How I Built a Wedding Planning Business

HOW I BUILT MY WEDDING PLANNING BUSINESS
FROM SCRATCH

(And Then Franchised It!)

In 2007, I moved to Italy with my family, full of hope and excitement—but also with no idea how hard the next couple of years would be. I taught English to make ends meet, but we struggled financially. I remember sitting down one day with a huge sheet of paper, desperately trying to figure out what to do with my life.

I listed everything I was good at: management, customer service, organisation. I even included the things I did instinctively—like turning everything into a project, and writing lists.

I also wrote down what I wanted: a life that was half spent in the office, half in the sunshine. And then it hit me. Weddings.

In that moment, I knew it was perfect.

Starting With Nothing (Literally)

I didn’t have savings or business connections. In fact, we were so broke at one point that our electricity was cut off. Our car was broken down in the car park across the road, and eventually we were evicted from our apartment. My income from teaching English just wasn’t enough to support us.

But slowly—very slowly—I started to take bookings. I worked from home for the first few years. I remember answering emails while sitting at my kitchen table with my daughter, Katy nearby, dreaming of what I could build if I just kept going.

And I did.

Growth, Awards, and That One Magical Door

The business grew. I got my first office. Hired my first staff member. Then another. Then a team. We won awards. We became the leading wedding planners on Lake Como.

One of the moments I’ll never forget was opening the door to my new office after decorating it—then closing it again and opening it once more just to peek in. I’d made it feel like a living room, in our brand colours, complete with a chandelier, elegant chairs, a fluffy rug. I even bought slippers for the whole team to wear under our desks. When clients arrived, we’d all quickly switch back into shoes!

It was mine. I had built something from nothing.

The Franchising Journey

Franchising the business didn’t come from a long strategic plan. It just felt like the next natural step—an opportunity to help others build their own dream wedding planning businesses, using everything I had learned (and often learned the hard way).

Now, we’ve grown across Italy and are expanding into Portugal this summer. I didn’t pause too long to ask if the time was right or if I was ready. If I had, I might never have done it!

What I’m Most Proud Of

We’ve now planned over 750 weddings. I work side by side with my daughter, who’s my apprentice. My team is more than just a team—we’re a family. Every year, we do something amazing together to celebrate. One year it was quad biking, another year we rented a hot air balloon. One time, we even went to St Tropez for dinner.

These aren’t just business wins. They’re life wins. I love the business I’ve built, but more than that—I love the life it’s given me.