Building a Wedding Planning Business From Scratch as a Single Mom

When I launched my wedding planning business, I was a newly single mom with a one-year-old son and a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. We were living in a tiny apartment. I had no job security, no backup plan, and barely enough room for a dining table.

But I had a dream. And two little faces looking up at me who made giving up not an option.

"There was no room for failure," that's what I said to myself

Not because I believed I was unstoppable, but because I had to believe something better was possible—for them.

Starting My Wedding Planning Business

The First Steps Into the Wedding Planning World

I got my start by working at a local wedding venue, giving tours, managing contracts, and working weddings onsite. It was hands-on, sometimes chaotic, but it gave me an up-close look at what made weddings run smoothly… or fall apart.

And here’s what I quickly noticed: when couples had a planner in their corner, everything felt different. More peaceful. More joyful. More them. That stuck with me. I realized I didn’t just want to be part of weddings—I wanted to support couples through them. That’s when I knew: this wasn’t just a job. I wanted to build a wedding planning business that made a difference.

Making It Official (Even Before It Felt Real)

About five months in, I signed up for a wedding planning certification course. Was it the magic answer to everything? Not really. But it gave me something I really needed in that season: validation. It felt like I was claiming my seat at the table.

While studying, I built my brand and created my website from scratch late at night, at our tiny dining table that doubled as our workspace and living room centerpiece. I was all in.

The very next day after getting certified, I coordinated my first wedding—for free. A kind-hearted photographer named Chase Pedigo with Pedigo Photography took a chance on me. He referred me to one of his couples and later gave me the full gallery so I could start building my portfolio. That moment of generosity became the foundation of everything that followed in my wedding planning business journey.

This is my sweet family now. Remarried. Happy. Thriving.

When Doubt Creeps In, Keep Going

Let’s be real, there were plenty of doubts. My ex-husband didn’t think I could do it. In fact he told me I wasn't "allowed" to be a Wedding Planner when we were married. And some days, I believed I just wasn't capable.

But I also had people in my corner, friends and family who reminded me that I’m a doer. That when I dream something up, I go after it. And when my own belief started to slip, their belief held me steady.

I remember one night, sitting across from Donovan (who’s now my husband), in full breakdown mode—tears, fear, the whole thing. I was terrified to keep going. He looked at me and said, “Brandi, you have to do this. You can do this.”

Sometimes those words are all it takes to stand back up and try again.

Balancing Survival with Starting a Business

Emotionally, I stayed grounded by leaning into church, my community, and the joy my kids gave me daily. Their laughter and milestones kept me going when things felt heavy.

Financially, I made it work by overlapping my venue job with the early days of my business. We lived simply and intentionally. Most nights, I was up late working at our dining table with my kids playing nearby. It was exhausting, but it meant something.

One day, my daughter scribbled on my custom mouse pad with my logo. I cried and it felt like one more thing falling apart. But later, I realized: her scribbles were part of the story. A reminder of why I was doing this. I still keep that mouse pad, messy and all.

More Than a Career, It's a Legacy

Starting this wedding planning business wasn’t just a career move. It was how I began rebuilding a life that felt whole again. A life where I could be both a present, loving mom and a passionate businesswoman. A life where my kids could watch me chase something with heart and purpose, and know that they were never in the backseat of that dream.

To Anyone Building Their Business From Scratch

If you’re starting from a place of brokenness, or dreaming of a new path when everything still feels uncertain—I see you. Truly. You’re not alone.

Keep going. Keep Building

Because the scribbles on your story? They might just turn out to be the most beautiful part.

---

Ready to build your dream, even if it’s from the ground up? Follow @weddingproreset for honest encouragement and real-life business advice for wedding pros starting over or starting fresh.