Are you hoping to build a long-lasting, fruitful relationship with the wedding industry? It remains a booming market, with around 279,000 commitments made in the UK every year. The COVID-19 pandemic built lots of pent-up demand, too, leading to a surge in activity once restrictions were finally eased.
The first step – which you may already have covered – is choosing your specialism. You might have a talent for photography, floristry or music. Perhaps you’re skilled at catering for the masses. Or maybe you love planning projects from start to finish?
Whatever the case, here are some of the key considerations for getting your new wedding business off the ground.
Take care of admin
When starting any business, you’ll have a few boring bits of which to take care first. That includes registering your business, deciding from where you’ll work and whether you’ll take on additional staff. The government has a handy guide to help.
You may need certain licenses to operate legally, depending on your business proposition. It might be worth looking into business insurance, too; there are various cover options available.
Find your edge
Unsurprisingly, the wedding industry is a competitive and highly emotional one. You’ll need to identify and promote why brides- and grooms-to-be should choose you over others.
It’ll help to home in on your target audience and work out what will appeal to them. You might provide special services for gay couples, for example, or cater to those with more alternative tastes.
Next, research businesses in the same area to see if you can take any learnings from how they’re doing things.
Consider pricing carefully
The average UK wedding costs £17,300, according to a 2021 UK survey. But your service may be one of many costs for couples to balance, so it’s important to offer great value.
That means researching what other providers are charging for similar offerings as well as justifying your own price. You’ll still need to turn a profit, of course, but be prepared to explain why you charge what you do and showcase what couples will get in return.
Market yourself
Very few wedding businesses can rely on word of mouth alone, especially not initially. You’ll need to get yourself out there in various ways.
Wedding fairs are an obvious place to start, providing that you choose events that suit your target audience. Make sure to create a standout display and think about other tricks that could attract passers-by, like offering food tasters.
You’ll need to build a digital presence, too. Instagram can be especially valuable for appealing to couples in the planning stage, so aim to document your work however possible.
Once up and running, be sure to ask for reviews. Social proof is vital in building trust.
With all these bases covered, you’ll stand a good chance of making your new commitment last!
