Hundreds of thousands of couples get married every year, making wedding coordination a lucrative business opportunity. One Love Events owner and wedding coordinator Shannah Tupaz-Gervacio shares her insights on how to get started. 

According to the provisional marriage statistics for 2023 provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), around 338,210 marriages were registered last year. For entrepreneurs, this number can be taken as a business opportunity, especially for those looking to dip their toes into the industry as a wedding coordinator.

More often than not, couples planning a wedding have to tap multiple suppliers to organize and plan their big day. At the top of this list is none other than the wedding coordinator, who typically takes on the task of looking for and securing other suppliers, as well as making sure that the big day runs smoothly. 

While weddings are seasonal, coordinators can earn as much as seven digits in revenue in a month. This has been the experience of Shannah Tupaz-Gervacio, a wedding coordinator and owner of One Love Events, who spoke to The Business Manual to share her experience and insights. 

Did you always want to be a wedding coordinator? What made you decide to start a business as one?

Back when I was in high school, I remember being interested in planning small family events, such as finding a catering service, deciding on the menu, and figuring out where to set up the station. Little did I know that there was a specific business aligned with what I enjoyed. 

Before graduating from college, my eldest brother started a small photography and videography business. I asked if I could assist him to observe the work of other coordinators he collaborated with. That’s when I decided, at the age of 20, that I wanted to start my own coordination team.

Did you have to go through any training/seminar/internship to acquire the necessary experience to be a wedding coordinator? 

At first, I was just observing the coordinators my brother was working with. Later, I applied for a freelance coordinator position with another team. 

After gaining some experience, I boldly decided to form my own team with other freelance coordinators and began promoting my services on my Facebook page. Six years later, I decided to enroll in an advanced events management course to enhance my skills and learn the proper etiquette for working with higher-end clients.

How were you able to find and hire the right staff members to be a part of your team? How crucial is it to hire the right people?

I worked with other freelance coordinators and learned that they were open to collaborating with various head coordinators. For a few years, I juggled working with different coordinators, but I eventually found the right members who share the same level of enthusiasm as I do. 

Selecting the right people for my team is crucial, as it takes working with them across several events to truly understand their abilities, attitude, and skills, all while ensuring the quality of the event is never compromised.

How do you select the right suppliers to partner with for your wedding packages? How do you maintain such partnerships/relationships?

Deciding which suppliers to work with is a challenging task. It involves attending their events to observe their performance and ensuring they show up for the initial booking to guarantee they’ll deliver during the event. This is all part of selecting the right suppliers. 

We maintain strong relationships with our suppliers by ensuring they receive bookings from us, paying them fairly and on time, and occasionally offering tokens of appreciation.

How do you find clients to work with?

Most of our bookings come from word of mouth and social media.

What are some misconceptions about the business / wedding coordinating industry that you would like to clarify for aspiring wedding coordinators? 

Many people say that being a wedding coordinator is fun because you’re constantly at social events. That’s true, but only until you experience the planning process. 

Being a wedding coordinator isn’t just about finding the right suppliers, booking them early, and giving them call times. It goes beyond that. It’s about understanding what your client wants, needs, and their budget. 

However, before anything else, you need to determine the type of service you’ll provide. From there, you’ll know where to begin and the scope of your work.

There are three types of services:

1. On-the-Day Coordination

2. Partial Event Management

3. Full Event Management

Each wedding also requires a different approach. Is it a Christian wedding, a Catholic wedding, a Chinese wedding, or one with provincial traditions? We tailor our work based on these factors.

What concrete tips and advice can you give to aspiring wedding coordinators when it comes to customer service and dealing with the whims/demands of clients?

Make sure to clearly discuss the scope of your work with your clients. It’s important to know their most available times for meetings or responding to queries, especially for clients based abroad, so you can communicate effectively. 

Each client has different needs—some may be understanding, while others might have less patience when waiting for feedback. Do your best to respond to their inquiries promptly, even if it means late-night replies (just make sure to apologize), and ensure you have the right answers to their concerns. 

Always have a plan B for everything. When troubleshooting, it’s not enough to fix the problem—you should also have a plan B or C to address any further issues that may arise.

What concrete tips and advice can you give when it comes to maintaining relationships with partner suppliers?

Always make sure you’re available and ready to offer a helping hand whenever your co-supplier needs it. Avoid badmouthing other suppliers if they make a mistake—they may just be a startup in need of support. The events industry is tightly connected, and you’ll likely work with the same suppliers again in the future.

What other concrete tips and advice can you give to those who wish to start a business like yours?

I believe the biggest obstacle for aspiring business owners today is a lack of self-confidence. Some are hesitant to let their audience know they exist. When I started my business at 20, no one knew I was about to launch One Love Events. 

I created a page but just stared at it for three to four months, unsure of what to do next. One morning, I realized that nothing would happen if I didn’t take action. So, I began sharing the page and posting photos from family events—catering setups, balloon arrangements, and more—even if the pictures were just candid shots from our personal gatherings. 

Don’t be afraid to start small. Sometimes, all it takes is one client who truly believes in your talent and capability, and from there, you’ll find success.

Shannah Tupaz-Gervacio is the owner and founder of One Love Events. Prior to starting her business at the age of 20, she graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Major in Marketing Management.