How to start a wedding business

Weddings are personal, emotional, and full of meaning, and being the one to help bring those celebrations to life is something that many aspiring entrepreneurs find fulfilling. If you’re looking to start your own wedding planning business in Australia, there’s a real opportunity to carve out a niche while building a solid portfolio.

Building your business from the ground up is no easy feat, but with the right approach, you can grow it into a trusted part of your local wedding industry. This guide will help you navigate the steps on how to start a wedding business, from attracting clients and establishing steady income to using platforms like Oneflare to connect with couples.

• Step 1: Identify the market of your wedding business
• Step 2: Plan for seasonal trends in the wedding industry
• Step 3: Research market rates and analyse competitors in the wedding industry
• Step 4: Explore funding options for your wedding business
• Step 5: Develop a strategic wedding business plan
• Step 6: Register your wedding business
• Step 7: Hire your wedding service staff
• Step 8: Invest in the right wedding tools and resources
• Step 9: Find clients for your wedding business
• Step 10: Get paid for your wedding services!
• Start growing your wedding business today – register on Oneflare

Step 1: Identify the market of your wedding business

Identifying your market helps target the right clients by understanding local demand and competition. This ensures you can cater to both intimate ceremonies and larger weddings, positioning your business competitively within the local market.

Explore different types of wedding services

Exploring various types of wedding services will help you expand your offerings and meet diverse client needs. By diversifying your services, you can cater to different types of weddings, from small intimate gatherings to large celebrations, ensuring you appeal to a wider range of clients.

Wedding planning services

A wedding planning service involves coordinating every aspect of a couple’s big day, guiding them from the initial concept to the final execution. This includes managing budgets, selecting vendors, creating timelines, organising logistics, and overseeing every detail to ensure the day runs smoothly. 

Wedding car hire

A wedding car hire service provides couples with stylish and reliable transportation for their big day and ensures that the couples along with their guests arrive at the venue comfortably and on time. This service can include classic cars, luxury vehicles, or even unique options like vintage cars or limousines.

Wedding photography

A key element in providing a complete wedding experience is including wedding photography in your services. This service includes capturing the special moments of the couple’s big day and preserving their memories for a lifetime. A wedding photography service can also include pre-wedding shoots and after-wedding party coverage, immortalising every part of the celebration.

Wedding videography

Wedding videos are an increasingly popular service, allowing couples to relive their day through professionally edited footage. Wedding videography commonly includes filming the ceremony, speeches, and celebrations, offering couples a cinematic keepsake.

Wedding florist services

Offering wedding florist services adds a personal touch and helps create a memorable atmosphere, making it a valuable addition to your wedding business. Wedding florists work with the couple closely and are in charge of creating beautiful floral arrangements that match their theme and style for various aspects of the wedding, including bouquets, centrepieces, and venue décor.

Wedding hair styling

A wedding hair styling service involves creating stunning hairstyles for the bride and bridal party, tailored to their preferences and the overall wedding theme. Offering wedding hair styling as part of your services adds an extra layer of convenience for clients, providing them with a complete package that helps them feel confident and beautiful throughout their celebration.

Wedding makeup artists

Wedding makeup is a must-have service for any wedding business. Wedding makeup artists ensure the bride and bridal party look flawless, with long-lasting, camera-ready makeup. Including this service meets a key client need and enhances your business by offering a complete, convenient experience that clients will value.

Wedding cake design

Wedding cake design involves creating custom cakes that reflect the couple’s style and theme. From elegant tiered designs to unique, personalised touches, wedding cake designers work closely with clients to craft a centrepiece that’s both beautiful and delicious.

Wedding entertainment

Ensure a fun and unforgettable wedding day for the couple and their guests by offering wedding entertainment as part of your business. This service includes organising a performance from DJs, live bands, or musicians who will keep guests engaged and create a lively atmosphere throughout the celebration.

Wedding decor and styling

Wedding decor and styling create a beautiful atmosphere that reflects the couple’s style, including elements like table settings, floral arrangements, and venue decorations. Offering this service ensures every detail is thoughtfully planned, enhancing the overall wedding experience.

Choose your wedding business niche

Choosing a niche for your wedding business is crucial for standing out and attracting the right clients. It allows you to tailor your services and effectively meet the unique needs of your target market.

Luxury wedding planning and styling niche

The luxury wedding planning and styling niche focuses on creating high-end, bespoke experiences for couples seeking an extravagant celebration that reflects their unique tastes and preferences. This involves working with exclusive and unique venues and premium vendors, and offering custom designs tailored to the couple’s vision. Every detail is meticulously planned, from intricate décor to lavish floral arrangements, to ensure a flawless event. 

• Pros: Higher profits due to premium pricing
• Cons: Increased pressure to deliver flawless, high-stakes events

Intimate wedding and elopement niche 

The intimate wedding and elopement niche focuses on smaller, more personal celebrations, often with just close family or even just the couple themselves. This niche allows for a more relaxed, flexible approach to planning, with couples seeking a meaningful, stress-free experience

• Pros: Ability to offer highly personalised, tailored services
• Cons: Lower pricing due to the smaller scale of the events

Eco-friendly wedding niche

The eco-friendly wedding niche focuses on sustainable, environmentally-conscious celebrations, using organic materials, eco-friendly vendors, and green practices like zero-waste planning and biodegradable décor.

• Pros: Opportunity to align with a socially responsible and impactful brand
• Cons: Increases planning complexity due to needing more time to source fitting vendors

Cultural and destination wedding niche

The cultural and destination wedding niche is growing in popularity as more couples seek unique, personalised experiences that blend cultural traditions or take place in exotic, dream locations. These weddings allow couples to incorporate meaningful customs while celebrating in stunning destinations. However, it often requires detailed travel coordination, local vendor sourcing, and an understanding of the logistics involved in hosting events in remote or international locations. 

This wedding business idea also offers the potential for high-end, bespoke services, attracting couples who desire a once-in-a-lifetime experience tailored to their cultural heritage or dream destination.

• Pros: Opportunities for higher fees due to the complexity of planning and travel arrangements
• Cons: Increased planning challenges and higher costs due to travel, venue sourcing, and cultural considerations.

Bridal beauty service niche

The bridal beauty service niche focuses on offering hair, makeup, and skincare treatments tailored to brides and their bridal parties. This service ensures that everyone looks and feels their best on the big day, with personalised styling and long-lasting results.

• Pros: Building strong relationships with beauty professionals can lead to long-term collaborations and business growth.
• Cons: High competition from other beauty providers, making it important to differentiate your services.

Decide on the service area for your wedding business

Determining where to establish or expand your wedding business is crucial for its success. By identifying regions with the highest demand for wedding services, you can position yourself in areas where your business is more likely to thrive.

The table below highlights the demand for wedding services across various cities in Australia, based on Oneflare’s job posting data from 2024. We’ll break down the demand in each city and explore the factors driving the need for professional wedding coordinators in these areas.

City	Percentage Share of Total Wedding-Related Job Demand
Wedding services in Melbourne	22.9%
Wedding services in Sydney	21.2%
Wedding services in Brisbane	13.5%
Wedding services in Perth	6.4%
Wedding services in Adelaide	5.3%

Australian cities with the highest wedding job demand

Melbourne leads the wedding business demand, capturing 22.9% of the total demand across Australia. This is driven by its large and diverse population, a wide range of wedding venues, and a thriving cultural scene that includes multicultural celebrations, which often require specialised services.

Sydney follows closely with 21.2% of the demand. Its high demand is attributed to its status as an iconic city with scenic wedding locations such as harbourside venues and beaches, making it a popular choice for both local and destination weddings.

Brisbane ranks third, representing 13.5% of the total demand. The subtropical climate and outdoor-friendly venues, coupled with a growing population, make Brisbane a prime spot for weddings, particularly during the cooler months.

Australian cities with lower wedding job demand

Cities like Perth and Adelaide have lower shares, at 6.4% and 5.3% respectively. While these cities see less demand compared to the major metropolitan areas, they still present opportunities for wedding service providers. Their smaller but steady markets allow businesses to specialise in unique offerings, such as eco-friendly weddings or tailored cultural celebrations, which can distinguish them from competitors in larger markets.

Additionally, the less saturated market environment in these cities makes it easier to establish strong, long-term relationships with clients, potentially leading to repeat business and referrals.

Step 2: Plan for seasonal trends in the wedding industry

Understanding seasonal trends in the wedding business is essential for managing demand fluctuations and optimising your operations. 

Some months see a significant influx of clients, while others slow down, making it vital to plan ahead. Strategically adapting to these cycles ensures consistent revenue and business stability throughout the year, regardless of seasonal variations in demand.

Identify popular seasons for wedding services

The top three peak months for wedding services in 2024 are January, March, and April, according to Oneflare’s 2024 data on the total job postings for each type of service.

January shows the highest demand, which could be attributed to the post-holiday wedding season where couples often plan their ceremonies after New Year festivities. The availability of venues and the summer season in Australia make it a popular choice.

March and April also see significant demand, driven by the start of the autumn season, which offers mild and pleasant weather—ideal for outdoor and scenic weddings.

Peak season for wedding planning

Wedding planners experience the highest demand in April, January, and May. April’s popularity stems from the start of the autumn season, which is a preferred wedding time in Australia due to its comfortable weather and scenic appeal. January’s demand aligns with summer weddings, while May signifies the end of the season, as couples finalize their events before winter.

Peak season for wedding photography

Wedding photography peaks in January, March, and April. The high demand correlates with the increased number of weddings during these months, as couples aim to capture their ceremonies in the favourable summer and early autumn light.

Peak season for wedding makeup artists

Demand for wedding makeup artists is highest in January, March, and February. These months align with the peak wedding season, as brides and bridal parties seek professional makeup services for their big day.

Peak season for wedding hair stylists

Wedding hair stylists are most in demand in January, March, and May. January’s demand stems from the summer wedding trend, while March and May weddings often prioritise stylists for their outdoor-friendly celebrations and pre-winter events.

Peak season for wedding car hire

Wedding car hire sees its peak demand in January, February, and March. January’s high demand is driven by the summer wedding boom, where luxury cars are often a part of grand celebrations.

February and March maintain strong demand as couples plan picturesque arrivals and exits for their ceremonies in the warm and pleasant weather.

Peak season for wedding florists

Wedding florists are the busiest in March, April, and February. These months coincide with the blooming season for many flowers, allowing couples to choose fresh and diverse arrangements. Additionally, the transition from summer to autumn enhances the use of floral decorations, driving up the demand for professional florists.

Plan strategies to adapt to seasonal fluctuations

To adapt to seasonal fluctuations, plan strategies that ensure steady business year-round. Offering seasonal promotions or focusing on off-season events, like winter or autumn weddings, can help attract clients during slower months. Adjusting your services and marketing ensures your business stays profitable, regardless of the season.

Offer off-season discounts and packages

Offering off-season discounts and packages is an effective way to attract clients during quieter months. By offering special rates during the slower months, you can appeal to couples looking to save money while still receiving top-quality services. 

This strategy helps you maintain a steady flow of business throughout the year, maximising revenue during slower periods and ensuring your business remains active year-round.

Diversify your wedding services

Diversifying your wedding services is a smart way to attract a broader range of clients. By offering additional services such as event coordination, floral design, or photography, you can cater to different needs and increase your revenue streams. 

Build vendor relationships and plan ahead

Building strong vendor relationships and planning ahead is crucial for success in the wedding business. By connecting with trusted vendors early, you ensure availability, competitive pricing, and a smooth experience for your clients. 

Post on lead generation sites to attract more wedding clients

Posting on wedding lead generation sites is an effective way to attract more wedding clients. By listing your services on platforms like Oneflare, you increase visibility and connect with couples actively searching for wedding professionals. This helps expand your reach and generate a consistent flow of inquiries, boosting your chances of securing more bookings.

Register your wedding business and services on Oneflare today and connect with clients searching for trusted wedding coordinators like you!

Step 3: Research market rates and analyse competitors in the wedding industry

Researching market rates and analysing competitors in the wedding industry is crucial when starting a wedding business. This helps you position your business effectively, attract clients, and ensure profitability in a crowded market.

Understand the cost of common wedding services

Understanding how wedding planners and event planning businesses charge for their services, along with the rates for other key vendors like photographers, florists, and caterers, helps you set competitive prices. It will allow you to create accurate budgets for clients and ensure you’re pricing your services fairly while maintaining profitability.

Here’s a breakdown of the typical costs for various wedding services in Australia:

Type of Wedding Service	Average Cost Range
Wedding planning cost	$1,400 – $4,500
Wedding car hire cost	$500 – $1,000
Wedding DJ cost	$350 – $1,200
Wedding videography cost	$2,000 – $4,000
Wedding flowers cost	$500 – $3,500
Wedding photography cost	$700 – $4,000

Knowing the typical budget ranges for various wedding elements gives you valuable insight into the financial expectations of your clients, allowing you to offer tailored packages or services that fit their needs. This can help you position your business as both cost-effective and high-quality, leading to stronger client relationships and a steady flow of bookings.

Decide how to charge for wedding services

Deciding how to charge for wedding services is one of the most vital aspects of your business structure. You can choose a flat fee, hourly rate, or a percentage of the wedding budget, depending on the service.

Consider your services’ complexity and market rates to find the pricing model that works best for both you and your clients.

Flat fee for small and day-of-coordination wedding services

A flat fee for small and day-of-coordination wedding services is an effective pricing model for these more straightforward events. This approach offers clients a clear, upfront cost without the need for complicated calculations.

An hourly rate is ideal for à la carte wedding services, or those that don’t require full planning but still demand attention to detail, like vendor sourcing or timeline creation. Charging by the hour allows flexibility, ensuring clients only pay for the time spent on specific tasks. 

Percentage of total budget for large-scale and luxury weddings

Charging a percentage of the total budget is a common pricing model for large-scale and luxury weddings, where the complexity and scale of the event demand more time and resources. Typically ranging from 10% to 20%, this approach aligns your fees with the overall cost of the wedding, ensuring you’re compensated fairly for managing intricate details, high-end vendors, and logistics.

Tiered packages for wedding events with different budgets and service needs

Tiered packages are an effective way to cater to wedding events with varying budgets and service needs. By offering multiple package options—such as basic, standard, and premium—you allow clients to choose the level of service that best fits their budget and requirements. 

This approach helps you appeal to a broader range of clients, making your services accessible to those with different financial expectations.

Evaluate your unique selling points (USPs)

Evaluating your unique selling points (USPs) helps distinguish your wedding business from competitors. Whether it’s personalised service, niche expertise, or offering an ultimate wedding planning guide, highlighting your USPs attracts clients who value these unique qualities. 

Personalised, stress-free wedding planning services 

This approach is all about customising every detail to reflect the couple’s vision while managing all aspects of the wedding. From coordinating vendors to creating timelines, and even handling wedding readings—an area where many couples feel stress— a personalised wedding planning service ensures everything runs smoothly. This lets clients relax and fully enjoy their day, free from the worry of managing logistics and decisions, allowing them to focus on what matters most.

All-inclusive wedding expertise

All-inclusive wedding expertise means offering a wide range of services that cover every aspect of the planning process, from vendor coordination to managing timelines and event design. Providing everything in one package saves clients time, reduces stress, and ensures a seamless experience. 

Adding an ultimate wedding checklist to your services helps clients stay organised, while your professional care ensures no detail is overlooked. This approach offers peace of mind, knowing that all their needs are met with expert attention and care.

Eco-friendly and sustainable weddings 

Green wedding solutions focus on minimising environmental impact by using locally sourced flowers, sustainable materials, and reducing waste. This USP is perfect forcouples who are trying to make environmentally conscious choices, such as using digital invitations, reusable décor, and eco-friendly catering options.

Expertise in intimate and unique weddings

Expertise in smaller, more intimate weddings is also a good USP to consider. For this service, you must ensure that every detail is well-coordinated. 

One good example is arranging the order of wedding speeches. By managing the timeline and guiding the couple and speakers, the planner ensures that each speech happens at the right moment, creating a smooth flow. This attention to detail helps make such intimate and personal celebrations run effortlessly, allowing the couple and their close guests to enjoy every special moment without worrying about the logistics.

Step 4: Explore funding options for your wedding business

Securing funding for your wedding business is an essential first step, and it’s crucial to seek professional advice before making any financial commitments. Consulting with financial planners and local accountants can help you understand the implications of each option and choose the best fit for your business goals. 

Self-funding

Self-funding involves using personal savings or funds from family and friends. This approach allows full control over finances without needing to meet lender requirements, although it also involves using personal financial resources.

Small business loans

Australian banks and financial institutions offer small business loans designed for startups. These loans generally require a business plan, financial projections, and a good credit history. Small business loans can provide the capital needed for startup expenses, with set repayment terms and interest.

Secured and unsecured business loans

Both secured and unsecured business loans are small business loans that can be viable funding options for purchasing initial wedding business supplies, equipment, and transportation assets. 

Secured loans offer manageable, low-interest rates, provided collateral is available. This collateral could include personal assets such as residential properties or assets associated with your wedding business, like vehicles and equipment.

Meanwhile, an unsecured loan offers businesses fast access to funds without collateral. However, they generally have higher interest rates with shorter loan terms than secured loans, so the monthly payments can be higher. 

Government and industry programs

Certain Australian states provide grants and financial support for small businesses, especially those with innovative or eco-friendly services. These programs are structured to assist with initial costs and often have specific application requirements and conditions.

The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) is one of the government programs in Australia that supports job seekers who want to start small businesses. This offers new entrepreneurs mentorship, accredited training, and income support to help them sustain themselves while establishing their businesses without requiring immediate profit. However, NEIS does not directly fund business costs, so startup capital would still need to be sourced separately.

Equity Investment

Startup wedding businesses can secure significant funds without taking on debt that needs immediate repayment through equity investment. It’s a funding option where investors provide money to a business in exchange for ownership shares to get a stake in the company.

There are two types of equity investors: angel investors and venture capitalists (VCs). Angel investors are typically high-net-worth individuals who invest their personal funds into early-stage companies in exchange for equity. Meanwhile, venture capitalists are firms or groups that pool funds from multiple investors to support high-potential businesses.

Step 5: Develop a strategic wedding business plan

Starting a wedding business requires a well-thought-out business plan. This plan will be your roadmap, guiding you through each stage of starting and running your business. 

It should include key elements, such as:

• Executive summary
• Company profile
• Business description
• Market analysis
• Services offered and pricing strategy
• Marketing strategies
• Budget and cash flow forecast
• Operations plan
• Risk mitigation strategy
• Long-term growth plan

Now, let’s dive into the step-by-step process to create a business plan tailored to your wedding business.

Draft an executive summary

First, begin with the executive summary, which is a brief overview of your wedding business and your goals. This section gives readers a quick sense of what your business is all about. Summarise what services you’ll offer, your target market, and what sets you apart from competitors. It’s often best to write this last so it truly reflects the rest of your plan.

Write your wedding business description

Your wedding business plan also needs a clear company description. In this section, outline the foundational details of your wedding business, including its legal business structure (e.g., sole trader, company, partnership, etc.), ownership details, business name, and location. 

Moreover, your company description should describe your business’s vision, mission, and core values. This section will provide essential context as you move into the more operational and financial specifics of your business plan.

Describe your wedding business niche and types of services

The next step is to define the focus of your wedding business, whether it’s full-service wedding planning, day-of coordination, bridal beauty services, or a specific niche such as destination weddings, intimate elopements, or luxury celebrations.

Clarify why you chose this niche and include a brief description of your target market. For instance, your target audience could be couples planning their dream wedding, brides seeking professional hair and makeup services, or individuals looking for unique and personalised wedding experiences such as eco-friendly or cultural celebrations.

Analyse your market and define your customer base

Once you have completed writing your company profile and wedding business niche, it’s time to define your customer base. First, you’ll need to conduct a market analysis to understand your target customers, local competitors, and industry trends. 

From there, outline who your ideal clients are, what they need, and how you plan to serve them better than competitors. This analysis will help you identify market gaps and inform your service offerings.

Outline your wedding services and pricing strategy

Your business plan should also specify the types of wedding services you’ll offer and your pricing approach. Consider the costs of supplies, labour, and other expenses to price competitively yet profitably. Plus, think about whether you’ll offer package deals, discounts for repeat clients, or seasonal promotions.

Detail your marketing and sales plan

For your marketing and sales plan, you need to map out how you’ll attract and retain clients. Detail your marketing channels—such as social media, SEO, or partnerships—and any customer loyalty or referral programs. Think practically about your initial steps to grow your client base and raise brand awareness in your target market.

Create a budget and forecast cash flow

The budget and forecast cash flow is a crucial part of your business plan. For this section, it’s wise to break down your startup costs, monthly operating expenses, and anticipated revenue. 

Include one-time expenses such as equipment and marketing materials, as well as recurring costs like supplies, transportation, and insurance. 

Then, project your cash flow to understand when you’ll reach profitability and how to manage finances through any seasonal ups and downs.

Establish an operations plan

The operations plan details how you’ll manage day-to-day operations, including hiring, training, and scheduling. Here, describe systems you’ll implement to maintain high-quality service, handle customer feedback, and manage bookings or billing. This section is key to ensuring smooth, efficient operations as your business grows.

Develop a risk mitigation strategy 

After the operations plan, develop a risk management plan to address potential challenges and safeguards for your business. Identify key risks when starting a wedding business, such as last-minute cancellations, unreliable vendors, unexpected weather impacting outdoor ceremonies, and liability concerns at wedding venues. Outline safety protocols and detail the types of business insurance coverage needed, like public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance.

Conclude with a long-term growth plan

Lastly, conclude with a long-term growth plan to demonstrate your vision for the future and commitment to sustainable growth. In this section, you need to define both short-term and long-term objectives of your business, such as adding new wedding services, increasing your client base, or expanding to new locations. Outline strategies to retain existing clients, such as loyalty programs, and how you plan to scale your marketing efforts. 

Step 6: Register your wedding business

To start a wedding business, you may need to obtain registrations, wedding business licenses and permits. As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re compliant with all applicable laws and meet your tax obligations. 

For information about registering your business or applying for an ABN, we recommend you check out this helpful information from the Australian government. 

Step 7: Hire your wedding service staff

Building a reliable team for your wedding business is essential for your company’s success and growth. Below, we’ll discuss how you can hire the wedding staff for your business and ensure that they meet your business’s needs.

Write job description

First and foremost, you need to create a job description that highlights your business and what you offer. Be transparent about job duties, hours, pay, employment type and any training opportunities. Describe specific tasks (such as wedding planning, coordinating corporate events, organising social gatherings, or designing themed celebrations) and any qualifications or technical skills required. This helps candidates understand expectations from the start and ensures a good match for the role.

Most candidates also appreciate knowing the pay range, benefits, or potential for growth within the company. If you offer flexible hours, a supportive team environment, or training for new employees, mention these aspects. This can make your ad stand out and attract applicants who genuinely want to be part of a stable, rewarding role in a growing company.

Use local Australian platforms to advertise your job

After crafting the job ad, post it on multiple platforms to maximise its visibility. To reach the best candidates and hire event staff for your wedding business effectively, you may consider advertising on platforms that are popular and effective in Australia, such as:

• SEEK – Australia’s largest job board, ideal for professional job seekers across industries.
• Indeed Australia – a wide-reaching job platform, popular among full-time and part-time job seekers.
• Jora – a job aggregator that pulls listings from various sources, increasing visibility.
• Workforce Australia – a free job advertising service from the government, suitable for small business owners.

You might also consider posting on social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram if you have a business page. For a local touch, posting on community boards or participating in job fairs can attract applicants in your area. 

Don’t overlook employee referrals, either—current employees often know reliable candidates, and offering a referral bonus can incentivise them to help bring in great new hires.

Screen and interview thoughtfully

As applications start coming in, review them carefully to find candidates with the right qualifications and experience. Conduct initial interviews with the most promising applicants to gauge their interest in the role, wedding coordination skills, and alignment with your business. 

This is the perfect chance to ask questions that reveal their previous experience, problem-solving abilities, and reliability. For example, you might ask how they managed difficult weddings in the past, dealt with last-minute changes or unexpected challenges, handled uncooperative vendors or logistical issues, or met tight deadlines while delivering a flawless and memorable experience for their clients.

It’s also helpful to perform criminal history checks and reference checks to ensure the trustworthiness of your candidates. This is particularly important if your wedding staff will work in sensitive environments like offices or schools. A quick call to past employers can provide insight into their reliability, history, and work quality. 

Make an offer and onboard your new hire

When you’ve selected your top candidate, make a clear and detailed job offer that outlines pay, benefits, work hours, and expectations. 

Once they’ve accepted your offer, the next step is running a smooth onboarding process to set up your new hires for success. Start with training sessions to introduce them to your wedding business’s standards, client communication protocols, and the specific workflows or tools they’ll use to ensure flawless wedding coordination.

If possible, have them shadow an experienced team member for their first few shifts so they can learn on the job. After their first week, check in with them and provide feedback to support their improvement and integration into the team.

Offer ongoing support and fair treatment

A supportive work environment promotes employee retention. Openly address concerns about shifts, workload, and safety. This initiative will help create a positive workplace culture that encourages loyalty and productivity among your team members. 

Step 8: Invest in the right wedding tools and resources

Investing in quality tools, equipment, and materials is essential to running a successful wedding business. From planning software to premium decor and equipment, these resources ensure seamless operations and a flawless experience for clients. 

Bear in mind, though, that each wedding business niche requires specialised tools and resources. Here’s a breakdown of some key items and their estimated costs:

Wedding Business Tools and Resources	Price Range	Where to Buy
Wedding planning software	Free – $50/month	Easy Weddings planning tools, WedSites
Decorations and supplies	$100 – $1,000/event	Wholesale Wedding Superstore, Gems Wedding Supplies
Tableware and furniture rentals	$200 – $2,000/event	Harry the Hirer, Event Artillery
Stationery and print materials	$50 – $500	Vistaprint, Officeworks
Professional camera for wedding photos	$500 – $3,000	CameraPro, DigiDirect
Portable sound system	$300 – $2,000	DJ City, Store DJ
Walkie-talkies (for team communication)	$50 – $200	Officeworks, Jaycar
Backdrop and lighting equipment	$150 – $1,500	Hypop, Spotlight
Promotional materials (e.g., signage)	$100 – $500	Vistaprint, Officeworks

Note: Prices are approximate and may vary depending on retailers, brands, and product quality.

Step 9: Find clients for your wedding business

If you’re wondering how to get wedding clients, focus on building a strong online presence, networking with local vendors, and displaying your work on social media. Collecting client reviews, running promotions, and encouraging referrals can also help attract new business and strengthen your reputation in the wedding industry.

Expand your online presence

Expanding your online presence is essential for attracting more clients to your wedding business. A strong online presence helps build trust, connect with a broader audience, and generate more leads.

Build your wedding business website

A website is essential for establishing your wedding business’s credibility and providing clients with easy access to your services. It allows potential clients to learn about your offerings, view testimonials, and request quotes directly. Working with a web designer can ensure a user-friendly, optimised site that effectively showcases your services and improves search visibility.

To guide you, we’ve compiled examples of successful wedding business websites that display the effectiveness of building a good website to boost brand credibility and improve customer experience. 

Florisian Floral Design

The Florisian Floral Design website keeps it simple, focusing solely on showcasing stunning floral arrangements. The clean design highlights their portfolio of beautiful creations, letting the flowers speak for themselves. With minimal distractions, the site offers a straightforward view of their work, allowing clients to easily browse and appreciate the vendor’s skill in crafting the perfect floral designs for weddings.

Sharon Munro Weddings

The website of Sharon Munro Weddings delivers a direct, high-end message, luring potential clients with compelling copy that speaks to their desire for an extraordinary wedding experience. 

Beautiful, captivating wedding photographs are strategically displayed throughout, giving prospective clients a glimpse into how their own big day could look. With its sleek, polished design and attention-grabbing visuals, the site positions the vendor as the go-to choice for couples seeking a luxurious, unforgettable celebration.

Your Unique Occasion

Your Unique Occasion’s website effectively showcases the variety of celebrations the vendor caters to, highlighting their expertise in creating unforgettable experiences for different types of events. It clearly outlines the process, giving potential clients a transparent view of what to expect. 

By explaining the steps involved and what the vendor can do for them, the site helps clients feel confident and excited about booking, offering a clear path from initial inquiry to the final celebration.

Post on lead generation platforms

Posting on lead-generation platforms is one of the most effective ways for wedding businesses to find clients. These platforms connect you directly with clients actively searching for wedding services, providing an immediate source of leads. 

Oneflare, in particular, allows you to showcase your wedding coordination expertise without upfront fees, making it easier to attract clients with minimal risk. This platform’s job posting system helps bring in quality leads and enables you to specify job types, budgets, and locations, so you can target projects that fit your capabilities and business goals.

Get started on Oneflare by registering your wedding business today—connect with clients, post targeted jobs, and grow your business with ease!

SEO and paid search for visibility

SEO and paid search improve your website’s visibility in search engine results, attracting organic traffic. While effective, SEO requires regular updates and can be costly in competitive areas. Consulting an SEO specialist helps implement ranking strategies to boost your business’s online presence.

Social media advertising

Social media advertising helps you reach a wide audience and showcase your wedding-related work and portfolio visually. Targeted ads on Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok can attract local clients, but maintaining a presence requires ongoing posting and budget management. A social media manager can optimise your campaigns for consistent engagement.

The following sections provide samples to inspire you and give you an idea of how social media advertising works. They showcase effective strategies for boosting a wedding business’s visibility on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. 

Apostolakis, Eva – Facebook advertising

Eva Hair and Makeup Facebook account beautifully showcases their creative expertise through stunning photos and videos of elegant bridal hairstyles. With each post, the stylist highlights intricate updos, flowing curls, and flawless finishes, offering a glimpse into their artistry. 

The account provides inspiration for brides-to-be, emphasising attention to detail and personalised styling that enhances the bride’s natural beauty on her special day.

Love is Light Wedding Photography – Instagram advertising

This Love is Light Wedding Photography Instagram account, with nearly 3,000 followers, features a stunning collection of candid, heartfelt photos capturing the raw emotion and beauty of weddings. Each post showcases natural moments and genuine connections, highlighting the photographer’s ability to tell a compelling story through images. This is effective in attracting engaged couples seeking a photographer with a talent for storytelling.

Hannah Senam Makeup Artist – Tiktok advertising

The Tiktok account of Hannah Senam Makeup Artist with over 44K followers, specialises in bridal glam, showcasing stunning transformations. Each video highlights the step-by-step process, revealing the artistry behind flawless, personalised wedding looks. The account also leverages the platform’s viral potential to reach a wider audience and attract more clients.

Build your wedding business’s reputation through reviews and referrals

A strong reputation is key to long-term success. Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews on your website or lead platforms like Oneflare to boost credibility and attract new wedding clients. Consistent reviews on a platform ensure reliable feedback, helping potential clients trust your quality.

Take bookings and manage quotes efficiently

Responding quickly to quote requests can also help you win wedding-related jobs, as clients often select the first reliable response. In fact, Oneflare data reveals that 60% of winning quotes are submitted within 60 minutes of the job posting, highlighting that faster quotes significantly boost job success rates. 

Here are some tools that can help with automated booking and quoting:

• Calendly – Enables easy scheduling by allowing clients to book available time slots directly, reducing back-and-forth communication.
• Square Appointments – Provides booking, invoicing, and payment processing in one platform, helping streamline the client experience.
• Setmore – Offers online booking with customisable reminders, plus client management and integration with social media for easy appointment setting.
• HoneyBook – Combines booking, quoting, and invoicing, letting you automate responses and manage projects all in one place.
• Zoho Bookings – Integrates with Zoho CRM to manage client relationships, offers automated reminders, and allows for easy rescheduling.

These tools help you automate responses, manage quote requests, and follow up with clients, ensuring that no lead falls through the cracks.

Step 10: Get paid for your wedding services!

Now that you have everything set up, from choosing your business niche and setting up your service area, to finally finding your clients, it’s time to finally get paid for your wedding services. Here’s how:

Choose a reliable accounting software

Managing payments is a lot easier with a dedicated accounting system. This will save you time, reduce errors, and give you a clear picture of your finances.

Some popular accounting software options commonly used in Australia are:

• Xero – easy-to-use software with invoicing, bank feeds, and reporting.
• MYOB – offers payroll, tax tracking, and inventory management.
• QuickBooks Online – handles invoicing, expense tracking, and payments.
• Reckon One – customisable and budget-friendly, with modules for payroll and invoicing.
• Sage Business Cloud Accounting – simple solution for expense tracking and payroll.

Create a wedding business invoice 

Creating a professional invoice template is essential to get paid quickly. The invoice should clearly list your services, rates, and payment terms. 

Many accounting platforms offer customisable wedding invoice templates, but you can start with free templates and modify them as needed. Consider these free wedding invoice templates as a guide:

Canva’s wedding invoice templates

It’s easily customisable with fields for services, rates, and payment terms. You can also add your logo and other brand elements to maintain consistency across all client communications.

Conta’s wedding invoice templates

It provides a customisable, downloadable template specifically tailored for various businesses, like wedding businesses. The good thing about these templates is that they’re compatible with Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and Excel, allowing you to easily tailor them as needed.

Microsoft Office’s wedding invoice templates

It offers free invoice templates that are straightforward and professional and can be saved as a PDF. Even better, they have Excel-based templates that can automate calculations, streamlining the billing process and reducing errors.

Zoho’s wedding invoice templates

The template offers a clean and organized layout, ensuring clarity and professionalism in client communications. It includes essential sections such as service details, additional charges, taxes, and terms and conditions, facilitating accurate and transparent billing.

Set up a bank account for business payments

Separating personal and business finances with a dedicated bank account makes it easier to track income, manage deposits, and handle reconciliations. Most banks offer online options specifically for businesses, streamlining all your financial needs in one place.

Offer digital payment options

Make payments easy and convenient for clients by providing digital options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit cards, and bank transfers. Many clients, especially those booking wedding services through platforms like Oneflare, prefer the flexibility of paying directly from their devices. Offering digital payments not only enhances client satisfaction but also speeds up the payment process, helping you maintain a reliable cash flow.

Establish clear payment terms

Define your payment terms upfront to avoid confusion—include due dates, late fees, and preferred payment methods. Clear terms, such as a 14-day payment window, help maintain a steady cash flow and foster professional client relationships.

Start growing your wedding business today – register on Oneflare

Starting your wedding business is like designing the perfect wedding: you need to focus on every detail. From refining your services to building an online presence, it all contributes to a successful wedding business.

Ready to create your dream business? Register your services on Oneflare and connect with couples seeking skilled wedding professionals. Oneflare is the ideal platform to showcase your expertise and grow your client base.

Start today, and watch your wedding business flourish like the perfect celebration!

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FAQs on how to start a wedding business

How do you build a strong relationship with wedding vendors and suppliers?

Building a strong relationship with wedding vendors and suppliers starts with clear communication and mutual respect. Always be professional, punctual, and transparent about expectations. Networking at events, showing appreciation for their work, and referring clients to trusted vendors can also help strengthen these connections, leading to long-term partnerships.

How to stay on top of wedding trends?

Stay on top of wedding trends by following industry blogs, social media, and magazines. Attend bridal shows and networking events, and stay connected with other vendors. Joining industry groups and experimenting with new ideas in your work will help you stay relevant and inspire your clients with fresh trends.

How much does it cost to start a wedding business?

The cost to start a wedding business can range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your services. For a small-scale operation, you may only need expenses for a website ($500–$2,000), marketing ($500–$1,500), and basic equipment or supplies ($500–$2,000). If you’re offering higher-end services or need specialised equipment, the cost may increase. Careful planning can help you manage these costs while building a solid foundation for your business.