Post #1

OP and I have been considering starting our own wedding/ event planning business.  We have extensive travel experience; OP specializes in creative design and I'm good with details and more familiar to the business side of things.  Nonetheless, there are lots to consider and lots to do before we can hit the ground running.

A few critical things:

• Vendor Network - where would we go when we need something done?
• Clients - how are we going to reach them?
• Creditbility - how to build credibility, so that brides and grooms to-be would trust their big days in our hands?
• Hands-on experience - so far our experience are in general event planning; we need to fill the gaps for the special occasion.

Meanwhile, we need to put together our portfolio of events that we havd put together.  Especially, OP's bakery creations (from tiered cakes to cupcakes) and venue decorations.

Luckily, given OP's enthusiasm and grad student schedule, she has found a few ways for us to at least get started.

1. Friends who are getting married (soon)
2. Wedding singers whom she knew with reputations and connections for upcoming weddings
3. Blogging!  Documenting events as we go
4. wishuponawedding.org - this is a non-profit organization that just started Jan 2010.  It's like the make-a-wish foundation, but specialize in weddings.  Their Seattle chapter just launched in May.  If they would have us, non-profit would be a great way to get started and gain some experience

On the other hand, we continue to do our research online for resources available and looking out for wedding shows and expos, much like real brides do!