Latest figures show there were just over 230,000 weddings in the UK in 2007 with brides spending on average around £15,000 (depending on which survey you read!). That’s a lot of money and there are plenty of businesses to help couples spend it.
A very unscientific browse through www.yell.com gives 36,000 businesses listed under wedding planning, 44,500 under receptions, 1,700 cake makers plus lots more categories. That’s a lot of businesses and a lot of jobs – the majority of which will be individuals and small family businesses.
So what’s it like working in the wedding industry and is it for you?
The plusses:
Couples getting married are (usually!) happy and excited. For me, this is the best thing about the weddings industry – you get to work with customers at a happy time in their lives.
Lots of scope for creativity.
Many couples want a highly personalised service and will often prefer small businesses who can offer this.
You can be sure you will never be stuck behind a desk from 9 to 5.
Things to bear in mind:
Your customers will demand very high levels of service – can you deliver?
Highly competitive – you really need to work hard to stand out.
Seasonal – even if your product or service is not directly linked to the wedding date, you will find that some times of year are much busier than others. Make sure you are prepared for the fluctuating cash flow.
Unsocial hours – with many businesses you will need to work evenings and weekends.
There is not much scope for repeat business so you will need to keep marketing to attract new customers all the time.