From Dance Recitals to I Do’s: How My Past Led Me to Becoming a Wedding Planner

Brandi Swanson
Oct 17
3 min read

Brandi from Next Chapter Weddings twirling barefoot in a bright pink tulle dress. — Unknowingly, my past had led me to where I am now

When people hear I’m a wedding planner, they often assume I’ve always been in this industry. But the truth is, I came from a very different world. Believe it or not, but I used to own and run a dance studio (yup, you heard me right).

For seven years, my life revolved around tiny ballet slippers, crowded dressing rooms, last-minute costume fixes, and standing ovations. I taught hundreds of students, directed countless recitals, and organized full-scale performances with lighting cues, music transitions, and proud parents snapping photos from the audience.

It was... chaotic. Beautiful. Exhausting. Magical. And it was preparing me for something I couldn’t quite see yet: becoming a wedding planner. I didn’t know it at the time, but those years of running a studio were shaping me into the kind of planner I needed to be.

The Overlap Between Recitals and Weddings

On the surface, weddings and dance performances seem completely different. One is deeply romantic and intimate. The other is filled with glitter, giggles, and tiny dancers. But underneath both?

They’re once-in-a-lifetime moments. They take months of preparation for one meaningful day. They require someone to lead, organize, calm nerves, and keep the timeline moving.

That’s what I did as a studio owner. I didn’t just teach choreography, I managed parent questions, created production schedules, coordinated backstage logistics, and made sure every child felt confident walking onto that stage.

It turns out those same skills — leadership, adaptability, calm under pressure — are exactly what you need to run a wedding day smoothly.

Brandi from Next Chapter Weddings smiling while seated with a wedding planning binder.

Lessons That Prepared Me for Becoming a Wedding Planner

1. Details make the difference.

Whether it was a flower in a dancer’s hair or the exact moment a spotlight hit the stage, I learned that the smallest details can make the biggest emotional impact. That same eye for beauty and precision now goes into every wedding I coordinate.

2. People remember how you made them feel.

Parents didn’t always remember every routine their child danced, but they always remembered if they felt supported, seen, and cared for. It’s the same with my couples. Long after the flowers fade, they’ll remember how peaceful or chaotic the day felt — and I get to help shape that memory.

3. Organization is an art form.

Running a recital with 100+ dancers taught me to juggle multiple moving parts with grace. Timelines, cues, personalities — all managed at once. That skill now serves me well on wedding days when every moment matters.

Brandi from Next Chapter Weddings smiling between two large white floral arrangements. — Present day Me – an accomplished Wedding Planner from Houston

4. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest, it’s about being the calmest.

In both recitals and weddings, emotions run high. I learned how to lead from a place of peace — to be the person others could count on when nerves kicked in or something went off-script.

5. Every role I’ve had has been preparing me for this one.

Even when I didn’t realize it, my past was equipping me for my future. And that realization has given me so much gratitude for every chapter of my story.

For Anyone Dreaming of Becoming a Wedding Planner

If you’re a new entrepreneur wondering if your past “counts” — hear me when I say: it does. Your previous jobs, life experiences, and seemingly unrelated skills are not wasted. They are preparing you. They are qualifying you.

So don’t wait to feel perfectly positioned. Look back and see how your story has already built a foundation. Whether you’re becoming a wedding planner or chasing any other dream, your past chapters might just be the reason your next one is so strong.