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Gather experience as a wedding planner. Intern with a wedding planner or event-planning firm. Plan events for friends and family at no cost. Network with other wedding planners and potential clients and vendors.
Having hands-on experience with wedding planning will give you practical knowledge that you can use for your business. You're likely to get references from colleagues and suggestions for clients as well. This will supplement any formal knowledge you have and give you practical experience working in the field. Your boss can also act as a reference for you with potential clients. Internships are often unpaid. The experience you gain will be more valuable than a paycheck. Your boss could wind up a long-term mentor as you rise through the profession. It might be useful to take a job with a smaller company at first. This will give you the chance to work in all aspects of wedding planning and greatly increase your knowledge. This will give you the valuable hands-on experience you need -- to say nothing of the chance to prospect for clients at the same time. Use these friends and family members as references. Be sure to take photos of any event you work on for your portfolio and future marketing efforts. Use these images on your website or in brochures. Having a list of people whom you can ask questions, draw upon for services, or who are interested in hiring you will put your business on the path to success even in its infancy. You can meet appropriate people almost anywhere, especially at industry conferences, wedding expos, vendor shops, and, of course, at weddings. Never stop practicing interpersonal skills as you develop your network.