Considering becoming a DOC - DOC's/ Wedding planners respond please

So far my wedding planning has been sort of a breeze. Then again this is MY wedding and I know what I want. I know that it will be harder to plan someone else's wedding because I'm going to need to learn how to read what they want and make it happen. Any advice on how to get started?

Hi Leanna, Im not a wedding planner myself, but I have a friend who recently (about 6 months- year) started up her own wedding planning business. The way she has done it seems to be working for her, shes booking brides.

She offered many different packages, full on wedding planning, and DOC. If I were you I wouldnt just offer DOC, because as a bride I wouldnt book someone who only offered DOC because Id be worried about their qualifications. As for class, she never took any, she just jumped in and marketed like crazy.

She made a professional looking website, cards, a facebook, told all her friends, and then started doing bridal shows. Shes doing really well. I think theres a lot of marketing, and you may have to low ball yourself a little in the beginning just to get some reviews, but Id just jump right in and start building!

Where are you located?

Hi Leanna! I actually started my Wedding planning/DOC business a year ago. No classes, I just jumped right in. I love weddings and events, and I wanted to be involved. I started posting on my facebook and created a business facebook and website. Within the weekend I had 2 brides booked, both friends. I have continued to market myself since then, but now am engaged myself, and working on my wedding too. The great part is that the only money it costs is your marketing and wedding shows. It takes lots and lots of time though. I work a full time job as a hotel sales and meeting coordinator on top of working on my new business. It's very hard. Add a wedding on top of that, and I am swamped busy, with not a lot of extra cash to market myself. I'm having a lot of fun, and am hopeful that my business will grow after I have a few weddings done and have more pictures to market my business. If you ever have any questions, feel free to contact me. Good luck!!

I live in Rhode Island on the border of MA. My Fh thinks this would be great but wants me to get as much info as possible before jumping in and putting money towards this. I figure this is something I love doing - almost as much as doing hair lol I would love to do hair full time but having a newborn this is almost impossible. at least this is something I could do almost on my own schedule and still do hair part time. I know its going to be stressful but if I can make someone happy by giving them the day they want or helping them achieve that day will be so worth it :-)

@Leanna, I think that with most new businesses you need to put in a little money and a ton of work to start until it really catches on enough to quit your day job.

I too work full time and Im in school, but Ive started an art business. I am making sales, but its a lot of marketing, research, trial and error.

I think you need to jump in and not give up on it, it may take a little while til it seems worth it, but it will eventually. Good luck!

@Watts - thanks :-) I didn't think I needed classes but I wasn't sure. Google only gives you so much information lol. I def don't want to start this until maybe julyish because we have alot going on. sometime in july everything should calm down enough. I am not sure how to PM on this site and I have a ton of questions to ask you :-)

@katie - I think fh is more concerned about an estimate of what the start up costs are. If its gonna cost 10 grand -probably not something we can do right now. If its going to cost 2-3 grand, thats a little more doable.

@samantha renee - thank you and I will def be contacting you for information.

thank you everyone :-) Time to get information so I can make a better informed decision

Some advice I would give to you - not only should you read up on event planning, but business books as well. Too many people overlook that very important part of any business. If you decide to move ahead, I would contact your local Small Business Administration office. They have a group of retired business people, SCORE, who will mentor people starting new businesses. It service is free of charge too.

I would also recommend speaking with people who are already in the field. Ask if you can intern with them. I would take Samantha up on her offer to contact her for info.

As far as the start up costs, there are some that you may not have thought of - such as having Liability Insurance.

Another thing to add to my list :-) Even if I don't NEED it, it's probably a good thing to have. Can't be too safe.

Thank you so much! saving as much info as possible :-)

@samantha Renee I sent you an email through your wedsite - btw your site is awesome and set up great

I'll preface by saying that I am a Sales Director at a large facility. I've been in the business for 10+ years and have planned everything from 15 person showers to 400 person galas, proms and weddings.

The event planning business is not a horrible business. But, it's difficult. As you are interested in a DOC position, let's just talk about that...

Weddings are fun, entertaining and (for the most part) it's a joyous occasion to be enjoyed and celebrated by all. You'll likely have a good time at your first few weddings! But then, like with most people who enter the business, you'll meet THAT bride. Or, her mother...better yet, BOTH parents or her MOH. Yes, the ones from hell. Sorry, ladies! We watch TV shows about Bridezilla and we imagine how people can be like that...it almost doesn't seem real. But, trust me, it is. Imagine, 20, 40, 60 emails a day, similar with texts and phone calls. To a bride, you are theirs. No one else should be on your radar.

I've been doing this long enough to have had the pleasure to see the good and bad. I have truly enjoyed working the field but it gets old and it's really no life (for any real length of time) if you want to have a life yourself. Face it...weddings take place on the weekend...meaning, your weekends are gone. Just some of the things that new coordinators always end up mentioning to me - things they don't realize until they really get into the business.

As someone else had mentioned, knowing basic business skills (in order to protect yourself, #1) is very important. As is starting your business the appropriate way.

Having been a bride myself and someone who averages between 40-60 weddings per year...it can be exhausting. And, really, I wish I could tell EVERY bride that if your venue is any real sort of venue, you really have little need for a coordinator. Therefore, save your money and use it to enjoy your newly married life!

@Paulina - HA ! I know exactly what your saying, well kinda lol. I am definitely considering this my business and not an easy way to make cash. I am sure that at times I will say wtf did I get myself into and other times I will say "now this is why I am doing this" Thats how it is when I do someone's hair. When I was working in a salon I'd have 9 super happy clients and then I'd have that 1 client that would throw my day off and make me want to punch a wall. Even if I did everything she asked she wasn't happy. All I would have to do is smile, do what I thought would make her happy and have an ice cold beer when I got home :-).

I should've also mentioned....you're not alone in your desire to be a DOC. I would honestly say that 1 out of every 2 brides (by the end of the wedding planning process) wants to be a DOC.

I am very thankful that for a few years I basically ran a business at night. I've done alot of the leg work (a/p, a/r, basic accounting, some marketing, some website design, alot of customer service) I hope having these skills will help me. I do want to look up different business courses strictly related to the wedding industry, because every business and field is run a different way.

@Leeanna, if by NEED it, you mean General Liability Insurance, yes, you do NEED it. Do not go in to any business without a General Liability Insurance policy. You need to protect yourself from many things that you are not even aware of.

Also, you would want to incorporate. If you open a business as an individual, and someone sues, you can lose your home, your bank accounts and future earnings.

This is one reason I recommend that you meet with a SCORE rep at the SBA.

I'm sure those skills would be helpful! Likely moreso than any certification. There are organizations, such as AACWP for "certified" wedding planners...it may mean a good deal to some and would likely help build your business to brides who know little about the business (for the simple fact that you'd add CWP to your title) but their cert process is actually pricey and there are so many others that are just fly-by-nighters. ABC is another but I won't bother to share more info...you should check them out online though. Last I recall, you pay to be a member - not much else there.

Another way to approach would be to get involved at a venue near you - even assisting with weddings to begin with or break into the sales roles. It is very interesting and, let's face it, after one or two weddings, you've pretty much figured it out. And, with a venue, you'd learn everything from initial appts, touring, contracts, sales, detailing, day-of and so on...that full experience is valuable! GL!

@samantha Renee - my email is **********@***.*** Idk if it was a good idea to put it up here but its not like my address is up or anything lol

@ paulina - thank you so much for the information you've given me. I am making sure I save all this information so that tomorrow or friday when I have some down time I can really go over it.

Does anyone know how to find an old post, Maybe I'll just save an email so I can come back to this

Samantha, I think she may have thought that the web site you posted a link to was yours. Leeanna may have emailed their contact email addy. ;-)