparisons etc and give their full attention to every detail that goes into it, so I was thinking of giving them the choice of how much or little help they want? Thank you for your feedback.

For me, the planning part was easy. I was on maternity leave so had enough time and it is great having the wedding fairs and mags. What I could have used is an extra pair of hands on the day. My family were bloody useless despite promising in the lead up to help me. So while they enjoyed themselves I had to deal with late flowers, photography running late which then affected everything else. Guests not realising there was free booze available, not knowing where to find the loo, absolutely every question came to me. Even things like assembling the cake letting people know it had been fully sliced.

For me to book a wedding planner I would have needed to know the cost from the outset, I won't even talk to a supplier unless they've made their prices public.

Just a general point...I think it would be better to specialise in one of the two. People would trust you more. If you must do both then definitely have two different websites for this.

Btw I hate planning weddings and would love to hire someone depending on the cost.

Offer to help run / manage co ordinate any friends or relatives parties / events etc free of charge to help build up a decent portfolio as this will be critical to get you business.