Running a successful wedding business can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to balance creativity with managing day-to-day operations. Many wedding professionals find themselves wondering which expert to hire: a business coach vs OBM vs strategist. The truth is, each of these professionals serves a different purpose and offers unique benefits depending on your current needs.

In this guide, we’ll break down the role of each professional, highlight key differences, and help you decide when and who to hire.

Business Coach vs OBM vs Strategist: What Do They Do?

Wedding Strategist: The Architect of Your Business

A wedding strategist focuses on creating a comprehensive, long-term plan for your business. Their job is to help you define your big-picture goals, such as expanding your services, entering new markets, or growing your team. They use data on the market, your target audience, and emerging trends to design strategies that align with your business objectives.

Example:
Let’s say you’re a wedding photographer trying to break into destination weddings. A strategist would analyze trends in destination wedding markets, evaluate your current brand, and develop a roadmap to help you make the transition. This example highlights one key difference when considering a business coach vs OBM vs strategist—the strategist helps with long-term planning.

When to Hire a Strategist:

• You’re launching or expanding your wedding business.
• You need help planning for long-term growth or changes.
• You want a clear business roadmap that aligns with your vision.

Top Wedding Strategists:

1. Aleya Harris – Founder of Flourish Marketing, Aleya helps wedding pros develop revenue-generating business strategies and create long-term plans for growth.
2. Maria Bayer – Creator of Irresistible Selling, Maria is a sales and business strategist who helps wedding professionals build a strong sales process and strategy to grow their businesses.
3. Meghan Ely – Owner of OFD Consulting, Meghan is a PR and business strategist who focuses on helping wedding professionals build their brand presence.

Case Study:
Emily’s Floral Design was a small floral business catering to local weddings. Emily hired a wedding strategist to expand her brand to destination events. The strategist developed a 2-year growth plan, including targeted marketing strategies and partnerships with destination venues. Within a year, Emily’s revenue doubled as she booked destination weddings across the country.

Business Coach: Your Personal Cheerleader and Trainer

A business coach is focused on your personal growth and development as a business owner. They work with you one-on-one to help you build leadership skills, overcome challenges, and boost your confidence. A business coach is there to guide you through rough patches and help you grow into the best version of yourself as a leader.

Example:
If you’re feeling burnt out from managing clients and team members, a business coach will help you refine your leadership style. They’ll give you the tools to better delegate tasks, build team morale, and manage client relationships effectively. One major distinction between a business coach vs OBM vs strategist is that the business coach focuses on you as a leader, rather than the business itself.

When to Hire a Business Coach:

• You’re struggling with personal or leadership development.
• You need guidance on decision-making or navigating difficult situations.
• You’re feeling stuck and need clarity on your goals.

Top Business Coaches for Wedding Professionals:

1. Heidi Thompson – Founder of Evolve Your Wedding Business, Heidi helps wedding professionals build sustainable businesses through coaching on marketing and business development.
2. Candice Coppola – A former wedding planner turned business coach, Candice offers personalized coaching to help wedding pros build profitable businesses.
3. Jen Taylor – Founder of Jen Taylor Consulting, Jen specializes in helping wedding pros streamline their operations and improve their business processes through personalized coaching.

Case Study:
Sarah, a wedding planner with 10 years of experience, felt overwhelmed managing her team and dealing with challenging clients. She hired a business coach who worked with her to improve her communication and delegation skills. Over time, Sarah regained control of her business, boosted her team’s performance, and started taking on high-end clients that aligned with her vision.

OBM (Online Business Manager): The Backstage Manager of Your Business

An OBM handles the daily operations of your business, allowing you to focus on the creative or high-level aspects. OBMs are your behind-the-scenes managers, taking care of client communication, project management, team coordination, and optimizing systems. They are ideal when your business has grown to a point where you can no longer handle everything yourself.

Example:
Imagine you’re a wedding venue owner trying to manage inquiries, bookings, and a team of staff. An OBM would help you streamline your processes by setting up workflows, managing client communication, and coordinating your team’s efforts, allowing you to focus on booking more weddings and improving customer experience. A significant difference between a business coach vs OBM vs strategist is that an OBM works in the day-to-day management of operations.

When to Hire an OBM:

• Your business is growing, and you’re struggling to keep up with daily tasks.
• You need someone to manage projects, clients, or team operations.
• You want to free up your time to focus on business growth and creativity.

Top OBMs for Wedding Professionals:

1. Cinthia Onines – Founder of Boda Bliss, Cinthia specializes in helping wedding professionals streamline operations and manage day-to-day tasks, allowing them to focus on creativity and business growth.
2. Colie James – A systems strategist and OBM for photographers and wedding professionals, Colie helps businesses improve client workflows and automate operations for a more streamlined experience.

Case Study:
Lindsey, a wedding photographer, had a booming business but was overwhelmed by administrative tasks, including scheduling, invoicing, and managing second shooters. She hired an OBM to create efficient workflows using Dubsado and Trello. Within months, Lindsey’s business ran smoothly, and

What’s the Difference Between a Business Coach, OBM, and Strategist?

Here’s a quick breakdown of the differences between a business coach vs OBM vs strategist:

Role	Focus	Primary Benefit
Wedding Strategist	Long-term business planning and strategy	Develops a roadmap for growth and expansion
Business Coach	Personal development and leadership	Enhances your personal skills and confidence
OBM (Online Business Manager)	Daily business operations and systems management	Takes over administrative tasks and team coordination

When to Hire Each Professional

Strategist: If you’re starting a business, expanding, or entering a new market, a wedding strategist will give you the strategic foundation you need for long-term success.

Business Coach: If you’re feeling stuck in your role as a leader or need help navigating personal challenges, a business coach will help you grow personally and professionally.

OBM: If your business has grown to the point where daily tasks are overwhelming, an OBM will take over operations, freeing you up to focus on creativity and business growth.

What’s Right for Your Wedding Business?

Every wedding business has unique needs, and it’s important to match those needs with the right support. If you’re unsure about who to hire—a business coach vs OBM vs strategist—consider your current challenges:

• Need help with long-term planning? Hire a strategist.
• Feeling stuck in your personal or leadership development? A business coach can guide you.
• Drowning in daily tasks and management? An OBM is what you need.

If you want to learn more about which professional is right for you, feel free to reach out to me. I’ll help you find the best support for your business!