Many of you out there are current students or recent graduates of Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute. You’ve taken the time to build your skills set by learning from Lovegevity’s experienced instructors, and you’re doing the research (such as reading this blog!) to stay on top of wedding-industry trends. For example, you’ve learned here about going green, choosing invitations, and creating perfect, seasonal weddings. But we all know there is more to it than reading magazines and blogs and designing top-notch budgets for every kind of bride. There is the simple fact that you have to get your name out there. Here are a few tips on just how to do that:

1) The number one way to attract more business is, simply, to do a good job. This might mean for some of you that it’s time to brush up on your people skills. The success of your business will depend on how well you work with clients of all kinds. And in many instances your success will be a direct result of how cool you stayed in some very stressful situations. Maintaining a cool head in every situation - and easing the mind of the bride - will be something she never forgets. And it is sure to be something she tells her friends who may be looking for a wedding planner right now!

2) Consider posting your business name - or website - in your car window. Vinyl decals are easy to come by on such sites as etsy, and etsy shop owners usually have no problem taking custom orders. Plus you often get to choose the font and color, which is a great way to set the tone for what kind of business you offer.

3) Take part in bridal shows, and be sure to have advertising materials to hand out. Get creative! You have plenty of opportunity to show your creative side with your business cards and pamphlets. You don’t want your materials to get forgotten in the bag of swag that every bride gets at such shows. Work hard to stand out!

4) We’ve talked about it before: A wedding planner is only as good as the vendors she suggests to her bridal couples. A good, strong network of vendors is a wellspring of recommendations if they trust you, and you trust them in return. There is no shame in asking if they’ll set out your business cards by the register or if they mind recommending you to bridal couples who come in on their own.You do the same for them, don’t you? In the business world there is a mantra we all know: Scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.

5) Social-networking sites are here to stay. So your business (and pretty face!) should be on them, too. Be sure to set up business profiles on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and any other sites you can think of. We’ll say it again: You’ve got to put yourself out there to get noticed!

6) Don’t be shy. If a bride tells you - after her own fabulous wedding - the she has a friend who would be a perfect client for you, you have to FOLLOW UP! Referrals are like gold! Use them to your advantage; we all listen to what our friends have to say when it comes to any kind of business we hire, and brides are no different.

7) Do you have a website? You should. And you should include a section on it for a portfolio filled with A) personal recommendations from brides; B) gobs of pictures because let’s face it: that’s what wedding planning is all about, and C) plenty of easy ways for brides to contact you.

These tips are just a few ways to help get your business off the ground. A lot of you out there are experienced wedding and event planners with lots of advice to share. What helped you grow your business? Are there advertising avenues to avoid? What are the strongest ways to get your name out there?