…And Why Everyone You Know Wants to Start a Business 

Happy Fourth Fifth of July! 

This week was full of client calls, deadlines, and holiday plans. But despite the amount of things going on, I was able to rearrange my schedule to spend time with friends and family. I was able to cook a big breakfast each day this week, take an hour whenever I wanted to read a new book, and finish work early to do a (much-needed) deep clean of my apartment. 

And man, I’m so grateful I work a “job” that gives me time for all these things. 

This past week, I put a poll on Instagram and asked everyone why they started their wedding business. I got a range of answers – but most of them had to do with wanting more time, money, or control over their lives. 

And honestly, same. 

There is simply nothing I like enough to do it from 9-5 Monday-Friday. I would never be loyal enough to a company to sacrifice that much time and energy. And honestly, you could not pay me enough to wear real pants every day. 

Or any pants, for that matter. 

Because right now, I’m wearing the fluffiest sweater I own, shorts I stole from my high-school best friend, and a pair of fuzzy socks. I’m sitting criss-cross-apple-sauce on a velvet green desk chair and jamming to some lo-fi beats. 

I’m living my dream, right here, right now. 

Which answers the question I’m sure you’ve been asking…

Why is Everyone (and their mother) Starting A Business Right Now??

There’s a really short answer to that. 

F R E E D O M. 

Freedom looks different for everyone, but for most of my clients, there were a few common themes. They all wanted something that a typical 9-5 couldn’t give them. 

• They wanted to travel. 

• They wanted to be home with their kids. 

• They wanted to use their creativity. 

• They wanted to choose their own hours. 

For others, the final push to start their own business came from what they didn’t want. 

• They didn’t want someone else determining what their time, effort, and energy were worth. 

• They didn’t want someone to determine when they could or could not leave. 

• They didn’t want their health to deteriorate under harsh working conditions. 

• They didn’t want someone else’s expectations to determine their lives. 

Does this feel familiar? It sure does for me. 

From Writing Literature Guides to SEO Wedding Websites & Blogs

After I graduated college, I worked an odd collection of part-time jobs while writing literature guides. Honestly, I loved the work. I got paid to read and write about the books. 

The caveat? I didn’t get paid much. Like, at all. 

I was writing 25,000+ words for $600. For context, a typical novella (like Animal Farm by George Orwell) is between 20,000 and 30,000 words. So I was writing a novella every two weeks and making about $1,200 a month. 

Something wasn’t adding up. (My bank account, mostly.)

This was about the time a friend started encouraging me to try freelancing. At her urging, I started reaching out to small business owners I admired and offering my writing services. 

And, to my surprise, some of them said yes! 

After about six months of writing for various small businesses, I realized that 9 out of 10 of my clients were wedding creatives. I was working with wedding planners, photographers, stationers, and florists. I connected with web designers, branding experts, and social media coaches who work solely with wedding pros. 

I had found my people. 

I’ve always loved weddings. It’s one of the few moments in our lives that are truly and deeply sincere. Tears are embraced. Laughter is contagious. Beauty is respected. And art is everywhere. 

What started as a few writing gigs has evolved into an honest-to-goodness business. One where you have to pay taxes and everything. 

And (taxes aside) I could not be more grateful. 

Because starting a business restarted my life. 

That might sound dramatic, but I went from never being able to see my long-distance boyfriend because of my work schedule to being able to work from the airport. 

I went from cleaning a house from 9-5 and completing drafts from 5-10 to being able to sleep in, make breakfast, and start on my work around noon. 

I went from frustrating communication with bosses and coworkers to working with clients who feel like friends. 

So yeah, why is everyone starting a business right now? 

Because life is more than a paycheck. Life is more than clocking in and clocking out. Life is about doing the things you love with the people you love. It’s about going on hikes in the middle of the day. It’s about cutting a day short to bring your kids to the zoo.

It’s about good food, exploring a new city, and grocery shopping when the store is mostly empty.

At least, that’s what it is for me. What about you?

Are You Considering Starting A Creative Wedding Business? 

If you’re on this page, you either have a creative wedding business or are seriously considering starting one. Maybe you’re a part-time wedding photographer and you’re wondering if you should go full-time. Maybe you’ve been designing floral arrangements for some friends and are curious if you could make a career out of this. 

If you’re asking me, the answer is yes. It’s possible, and it’s worth it. 

Because freedom – of your time, your energy, your creativity, and your family – is priceless. 

No one can make that call for you. But if you ever want to chat about it, I’m here. 

Shoot me a DM on Instagram, or – better yet! – schedule a call! Owning a wedding business is a lot of work. But it’s the best work you’ll do in your life. 

Anywho – those are my rambling thoughts on the freedom of starting a business and the way it’s changed my life. 

It’s not for everyone. Some people find a 9 to 5 career and love it. (I mean, I’m marrying an engineer for crying out loud!) But for those who want a less traditional career path with lots of room for change, creativity, and endless possibility… I highly recommend it. 

That’s all! I’ll be back on the blog soon with some sick SEO tips for your blog and website. See you there!

Jo 

(Oh yeah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Jo! I’m a copywriter for wedding vendors, which means I write SEO websites, blogs, and email campaigns for creatives in the wedding industry. I help you find your brand voice and write copy that helps you rank higher in search results and get found by your ideal client. 

If that sounds like something you’re interested in, we should definitely chat! Click here to schedule a (free) 30-minute consultation call where I can learn more about your wedding business and share how copywriting can help increase your leads!)