Have you considered diversifying into the wedding industry?

[The Business Barn]

Kelly Chandler, business owner and experienced wedding consultant, advises that engaged couples are turning away from perceived traditional wedding formula and instead are looking for something unique and fitting with their personalities...

If you're looking for inspiration to start a new business, here are the six key trend in the wedding industry to kick-start your next venture:

1. Flexibility – Couples want to create their day in a format that just screams out their story. Whether that’s a clifftop exchange of vows and a laid-back tea party on the beach, or a more formal church wedding and grand stately shindig, couples are paying a lot of attention to building their wedding team (with the venue setting the scene) from the ground up and really researching every element of their wedding including; catering, florals, entertainment and paper goods in order to reflect their personal style. The style of weddings is now utterly diverse. There is an ‘anything goes’ mentality that is very much ingrained in modern weddings, and quite simply there are no rules.
2. The conveyor belt – It’s vital in 2018 and beyond that each wedding and each couple is approached as an individual. Beware the venue which overly packages offers, presents fixed timetabling, is prescriptive and stamps down unnecessary rules as this does now not work for the modern couple. A new breed of couples aren’t even responding to the term wedding venue, increasingly looking for self-catering homes, farms, barns, and locations that serve another purpose entirely. They are often seeking the chance to create something unique to them, with an element of competition amongst couples to do something different (and better) than their friends. They are often seeking the hidden gem which can work well for those locations looking to dip toes into weddings but not make it a primary business activity.

Discover more trends for 2018 here >>>

 

[Still Farming]

Any divorce parties needed also ???

 

[D14]

A friend of mine has done just this and now has bookings up to 3 years in advance. When they book they have to put down a £3000 none refundable deposit. Then the balance is paid 1 month before the wedding. Failure to pay means no wedding as he's had all sorts try it on over the years so he's learnt the hard way and will not differ from the rules or listen to sob stories. He's worked hard and its a very stressful job dealing with that amount of people. People and hospitality is hard work at the best of times but only dealing with large parties is even harder.
He subs the catering out to a 3rd party who prepare and dish out in his kitchens on site but he has overall control. He's doing 2 weddings every week of the year, sometimes 3 and then tends to do the odd corporate thing during the summer months. A big ongoing cost is revitalisation of the venue due to its constant use. He's ended up with a full time grounds person and full time odd job man doing decorating etc. Its big rewards financially but do not underestimate how stressful it is dealing with 2-3 bride's per week!

 

[JP1]

A friend of mine has done just this and now has bookings up to 3 years in advance. When they book they have to put down a £3000 none refundable deposit. Then the balance is paid 1 month before the wedding. Failure to pay means no wedding as he's had all sorts try it on over the years so he's learnt the hard way and will not differ from the rules or listen to sob stories. He's worked hard and its a very stressful job dealing with that amount of people. People and hospitality is hard work at the best of times but only dealing with large parties is even harder.
He subs the catering out to a 3rd party who prepare and dish out in his kitchens on site but he has overall control. He's doing 2 weddings every week of the year, sometimes 3 and then tends to do the odd corporate thing during the summer months. A big ongoing cost is revitalisation of the venue due to its constant use. He's ended up with a full time grounds person and full time odd job man doing decorating etc. Its big rewards financially but do not underestimate how stressful it is dealing with 2-3 bride's per week!

When I started in the events business 30+ years ago, I was doing 4-500 weddings and parties a year as well as the main ag and horticultural shows

I learned early on to be wary of flower arranging stewards, dog show people and most Mothers Of The Bride