You might have reached a stage in your wedding planning career where you are wondering how else you can scale your wedding planning business. One strategy to grow your wedding planning business: diversification. In other words, expanding your services to offer an array of wedding planning packages and add-ons.

Today's couples are seeking an increasingly personalised service from their wedding planner, that can cater to all their needs as a new couple. They may be interested in arranging engagements, vow renewals, and anniversary celebrations. Diversifying your wedding packages lets you accommodate these evolving preferences and opens up new revenue streams, particularly during traditionally slow periods.

To enable you to successfully diversify your wedding planning business, we'll discuss...

• The benefits of expanding and diversifying your wedding planning packages
• Ideas for diversifying your wedding planning offerings
• Expert advise from wedding planners who have successfully expanded their planning packages

There is no better time than now to take the next step in growing your wedding business. Let's begin!

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How does diversifying your wedding packages help your wedding business?

Diversifying as a wedding planner means expanding the range of services and products that your wedding planning business provides.

Wedding planners who have expanded their offerings from the traditional "full service" vs. "day of coordination" packages have enjoyed access to a new market of clients and thus healthy returns.

One success story is Alexis Alcala, founder of Jaded Events. Alexis affirms, "Diversifying our offerings has been instrumental in our growth." Offering a range of packages can enrich your wedding planning business by appealing to a broader clientele, increasing revenue streams, and enhancing your brand reputation. Clients appreciate the value of niche services which leads to greater client satisfaction and a stronger business foundation.

One of the most notable benefits of diversifying your wedding packages is that it attracts a new wave of clients. With packages at varied price points and inclusions, you attract not just those seeking full-blown assistance, but also budget-conscious couples or those looking for specific services only. Think decor rentals or RSVP management. In addition, it also ensures year-round income since elopements, vow renewals, pop-up weddings, and anniversary celebration packages can fill in for the slow months. Moreover, offering add-on services can add value to your packages since couples can personalise their chosen package.

On another note, over-expanding your wedding planning packages can lead to a quality nosedive, confused clients, operational chaos, and financial stress. Don't pressure yourself into being a jack-of-all-trades—it's not worth it. Instead, focus on your strengths, target niches that you are passionate about, and consider collaborating with other professionals. Remember, it's not about offering everything but offering the right things to grow sustainably and keep clients happy.

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Ideas for expanding offerings as a wedding planner

One of the many strengths of a wedding planner is that they never run out of ideas. On top of wedding planning services, Alexis highlights the potential of offering bachelorette party planning to diversify business offerings. "Kansas City has always had staple things to do and places to see," she starts, "so bachelorette parties just fit organically as an offering for us." Alexis and her team also partnered with businesses to develop a Street Car Bar Crawl. This allows clients to enjoy their nights without the after-party worries like driving home or calling for cabs.

Alexis's keen eye for detail also recognised a need for cost-effective and flexible decor options, so she began offering event space and decor rental. "I started with a few things from my own wedding" she begins, and gradually, she started adding in a few neutral items that she found popular with brides. It was a huge hit. Apart from the low price point, a lot of brides loved the idea of using decorative items without the commitment of having to bring them back home.

In the world of luxury weddings, Deborah Kugler, owner of OFFICIALE, has mastered the art of PR by offering to assist her clients in getting published in magazines. And of course—you can do it too! With a wide network of one-call-away media professionals, you can craft press releases and connect couples with suitable publications. Not only does this elevate your clients' experience, but also ensures that publishers receive a steady stream of fresh, captivating content.

But that's not all. Another strategy that doesn't stray too far from the wedding planning niche, is wedding proposal planning. By venturing into proposal planning, you're investing in a strategic expansion that builds loyalty, opens doors to new clients, and allows you to be a part of their love story from the very first "Yes!". Not to mention, there are over 1,300 engaged couples in the UK as of 2023. This means that there is a large pool of potential clients eager to invest in a memorable "Will you marry me?" moment that could convert into future wedding clients!

Pop-up weddings are also gaining a lot of traction from modern-day couples. Pop-up weddings are unique ceremonies that ditch the traditional format for intimate gatherings, often involving just the couple and their dearest loved ones. Rather than being about "taking the easy route," it's about prioritizing what truly matters. Pop-up weddings are ideal for couples who value personalization, spontaneity, and an authentic connection over extravagant formalities.

Now, what if you don't have enough time for additional services? According to Candice Coppola, there is a way to diversify your wedding packages without increasing your workload—remove some services and turn them into a la carte! A la carte services are services that are offered as a standalone. Clients can book these services by themselves, or add them to an existing package to customise their experience.

These a la carte services don't have to come from scratch. Instead, you can evaluate your current packages, identify the least popular service and offer it individually. This way, you can cut down your package prices and successfully diversify your wedding services.

Examples of a la carte services:

• Dress fitting attendance
• Coordinate hotel and shuttle services
• Additional hours for the event
• Dessert bar setup

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Grow your wedding planning business with niche offerings

Diversifying your wedding planning packages can significantly benefit your business, from attracting new clients with personalised options to securing year-round income. But remember, quality matters more than quantity. Don't pressure yourself into being a jack-of-all-trades to prevent over-expansion and burnout.

There are a lot of different ways to diversify your business, including bachelorette party planning, decor rental, securing magazine features, proposal planning, and offering a la carte services.