Everybody knows the wedding business is big business in Nigeria. The barriers to entry are reasonably low and with enough skill and devotion to your craft you can easily rise to the top. Better still, there is room for everybody to participate, from catering to photography, mcing and djing, even making beads.

Infact, let's list them out in full. Typically, intended couples will require the following for their wedding:
Wedding rings, caterers, music, jewelry, bridal wear, aso ebi/ aso oke, menswear, drinks, photographer/ videographer, mc, wedding iv printers, gifts/souvenirs, a venue, car/ transport, hotel accommodation, wedding planner, cake, make-up artist. I’m sure there are more but you get the point- There is plenty room for everybody.

Now, most of us won’t be naturally gifted at first but that shouldn’t deter you. But there are a couple of things you will have to do to be successful.

1. Learn a skill - If you want to be a caterer, then you must obviously learn how to cook. Practice, practice, practice. There are tons of cooking tutorials on YouTube. Watch them! Learn what meals are typically served at weddings and master them. Your product/service should be able to sell itself. An excellent caterer can take home as much as 3,000-5,000 Naira per head

2. Invest - You must be willing to invest, financially, into your business. After all, what good is a photographer without a camera? I cannot stress this enough, always consider getting a good quality camera. It might seem like a good idea to get a cheap one at first but trust me! Cheap often fails when you need it the most. Save up some money or ask friends and family to support you. A good photographer can make anywhere between 300 - 500k per wedding.

3. Choose a name – It’s important that you have a brand name, whether it’s your actual name or something unique. Either way, having a name is important. When you have decided on one, make sure you register it with CAC. Some clients might be uncomfortable paying directly into your bank account, and the only way for you to get a corporate account is by registering your company with CAC. Luckily these days, it’s much easier to do that online. Visit the CAC website to get started. Registering your business isn’t a must but it will definitely make you look more professional, you can always defer it till you are more established. Doing it yourself will set you back about 10-15k

4. Marketing - So now you’ve mastered your craft and you’ve acquired the necessary tools but you still have to get customers. This is the most difficult part of starting a business. These days, having an online presence is a must and the most obvious way to market your business is on Instagram, but unfortunately it’s saturated. Too many people offering the same or even better services than you. Moreover, you just started your business so it is highly unlikely you will have much to say or show on Instagram. So what are your options? You can register your business a site like Wedding Direct NG www.weddingdirect.ng . The site is packed with features to help you get booked and best of all its absolutely free which is exactly what you want if you’re just starting out. Sign up, edit/complete your profile and get booked. It’s that easy. No charges, no complications.

5. Research your customer – Nigeria is one of the most diverse countries on the planet. Researching the local customs and traditions of your client will make you stand out.

6. Get involved with the community – Vendors help out other vendors, this happens all the time. Start by letting them know you like their work, give them a shout out, like or leave a comment on Instagram, twitter or Facebook. Don’t start with the big vendors, they are often too busy and probably get too many shout outs to notice. Start with upcoming vendors like yourself, they are far more responsive and are often willing to do the same for you. One of your goals on social media should be to get featured on a bigger page than yours. Accounts like BellaNaijaWeddings have over 2 million followers so, they’re kind of a big deal. Being featured on such accounts can do wonders for your business.

7. Be prepared to Travel – I think that explains itself.

8. Be organized – Nothing says unprofessional like being disorganized. Get a diary, or a notepad. Alternatively, Wedding Direct NG provides an admin area where you can see and manage all your bookings in one place. This will help you a lot as your business grows.

9. Be Creative- There are a lot of people in this business, so how do you stand out. Find a niche, what do you offer that the others don’t. Don’t be afraid to be creative. There are more ways to do what you do than you think. Introducing new elements to what you are currently doing will give you the much need exposure that you need.

10. Be resilient – It will be hard at first. And there definitely will be times where you feel like giving up, clients will frustrate you, you will go weeks or even months without getting any work, your tools will get damaged, and yes some of your friends and relatives will even yab you. Just remember the ones who have made it today went through the same exact thing you will go through. Keep pushing, keep challenging yourself, keep reaching out and finding new ways or platforms to get your business noticed. There’s no magic to being successful, it takes hard work and it is unavoidable. Believe in yourself or no one else will.

Please share with your friends. Did I miss anything? Please feel free to make additions below. Also we’d like to hear your stories of how you started- tips and funny stories.