Cateress who found her niche in time
In an era where everyone is busy chasing money and careers, it can be difficult to set aside time to plan a wedding. It is for this reason that a wedding planner comes in handy.
Those innovative will do everything you need for your wedding — at a minimal fee.
Peris Masinde, a planner with Dreams Wedding Planners, says the wedding industry is not only growing, it is competitive as well.
“The wedding industry is lucrative. People have become very busy with things like work and school; they do not have enough time to plan their events. It is also very competitive as brides are under pressure to outdo each other in their weddings,” she says.
In a good month, Peris will plan two weddings. However, the numbers fluctuate depending on the month. April, August and December are high seasons.
Planners’ fees vary depending on the demand and expectations of the couple. Many planners now offer various packages.
Some also charge according to the wedding budget, asking for anything between 10 and 20 per cent of the total budget.
Esther Muchene is a planner with Party Box and tailors packages to suit a client’s needs.
“We custom-make our wedding packages according to the client’s budget. Our charges depend on factors like current market rates, inflation, average disposable income of our target bride and type of services to be offered. Many factors come into play before we settle on the amount,” says Muchene.
As is common with any new industry, this one has had its fair share of teething problems.
With its high potential and untapped market, the industry has been prone to quacks who fleece unsuspecting couples.
Growing pains
Lack of regulation is another challenge as clients who have been short-changed by planners have nowhere to take their complaints.
“Many people have no idea how the industry runs, neither are they qualified in any specific field such as food production, floral arrangement and pastry making,” Sylvia Ombungu, another planner, explains.
“As such, we need to set standards for our industry.”
Ombungu also notes that payment is one of the biggest challenges as some clients tend to default at the last minute.