Starting a wedding planning business in India is cheap. No inventory, no shop, no licence. That's the good news and the trap: because anyone can start, the businesses that last are the ones that look and run like businesses from the first client.
Short answer: To start a wedding planning business in India, register a simple business (most start as a sole proprietorship), open a current account, check GST registration with a CA, decide your packages and fee model, build a vendor network, use a written contract for every client, and set up one system for enquiries, weddings, vendors and payments before your third wedding.
Registration and paperwork
| Step | What to know |
|---|---|
| Business structure | Most planners start as a sole proprietorship; partnerships and LLPs suit co-founders. Ask a CA which fits you. |
| Current account | Keep client money separate from personal money from day one. |
| GST | Service businesses must register once turnover crosses the threshold (₹20 lakh in most states, lower in some). Many register earlier because corporate clients ask for GST invoices. Confirm with a CA. |
| Udyam registration | Free MSME registration. Optional, sometimes useful. |
| Contract template | One written agreement for every client. See what to include. |
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. A local CA can set it all up in a few days.
Packages: what you sell
| Package | What it covers | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Full planning | Months of planning, all vendors, budget, guests, run sheets, every function on site | Your main offer once you have a portfolio |
| Partial planning | Some vendors and the wedding days | Couples who've booked the venue and caterer |
| Day-of coordination | Running the wedding days from the couple's plan | Starting out, and filling quiet dates |
| Function-only | One function, such as the sangeet | Smaller budgets |
Bundling guest management into a package is a growing way to stand out: the invitation, per-function RSVP and WhatsApp reminders done for the couple. Planno explains how planners package digital invitations and guest management.
Pricing: pick one model and write it down
Indian planners mostly charge a flat fee, a percentage of the wedding budget, or per function. Each has trade-offs, and mixing them in one quote confuses clients. Planno's guide on how to price wedding planning services in India walks through all three with an illustrative example.
Your first 12 months, month by month
| Months | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Register, open the account, write your contract and packages, set up your system |
| 2 to 4 | Meet 20 vendors and 5 venue managers. Assist on weddings if you have none yet |
| 3 to 6 | Plan your first weddings, photograph everything, collect written testimonials |
| 4 to 8 | Google Business Profile, Instagram with full real weddings, a simple website |
| 6 to 12 | Refine packages from what clients actually asked for; hire your first assistant for peak season |
Mistakes that sink first-year planning businesses
- Mixing client money with your own. One current account for the business, from the first rupee.
- Underpricing to win the first clients, then being unable to raise prices on referrals they send you.
- One vendor for everything. When your only decorator is double-booked in peak season, so are you.
- No written scope. “Full planning” without a list turns into everything, for the same fee.
- Hiring for the season too late. Good assistants are booked by the time the season starts.
Set up your system before the third wedding
One wedding fits in your head. Two fit in a spreadsheet. By the third running at once, an advance gets missed or a vendor gets double-booked. Set up one place for enquiries, client weddings, vendors, payments and your team's tasks.
Planno is built for exactly this: an enquiry pipeline, every client wedding on one screen, a vendor book, payments due across all weddings, team roles with no per-seat pricing, and run sheets you can share with vendors. Planno is built by the team behind Wedence. It's free for two months and set up with you over WhatsApp; pricing is per wedding, and each wedding includes Wedence Signature for your couple.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a wedding planning business in India?
Register a simple business, open a current account, check GST with a CA, define your packages and fee model, build a vendor network, use a written contract with every client, and set up one system for enquiries, weddings, vendors and payments.
Do I need GST registration for a wedding planning business?
Service businesses must register once turnover crosses the GST threshold (₹20 lakh in most states, lower in some), and many register earlier for corporate clients. Confirm your case with a CA.
How much money do I need to start a wedding planning business?
Very little compared with most businesses: registration, a phone, a laptop, basic marketing and a software tool. Most of the investment is time spent building a vendor network and portfolio.
What packages should a wedding planner offer?
Common packages are full planning, partial planning, day-of coordination and single-function planning. Many planners now add guest management (invitations, RSVPs, reminders) as part of the package.
What software helps run a wedding planning business?
A planner workspace such as Planno, which combines an enquiry pipeline, client weddings, vendors, payments, team tasks and run sheets, and gives each couple Wedence Signature invitations and RSVP.