Giving Back to Your Community and Your Industry

Think back to your roots in the industry. Whether you’re a business owner or you’re employed by someone else, there’s a good chance you haven’t made it this far on your own. The wedding industry is especially community-oriented and it’s important to recognize the support you’ve received from the people and businesses around you. 

In fact, you may find yourself wondering how you can give back to those who have helped to elevate your position in the industry. A simple thank you goes a long way, but it doesn’t have to stop there.  

Here are a few ways that you can contribute your time, energy, and resources to your community and those who have lifted you up in the past. 

Contribute to community-based or industry-specific funds.

There are plenty of organizations and funds available to donate time, money, and goods. Consider volunteering time at your local food kitchen, providing free services to a retirement home, or donating a percentage of your revenue to a specific cause. If you want to give back to the special events industry in particular, look into the SEARCH Foundation — founded in 1997, the fund assists event professionals who are facing life-threatening illnesses or other catastrophic occurrences.

Get involved in causes you’re passionate about.

Don’t feel like you need to get involved in a cause if it doesn’t particularly interest you. Your efforts will be best used if you are passionate and invested in the mission. Two of my biggest passions are baseball and working with children, so our company is a natural sponsor for the local Little League baseball team. If you’re handy with a buzz saw, consider giving your time to an organization like Habitat for Humanity. Think of where you’d love to help out and connect with your team to see if they have suggestions, too.  

Be a team player.

When you think of your own business growth, you can probably pinpoint a few key players who have sent referrals your way. Being in the wedding industry means working closely with many other creative partners, so it’s important to always be respectful and thoughtful about sending business back to your network. Pay it forward to those who have supported you and do what you can to help lift your creative partners in the same way they’ve helped you. 

In an industry as busy as ours, it’s easy to get lost in the client work and lose sight of the bigger picture. Giving back to your community is a good way to reconnect with your greater purpose and remember why you got into the business in the first place. We all aim to help people in our day-to-day, but that idea can often get lost in the world of color palettes and minute-to-minute timelines. What you give comes back greater, so do your community and yourself the favor and make time to contribute. 

Kevin Dennis is the editor of WeddingIQ and the owner ofFantasy Sound Event Services, a full-service event company based in Livermore, California. Dennis is the past president for Silicon Valley NACE, and current international president for WIPA.