How to Get Your First (and Second) Clients

• Wedding Planners Institute of Canada Certificate ✓
• Website Launch ✓
• Business Cards ✓
• Home office set up ✓
• First Instagram Post ✓
• Branding Photo Shoot ✓

Now what?

When I started my wedding planning business, I truly enjoyed the preparation – coming up with a business name, designing my website, and purchasing all the chic and pretty details for my home office. However, when all this was done, I was at a standpoint – what do I do now? Of course, I can post beautiful pictures on Instagram and Facebook, and promote my website all day long, but how was I going to make myself visible in the wedding world and attract my first client? Clients were not going to come knocking on my door so I can plan and design their wedding. I had work to do! Here are a few tips on how to get your first and second clients!

Attend a Branding Workshop

I needed brand clarity so I visited my favourite co-working space Make Lemonade and researched their workshops. Luckily enough, “Branding 101 – Create An In-Demand Brand” by Vivian Kaye was being offered and I signed up immediately! Vivian is the Founder and CEO of KinkyCurlyYaki, keynote speaker, and business coach. While listening to her, I learned about the power of branding, how to achieve branding clarity, how to stand out and how to talk to your dream customer. I needed to take action. I needed to know who my ideal and dream customers were in order to understand how they think, feel and how they would perceive my business. After this workshop, all the ideas started coming to me.

RSVP to Venue Open Houses and Wedding Shows

As a wedding professional, I clearly needed to immerse myself in the wedding world. I needed to connect with potential clients and create strong vendor relationships. I attended many venue open houses where I visited some of the most spectacular wedding spaces around the GTA. I ensured to share the unique and beautiful features of each venue with all of my social media followers. Then, there was the WedLuxe Show – the most luxurious wedding event in Toronto where countless couples come to explore. Here, there were endless vendors and couples whom I found the courage to speak to, introduced myself and made sure not to walk away before providing my business card. At this point, I was starting to feel confident about my business and was excited for what was to come.

Utilize Social Media Outlets

Instagram, Facebook and your website are crucial tools in obtaining potential clients. The content you post on these social media outlets needs to be speaking to the clients you want to attract. I recommend downloading an app such as Planoly to help you create a visual plan for your posts. With Planoly, you can arrange your posts before you share, which helps to view the aesthetics of your brand. Next, a sponsored Instagram post is an ideal method, better yet a sponsored Instagram contest to catch a client’s attention.

If done right, sponsored ads can reach thousands of people, however, you need to ensure you have selected appropriate audiences and use hashtags that will connect you. Le Love Event’s first Instagram contest was how I actually landed my first client! I planned my first contest with a prize of one WedLuxe Show ticket, which is always a big draw for couples. The contest was very easy to enter – like the post, follow me, and tag 3 friends. When the winner posted in her story that she had won the contest, her friend saw the post, and contacted me, giving me my first inquiry and eventually first booking.

Book a Branding Photo Shoot

Your brand is a visual representation of you and a branding photoshoot is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate this. With the skills of my good friend Charlene, from Charlene Arianna Photography, the artistry from Jen Evoy Makeup, the beautiful florals from Sweet Pea’s, and the premium space Mint Room Studios, my vision of professionalism, elegance, with a mix of white florals, light pink and soft couches and Parisian walls was complete. Before you decide to book a branding photoshoot, ensure that you have a clear vision that communicates your intent and attracts your dream client.

Ask For Referrals

My last piece of advice on getting your first and second clients is to ask for referrals. Talk to your family and friends about your business and explain what you offer. They know what type of person you are and probably know whom you will work well with. Always have your business cards on hand so that they can pass them along. Referrals are what led me to my second client! A co-worker of my long-time friend was talking about her need for a wedding planner, and right away my friend popped up and said I have the perfect planner and immediately handed her my business card and voila, I booked my second client!

How to Prepare for A Couple’s Consultation

I absolutely adore meeting potential couples for the first time. It is your chance to make a good impression and show off your services.

1. Always meet at a café near where the couple lives (fun fact – for my first meeting, I had to drive through a winter storm, slowly and safely of course!)

2. Get there early! Once the couple arrives, make sure to purchase them a beverage, and even if they insist on paying for you, DO NOT allow this! You want to ensure that you are professional and courteous.

3. Arrive prepared with pens, a folder including a questionnaire, contract and invoice for the couple. Some couples may book you on the spot so be ready for this! If not, they may keep these copies for reference while they make their decision.

4. As we learned in our WPIC Course, do not talk about yourself too much. Listen to the couple tell you about their wedding day, the visions they have and show that you are excited for them!

5. End the meeting by advising them you will follow up with them in the next day or so. This shows that there is no pressure to make this big decision on the spot.

Remember to have a clear vision for your brand, plan your social media content, and ask for referrals!

Le Love Events is a wedding and event coordination company based in Toronto. Our specialization is in budgeting, vendor management and design recommendations. We work closely with our clients from beginning to end to ensure that the planning process is smooth and stress-free.

Le Love Events focuses on bringing visions to life, adding uniqueness, style and personal touch. Our mission is to provide seamless direction and flawless execution which will create a beautiful event and lasting memories!