Want to grow your wedding business? Today, I’m going to share a simple and effective onboarding framework to help you welcome new team members into your wedding business, nurture them, and get them up to speed in their roles. Most wedding businesses have an onboarding process for customers. And if you don’t – make sure to grab my onboarding process here.
Here’s my question for you: do you currently have an onboarding process when bringing new team members into your wedding business? If this is your first hire or you don’t have a big team, you probably don’t but don’t worry – you are in the right place to get this done now! This is a GREAT time to create (or reflect on) your process and ensure it's simple and easy to do. Onboarding new team members does not have to be complicated. An easy framework can save you valuable time in the future as your business grows.
If you are in the Planner’s Playbook – you know how much I love a good framework. And here's the deal about frameworks – they’re essentially repeatable processes. Create it once, tweak it once you put it out into the real world, and then duplicate it over and over again. Frameworks make your life a LOT easier, so creating a framework to onboard your new team members will ensure everyone gets the same process of learning, training, and understanding.

Do You Already Have a Team in Your Wedding Business?
It’s not too late to fine-tune your onboarding process, even if you do have a team you love already! If you're looking to optimize your employee onboarding experience, getting your current team involved in creating the process can have great benefits. Who knows, it might be an opportunity to talk about how your business can do even better!
Asking for their advice, opinions, and what they wished was in place when they joined your team empowers your employees and makes them feel valued. It also creates an open feedback loop to identify gaps and shortfalls, including those that may go unnoticed otherwise.
Additionally, involving them in the process of growing your business increases their investment in the success of the company. They're more likely to feel like an important part of the team and become invested in your team's mission.
Step One: Have a System for Outlining Your Onboarding Tasks and Milestones
To create an onboarding process for adding new team members to your wedding business, I recommend you aim to document a three-part plan for their first 30, 60, and 90 days. Don't just think it; put it down in writing. This can’t just be in your head! Softwares like ProcessStreet, Asana, Basecamp, and ClickUp work great for establishing this system and saving it so you can duplicate it and use it over and over again. I’ve talked a lot about why I love Asana and how I use it in my own business!
If you don’t want to invest in a project management software, Google Docs and spreadsheets work as a free option. You don’t have to buy anything – you just need to get this 90-day framework out of your head.

Step Two: Streamline Access to Share Information Like Files, Folders, Logins, and Passwords
Not everything can exist on your hard drive! Listen, when you welcome new team members into your wedding business you need to WELCOME NEW TEAM MEMBERS INTO YOUR WEDDING BUSINESS. This means they need to have ACCESS to things they may need to do their job and do it well. A disjointed system with everything stored on your personal drive or in a disorganized drive folder does nobody any good and ends up restricting communication and collaboration. It also can lead to major frustration for new hires that were initially really excited to work for you!
Step Three: Share Your Brand Guidelines
Next, you're going to need a system for sharing highlights for your business and your brand. This really should be shared as you onboard new team members.
Your brand guidelines should include things like:
- Font size and style
- Colors
- Logo Variations
- Specific rules for the brand (ie. how much space should be left around your logo)
- Mission Statement
- Vision Statement
- Purpose Statement
- Core values
- The list could go on and on!
A quick tangent here: your company exists for a reason. You likely want to serve a specific group of people, and you do that in a specific way. Everybody on your team needs to be on board with your company's mission, vision, and purpose as it relates to serving your customers, which means they need to know what it is! Brand guidelines are more than just visuals.
You Also Need to Share Your Services + Products Ladder
As your wedding business grows and you add new team members, it's important to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Even if certain team members won't directly interact with customers, they should still understand the full scope of services and products that you offer.
In fact, it can be valuable to outline everything that your business does to serve your customers, even the things that you might not advertise for. Having a comprehensive view of your business operations can allow new team members to better understand how their role fits into the larger picture, and help them better contribute to the wider success of the company. So take the time to provide thorough onboarding and ensure that everyone is up-to-date and well-informed!
You Should Also Include Your ICA (Ideal Client Avatar)
Every business has a target audience that it aims to serve. Identifying that audience is key to a business's success. Without a clear understanding of who the business is catering to, it's hard to create an effective message that resonates and creates an impact.
In my experience of over a decade in the wedding industry, I've seen countless businesses fail because they didn’t take this step seriously enough. Believe me, it's something you don't want to miss! Taking the time to understand your audience can mean the difference between success and failure, so make sure your team knows who you're talking to.
If you feel like your ideal client feels basic (or you feel a little called out when I say some businesses don’t know who they are talking to), make sure to sign up for the Client Cocktail here.
Step Four: Give Them a Rough Outline of Their Job Description
Listen, this can feel intimidating but it’s so important you don’t skip this step while you onboard new team members. To make sure that new hires have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities, it's important to provide a detailed job description. Even if it does change over time, having a rough outline of what’s expected of them will help prevent communication breakdowns that might eventually hinder their performance.
To structure this effectively, you can break down the job responsibilities into specific timeframes such as 30, 60, and 90 days. By gradually increasing the level of difficulty, you give new hires the opportunity to learn and grow in a manageable way. This also helps them to grasp the fundamentals before tackling more complex tasks.
Putting on my business hat for a sec – it’s also important to have new hires sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to safeguard proprietary information. This agreement ensures that the new team member can't disclose or use confidential information that belongs to your company. You can find pre-made NDAs from reputable sources like Legally Set. By protecting your company's interests, you create a safe and secure work environment for everyone.

Let’s Recap This Simple Framework for Onboarding New Team Members Into Your Wedding Business:
- Have a system for outlining your onboarding tasks and milestones. I recommend breaking it up into 30, 60, and 90 days!
- Streamline access to everything your new team members need
- Share your brand guidelines (more than just the visuals!)
- Give them a rough outline of their new job description!
- Celebrate! Did I forget to tell you to celebrate?
Listen, as someone who grew my own wedding business team, I can tell you this: the number one reason why people don't work out is because the job is not communicated to them well or because communication breaks down and they don't know what they're expected to do. Don’t let that happen to you. By following this really simple framework, you can cross your T’s and dot your I’s when it comes to bringing on new team members into your business.
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
- Should You Hire Associate Planners for Your Wedding Business?
- How To Build A Wedding Business Brand That Doesn’t Compete
- 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
- 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)
- Wedding Pros: Here’s How to Create A Better Customer Onboarding Experience
- Top 2 Mistakes Wedding Pros Make That Sabotage The Sale
For More Wedding Planner Business Secrets Follow Me On Instagram
Raise your hand if you’ve ever gotten a message so long, you needed a snack halfway through reading it. 🙃
This week, we’re talking about THAT kind of client (or inquiry).
The one with 67 questions.
And unlimited access expectations.
And zero boundaries.
In this week’s podcast episode, I’m giving you the tools and scripts you need to protect your time, your energy, and your business (while still showing up like a professional).
Comment 184 and I’ll send you the link to listen (and let you know the threads post that stopped me in my tracks last week).
#candicecoppola #weddingindustry #weddingpros #weddingpro #weddingindustryexperts #weddingpodcast #weddingbusiness #weddingindustryeducation #weddingplanner

I love living here—but every now and then, a sunset like this one stops me in my tracks!
The kind of moment that makes you pause and remember:
*This* is the whole point.
Not just building a business.
Not just hitting the next milestone.
But building a life that feels like this.
Next week, I get to share this place—my home—with 11 incredible women I have the honor of coaching. And I hope this sunset gives them what it gives me:
Perspective. Peace. Possibility.
🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
#ialmostforgot #chasingsunsets #barbadoslife #caribbean #coachingretreat #lifeonpurpose #weddingproinsiders

Tariffs. Rising costs. Vendor pricing shifts. 😬
This week’s episode of The Power in Purpose is unlike anything I’ve done before because honestly? This feels like an emergency.
With new tariffs being applied across nearly all imported goods, the impact on the wedding industry is hitting everyone. Florists, planners, rental companies, caterers, DJs… no one is untouched.
So I called in someone who really knows what’s going on behind the scenes: my husband Jason (yes, his very first appearance on the pod 🎙️), who has deep expertise in logistics, shipping, and global trade.
Together, we’re breaking down:
👉🏻 Why these new tariffs are happening (in plain English)
👉🏻 How they’re driving up pricing for vendors + clients alike
👉🏻 What you should be saying to your clients right now
👉🏻 How to advocate, advise, and guide through economic uncertainty
Here’s the thing: you don’t have to have all the answers. What matters most is transparency, honesty, and your ability to help clients adjust and adapt.
Comment “183” and I’ll DM you the link to listen.
#candicecoppola #weddingindustry #tariff #tariffs #weddingindustry #weddingbuzz #weddingpros #weddingpro #weddingindustryexperts #weddingpodcast #weddingbusiness #thepowerinpurposepodcast #weddingindustryeducation #weddingplanner

Does the “wedding tax” really exist - and have weddings gotten too expensive? 😳
As an industry, let’s have an open and transparent conversation about costs… and trust. I’m breaking this down on this week’s episode of my podcast, The Power in Purpose, and I’m inviting you to join.
I’m asking/answering questions like:
👉🏻 Have costs risen too high?
👉🏻 Why are so many couples “venue poor”?
👉🏻 Have we lost trust with couples - and what can we do to gain it back?
👉🏻 Do vendors really charge more when they hear the word “wedding?”
👉🏻 Are we losing our hospitality as an industry?
👉🏻 How can we be more transparent?
And a whole lot more.
Comment 182 below and I’ll send you the link to this week’s episode.
#candicecoppola #weddingindustry #weddingpros #weddingpro #weddingindustryexperts #weddingpodcast #weddingbusiness #weddingtax #thepowerinpurposepodcast #weddingindustryeducation


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