If you’re here, you’re likely thinking about how to start an event planning business and turn your passion for events into a rewarding career. I also know that starting an event planning business can feel like jumping headfirst into an exciting (but sometimes overwhelming!) journey. You might be fueled by a love for creating unforgettable experiences or the dream of running a business that feels as fulfilling as it is profitable.
Whether your goal is to design stunning weddings, orchestrate corporate events, or bring luxury social gatherings to life, starting an event planning business can be your path to doing what you love every day. But as a business coach for wedding and event planners, I also know that there’s more to it than meets the eye (so I’m really glad you’re reading this today).
Step 1: Define Your Niche and Vision
The first step in how to start an event planning business is defining your niche. If you want to hit the ground running, I strongly recommend you take time to define your niche (or ideal customer) right from the start. The event industry is vast, and having a clear focus helps you stand out and attract the clients you want to work with.
Do you see yourself planning weddings for couples with big dreams and sentimental details? Or is corporate event planning more your jam? Maybe you want to dive into the luxury market? Or you’d feel more comfortable getting your footing planning birthday parties and baby showers?
Whatever your area of interest is, your niche will ultimately serve as the compass that guides your brand, your messaging, and the clients you’ll ultimately serve.
Finding Your Unique Value
If you’re struggling to narrow down your niche, try this simple exercise:
- List your top three reasons for wanting to start an event planning business.
- Reflect on past events you’ve planned, whether professionally or personally. What did you enjoy most?
- Identify the people you’d love to work with—what’s their style, budget, or vibe?
At the intersection of these answers lies your niche. From here, you can develop your unique value proposition (UVP), the quality that sets you apart. For example, maybe your UVP is your calm-under-pressure attitude or your knack for blending timeless elegance with current trends. Keep your UVP at the forefront—it will serve as the foundation for everything from your marketing to your client relationships.
Want to dive even deeper into this? I promise the results are powerful when you do. Check out my Client Cocktail mini course for my help walking you through it!
Step 2: Set Up the Basics (Legally and Financially)
Now that you’ve identified your niche, let’s move to the foundational steps in how to start an event planning business: setting up legally and financially. Getting the legal and financial aspects in order is non-negotiable. Okay? Okay. Let’s break it down.
Business Structure: LLC or Sole Proprietorship?
Choosing your business structure is a big first step in starting an event planning business. As a new event planner, you’ll likely choose between an LLC (Limited Liability Company) or a sole proprietorship.
An LLC can provide some legal protection for your personal assets, while a sole proprietorship is easier to set up but lacks this shield. If you’re serious about growth and protecting your personal assets, you may want to consider an LLC as it keeps your business and personal finances separate. Regardless of what you choose though, it’s a good idea to set up a separate bank account!
Keep in mind though, this is likely a conversation you want to have with your lawyer or accountant!
Budgeting and Setting Realistic Revenue Goals
Knowing how to start an event planning business also means planning for the financial ups and downs. When you’re just starting out, budgeting is your friend! Estimate your startup costs (think branding, website, marketing, and initial equipment or supplies) and set a realistic revenue goal for your first year. Not every month will be profitable right away, so plan for the ups and downs by setting aside funds from early income for leaner months. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later!
Step 3: Create a Brand That Stands Out
Next, when you think about how to start an event planning business in an industry full of talented planners already, building a standout brand is key. Your brand is more than a name or logo—it’s the way clients experience working with you and how they remember you. From the moment potential clients see your social media profiles or visit your website, they should feel that connection that says, “Yes, I want to work with this planner!”
Love this? Head here for some of my favorite blog posts and podcasts about branding!
Focus on Client-Centric Branding
Branding is a whole other topic (that would make this blog post on how to start an event planning business feel like a novel), but I will leave you with this: you need to viewing branding from your ideal client’s perspective. Think about what they’re looking for: Do they want an organized, detail-focused experience? Are they looking for a planner who can take their ideas and elevate them? A collaborative experience? A completely-done-for-them experience?
I want you to think about this as you start to put together all of the “fun” stuff like websites, social media content, or building your portfolio. Make sure your brand speaks directly to their needs and dreams!
Step 4: Build a Client-Centric Marketing Strategy
The next step in how to start an event planning business is creating a solid marketing strategy. Marketing as a new business can be overwhelming—there are so many options! The goal here isn’t to do it all; it’s to set up foundational strategies that will help you get noticed and booked.
Let’s talk about a few key strategies to get your lead generation system off the ground.
Getting Started with Social Media, SEO, and Networking
Social media is a great place to showcase your work and connect with potential clients. Set up profiles on Instagram and Pinterest (ideal for my more visual people), and be sure your posts reflect your brand identity and showcase your style.
Next, get familiar with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) basics. Focus on using location specific keywords in your website copy and blog posts. This will help local clients find you more easily online.
Lastly, networking is a must when it comes to learning how to start an event planning business. Networking is still one of the best ways to build a client base in the event planning industry. Attend local industry meetups, introduce yourself to venue managers, photographers, and caterers—building these relationships can only lead to good things (like referrals and collaborative projects).
Step 5: Get Your Systems In Order
A huge part of how to start an event planning business is knowing how to streamline processes so your business can grow without constant burnout. When your systems are solid, you save time, prevent burnout, and deliver a consistent experience to every client.
For example, for client onboarding, create a checklist for each step, from initial inquiry to signing the contract (my onboarding playbook will help you do this a lot faster). Having consistency here helps you make a great first impression every time.
You’ll also need to set up systems for getting client work done, for marketing your business, for offboarding your customers—the list goes on. If you start to feel overwhelmed and want a short cut (and also want to make sure things are done really, really well), head to my shop for tons of playbooks filled with both information AND templates to help you get it done!
Beginner Tools to Manage Tasks and Communication
As you start to set up systems, you’ll likely want to invest in a few tools to manage it all. I recommend you start with simple tools: Asana is great for task management, HoneyBook is great client communications, and even things like Google Drive for shared documents.
Become an Event Planner Today!
The steps above are just the beginning of how to start an event planning business. But that’s usually what you need to do to get started—taking the first step. You don’t need to have every piece in place right away either. Small, consistent actions will get you where you want to be. And remember, the effort you’re putting in now lays the groundwork for a rewarding, profitable event planning business!
If you’re looking for more guidance, support, and insider tips to help you build a successful wedding and event planning business, check out my wedding planner tools in my shop and join me in The Planner’s Playbook. It’s where I share proven strategies, resources, and a community to keep you inspired and moving forward. I can’t wait to watch your business grow!
Explore More Wedding Industry Resources
- Is Month-of Wedding Coordinator A Niche? The Truth About This Wedding Planning Service
- How To Find Your Niche In The Wedding Industry: 5 Steps For Niching Down
- The Ultimate Checklist for Wedding Coordinators
- What Does A Wedding Coordinator Do? Here’s Everything They’re Responsible For
- 7 Wedding Planner Canva Templates You Need Right Now
- Why You Should Write A Business Plan In 2025 For Your Wedding Business
- How to Start a Wedding Planning Business
- The Best Wedding Planner Podcasts To Grow Your Business
- A Complete List of Wedding Planner Expenses
- 7 Wedding Planner Canva Templates You Need Right Now
- How To Get A Wedding Planner Job In 2024
- 9 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting your Wedding Planning Business
- How To Get Wedding Clients When You’re Just Starting Out
- How Much Does It Cost to Become a Wedding Planner?
- How To Become A Wedding Planner in 2025 With No Experience
For More Wedding Industry Business Secrets, Follow Me on Instagram
I’m SO excited to announce (and celebrate with you!) that the doors to The Planner’s Playbook are officially OPEN! 🎊
Over the last three years, 400+ wedding planners have joined this program to scale their businesses, book dream clients, and stop spinning their wheels. And every single month, my team and I have shown up to deliver:
✅ Frameworks that take the guesswork out of running a profitable business
✅ Shortcuts & workflows that help you work smarter, not harder
✅ Strategies that move the needle—because you don’t have time for fluff
✨ But this round? It’s extra special. ✨
… because some things have changed - in GOOD ways. Let me explain…
Because The Planner’s Playbook has evolved into a complete, step-by-step framework for scaling your wedding planning business to six figures—no more guessing, no more “figuring it out as you go.” You get the exact roadmap to:
💰 Raise your prices with confidence (and have clients say YES without hesitation)
💰 Book fewer, better weddings and stop overworking for scraps
💰 Streamline your process so your business actually supports your life (not the other way around!)
I created this program because I’ve been where you are.
When I was a wedding planner, things didn’t always come easily.
There were days where I struggled. Clients who I disappointed. Decisions I made that turned out to be big fat mistakes.
I believe you should never have to do business alone, which is why I created this special program.
🚨 Doors to The Planner’s Playbook are open—but not for long! Join today, and let’s get to work on building the business you KNOW you’re capable of.
🔗 Click the link in my bio to join, or drop “PLAYBOOK” in the comments, and I’ll DM you the link!
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Do you want to know how to draw people to you? 👀
This week on the podcast, I’m sitting down with Akeshi Akinseye, and we’re diving into how she’s built a wedding empire (as CEO of @keshevents, two-time published author, and building a lifestyle platform through @taoclifestyle)
But here’s the part you really need to hear…It wasn’t just about getting better at weddings. It was about building a personal brand so strong that people weren’t just drawn to her work… they were drawn to HER.
This has ultimately led her to being featured in incredible publications like People, Brides, Elle Décor, Inside Weddings, Muna Luchi, Conde Nast Traveler, and so many more!
If you’ve ever wondered how to elevate your brand (so you’re not just another vendor, but the one people seek out), you’re going to love this new installment of our Behind The Brand series, where I’m interviewing iconic wedding brands and rising stars, to figure out the magic behind their success.
Comment 179 for the link to listen! ⬇️
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You’re just ONE strategy away from a six-figure wedding business.
I just wrapped up our first $100K Playbook masterclass this week - and in this live video, I wanted to share the #1 thing wedding planners need to shift if they want to finally hit $100K+ in their business—without working more, booking every inquiry, or waiting years to ‘earn’ it.
Because here’s the truth:
💡 It’s not about working harder. (If it was, you’d already be there.)
💡 It’s not about booking more weddings. (More weddings ≠ more money when you’re undercharging.)
💡 It’s not just “raising your prices.” (It’s about structuring your services to actually be profitable.)
If you’re ready for the full breakdown, my free masterclass is happening again soon. Drop “TRAINING” in the comments, and I’ll DM you the link!
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Wedding planners… it’s time to have some AUDACITY.
You know who gets it when it comes to charging their worth? The band.
They arrive at 6 PM, play for 4 hours, eat their vendor meal, and leave with a $20K+ check.
And you know what? They should.
They’ve mastered their craft. They create an experience. They set a rate that reflects their value, and clients pay it.
Meanwhile, wedding planners (ahem, YOU) are out here working for months managing vendors, problem-solving, fielding emails at midnight…
If you’ve been waiting for permission to charge like the expert you are, this is it.
💡 Charge for the transformation, not just the hours.
💡 Position yourself like a premium service, not an on-call assistant.
💡 Have the AUDACITY to ask for more, because your clients will pay it.
Inside my free masterclass, I’m breaking down exactly how wedding planners finally start making six figures without overworking, undercharging, or letting the band out-earn them ever again.
✨ Drop “TRAINING” in the comments, and I’ll DM you the link!
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Some of the links used in this blog post are affiliate links. When you purchase something, our company receives a small compensation at no cost to you. This compensation helps to maintain the cost of creating helpful content, like our podcast, so you can build a profitable business with purpose.
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