Growing your business to the point where you’re considering a team of wedding planners is an exciting milestone. It means you’ve established your brand, have a healthy lead pipeline, and are ready to explore opportunities for further growth. As a business coach for wedding planners, I love that for you! Making the decision to hire associate planners for your wedding business is exciting.

However, because I’ve been where you are, I also know that the idea of growing a team of associate wedding planners can also feel overwhelming, especially when you started your business single-handedly.

I’ve seen it all – my first associate planner was a past bride who worked two weddings and decided it wasn’t for her, and my second associate planner was an intern who blew me away and ended up buying the company from me almost a decade later. And I have dozens of hiring stories that ended up somewhere in between. 

Through these experiences, I’ve learned valuable lessons about hiring – from bringing on the wrong associate planners to mismanaging funds and being short on payroll. I’ve been there. Now that I’m a business coach, I like to think that I made all those mistakes so you don’t have to! It can’t all be for nothing, right? 

3 Reasons You Should Hire Associate Planners for Your Wedding Business

Your business is in demand

Once you’ve been in business a while, your business and brand will start to get noticed (especially if you are following the marketing plan inside the Planner’s Playbook). More people will be reaching out to book your services, and that demand can become overwhelming. After all, you didn’t start your business to turn people away!

Hiring associate planners can be a great way to take on more business without sacrificing quality or customer service. If you find your ideal clients are reaching out and you have no space to put them, it’s a HUGE sign that you might be ready to hire an associate planner (or two or three).

Your Client Experience is Starting to Decrease

As you try to juggle all your responsibilities and find yourself overwhelmed, there may come a point when something is bound to suffer. If you notice a decline in your client experience, it could serve as a clear indication that it's time to consider lightening your workload by bringing in an associate planner. 

In the wedding planning business, where reputation and growth go hand in hand, prioritizing client experience becomes crucial. So, if you find yourself starting to slip and struggling to maintain the high standards you've set for yourself, it's wise to scale back or even consider hiring additional help. By investing in your client's satisfaction, you'll take an important step towards solidifying your name and standing out in the industry.

If you need help improving your client experience and the systems and processes in your wedding business, this guide on the wedding planning experience should help!

Because you WANT to

I’m the kind of business coach who will fully tell you that sometimes “just because I want to” is a good enough reason to make a leap in your business. The biggest sign that it’s time for you to expand is your natural desire to grow a team. If the thought of building and nurturing a team fires you up, that’s a good sign that you should begin preparing your business for associate planners. 

And let me just add a little caveat here – when you’re just starting out, it can be really tempting to try and build the biggest wedding business you can. While there's nothing wrong with that ambition, it’s also okay to not want that if it’s not what brings you joy. I’m here to support you in building the business you want—whether that means a small team of associate planners or just you and an assistant helping couples pull off their dream wedding. You’ll notice that “because I feel like I should” is NOT a reason on this list!

Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring Associate Planners

As you consider the possibility of hiring an associate planner, I wanted to share with you some of the most frequently asked questions that I often receive as a business coach. These questions can provide you with a foundation to begin your exploration into the topic of hiring associate planners. There is a lot more detail in my guide for hiring associate planners, but hopefully, this will get you started.

What is an associate wedding planner?

An associate wedding planner is a professional who assists the lead wedding planner in various tasks, such as client meetings, vendor coordination, timeline creation, and on-site event management. They work under the guidance and supervision of the lead planner to ensure a smooth wedding planning process.

Why should I hire associate planners for my wedding business?

Hiring associate planners can bring numerous benefits to your wedding business. They help you handle a larger workload, expand your capacity to take on more clients, improve work-life balance, enhance the client experience, and allow you to focus on strategic aspects of your business.

How can I find suitable associate planners for my business?

There are several ways to find potential associate planners for your wedding business. You can promote from within your existing team or network, reach out to local wedding planning schools or associations, post job listings on relevant platforms, attend industry events and networking gatherings, and utilize social media channels to spread the word about job opportunities.

What qualities should I look for in an associate planner?

When hiring associate planners, look for individuals who demonstrate strong organizational skills, attention to detail, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, creativity, ability to multitask, problem-solving abilities, and a passion for weddings. It's also important to find someone who aligns with your company's values and work ethic.

How can I ensure a smooth transition when bringing on associate planners?

To ensure a smooth transition, it's important to establish clear roles and responsibilities, provide comprehensive training on your business processes and client management, gradually increase their level of responsibility, maintain open lines of communication, and encourage collaboration and teamwork among your wedding planning team. I’m also a big fan of having SOPs for your business and updating them regularly!

So, Should You Hire Associate Planners for Your Wedding Business?

If you are nodding your head while reading this, it’s time to start thinking about growing your team with associate planners! If you decide to grow a team, you can free up your time to focus on the most important tasks, such as building relationships with clients and vendors. You can also provide your clients with the level of service they deserve and keep up with the latest trends in wedding planning. You can even give yourself some white space and enjoy that work-life balance you’ve heard so much about.

With that said, while associate planners can alleviate a lot of stress and offer tremendous support, they also add a new set of stressors to your day-to-day operations. Payroll, taxes, leadership, and employee management are just a few of the stressors of hiring associates. But with careful planning and strategic decision-making, the benefits of expanding your team can far outweigh the challenges.

Ready To Expand Your Business With Associate Planners?

If so, I have just the thing for you. Inside this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about expanding your business with a team of associate wedding planners. From how to prepare your wedding planning business for the changes to dealing with the financial responsibility of associate planners. With this Playbook, you'll have everything you need to grow your business and train a team – from someone who has actually done it. Get instant access now. 

Growing Your Wedding Planning Business and Wondering “What’s Next”?

If so, I would love to invite you to join me inside the Planner’s Playbook. Each month, I deep dive into one aspect of planning, designing, and coordinating a wedding day and teach you how to grow a wedding planning business you love without burning TF out (let’s be honest – it’s a PROBLEM in this industry). If you know you want to grow a wedding planning business and want someone who has been where you are to guide you, you’ll love it inside this tight-knit community. Hop on the waitlist now for a special invitation to join our next coaching call!

The Planner's Playbook is a Membership for Wedding Planners Looking to Grow Their Business

Looking to take your wedding planning business to new heights? Look no further than the Planner's Playbook – the ultimate membership for wedding planners who want to grow their business. Gain exclusive access to a wide range of resources, including expert-led masterclasses, a vibrant community of fellow planners, and a comprehensive deep dive Playbook delivered straight to your inbox every month. With our actionable advice and unwavering support, you won't want to miss out on this opportunity. Secure your spot on the waitlist today and start elevating your wedding planning career!

Explore More Wedding Industry Resources

• How to Onboard New Team Members Into Your Wedding Business
• The 4 Lies You're Telling Yourself About Why You CAN'T Start Hiring a Team
• How Do You Know When It's Time to Go From Solo Entrepreneur to Building a Team?
• Stop Being a One Woman Show & Start Scaling Your Business to 10K Months with Melissa Lin
• 7 Best Habits For Wedding Pros to Adopt in 2023
• How Do You Know If You’re Ready For A Wedding Industry Business Coach & What Should You Look For?
• You Can't Be Everything to Everyone
• Why It's a Good Thing That Client Didn't Hire You – Wedding Industry Consultations
• Stop Asking for Free Advice (and hire a biz coach instead)
• 6 Reasons Why I Recommend Asana for Wedding Planners
• Wedding Pros: Here’s How to Create A Better Customer Onboarding Experience
• Top 2 Mistakes Wedding Pros Make That Sabotage The Sale

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