For many couples, the thought of crafting and delivering wedding vows in front of a crowd can feel overwhelming. Katelyn Peterson, 37, has built a thriving business to ease that burden. As the founder and CEO of Wedding Words, a wedding vow and speech-writing service, Peterson helps couples and wedding party members express their deepest emotions with clarity and heart.
“I started Wedding Words to help people articulate their feelings in a way that feels true to them,” Peterson says.
Since launching the business eight years ago, Peterson has written over 700 speeches for couples, bridal party members, and parents, transforming her passion for writing into a six-figure enterprise. Before Wedding Words, Peterson spent years in sales but always identified as “a writer at heart.” Her career pivot was sparked in 2017 when her father sought her help with her grandfather’s eulogy.
“The original draft was so generic—it could’ve been about anyone’s grandfather,” Peterson recalls. She rewrote it, weaving in specific memories and details that captured her grandfather’s essence. Her father’s emotional response—“This is exactly what I wanted to say, but I didn’t know how”—inspired her to launch Wedding Words months later.
“I realized there are so many people facing milestone moments who want to honor them with words but struggle to do so,” she says.
Crafting Emotional Connections
Peterson often encounters the misconception that hiring a speechwriter means a client doesn’t care enough to write their own words. “It’s the opposite,” she counters. “My clients care so deeply that they want to get it just right.”
Her process begins with an introductory video call, where she discusses the client’s goals and draws out meaningful stories and details. These conversations often turn emotional, with clients frequently moved to tears. “We’re tapping into something deep, and that’s when I know we’re on the right track,” Peterson says.
After drafting the speech, Peterson collaborates with clients on revisions during a follow-up call, ensuring the tone and delivery hit the right emotional and humorous notes. By the final practice session, clients often express relief and excitement. “They’ll say, ‘I can’t believe I’m actually looking forward to giving this speech in front of 200 people,’” Peterson shares. “That’s when I know I’ve done my job.”
Building a Business from Scratch
Starting Wedding Words wasn’t without challenges. In the early days, Peterson scoured wedding-related Facebook groups to find clients, offering her services for free in exchange for testimonials. “People were hesitant to pay for something so personal without hearing about the experience from others,” she explains.
Her first paid gigs charged a modest $350 per speech. Today, Wedding Words charges $999 for full speechwriting and editing services and $499 for a “Power Hour” editing session. In August, the business generated over $8,000 in revenue, contributing to consistent six-figure annual earnings, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. Notably, Wedding Words has been self-funded and profitable from the start.
Until recently, Peterson was the sole employee, hesitant to outsource the deeply personal work of speechwriting. This year, she hired a full-time writer and is onboarding a second to scale the business. “The goal is to serve more clients faster while keeping prices accessible,” she says.
Navigating AI and the Value of Human Storytelling
The rise of AI has impacted Wedding Words, particularly its blog, which lost half its web traffic in the past year as competitors leverage AI tools to produce content quickly. However, Peterson remains confident in her business model. “People who are fine with AI-generated speeches aren’t my clients,” she says. “My clients value authentic, human storytelling.”
Peterson believes the need for a human touch in capturing life’s most meaningful moments will endure. “No matter how technology evolves, there will always be a place for the human heart in storytelling,” she says.