How I came up with the idea of becoming a Wedding Planner
Before wanting to become a wedding planner, I think I simply wanted to enter the event industry.
Organizing events of all kinds fascinates me, and I enjoy it so much that I eventually thought, why not make it my profession?
Of course, you do not improvise being a wedding planner, and you cannot turn every passion into a job, but by speaking with those around me I became sure of one thing:
I am made for this.
Tell us about your journey before getting started
After completing my general studies, I joined the Tunon tourism school, where I earned my degree. I loved it, and after several internships across Europe I signed on as an executive housekeeper in Switzerland.
I eventually returned to Lyon, where I worked as a manager in a restaurant.
After four years there, and once I had started my family, it was time for me to live my dreams.
I reflected deeply and imagined what this agency would look like, and then I started the International Wedding Institute program.
Certainly the best choice to start in the right conditions.
There I met my first fellow planners, as well as established professionals full of valuable advice.
When I completed the program, the beautiful adventure of entrepreneurship began for me, and Mathilde Faggion Events was born.
What difficulties did you face before getting started, and how did you overcome them?
Like anyone starting a new adventure, whether professional or personal, I was full of doubts.
Was I really capable of doing it? Was my project relevant? Did I have the right ideas? Where should I begin?
I started by doing real work on myself and rebuilding my confidence. My years of professional experience had taught me a lot, and I was able to put all of that to use in this project.
Then, as with any business creation, I completed market research and a business plan. These were things I did not know and had to learn to handle. It made everything more concrete, but also made me realize what self-employment really means. Being alone in front of your computer and comparing your wishes and ideas with the actual market is not always easy, but it was very important for what came next.
It was only after all those steps that I finally joined the program, with more strength and more confidence in my project, ready to defend it in front of real professionals. I saw that stage as a real test.
If I am credible and if I enjoy it, then this adventure is mine.
Describe your agency
I am first and foremost passionate about weddings, and that is why I naturally define myself as a wedding planner.
The agency organizes ceremonies that are all different from one another, yet unique just like every couple. I work alone and maintain a special bond with my future brides and grooms. Trust is the key word. After all, they are entrusting me with the most beautiful day of their lives.
I want to remain flexible and adapt to each person’s wishes. That is why I offer several packages, such as full planning, which supports the couple through all of their preparations, or partial planning, which acts as additional support for the work they are already doing themselves.
And then there is everything that comes next, this desire to explore other worlds and other atmospheres.
So the agency also gives itself the freedom to organize birthdays or baby showers, those smaller, more intimate events that are still so important in a life. They bring a different emotion, different colors and venues, and allow me to diversify and reinvent myself every day.
All of these projects are the strength of the agency. I work only with desire and passion, and that is certainly my greatest success.
How did the first year of activity go?
Like everything else, it was not simple.
First, I had to put communication in place, create a website and establish a presence on social networks. It kept me busy, but to me it was an essential stage. If I want to attract clients who are like me and projects that speak to me, it is up to me to show them who I am and what I offer in the best possible way.
Then the days passed, but clients did not arrive. I reassured myself by talking with colleagues, and I knew that it takes time to become known.
So I decided to give things a little push and go introduce myself. Congratulating a photographer on their latest shoot, visiting a magnificent venue, or tasting a pastry chef’s latest creation. I learned on the ground, and the more I met people and exchanged with them, the more I felt I was becoming part of that world.
The world of weddings and events, which had once seemed out of reach, opened up to me and little by little I found my place.
Looking back, it was the best thing to do.
Until one day two brides knocked on my door. Two women overflowing with love, entrusting me with the project of their life.
At last, I could put everything I had learned to use and reveal all those encounters who, for the most part, would stand by my side on the wedding day.
That first contract affirmed my position and confirmed once again that I love this new life.
The agency will soon blow out its first candle and begin its second year full of ambition and experiences.
My biggest day-to-day difficulty and how I deal with it
My biggest difficulty is probably the young age of the agency. I was incredibly lucky that my first couple trusted me despite my limited experience, and I do not always feel fully legitimate in front of clients.
I deal with that thanks to the confidence and knowledge I gained during the program, and especially by mentioning the internships I had the chance to do.
That is probably the greatest opportunity the International Wedding Institute offers us. I took part in two very different weddings that taught me a great deal. I would also like to thank Nathalie from the agency Noce Blanche and Gwénaëlle from Mission Mariage.
The new rhythm of entrepreneurship is not always easy to handle. Having only known salaried jobs before, I have had to learn how to deal with the administrative side and the communication side of my business. I am still learning today, but I stay positive and, for once, every action I complete benefits me personally.
And the greatest reward, the one that keeps us moving forward, is the thanks from our clients.
Seeing the magic in my couples’ eyes and telling myself that I helped create it motivates me every day.
My little happiness trick is that I collect thank-you notes and invitations so that I can remind myself as often as possible of all the happiness surrounding me.
What the IWI program brought me
First of all, answers to my questions.
The program made my project concrete and strengthened it. During those weeks spent alongside young women who were just as motivated, each with her own project, I truly became aware of my role.
Being surrounded by so much ambition and motivation pushed me to give my very best.
Each speaker shared their passion and advice so that we could begin our adventure in the best possible way.
I keep the course materials carefully and still consult them regularly.
It is also a major asset in front of clients. Showing them that I did not come from nowhere and that I was trained by the best is one of my greatest strengths during a first meeting.
Finally, I am now part of the school’s network, my very first professional network, even before the one I am building among vendors.
I can reach out to it at any time with a question or doubt, and in turn I can help my fellow planners. It is a beautiful example of solidarity and mutual support in a field that is not always easy to navigate.
For that, I thank Anne-Marie, who never lets go of us and continues to support us long after the training ends.