Business, General Tips, Your Event Career
How to Boost Revenue for Your Wedding Planning Business
Running a wedding planning business can be extremely lucrative, but it’s not always easy to generate the same level of revenue month after month. In this article, we’ll reveal how to boost revenue for your wedding planning business.
We’ll cover everything from getting more bookings to increasing sales for your products and services. So, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the business for a while, read on for some valuable tips!
Not yet a certified wedding planner but dream of becoming one? Learn how to become a wedding planner in 6 easy steps!
Where Do Wedding Planners Make the Most Money?
Most certified wedding planners make the majority of their money through commissions. Commissions are typically a percentage of the total cost of the wedding that they are planning.
For example, if a client spends $30,000 on their wedding, and the commission rate is 15%, the planner would make $4500 from that single event.
While commissions are the primary source of income for most planners, there are other ways to boost revenue. For example, you can increase your commission rate if you’re not happy with the amount of money you’re making from each wedding. Of course, you’ll need to be able to justify the increase to your clients. So, make sure you have solid reasoning to support your decision to increase your commission rate.
You can also generate revenue by selling products and services related to weddings. This could include anything from wedding favors to bridal gowns. If you have a brick-and-mortar store, you can also make money from sales of items in your inventory.
Of course, generating more revenue is not always easy. If you’re struggling to boost revenue for your wedding planning business, keep reading—because we’ll be revealing some extremely helpful tips shortly!
Who Is the Target Audience for a Wedding Planner?
The target audience for a wedding planner is, of course, couples who are planning their weddings!
It’s important to remember that not all couples are created equal. Some may be planning a large, lavish affair while others may be planning a more intimate gathering. And while some couples may be willing to spend a lot of money on their wedding, others may be working with a tight budget.
So, when you’re trying to boost revenue for your wedding planning business, it’s important to keep your target audience in mind. After all, you’ll need to tailor your marketing and sales strategies to appeal to the couples that you want to work with.
Increase Wedding Planning Sales: How to Get Clients for Your Business
One of the best ways to get clients for your wedding planning business is through referrals. If you do a good job planning someone’s wedding, they’re likely to recommend you to their friends and family members who are also getting married.
Of course, you can’t rely on referrals alone. You’ll also need to do some active marketing to attract new clients.
Some effective marketing strategies for wedding planners include online advertising, print advertising, and attending bridal shows. You can also generate leads by offering free consultations to potential clients.
An Example of a Marketing Plan for Wedding Planners
If you’re not sure where to start with your marketing, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered!
Here’s an example of a marketing plan that you can use to attract new clients for your wedding planning business:
- Create a website and make sure it’s optimized for search engines.
- Use social media to promote your business and interact with potential clients.
- Write blog posts about wedding planning tips and share them on social media and your website.
- Attend bridal shows and other events related to weddings.
- Advertise in local wedding magazines and other publications.
- Offer free consultations to potential clients.
Furthermore, there are all sorts of resources online that can help you put together a marketing plan for your wedding planning business. HubSpot, for instance, breaks down 46 marketing plan ideas for small businesses!
Wedding Planner Social Media Strategy
Social media is a powerful marketing tool that you can use to attract new clients and boost revenue for your wedding planning business. So, how can you maximize this to your advantage?
Here are some tips for using social media to market your wedding planning business:
- Use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to interact with potential clients and promote your services.
- Create social media ads targeting couples who are getting married.
- Use social media to share blog posts, articles, and other content related to weddings.
- Join relevant online communities and forums related to weddings and wedding planning.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful social media strategy for your wedding planning business!
PRO TIP: QC Event School‘s self-paced, online Event & Wedding Planning certification course has an entire unit devoted to business training. As a result, by the time you graduate, you’ll be a pro at marketing and will know how to get your name out there!
How Do You Target a Wedding Planner?
Of course, networking is a strategy that will be key to your long-term success. As such, it’s important that you not only target potential clients, but other wedding planners, too. In doing so, you’ll be able to build relationships, get referrals, and collaborate on projects.
There are a few different ways that you can target other wedding planners, such as:
- Getting involved with local wedding planning associations and attend events.
- Attending bridal shows and other industry events.
- Connecting with other planners on social media and online forums.
- Collaborating with other vendors in the wedding industry.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to targeting other wedding planners and building your professional network!
What Is the Biggest Challenge for a Wedding Planning Business?
The biggest challenge for a wedding planning business is generating consistent revenue.
Wedding planners typically have busy seasons and slower seasons. For example, summer is often a very popular time to get married, which means that most planners are extremely busy during those months.
But what do you do during the slower months? How can you generate revenue when you’re not booking as many weddings?
The answer is simple: you need to find ways to generate revenue during the slower months. And that’s exactly what we’ll be discussing in the next section!
How to Boost Revenue for Your Wedding Planning Business
Now that we’ve gone over some of the ways that you can attract new clients, let’s talk about how you can boost revenue for your wedding planning business. There are a few different ways that you can do this…
1. Offer Discounts and Promotions
Discounts and promotions can be a great way to attract new clients and boost revenue during slower periods. For example, you could offer a discount to couples who book their wedding during the off-season. Or, you could create special packages for couples who are planning a last-minute wedding.
Other client incentives that your business can offer include:
- Referral discounts: offer a discount to clients who refer other couples to your business.
- Bulk discounts: offer a discount to couples who book multiple services from your business.
- BOGO offers: offer a complementary service (such as a day-of coordination package) when a couple books another service (such as full-service wedding planning).
- Free consultations: offer a free wedding planning consultation with clients looking to book with you for the first time.
By offering discounts and promotions, you’ll be able to attract new business and increase sales—especially during the slower months!
2. Create Wedding Packages
Another great way to boost revenue for your wedding planning business is by creating wedding packages. This could include offering a discount if a couple books multiple services from your business, or creating special packages for specific types of weddings (such as destination weddings or elopements).
Wedding packages are a great way to upsell couples on additional services that they may not have originally considered. For example, you could create a package that includes discounts on photography, videography, flowers, and transportation. By doing this, you’ll be able to increase the average order value—and boost revenue for your business!
3. Offer Add-On Services
In addition to creating wedding packages, you can also boost revenue by offering add-on services. These are services that are not essential to the planning process, but can be a nice addition for couples who are looking for a little bit extra.
Some examples of add-on services include:
- Day-of coordination
- Event decorating
- Floral design
- Rehearsal dinner planning
- Bachelor/ette party planning
- Wedding day transportation
- Welcome bags for out-of-town guests
When you offer these types of services, you’re increasing the average order value and boosting revenue for your wedding planning business in the process! Plus, because you’re providing more services all under one roof, clients will be more inclined to book multiple services with you—rather than seeking them out elsewhere!
PRO TIP: Did you know that QC Event School also offers online certification courses for Event Decor and Floral Design? It’s true! Our wide list of industry training programs will make you a true Jack-of-all-trades when it comes to all things wedding-related!
4. Sell Products Related to Weddings
In addition to offering services, you can also boost revenue for your wedding planning business by selling products related to weddings. This could include anything from wedding dresses and bridal accessories to invitations and favors.
By selling products related to weddings, you’ll be able to attract a wider range of clients—not just couples who are looking to book a planner, but also those who are looking for specific wedding-related items. And, because you’ll be the one providing these items, you’ll be able to markup the price and increase profits!
5. Keep Track of How Much Time You Spend per Wedding
One of the best ways to boost revenue for your wedding planning business is by keeping track of how much time you spend per wedding. This may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple!
All you need to do is create a spreadsheet (or use a wedding planning software) to track the amount of time you spend on each wedding. This could include anything from initial consultations and vendor meetings to day-of coordination and post-wedding follow-ups.
By tracking your time, you’ll be able to see exactly how much you’re spending on each wedding—and make adjustments accordingly. For example, if you’re spending too much time on initial consultations, you could start charging for them. Or, if you’re spending too much time on day-of coordination, you could start offering it as an add-on service!
By tracking your time and making adjustments accordingly, you’ll be able to boost revenue for your wedding planning business—without sacrificing the quality of your services!
6. Create Partnerships with Local Wedding Vendors
Another great way to boost revenue for your wedding planning business is by partnering with wedding vendors. This could include anything from bakeries and florists to venues and photographers.
By creating partnerships with local vendors, you’ll be able to offer discounts to your clients. In turn, this will save them money and make them more likely to book with you! Plus, you’ll be able to earn a commission on any referrals that you make—giving you a little extra income in the process!
It’s also worth noting that when you partner with wedding vendors, you’re also increasing your chances of these vendors referring you to their clients as well. So, not only will you be able to boost revenue for your wedding planning business… But you’ll also be able to attract new clients in the process, too.
If you’re not sure how to approach the vendors you’d like to work with, EBQ offers a 3-step strategy that’ll help you get the ball rolling!
7. Make the Most of Your Positive Reviews or Testimonials
Next, it’s important to make the most of your positive reviews and testimonials. This could include anything from sharing them on social media to using them in your marketing materials.
By making the most of your positive reviews and testimonials, you’ll be able to attract more clients and boost revenue for your wedding planning business at the same time. What’s more, you’ll be able to build trust and credibility with potential clients, which is always a good thing!
8. Develop Strong Workflows and Put Them into Place
As a professional wedding planner, it’s important to have strong workflows in place. This means having a system for everything—from initial consultations to day-of coordination and post-wedding follow-ups.
By having strong workflows in place, you’ll be able to streamline your business and make things run more smoothly. In turn, this will save you time. And, of course, you can then use this newfound free time to attract new clients and boost revenue for your wedding planning business!
Want to try creating a workflow online, so you can keep track of your performance? Try out Kissflow’s step-by-step strategy!
9. Offer Virtual and/or Hybrid Wedding Planning Business Services
These days, more and more couples are opting for virtual and/or hybrid weddings (a.k.a. a wedding that has both in-person and virtual elements). As a wedding planner, this is something you should definitely take advantage of!
By offering virtual and/or hybrid wedding planning services, you can offer your clients the ability to plan their weddings completely online—without ever having to meet in person! This is a great option for couples who live far away or who have busy schedules. As a result, you’ll be able to attract more clients and boost revenue for your wedding planning business.
If you’re not sure how to get started with offering virtual and/or hybrid wedding planning services, QC Event School offers a 1-unit Virtual Events Training mini course that you can complete in less than a month!
10. Put Together a Profit and Loss Document and Keep Track of It
A profit/loss document will help you see just how much revenue you’re generating for your wedding planning business—and where you can make improvements.
By tracking your progress, you’ll be able to identify areas where you need to make changes. For example, if you notice that you’re not making as much money as you’d like, you can adjust your prices or find new ways to boost revenue. On the other hand, if you’re doing well, you can use this information to reinvest in your business and continue growing!
There are a number of different ways to keep track of your profit/loss document. You could use something as simple as a spreadsheet or you could invest in accounting software like QuickBooks.
No matter how you choose to do it, tracking your progress is a great way to boost revenue for your wedding planning business!
11. Get Yourself Published
As a wedding planner, it’s important to get yourself published. This could include anything from writing articles for wedding planning websites to being featured in magazines or blogs.
By working with publications, you’ll be able to show potential clients that you’re an expert in your field. As a result, you’ll be able to attract more business, increase sales, and boost revenue for your wedding planning business.
Furthermore, this strategy can also increase your likelihood of building backlinks for your business website. When you do this, you’re creating authority for your website, which will make it more likely to appear in search engine results whenever someone is looking for a wedding planner in your area. From an SEO perspective, this is a smart idea because it establishes your wedding planning business as a subject-matter expert and betters your chances of people wanting to hire you.
12. Make SEO a Prioritization
On the topic of SEO (search engine optimization), this should be a priority for your website if you want to rank high on Google and other search engines. SEO will help your website become more visible online, which is essential if you want to attract new clients and boost revenue for your wedding planning business.
There are a number of different things you can do to improve your website’s SEO. This includes things like optimizing your website for search engines, using keyword-rich titles and descriptions, and creating high-quality content.
If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of resources and free certificate courses available online that can help you get started with SEO for your wedding planning business. MOZ’s Beginner’s Guide to SEO is a great example. Alternatively, you could also hire an SEO expert to help you out.
How to Boost Wedding Planning Revenue: Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has given you some ideas on how to boost revenue for your wedding planning business. Remember, it’s important to always be thinking of new ways to attract clients and increase sales. By doing this, you’ll be able to ensure that your business is always growing and generating more income.
If you have any questions or would like to share your own tips on how to boost revenue for a wedding planning business, feel free to leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading—and happy planning!
Enroll with QC Event School today and become an internationally-certified wedding planner in as little as 3 short months!
