Pros Share What Lessons They Learned from Their First Wedding Season

Every year spent in the wedding industry offers opportunities to grow professionally. Still, most event pros can agree that the first year presents the most learning lessons as you gain experience. From navigating client expectations to experimenting with design trends, there’s much to absorb from hands-on practice.

But there’s also plenty to gain from seasoned wedding professionals with years of experience under their belt. We asked industry experts what they wish they had known going into their inaugural wedding season so you can feel confident and prepared as you embark on your journey. Here are six lessons to take into your first season.

#1. Industry resources are invaluable — use them.

In many fields, it’s common practice to pave your own way and figure it out as you go. However, that isn’t the case with events! Most wedding professionals view community as a core tenet of their work and will happily support industry newcomers.

Cathy O’Connell of COJ Events encourages beginners to lean on their community and ask for help during their first year (and beyond!). “There is so much you don't know; you don't know what you don't know,” she assures. “Don't be afraid to ask other creatives for help or advice; it's a sign of strength, not weakness.”

In addition to actively lifting up new wedding pros, many industry veterans are also known for producing high-quality educational resources to guide others. As a result, you can learn from the experts with minimal investments of your time or money.

“There are oodles of podcasts and videos that provide valuable education for free or at a nominal cost,” Susan Knittle of SoSig Events confirms. “Seminars, conferences, and networking events happen in almost every community and offer great educational and mentorship opportunities.”

The breadth of wedding industry education spans experience levels, specialties, and career goals. So whether you’re an apprentice planner with an established company or a rookie photographer with your own LLC, countless resources exist to help you succeed.

#2. The art of preparedness will set you apart.

Backup plans are handy in any career, but wedding professionals take contingency planning more seriously than most. An event’s success hinges on too many moving parts, so there’s no room to leave anything to chance.

“Weddings are beautiful, but there are so many things that can happen, and as wedding planners, we have to be ready,” says Loni Peterson of LP Creative Events. “With larger events, I always work on a Risk Mitigation Plan so we can either plan away the potential risks or have a step-by-step plan in place should something come up.”

In other words, expect that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. It’s not just about having a plan B but plans C, D, and even E — just in case. There is no such thing as being too prepared in the wedding industry! 

Effective risk management skills develop over time, but you can get a headstart in year one by observing others and treating every mistake as a learning opportunity.

#3. Success requires trial and error.

Many industry newbies start out with visions of grandeur. Celebrity weddings, million-dollar budgets, over-the-top design — the works! While you may expect such a goal to take time, most people don’t realize how much failure goes into a major success. 

The first several years can feel like a struggle, especially when seeing others thrive where you are just trying to survive. But Peterson assures that this is normal for new wedding professionals. “You are going to make mistakes,” she states. “Running a successful business is a slow burn, and comparison is the thief of joy.”

Heather Van Halen of Van Halen Events echoes Peterson, noting that aspiring wedding pros “won't get to the big leagues overnight.” To achieve sustainable success, she encourages newcomers to build their profile by “working all different types and levels of weddings to figure out your strengths and where your niche might be within the industry.”

In an industry rooted in creativity, you can’t fear experimentation or the inevitable failure of using the trial-and-error method. Like design concepts, some career moves will fall flat while others will flourish. That’s the beauty of making mistakes — you learn what doesn’t work and refine your approach to suit your professional goals.

#4. Great work starts early.

Real talk: Procrastinators don’t make it far in the wedding industry. Orchestrating a highly intricate production with a heavy emphasis on details requires time and attention; you can’t pull off a first-rate wedding at the last minute.

In fact, Bite Catering Couture’s Vijay Goel asserts that “the pre- and post-wedding plans are often more valuable than the day-of plan.” 

Long before the event day, pros should “start to create a shared vision, alignment on key choices and backup approaches, and script great load-in, start, first arrival, etc., sequences to make everything seem easy and magical,” he explains.

When the pre- and post-wedding plans are detailed and well thought out, everything falls into place on the event day. You don’t have to worry about delayed deliveries, spoiled surprises, or other unexpected mishaps when the whole process is timed for success!

#5. Don’t overlook the physical toll.

Those outside the wedding industry understand the creative and mental expectations of executing a five-star celebration, but many underestimate the physical demands of an event day. While it’s not like training for the Olympics, wedding photographer Melani Lust notes that “getting in tip-top shape is a priority” for all event professionals.

“Photographing a wedding is akin to running a 10K; I was surprised to find my mile tracker consistently at 5-7 miles per wedding,” she shares. “The stamina required to continually be aware of moments, scan the space to not miss anything, and physically get through the day is intense. I didn't realize how much I'd be lunging and squatting and how my shoulders and arms would develop so much muscle simply carrying my equipment around all day.”

It’s not just photographers, either. Caterers, planners, designers, and most day-of vendors must be on their feet for most of the day, so it helps to build resilience through strength training and cardio exercise. Hydration and healthy eating matter, too!

#6. Growth is constant.

While podcasts and webinars are excellent ways to advance your industry education, experienced wedding pros know that every event (and even client interaction) offers a chance to learn and master your craft. Treat each day on the job as a lesson, and you’ll gain momentum in no time.

House of Joy’s Samantha Leenheer recommends “taking time after each wedding to sit down with yourself or your team to talk about things that went well and celebrate those.”

After recognizing the team’s wins, “talk about areas you can improve on and take action on them by fixing email wording, worksheets, and even how a question is asked during a final walk-through,” Leenheer continues. “Things can be hard, but not growing from them is a lost opportunity that you owe your future self.”

As you gather experience, never stop observing and learning from your wins and losses. Figuring out what works (and what doesn’t) is an ongoing process, so keep persevering and celebrate your achievements along the way!

Wrapping up your first wedding season is an exciting and invaluable experience filled with challenges, triumphs, and learning opportunities. By following these tips, you can set a strong foundation for your career and find your place in the market. Remember: Every wedding you work on is a stepping stone toward becoming an industry leader!

Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker, adjunct professor in the field of public relations, and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.