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OK, I’m gonna tell you guys and gals something.  I’m kind of a big chicken. Oh yeah, it might seem different to you… I write this blog… and I’ve been in business for a few years… I must seriously have my act together, right?  But, it wasn’t always like this.  I was once new too!  (Me: “Mommy was once a little baby.”  My daughter, looking up at me incredulously: “huh?”)  Yes, yes, I was once new.

In the year 2004 when I was wearing lots of pink and orange, I started my business in LA.  Oh… but if you were a wedding vendor in LA at the time you would have never known about me or my business.  No-siree-bob.  I was keeping that in the dining room of my one-bedroom apartment in the Fairfax District.  Why? Because I was waiting to have something to show for it.  I was waiting to be “someone” before I could really make my grand entrance into the industry.  I was waiting to be “good enough”.

Silly silly me. (That’s why I say that I’m a “big chicken”.)

And, then… I moved to Seattle… and, now I’m wearing turquoises and teals of 2005.  At that point, my business has been slowly humming in LA, but I’m feeling a little more confident with a year under my belt and a fabulous portfolio to show for it.  And, that’s when I really jumped in!  I knew I had to learn about the industry up here.  I knew nothing of the market.  I knew nothing about the customer.  And, I knew no one up here.  I was forced to be courageous out of necessity.

I contacted a gazillion planners, florists, and photographers.  Out of the gazillion, maybe only 5 responded to me.  We had coffee.  I got super dorky and asked my nerdy questions like “what is the market penetration like?”  Those 5 people have become very good friends and colleagues.  And, I learned a HECK of a lot by meeting with them.

In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t been such a chicken when I started.

This is why I think every person that is thinking of starting a wedding business (or has recently started one) should contact and try to meet as many wedding professionals:

  • Learn about the industry and see if something of which you will truly enjoy being a part.  There are definite pros and cons.  (The term “bridezilla” is not an entire myth.)
  • Research the market.  I gained a lot of market research by talking to other wedding professionals.  “What is your customer like?”  “How much do people spend on weddings?”  “What trends are you seeing?”
  • Start establishing relationships with other people who can refer business to you.  In that first year in Seattle, I ended up getting 4 jobs from one of the planners I had met.  And, one of those jobs led to 3 others.
  • Start establishing relationships to which you can refer business.  If you are an expert in your industry, you better know who the other experts are.  Your clients look up to your for advice and input.
  • We work by ourselves… especially in the beginning.  Business ownership can be lonely.  Making friends in the industry is akin to having cubicle mates in the office world.  Hey – it’s fun to have the “water cooler” chatter.

Yes, it does take courage… but the first time is the hardest.

For every 5-10 people you email or call, you will get 80% that do not return your call, are too busy, or flat out tell you they aren’t interested.  But the 20% that do respond will provide you with not only resources, but also a budding network of professionals that you can rely upon.  We were all new at some point in our careers.  We can all relate to that.

And, it’s okay to get rejected.  I love what Beth Helmstetter, Wedding Planner extraordinaire, said in her Insider Interview regarding rejection: “Don’t be afraid to hear ‘no’.”  Just move on to the next person that does want to help.  Move on to the next person that can become a colleague.

And… don’t forget… when you do get to the top… remember the little (new) people… they’ll look up to you too.  And, pay it forward.