COVID-19 had a significant impact on the wedding industry — and that means dealing with unexpected financial hurdles. We are an organization of wedding professionals, for wedding professionals, so we’ve created this helpful list of available grants and economic resources for industry pros like YOU!
These financial resources are geared toward helping you as both a small business owner and as a wedding professional. Whether you’re a planner, florist, photographer, caterer, dress shop owner or anything in between — this list is for you!
COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES
Before we get into the grants and economic resources for wedding industry pros, it’s important to cover the basics.
As a small business owner, whether you’re a solopreneur or have a full staff, you have access to helpful resources including emergency loans to help you offset any immediate effects due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Paycheck Protection Program
This is a loan forgiveness program to help small businesses keep employees by temporarily expanding the SBA loan program.
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance (EIDL)
This loan advance can provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses currently experiencing temporary financial difficulties.
SBA Express Bridge Loans
This loan allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender quickly access to up to $25,000.
Learn more about what assistance is available for your small business through the federal government programs by visiting Wed Society’s COVID-19 Relief page.
GRANTS + ECONOMIC RESOURCES FOR WEDDING INDUSTRY PROS
GENERAL GRANTS
National Association for the Self-Employed
This is a nonprofit organization that awards $4,000 per month in growth grants to small businesses to use in marketing, advertising and hiring employees.
BEAUTY
Beauty Changes Lives
This organization offers scholarships, mentorship and inspiration for entrepreneurs and small business owners in the beauty industry including estheticians, make-up artists, and nail artists among others.
Professional Beauty Association COVID-19 Relief Fund
This fund is meant to help licensed beauty professionals who have not been able to work or are experiencing financial hardship specifically due to the impact of COVID-19.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
SmugMug
Smug Mug has gathered a list of grants, funds and more to help working photographers.
MUSICIANS
Musicians’ Emergency Fund
This fund is specifically for established jazz musicians that have been directly impacted by COVID-19.
Sweet Relief
This grant program helps provide immediate assistance to musicians and music industry workers affected by the Coronavirus through a donor-directed fund.
MusiCares Emergency Fund
Short-term financial assistance grants for personal needs that have arisen due to unforeseen circumstances. Needs includes items such as rent, car payments, insurance premiums, utilities and more.
ARTISTS
The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant
This grant is intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptures whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident and who lack the resources to meet that situation. It is one-time assistance.
COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resource
Find related financial and legal support for artists on this site.
GRANTS FOR WOMEN, VETERAN AND MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS
Business For All Grant
This limited-time grant award is specifically to help minority small business owners make it through the financial impacts of COVID-19 (priority given to women, people of color and LGBTQ+).
The Red Backpack Fund
This fund is there to help and empower female entrepreneurs by offering 1,000 grants of $5,000.
Amber Grant
The Amber Foundation awards a single grant of $4,000 each month to a female entrepreneur with the opportunity to be selected to receive their annual $25,000 grant award.
Girlboss Foundation Grant
Semi-annual grant of $15,000 awarded to female entrepreneurs working in a creative field.
ADDITIONAL GRANT LISTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Grants and other economic resources are constantly being updated as we move forward after COVID-19’s initial impact. In addition to being a small business in the wedding industry, there are also grants available based on your location and more.
Here is a list of grant information sources that are being updated constantly.
Global Giving
This organization has an extensive list of available COVID-19 grant sources across the country and around the world.
Entrepreneur Small Business Grant List
A list of 55 different grant and relief funds for small businesses.
Fundera Small Business Grants for 2020
A list of grant and relief funds available for small business owners due to the impact of the coronavirus.
REDUCED PRICING FOR SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES
Hubspot
Hubspot’s offer for small businesses including reduced pricing for new customers, increased limits for current customers and free tools for all users among other things.
Google Ad Credits
Free add credits up to a certain level for small to medium sized businesses that can be used until the end of 2020. Eligible businesses are those that used Google Ads in 10 of the 12 months during 2019.
UnderPinned
This service is geared towards helping freelancers with their administrative work. They have made their service free until September 2020, to help freelancers impacted by COVID-19.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR WEDDING INDUSTRY PROS
Be sure to visit the U.S. Small Business Administration for more helpful resources.
In addition to the SBA, there are other helpful organizations that provide resources for small businesses, like yours.
National Federation of Independent Businesses
National Association for the Self-Employed
SBA-Sponsored Women’s Business Centers
Economic Development Administration
Have you been able to utilize any grant programs to help your wedding business?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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Written by Corrie McGee
