Creating A Wedding Planner Portfolio: A Guide

A wedding planning portfolio is a great way to showcase your unique style, brand, services and expertise to potential clients. It is a collection of your past work and experiences that presents your capabilities and talents as a wedding planner. The portfolio can be physical, such as a binder or album, or digital, such as a blog, website or slideshow. It is important to include images from past events and photo shoots, event timelines, budgets, design boards, client testimonials, and any relevant certificates or professional memberships. Creating a styled photo shoot is a great way to build your portfolio when starting out, as it allows you to showcase your creative vision and connect with other vendors.

Design boards and sketches

• Create mood boards that appeal to your ideal client: Understand your target audience and create design boards that speak directly to their interests and preferences. This will help you connect with potential clients and showcase your ability to tailor your services.
• Digitise your sketches: While hand-drawn sketches are great, consider digitising them to give a more polished and professional look. This will also make it easier to share your work on your blog, social media, or other digital platforms.
• Include a variety of elements: Your design boards can include colour palettes, fabric samples, flower arrangements, place settings, stationery designs, and any other visual elements that inspire you. The more diverse and detailed your boards are, the better they will convey your creative vision.
• Collaborate with other vendors: Reach out to photographers, florists, bakers, and other wedding professionals to collaborate on styled shoots. This will help bring your design boards to life and allow you to build connections within the industry.
• Be creative and experimental: Don't be afraid to think outside the box and experiment with different styles and themes. Push the boundaries and try new things to showcase your creativity and versatility as a wedding planner.
• Curate and refine your work: Once you have created several design boards, take a step back and look for common themes or recurring elements. Edit and curate your work to create a cohesive portfolio that showcases your unique style and aesthetic.
• Seek inspiration from various sources: Look beyond wedding blogs and magazines. Find inspiration in interior design, fashion, art, nature, and your everyday surroundings. The more diverse your sources of inspiration are, the more unique and interesting your design boards will be.

Styled shoots

• Find a location and secure a venue: You can start by choosing a wedding venue you're interested in working with, or you can opt for other locations that fit the theme and vision of your shoot.
• Assemble a creative team: Reach out to local wedding vendors you'd like to work with, including photographers, florists, rental companies, and other professionals who can contribute to the shoot. Remember that photographers and florists are key to the success of your shoot.
• Create a theme and colour scheme: Work closely with your vendor team to develop a cohesive theme and colour scheme for the shoot. This will help bring your vision to life and create a stunning visual representation of your style.
• Secure models: While it's not necessary, having a real couple as models can add a touch of authenticity and chemistry to your shoot. Ensure you prioritise diversity and avoid using heterosexual models pretending to be part of the LGBTQA+ community.
• Create a detailed timeline: As the planner, it's your responsibility to create a detailed timeline for the shoot, minimising downtime between setups. Plan the shoot during golden hour for optimal lighting, just like you would for a real wedding.
• Focus on the details: Remember that the devil is in the details. Use the opportunity to showcase your attention to detail and bring your design ideas to life. This will help potential clients understand your creative process and trust your abilities.
• Share the images: After the shoot, obtain digital images from the photographer and share them with all participating vendors so they can also use them in their portfolios. Use these images on your website, social media, blog posts, and marketing materials.
• Submit for publication: Collaborate with the photographer to submit the best photos for publication in magazines and online platforms. Getting your work published will boost your credibility and reach a wider audience.
• Build relationships: Styled shoots are an excellent opportunity to build relationships with vendors. They get to see your work ethic and creativity, and you may even receive referrals from them in the future.
• Keep costs in mind: Styled shoots can be expensive, especially if you're new to the industry. Be prepared to invest in your shoots to attract the type of clients you desire. Remember that showcasing impressive work will help you attract higher-budget clients in the long run.

Certificates and qualifications

When creating a wedding planner portfolio, it is important to include certificates and qualifications to demonstrate your expertise and professionalism to potential clients. Here are some tips for this section of your portfolio:

First, compile all your relevant certificates and qualifications. These could include certificates from online certification programs, membership certificates from wedding industry associations, or diplomas from design or planning courses. If you have completed any industry-relevant courses or classes, be sure to include those certificates as well. For example, if you have taken classes in photography, cake decorating, or floral design, add those certificates to the mix. These will showcase your dedication to your craft and your willingness to invest in your professional development.

Next, consider joining industry associations or attending conferences and events. The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP) is a great option, as they offer training and continuing education programs. Becoming a member of such organizations provides you with further credentials and demonstrates your commitment to staying up-to-date with industry trends. Include any certificates or registrations from industry events, along with photos of your attendance, in your portfolio.

If you have completed any formal wedding planner training or certification programs, such as those offered by the Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute, be sure to showcase your certificate and any other related documents. These credentials will carry weight with potential clients and employers.

Don't forget to include any relevant prior work experience in the industry. You can include a resume or a detailed list of your experiences, highlighting roles and responsibilities that are transferable to wedding planning. For example, if you have worked in hotel sales, event hosting, or floral design, these experiences can showcase your ability to handle different aspects of wedding planning.

Finally, don't be afraid to showcase your educational background. If you have a degree in a hospitality or event-planning field, include this in your portfolio. While a degree is not necessary to become a wedding planner, it can be advantageous and is often preferred by certain organizations. It adds credibility to your portfolio and demonstrates your knowledge and skills.

Testimonials and reviews

• Obtain Client Testimonials: Ask your clients to provide written testimonials that speak to your professionalism, responsibility, and follow-through. These can be included on your website, in your portfolio, and on social media platforms such as Facebook.
• Offer to be a Reference: Include client references in your portfolio, preferably from professionals in the wedding industry, such as a local florist or caterer. Offer to be a reference for them in return. This provides potential clients with an outside source to vouch for your character and professionalism.
• Display Social Proof: Incorporate testimonials from satisfied clients on your website and social media platforms. This provides social proof of the unique and positive experiences that your clients have had with your services.
• Highlight Client Interactions: Include testimonials that showcase the distinctive and positive interactions your clients have had with you and your team. This helps potential clients understand the level of service and personal connection they can expect.
• Use Detailed Quotes: Pull shorter quotes from client reviews and share them on social media, along with a call-to-action (CTA) that encourages people to view more of your portfolio. Detailed quotes provide a glimpse into the client's experience and can be more impactful than a simple star rating.
• Create a Testimonials Page: Consider adding a dedicated testimonials page to your website or portfolio. This allows potential clients to easily find and read through the experiences of your past clients, building trust and confidence in your services.
• Variety is Key: Include testimonials from a diverse range of clients, such as couples from different backgrounds, cultures, or wedding styles. This showcases your ability to cater to a wide range of clients and creates a more inclusive image.
• Video Testimonials: While written testimonials are great, consider adding video testimonials to your portfolio as well. Video testimonials can be more engaging and allow potential clients to hear and see the satisfaction and happiness of your past clients.
• Address Specific Concerns: Use testimonials that address specific concerns that potential clients may have. For example, if timely delivery is a common concern in the wedding planning industry, include testimonials that mention how well you stick to timelines.
• Keep it Fresh: Update your testimonials and reviews section regularly. Potential clients may question the validity of old testimonials, so it's important to showcase recent experiences and keep the content fresh.

Event timelines

A wedding planning portfolio is a great way to showcase your business and can be a powerful tool when meeting with clients. It should reflect your style, brand, services, and expertise, giving potential clients a glimpse of what they can expect from you and your business.

• Detail is key: The more detailed your event timeline is, the better. Include everything from hair and makeup services, photographer arrival, couple getting dressed, toasts, dinner, cake cutting, and the grand exit. A comprehensive timeline will show potential clients your attention to detail and organisation skills.
• Adjust timing: Remember that each wedding is unique, and the timeline will vary depending on the couple's preferences and the type of ceremony. Be flexible and adjust the timing as needed. For example, if the couple is having a religious ceremony, allocate more time as these tend to be longer than non-religious ceremonies.
• Consider travel time: If the ceremony and reception are at different venues, be sure to account for travel time in your timeline. This will ensure that guests and the wedding party have enough time to get from one location to the next.
• Work backwards: When creating a timeline, it's helpful to start with the ceremony start time and work backwards. This will ensure that you don't miss any important moments and can allocate enough time for each part of the day.
• Collaborate with vendors: Consult with your vendors, such as hair and makeup artists, florist, caterer, and photographer, to understand their arrival time and how much time they need for their services. This will help you create a realistic and smooth-flowing timeline.
• Use templates: There are many free timeline templates available online, such as those offered by Canva and The Wedding Planner's Toolbox. These can be customised and printed, making it easy to create a professional-looking timeline for your portfolio.
• Sample timelines: If you are just starting out and don't have real wedding examples, create sample inspiration boards and wedding day timelines to showcase your skills. You can also plan and organise a styled photo shoot to display your creativity and ability to work with vendors.
• Real wedding timelines: If you have experience planning weddings, be sure to include photos and production schedules from real weddings you have worked on. Always get permission from the photographer and your clients before using their images in your portfolio.
• Testimonials: Include testimonials and references from past clients alongside your event timelines. This will add credibility to your portfolio and show potential clients the positive impact you have had on other couples' weddings.

Frequently asked questions