The Power of Women in Weddings: Inspiring Female-Led Businesses
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’re shining a spotlight on 8 incredible women in the wedding industry – each a powerhouse in her own right. After all, women comprise an impressive 80% of the wedding industry, so what better occasion to celebrate them? From overcoming challenges to achieving personal milestones, these women have not only built successful businesses, but have also paved the way for future generations of women to follow in their footsteps. Read on to discover their stories and advice.
Stacey Ferguson-Czersovski, The Venue Experts
Stacey saw a gap in the market for specialist expertise, and now works to transform how venues connect with couples using innovative sales strategies and creative marketing. Reflecting on her priorities, she comments: “I’ve always been passionate about the wedding industry, but I love my three daughters more. I didn’t want to choose between a successful career and being present for them, so I built a company that allows me to have both.” Beyond her own hard-won business success, she shares that she is “incredibly proud of creating a company that empowers talented professionals –especially mothers – to work flexibly in an industry they love and never miss a sports day again.”
In terms of challenges, Stacey relates her struggle to “prove that the wedding industry isn’t just about romance and creativity – it’s a serious business.” Reflecting upon female representation in particular, she adds: “Female representation is hugely important in the wedding industry, not just because weddings are often seen as a traditionally female-driven space, but because women bring incredible leadership, innovation and business acumen to an industry worth over £300 billion globally. However, while many of the frontline roles – planners, coordinators and stylists – are filled by women, leadership positions and business ownership are still often dominated by men. There’s an outdated perception that the wedding industry is all about creativity and passion, rather than serious business strategy. But behind every beautiful wedding is a venue that needs strong sales, marketing and financial management to succeed. By increasing female representation at the top, we can reshape this industry – not just as a space for creativity and emotion, but as a powerhouse of entrepreneurship, profitability, and growth. It’s also why I’m passionate about creating opportunities for women to work flexibly in this space, proving that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of family life.”
Sharon Wood, Bunny Hill Weddings
Sharon’s inspiration came from her daughter’s quest for the perfect luxury barn venue. “We converted an old barn on our small holding, and I fell in love with the personal satisfaction I got from exceeding the expectations of our family and friends. I decided that working in this industry would suit us as a family and give me creative opportunities that feel rewarding personally and professionally.” Her proudest achievement? “Ranking highly on Bridebook is such an accomplishment for me. It’s rewarding to know our venue is loved by so many couples.”
Managing a business on the same site as her home has its challenges. “I find it difficult to separate my time between work life and home life, with the business literally on the doorstep.” That said, she is proud to recognise the pivotal role of women in the wedding industry: “In most industries, men are at the forefront, so the fact that women are so successful in the wedding industry is inspiring and shows that women are brilliant in a collaborative and creative environment.”
Jamie Doody, The Social Wedding
Jamie is dedicated to creating personalised wedding experiences. “I have always been passionate about storytelling and capturing meaningful moments in my personal life, and the wedding industry felt like the perfect space to bring that passion to life. Seeing a gap in the market for dedicated wedding content creators in the UK, I knew there was an opportunity for me to make a real impact in an evolving industry. The Social Wedding was born from a modern need – couples want to be fully present on their big day whilst still having beautiful, high quality content to relive and share instantly.” Her proudest achievement is growing a multi-award-winning, innovative business and seeing the trust couples place in her to “document their most special day in a way that feels authentic and creative.”
Reflecting upon female repesentation, Jamie adds: “Female representation in the wedding industry is so important because weddings are deeply personal, emotional events and having women at the forefront helps create meaningful, personalised experiences. Women bring empathy, creativity and innovation to the industry, and seeing more female entrepreneurs thrive inspires the next generation, like my daughter, to pursue their own dreams.” Her best advice? “JUST GO FOR IT! The biggest hurdle is often self-doubt, but if you have a vision and a passion just trust yourself to make it happen. Surround yourself with a strong support network and don’t be afraid to ask for help, and always be open to learning and growing.”
Becky King, Burlton Manor
Becky and her fiancé turned their home into a dream wedding venue. “We bought a beautiful 18th-century building in the hope I could renovate it and develop it into a business of my own.” She is incredibly proud to have doubled their wedding bookings from year one into year two, but notes several challenges specific to being a woman, especially in terms of setting pricing: “As a strong female character, it saddens me that I have been in a number of situations where a male representative has found it difficult to accept my authority… The key to over coming all of these situations is to have the facts and back yourself.”
Reflecting upon the importance of women in weddings, Becky adds: “Women through the generations have strived for equality in all industries. The wedding industry, in particular, has a strong female background because we generally address the bride and her wants; the gorgeous gown, hair and makeup. Times have changed and the notion that a wedding is all about the bride is dated… Women in particular can relate to this on such a high level that we are able to adapt and relate to a more inclusive mindset.” Burlton Manor certainly champions inclusivity: “We want to make everyone feel welcome and valued, [and] regularly hold multicultural weddings [which have] broadened the team’s knowledge.
Helen Rimell, Gin Fizz Photographic
Helen’s journey into wedding photography was a dream come true: “Being a photographer and telling people’s stories is all I ever wanted to do, it’s who I am, and I couldn’t think of doing anything else. I love all the emotions at a wedding; the fact that there is so much love and joy, it’s just so beautiful to be around.” What motivates her the most is good music and the support of friends, as well as “making great connections with other suppliers and receiving messages from clients to say how much they love their photographs.”
Helen is happy to be part of an industry where women are already at the forefront: “I think we are quite fortunate in that the wedding industry is one of the only female-dominated industries. It is a privilege to work with so many other amazing women.” Thinking about managing a healthy work-life balance, she admits that she has always had the work hard and play hard mindset: “[I] am very lucky that I have more energy than most people I know, an upside and super power to having ADHD. Sometimes I am editing until 2am, but then I know I can take the whole of a Sunday and go out swing dancing!”
Michelle Stubbs, Delamere Manor
Michelle has always been passionate about creating unforgettable wedding experiences. “When I took over Delamere Manor, I saw the potential to transform it into more than just a venue – it could be a place where couples’ dreams come to life. Weddings are such personal, emotional milestones, and being able to play a role in making them magical is incredibly rewarding. Her proudest achievement is marking 10 years in business, alongside being recognised in the Elite Business 100 and completing the Goldman Sachs business programme.
For Michelle, “female representation is vital in the wedding industry because women bring a unique combination of resilience, adaptability and problem-solving skills to a sector that requires creativity, precision and emotional intelligence. We’re natural multi-taskers, handling high-pressure events with grace while also innovating and leading thriving businesses. While many areas of the industry – planning, design, and photography – are dominated by female entrepreneurs, there are still relatively few female-owned wedding venues. Having strong female role models in leadership not only drives innovation but also inspires the next generation of women to step into ownership and senior roles, shaping the future of the industry.” Her best advice is to “be fearless in your vision.”
Nina Rogers, Cakes by Nina
Nina’s journey into the wedding industry began with a desire to balance family life with her creative passions. “I was a housewife looking after my twin boys and niece full-time, and when they turned seven, I felt it was time to do something else. My dad gave me my very first cake decorating board and I started to make celebration cakes as a little side hustle, then a couple asked me to do their wedding cake and the rest is history.” Nina’s proudest achievement is the recognition her business has received. “Being recognised now, I honestly love when I do wedding shows and people come up to me like I’m a celebrity at times, saying we know you, we’ve heard of you, and only great things thankfully.”
Nina recognises that she often works unsociable hours, but feels proud of her self-belief. “I don’t think I faced any real challenges; the only one is personal, which is that I didn’t believe in myself for years. It’s taken me 12 years to finally realise I am worth what I do and am actually very good at it.” Her best advice? “Be patient, find your niche, keep your uniqueness, don’t try to be anyone else.”
Aimee Goodey, Aubrey Park Hotel
Aimee’s journey into weddings wasn’t just about amibtion, but also “about passion, influence and a deep-rooted love for making people’s dreams come true. My decision to step into the wedding industry was shaped by strong women in my life, a natural talent for event planning, and a desire to create meaningful moments for others.” Interestingly, she recognises that one of her biggest yet unexpected challenges is that she hasn’t personally faced sexism in her role as a wedding coordinator: “In some ways, the perception that this is traditionally a woman’s role (which I don’t agree with, as I believe anyone can excel in this field) has actually worked in my favour. It has allowed couples to see how deeply I care about their day, sometimes even as much as they do – if not more!”
Aimee agrees that female representation “plays a significant role in the wedding industry, as it has traditionally been a female-dominated space. Many couples, particularly brides, find comfort and reassurance in working with women who understand their vision, emotions and having someone to relate to”. That being said, she also believes that“the industry thrives on diversity, and it’s important to create space for everyone. Weddings are about love and inclusivity, and the industry should reflect that by welcoming all perspectives. Strong female leaders in this field inspire the next generation of coordinators, planners and venue owners, proving that success in this industry isn’t limited by gender. Representation matters because it encourages innovation, mentorship and a deeper connection with couples looking for someone who truly understands their dream wedding.”
Celebrating Women in Weddings
As we can see, women are shaping the future of weddings, using their not just their creativity and passion, but also their enterpreneurial and strategic mindset to change the industry. From overcoming personal and professional challenges to celebrating their successes, they remind us all of the power of perseverance and the strength of women in business. So, this International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate their achievements and the many ways they’re making the wedding industry a more inclusive, inspiring and exciting place for all.
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