Spring is in the air, which means it’s time to start fresh and let go of the clutter weighing you down – both in your personal life and your wedding planning business. With wedding season just around the corner, your business needs to be in the best possible shape to get you through what I hope is a busy season ahead. To help you achieve that, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to spring cleaning your wedding business. From decluttering your workspace to revamping your marketing strategy, we are going to cover every aspect of your business that needs a little refresh once in a while. So grab your favorite beverage, and let’s dive in.
Declutter Your Workspace
One of the biggest culprits of clutter is a messy workspace (duh!). Not only can a disorganized workspace cause stress and reduce productivity, but it can also negatively impact your client’s perception of your business even if you don’t meet clients in your office. Take some time to declutter your workspace before the busy season begins. Start by throwing away any unnecessary paperwork or items that are taking up space. Keep only the essentials on your desk, such as your computer, planner, and phone. If you are looking for an excuse to go all “Home Edit” and invest in a million clear containers, do it. Invest in organizational tools like shelves, file cabinets, and bins to help keep everything in its place.
Don’t forget to give your Zoom background a refresh! In 2024, a lot of us are meeting virtually so while I do think you need an organized workspace (that lets you find what you need on a moment’s notice), don’t forget to tidy up your backdrop and give it a little refresh too!
Don’t Forget to Do a Digital Declutter
Let’s face it – decluttering digitally is just as important as getting rid of physical items. But don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be as daunting as it may seem. Clear out your Google Drive, organize your wedding photos, and tackle those looming email inboxes. I know I don’t have to tell you this but decluttering digitally can actually save you a TON of time in the long run, making your business run even more smoothly and efficiently. So, it’s time to take control of your digital space and start fresh this wedding season.
2. Streamline Your Systems and Automations
If you haven’t yet – I’m going to cut to the chase and encourage you to switch to Asana. I talk more about why I recommend Asana for wedding planners IN DETAIL here. But the short version is: switching to a project management tool like Asana can save you time and keep your tasks and deadlines in one place. Asana can help you keep track of everything from meetings to vendor payments and client communication. Plus, it offers collaboration features so you can easily communicate with your team members and ensure everyone is on the same page. By streamlining your systems and technology, you can focus on more important tasks and provide better service to your clients.
3. Review Your Wedding Planning Packages
While you may have set up your packages when you started your business, and have (hopefully) raised your prices along the way, don’t skip this step. It is so important to review your service menu periodically to ensure that your packages are still relevant and meet your client’s needs. You may find that some of your packages are no longer generating revenue or are not popular among your clients (like that micro wedding package you launched in 2020 out of necessity that is now doing nothing but attracting budget brides).
When reviewing your packages, assess what services you’re offering and how you’re charging for them. Do you provide all the services a client requires, or do you offer different packages with varying levels of involvement? Are you charging a flat rate for your services, or are you billing clients based on the time spent? Are you leaving money on the table?
ICYMI: We have a LOT of resources in the shop that can help you review your wedding planning packages and make more money. You can find them all here, but here are a few that deserve a special mention:
- The Ultimate Guide To Wedding Planning Packages
- Pricing Your Wedding Planning Services For Profit
- The Ultimate Guide To Wedding Design
- The Wedding Rental Revenue Strategy
- Service Add-Ons: Wedding Venue Research
(Pssst: want a coupon code for these? Get on the waitlist for the Planner’s Playbook!)
4. Update and Review Your Contracts and Business Policies
Updating your wedding planning packages may also require you to update your contracts and business policies. This is a good thing. When reviewing your contracts, look at the terms and conditions, payment policies, and cancellation policies, among other things.
If you haven’t invested in a solid contract in your wedding business yet, I highly recommend checking out Legally Set. Like, today. You don’t want to keep doing business with a haphazard contract because if it hasn’t bitten you in the butt yet, it’s only a matter of time. A solid contract also makes you look more professional to those luxury clients you’ve been working hard on attracting.
5. Refresh Your Website
I have to be honest with you – I’m a website template hoarder. It’s one of the reasons my site looks so custom. I’ve had custom work done on it (shout out to Nicole Yang – my go to graphic designer!) but I’ve also bought about a million website templates that had “bits and pieces” of things I loved. All this to say – your website is IMPORTANT.
As you start spring cleaning your wedding business, take time to ensure that your website is up-to-date and visually appealing. Have you shared your latest and greatest work on the portfolio page, yet? Or have you been posting those “greatest hits” pics on Instagram exclusively? Your website is your RESUME and it should ALWAYS reflect your absolute best work to attract ideal customers. As someone who’s planned many six and seven-figure events, I can promise you: nobody is paying you top dollar for a cute IG feed alone.
The Best Website Templates for Wedding Planners
Like I said, I’m a template fanatic. If you are looking for the best website templates for wedding planners, here are three options I think you can’t go wrong with:
- Tonic Site Shop (Use Code CANDICE for 15% Off!)
- With Grace and Gold
- Elizabeth McCravy (Use Code POWERINPURPOSE for 12% Off!)
Tips for Updating Your Wedding Planner Website
Hitting you with some real talk here: A well-designed website is not just about showcasing your work, but also is a vital tool in attracting new clients and repelling the wrong ones. Spring cleaning your website involves more than just refreshing the homepage with some new photos. It involves updating your portfolio, revising your copy, and ensuring that everything is functioning correctly. Nothing says budget like broken links!
At the end of the day, your website should be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly. Take a look at your website from a client’s perspective and identify areas that may need improvement. Can your clients easily find your contact information or fill out a contact form? Are your photos high-quality and representative of your work? Is your copy clear, concise, and free of errors?
Updating your website doesn’t have to be a time-consuming task. Simple changes, such as updating your gallery with recent work or adding client testimonials, can make a significant impact.
Have a friend in the industry? Consider offering to “audit” their website in exchange for them taking time to audit yours!
6. Evaluate Your Finances
Now, let’s talk money, honey. Taking a moment to evaluate your finances is CRITICAL to ensuring a HEALTHY wedding planning business. As the women in my wedding pro mastermind know, you NEED to know your numbers. Take a look at your income and expenses from the previous year to determine where you can cut costs (like that pricey software you might think you need but don’t actually use) and where you need to invest more money (like investing in a Styled Shoot to attract more luxury clients or paying for a CRM like Honeybook to help you book more customers seamlessly).
7. Set Up a Place for “Things to Do Better”
As ANY successful business owner will tell you, it’s important to continually evaluate (and improve) your craft. Setting up a designated space to jot down ideas for improvement can help you track your progress and make necessary changes. This might be the easiest task to check off your list as you start spring cleaning your wedding business, but it’s important. I recommend setting up an email called “things to do better” or a board in Asana so you and your team can continually add “things to do better” ideas in real time, as things come up. In the wedding industry, we know things always come up. Do this now – and check this easy but impactful step off your list.
8. Set Goals for this Wedding Season
Where are my fellow Enneagram 3’s? If you are like me, when you are spring cleaning your wedding business, this will be your favorite step. A lot of people save goal setting for the new year but hear me when I say: there is NOTHING magical about January 1st. Before we walk into what will likely be an exciting and eventful wedding season, take a moment to visualize what you want this wedding season to look like for you (and what that will mean for your business!).
Ready to start spring cleaning your wedding business?
Here’s a quick recap of the 8 simple steps you need to take when spring cleaning your wedding business this year:
- Declutter your workspace
- Streamline your Systems
- Review your wedding planning packages
- Update your contracts and policies
- Refresh your website
- Evaluate your finances
- Set up a hub for “things to do better”
- Set some wedding season goals – you’ve got this!
And listen, if you are ready for candid advice on what you should be doing in your wedding planning business on the regular, I want to encourage you to join me inside of the Planner’s Playbook. Inside this low-cost membership, you’ll find a community of incredible wedding planners (who want the same things as YOU do), monthly coaching calls, and a fresh playbook every month that will help you elevate your wedding planning business so you can finally get the business you’ve always wanted (ahem – deserve). I would love to welcome you inside so make sure to hop on the waitlist now!
Explore More Wedding Industry Resources
- How to Start a Wedding Planning Business
- 5 Ways to Make More Money As A Wedding Planner
- How to Book Your FIRST Client as a Wedding Planner
- Here’s What Every Wedding Planner Needs To Include In Their Wedding Design Proposals
- How to Attract and Speak Directly To Your Ideal Client
- 5 Social Media Mistakes Every Wedding Planner Makes
- How To Get Wedding Clients When You’re Just Starting Out
- What Are The Best Resources For Wedding Planners?
- 4 Strategies That Will Help You Book MORE Of Your Ideal Clients
- Why You’re Not Attracting The Right Clients and How to Fix It
For More Wedding Planner Business Secrets Follow Me On Instagram
Today I got to share Cue with my DI mastermind, and I’m feeling really proud. 🥹
I’ve been so busy building it that it felt good to stop for a minute and share the story with a room full of people I love and admire. So many smart, talented, generous people who I’m lucky to call my friends.
This was a special one. ❤️
Would you guys like to hear what I shared? I’m thinking about breaking it down into a series here on Instagram. Should we do it?
@ninelemonsfengshui encouraged me to share it with you all here, and I think I should. LMK in the comments if you’d be interested in my presentation from today!
Day one in Charleston for the DI Mastermind, and I spent ten hours of it in my hotel room working on Cue. I’ve been at it since 7 a.m., trying to get client portals ready, and I didn’t get as far as I’d hoped.
But I did close my laptop long enough to hug some of my mastermind friends, catch up before sessions start tomorrow, and see this.
I’d love to tell you this sunset inspired some profound revelation, but mostly I think I needed to leave my fucking room. 😂
Although maybe that’s the reminder: there will always be something that needs more of me. I’m allowed to step outside and enjoy where I am before everything is finished.
And so are you! 💜
I’ve been doing brand shoots for almost 20 years, and I have opinions 😂 Here are 9 things that make them great:
1. Hire a photographer who specializes in brand shoots. There’s a big difference in quality when you work with someone who understands how to photograph you AND your business. Go with the best you can afford.
2. Book more time than you think you need. An hour is nice for headshots, but multiple outfits and scenes take hours. If you want lots of variety, give yourself time to create it. If you’re going to do it, go big and do it right.
3. Know how you’ll use the photos. Your website, social media, launches, presentations—tell your photographer what you need. Plan for different crops, orientations, and room for text.
4. Have a creative direction. Build a mood board so everyone understands the vibe. Think about the story you want the photos to tell before you show up.
5. Dress for where your brand is going. This is your chance to show up as the version of yourself you’re stepping into. Bring outfits that make you feel like her.
6. Get your photographer involved in the planning. Ask for their input on locations, outfits, lighting, and timing. You hired an expert—let them help shape the shoot.
7. Plan actual scenes. Hosting, teaching, designing, creating—what are you doing in the photos? Build moments around your work so you leave with more than portraits.
8. Don’t spend the entire shoot behind a laptop. Your business has more personality than that. Give people something interesting to look at.
9. Bring someone to help. Someone to handle outfits, fix your hair, catch a twisted necklace, and keep things moving. Those extra hands make a difference.
Which photo from @c10ike is your favorite?
Off to spend a week in Charleston (my first time!) for @juliecchenell Digital Insiders Mastermind. I absolutely love getting to spend a week with my colleagues and business friends.
We share meals and ideas and laughs and horror stories and wins and it’s truly the best thing ever. If you’re not already in a mastermind group for your business that allows you to get together once or twice a year, I HIGHLY recommend it! I always leave these events feeling inspired and motivated.
This year I get to share with the group my journey in building @planwithcue and I’m both excited and nervous to share what I’ve been working on. Wish me luck!
To my DI crew I can’t wait to see you soon!!!!!!!
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