upgrade your clients

power in purpose podcast

Join My Mastermind

shop the shop

Grab tools and resources to instantly level up your wedding biz. From pricing calculators to email templates, business processes to swipe files... the Candice Coppola Shop has it all.

hey there!

I believe that entrepreneurs who lead with their purpose are more successful, less likely to burn out, and deeply connected to why they do what they do. 

I help women like you build a profitable business with purpose.

close menu

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME

For Wedding Planners

get biz tools

take the brand strategy quiz

shop wedding planner tools

join my mastermind

join planner's playbook

start a wedding planning biz

Black Friday Sale

shop the sale

our biggest sale of the year!

Take 35% off all our business tools today through 12/2. Use Code TREATYOSELF2024

bundles, playbooks, templates & more!

Now through 12/2. Use the code "TREATYOSELF2024" at checkout.

GIVING YOUR BIZ A GLOW-UP has never been easier.

EVERYTHING IS 35% OFF

EVERYTHING IS 35% OFF

Get our New Client Onboarding Template as a free gift with every order! This canva template will help you onboard your planning clients and set the tone for planning. 🎉

free gift with purchase!

shop wedding planner tools & templates

Growing a Business

How To Go From Side Hustle To Full Time Wedding Planner in 2024

September 13, 2024

is honeybook the right fit for your biz?
how to get your first client
8 free af ways to market your biz
Now Trending:
I'm candice!

I'm Candice, your new tell-it-like-it-is BFF (and purpose cheerleader). Are you ready to grow and scale a profitable business with purpose–and one that gives back to your meaningful life? Thought so!

hello,

What's your brand cocktail for success?

take the quiz

*cues up to the bar* Let's start the tab, shall we? Take the quiz and find your brand cocktail for success.

I decided to become a wedding planner during a few sick days off from work in 2007, curled up on the couch, binge-watching wedding shows. I was working a job I absolutely hated, so making the leap from side hustle to full-time wedding planner was a pretty big priority for me. Can you relate? Whether you love your day job or not, working while building a business is pretty damn exhausting. And almost every side hustling wedding planner I know is longing for the day they can quit their job and go full time! Inside this article, I'm sharing with you how to go from side hustle to full time wedding planner.

As I reflected on some of the wins we had in my mastermind during 2024, one of the things I am most proud of is how many wedding planners quit their day jobs last year and took their wedding business full time. And might I add, they've done it while we're still in the middle of a pandemic! Even though there's still some level of uncertainty around us, women are building businesses they love and, best of all, trusting themselves to make it happen.

While I don't think you need to (or should!) quit your job with your last $7 in your pocket to go “all in”, I do have just a little advice if you have “become a full time wedding planner” on your 2024 vision board.

 Inside this article, I'm sharing with you how to go from side hustle to full time wedding planner. Whether you love your day job or not, working while building a business is pretty damn exhausting. And almost every side hustling wedding planner I know is longing for the day they can quit their job and go full time! Here are the steps you need to take to go full time with your wedding planning business.

First, talk with your partner (if applicable) about your plans.

Going from a side hustle to a full-time wedding planner is not something you want to tackle alone. Don't get me wrong, you don't need a supportive partner to succeed, but it can certainly make things easier. Plus, you have the chance to address any concerns they might have upfront. Is your partner worried about you working all the time? Now is a great time to set some working hour boundaries. Are they worried about the income fluctuation that entrepreneurship can notoriously bring? Talk to them about what they need to feel comfortable (so that they can support YOU and cheer you on when you make the leap!).

If you don't have a partner, consider a friend with similar goals to talk to and hold each other accountable. It can be scary to quit a “secure job” (if there really is such a thing!). Sharing your goals and getting an outside perspective from someone who cares about you can help you see blind spots (AND opportunities) as you take the next step in your business.

Create a plan to quit your 9-5 (and set an end date!)

My two cents? Make this plan realistic but still ambitious. Like I said in the beginning, I'm not one to encourage you to leap and hope the net appears. Once you have talked to your partner, it's time to create a plan to quit your 9-5. You probably already know you need to start a savings account (more on that next!), but you also want to make a list of what you need to have in place before you are ready to hand in your two weeks' notice. Think about what your job is giving you that you'll need to replace (like health insurance and/or a retirement plan).

On top of that, think about what you want to be set up in your wedding business before quitting your day job. Perhaps you want to book a certain number of clients, finally, get your CRM setup complete, or launch your new and improved website. Creating a goal to work toward, with your full time badge as a reward, is a good idea.

Free course on starting a wedding planning business.

Save at least 3 months of income to cover your expenses

Possibly the least sexy part about becoming a full time wedding planner, right? As a general rule, I recommend saving at least 3 months of income to cover your expenses before you quit your day job. Although I have no doubt that you can hustle and make it work no matter what, having a savings account to fall back on ensures that during your first months as a full time wedding planner, you don't make decisions out of scarcity.

Here's the tea – taking on low-paying clients or ignoring red flags to get the sale (and pay your rent!) are just never worth it in the wedding industry. Seriously, as a full time wedding planner, you might work with each client for a year (or three, if heaven forbid events keep postponing in your area because of a global pandemic or something else unprecedented). Having a savings account helps keep off those rose-colored glasses and ensures you are making the right decisions for your business.

The other sad truth? Shitty clients are like a magnet for more shitty clients. If you don't know yet who your ideal clients are, I created the client cocktail for you to have this part of your business plan figured out this weekend.

 Inside this article, I'm sharing with you how to go from side hustle to full time wedding planner. Whether you love your day job or not, working while building a business is pretty damn exhausting. And almost every side hustling wedding planner I know is longing for the day they can quit their job and go full time! Here are the steps you need to take to go full time with your wedding planning business.

While you are building your savings account, write your business plan.

Despite what some business gurus online are screaming at you, you don't have to wing it. In fact, I don't think you should. I'm a big fan of creating a solid business plan right from the start so you can have a strategy to move forward. If you already have one for your side hustle, pull that baby out and do a check-in. Are you still working on your plan? Are there any changes you want to make moving forward as you embark on your journey as a full time wedding planner?

If you've never built a business plan, you are not alone. I created a guide to writing your business plan outline, and it's still one of the most popular downloads in my freebie shop (that's right – you can shop here for FREE). Not only will your business plan (hopefully!) help you cement your vision, but it will force you to put pen to paper on what it will really take to make your dream a reality. If you need a little extra nudge – make sure to read this post on what a business plan will reveal in your wedding business.

As you can tell, this is something I get pretty fired up about because I KNOW it's one of those steps you want to skip. But trust me, spend a little extra time on this one, and it won't go to waste.

Invest in business coaching and/or community

I'm a firm believer that you shouldn't do business (or happy hour) alone. As a wedding planner coach for over a decade now, it's probably not a surprise that I believe, before you take one of the biggest business leaps, you should invest in a business coach who has been where you want to go. I don't believe there is a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to coaching, either. If you are reading this and think I might be someone you want in your back pocket, you can learn more about different ways to work with me here.

Wondering what to invest in first? Here's a cheat sheet:

  • If you are a wedding planner with less than 5 years in the industry, it's time to join The Planner's Playbook. There is even a community component to help you connect with other full time wedding planners inside (and it just might be your favorite part).
  • If you are ready to scale your business (I'm talking about growing your team, diversifying your revenue, and more), apply to join me in my signature group coaching program: WeddingPro Insiders.
  • Finally, If you don't have ideal clients knocking on your door asking to work with you (yet), sign up now for instant access to my client cocktail.

The easiest way to get to where you want to go is to learn from someone who has done it before you. With that said, if, for whatever reason, you don't want to invest in business coaching right now, I want to encourage you to still find community. The wedding industry is truly like no other. What better time to start curating and cultivating strong relationships than BEFORE you need them? Be intentional and pour into your community while you have the time to do so.

 Inside this article, I'm sharing with you how to go from side hustle to full time wedding planner. Whether you love your day job or not, working while building a business is pretty damn exhausting. And almost every side hustling wedding planner I know is longing for the day they can quit their job and go full time! Here are the steps you need to take to go full time with your wedding planning business.

Next, Increase Your Prices (probably).

When you first set your prices, what did you do? If you are like most wedding planners, you either looked at what those around you were charging and chose something that was equal to or less than the “going rate,” OR you found an hourly rate you were comfortable with and started there. I hope that served you well so far (you don't want to burn out even BEFORE you are a full time wedding planner). However, before you take the leap and go full time, I want you to take another look at your pricing page.

Here are *just a few* things you need to think about when setting your wedding planner prices:

  • Do your prices leave room to invest in your business? Education is lifelong, and you want to set your pricing so you have room to attend those dreamy wedding conferences that are on your vision board.
  • What about outsourcing? If your dream business idea has you working 20 hours a week and making a 6 figure salary, does your pricing include room to outsource the things you have no desire to do?
  • If you continue to sell your current packages, do you have room to pay for the things you (as an employee) need? Health insurance? Retirement funds? 
  • Is your business making a profit? After it pays YOU what you want to make?

Maybe you need to raise your prices, and maybe you need to scale back your offerings. Regardless, give your services page another look before you take the leap and go full time to make sure you are building both the business AND life that you want. As a business coach for wedding planners, this is a question I get asked about (a LOT), so if you want a little extra reading, check out this post on how much to charge as a wedding planner.

Take the leap – you've done hard things before.

When I write these blogs, I'm pretty intentional about keeping them “no fluff.” But listen, you've done hard things before. I don't want this list of things to do before you quit your 9-5 to keep you stuck. That's NOT the goal. Instead, I want you to follow these steps while taking messy action and doing the thing anyway. You CAN do this.

Looking for your own community of wedding planners? I would love to invite you to join us inside the Planner's Playbook. This membership was created to set up new wedding planners for a lifetime of success in the wedding industry. And the community is truly icing on the cake. If you haven't found your people yet, they just might be in there!

Explore More Wedding Industry Resources

For More Wedding Planner Business Secrets Follow Me On Instagram

Jason and I have been hosting Friendsgiving for 11 years - and each year is filled with so many great memories! 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I grew up celebrating with big family gatherings and dinners. It was so special to me, and when I moved to Barbados, I wanted to share that special holiday with all my friends here.

Over the years we’ve hosted small groups and big groups, made new friends and reconnected with old, cooked turkeys, shared bottles of wine, and started the holiday season together. 

This year was extra special, since it was the first time we hosted this holiday in our new home. Funny enough when we looked at this house the first time, Jason and I pictured this very night on the veranda - and loved this house because of the special gatherings we knew we could host here!

So happy Friendsgiving! I love these people so much. See this as your sign to do something special with your friends during the holidays. Make the time. Make the effort. It’s always worth it!
#friendsgiving #christmas2024
The tools you’ve been eyeing? They’re on sale now!

💥 Black Friday is here, and you can take 35% off EVERYTHING in my shop—yes, everything!

✔️ Streamlined workflows
✔️ Customizable templates
✔️ Business-building resources

This is your sign to level up your wedding planning biz without breaking the bank. Sale ends soon—don’t miss out!

Here are some of the hottest products in our shop (aka the ones planner’s DM me about and say OMG THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOURCE!)

🔥 How To Price Your Planning Services For Profit (because you deserve to make a living)
🔥 The Wedding Rental Revenue Strategy (my secret sauce to making $$ off rentals other people own!)
🔥 Mastering Tented Weddings (your “here’s everything you need to know” strategy on how to plan, design, and coordinate tented weddings)
🔥 Home Weddings 101: A Planner’s Guide To Private Estate Weddings (steal my exact process for working with home wedding clients)
🔥 Client Communication Guides (dozens of send it and forget it templates to keep your clients busy and not breathing down your back)

Grab Your Favorites Here: https://shop.candicecoppola.com/

#candicecoppola #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #weddingplannerlife #lifeofaweddingplanner #weddingplannereducation #weddingplannermentor #weddingindustry
The tools you’ve been eyeing? They’re on sale now!

💥 Black Friday is here, and you can take 35% off EVERYTHING in my shop—yes, everything!

✔️ Streamlined workflows
✔️ Customizable templates
✔️ Business-building resources

This is your sign to level up your wedding planning biz without breaking the bank. Sale ends soon—don’t miss out!

Here are some of the hottest products in our shop (aka the ones planner’s DM me about and say OMG THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOURCE!)

🔥 How To Price Your Planning Services For Profit (because you deserve to make a living)
🔥 The Wedding Rental Revenue Strategy (my secret sauce to making $$ off rentals other people own!)
🔥 Mastering Tented Weddings (your “here’s everything you need to know” strategy on how to plan, design, and coordinate tented weddings)
🔥 Home Weddings 101: A Planner’s Guide To Private Estate Weddings (steal my exact process for working with home wedding clients)
🔥 Client Communication Guides (dozens of send it and forget it templates to keep your clients busy and not breathing down your back)

Grab Your Favorites Here: https://shop.candicecoppola.com/

#candicecoppola #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #weddingplannerlife #lifeofaweddingplanner #weddingplannereducation #weddingplannermentor #weddingindustry
The tools you’ve been eyeing? They’re on sale now!

💥 Black Friday is here, and you can take 35% off EVERYTHING in my shop—yes, everything!

✔️ Streamlined workflows
✔️ Customizable templates
✔️ Business-building resources

This is your sign to level up your wedding planning biz without breaking the bank. Sale ends soon—don’t miss out!

Here are some of the hottest products in our shop (aka the ones planner’s DM me about and say OMG THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOURCE!)

🔥 How To Price Your Planning Services For Profit (because you deserve to make a living)
🔥 The Wedding Rental Revenue Strategy (my secret sauce to making $$ off rentals other people own!)
🔥 Mastering Tented Weddings (your “here’s everything you need to know” strategy on how to plan, design, and coordinate tented weddings)
🔥 Home Weddings 101: A Planner’s Guide To Private Estate Weddings (steal my exact process for working with home wedding clients)
🔥 Client Communication Guides (dozens of send it and forget it templates to keep your clients busy and not breathing down your back)

Grab Your Favorites Here: https://shop.candicecoppola.com/

#candicecoppola #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #weddingplannerlife #lifeofaweddingplanner #weddingplannereducation #weddingplannermentor #weddingindustry

All, Goal Setting, Growing a Business, Starting a Business, Wedding Planning Advice

filed under:

+ show Comments

- Hide Comments

add a comment

Join the Convo

More Strategy Tips

on YouTube

 • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES  • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES

 • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES  • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES  • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES  • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES  • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES  • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES • TRENDING PODCAST EPISODES •

LISTEN TO THE podcast / 

mixing up business strategy with a kick

Get ready to grow your business with intention, one episode at a time. Join me every Tuesday & Thursday to have a conversation about growing a profitable wedding business with purpose on The Power in Purpose Podcast.

LISTEN TO THE podcast / LISTEN TO THE podcast

the power in purpose podcast with candice coppola

Wanna steal my biz secrets?

or at the very least, hear the story about how I met Beyonce?