A wedding vendor’s guide to work-life balance

Running a wedding business can be exhilarating—the love stories, the creativity, and giving couples that once-in-a-lifetime celebration. But there’s another side to the business between the dreamy decor and the loved-up vows—the less glamorous side. There’s one filled with contracts, invoices, chasing payments, phone calls, and what can feel like endless emails. 

If it feels like you’re spending more time drowning in paperwork than creating dream weddings, you’re not alone. Many small business owners feel the pinch of having to do the work outside the work. You know, the ‘work work’? But you can implement a few smart strategies that give you back your time to do what you truly love.

You didn’t start a wedding business because you love bookkeeping (unless you’re a wedding accountant—then you’re the unicorn exception). You started it because you love the magic: when a couple sees their venue for the first time, the joy of coordinating a seamless event, the creative rush of designing a breathtaking tablescape. If you’re doing too much ‘work work’ and not enough work, Solo by MYOB is an app that cuts out the paperwork and gives you time to bring Pinterest boards to life.

The work work

What is the ‘work work’? You know how running your own business means you get to do what you love and get paid for it? Unfortunately, there are also some downsides to doing it yourself – you’re the CEO, the CFO, HR and the accountant. You’re chasing unpaid invoices, networking with other suppliers, and signing contracts. You wear many hats. But if you find yourself spending too much time doing this ‘work work’ and less time creating dream weddings, there’s a solution.

Solo lets you close down those 47 tabs opened on your computer. Created for sole traders and small businesses, Solo is your admin assistant in your pocket. It automates invoices and even sets up reminders for following up so that your calendar is cleared of the little stuff – and you can focus on the big stuff: the work.

Strategies that let you work smarter (not harder)

1. Automate the repetitive tasks

The best wedding businesses run like a well-oiled machine, and automation is your secret weapon.

• Use Solo to set up invoice reminders and automate your paperwork. If you hate creating invoices and sketching out contracts, this is all kept in one place. It can generate an invoice in seconds and give you that time back.
• Track your expenses. Instead of promising yourself that you’ll track all your receipts and expenses come June, Solo has done all that for you. Just snap the receipt, and it’ll do the rest. No more shoving a bunch of paperwork into ‘that’ drawer until a later date.
• Use online scheduling tools to let clients book consultations without endless back-and-forth emails. Put aside a little time each week to make sure the appointments don’t clash with your personal schedule and keep your work-life balance in check!

2. Create templates

Are you sick of writing the same follow-up email over and over? Create templates! Having templates for all the commonly asked questions and emails sent will be a lifesaver (and a timesaver!).

• Create email templates for enquiries, booking confirmations, and FAQs – you can even send these off pre-emptively.
• Have pre-written contract templates that only need minor edits per couple.
• Use checklists to ensure every wedding gets the same level of detail and care.

3. Delegate or outsource when possible

You don’t have to do it all. In fact, Solo can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. If you’ve ever found yourself seeing if you can afford an accountant or a personal assistant, there are different ways to outsource this without costing you an arm and a leg. Consider these steps:

• Hire a virtual assistant to handle emails and scheduling.

Use a bookkeeper or accounting software. Solo can keep all your books in one place, easily accessible, and on your phone.

4. Batch your admin work

Instead of handling admin tasks in bits and pieces all day, block out dedicated time to knock them out in one go.

• Set aside one or two weekly afternoons for emails, invoicing, and paperwork.
• Keep client communication within office hours—your time is valuable! Follow the same rules for your business as you would for someone else’s—emails are off from 5:30 p.m. Whatever is sent after that? Well, it can wait until tomorrow.

5. Prioritise work-life balance

Burnout isn’t a badge of honour. Having some downtime is better for you and the couples you work with. It lets you go into each week with a refreshed mind frame and enthusiasm for your work. But how do you avoid what feels like the unavoidable? 

• Set boundaries with couples—you don’t need to reply to texts at midnight.
• Take days off (yes, unplugging is possible!).
• Make time for what inspires you—networking with other wedding pros, perusing Pinterest, or getting deep into wedding vlogs. Whatever gets your creative juices flowing, spoil yourself and indulge in it.

Solo can give you back hours to lessen the chance of burnout. 

More weddings, less paperwork

Your wedding business should feel like a passion, not a paperwork factory. By automating, outsourcing, and setting smart boundaries, you can spend less time buried in admin work and more time creating unforgettable weddings. It’s work versus ‘work work’, and we know what we’d rather do.

Solo by MYOB is available exclusively through Easy Weddings for $6 for 12 months. So, what are you waiting for? Give yourself the gift of time and download Solo by MYOB now!