From Sales to Storytelling: The Birth of Wedding Words
Katelyn Peterson, 37, transitioned from a career in sales to founding Wedding Words, a niche business dedicated to crafting personalized wedding vows and speeches. Her passion lies in helping couples and their loved ones articulate heartfelt emotions during milestone moments.
Peterson’s pivot was inspired by a deeply personal experience in 2017, when she assisted her father in rewriting her grandfather’s eulogy. The original draft lacked personal resonance, but after Peterson’s input, it reflected authentic memories and emotions, moving her father to tears.
“He said, ‘This is exactly what I wanted to say. I just didn’t know how to put it into words,’ and he had tears in his eyes.”
Katelyn Peterson, Founder & CEO of Wedding WordsA Business Built on Emotional Connection
Wedding Words has grown steadily over eight years to become a profitable enterprise generating six-figure annual revenue. Peterson has written over 700 speeches, serving not only couples but also bridal party members and parents.
Contrary to common misconceptions that clients hire speechwriters due to indifference, Peterson explains that her clients’ motivation stems from profound care and the challenge of expressing deep feelings.
“I think you care so much that you feel like you can’t do it on your own.”
Katelyn PetersonThe Personalized Writing Journey
Peterson initiates the process with a video call to understand the client’s goals and uncover meaningful stories. The collaboration is often deeply emotional, with clients frequently moved to tears.
After drafting the speech, Peterson reviews revisions with clients via a second video call, ensuring the final product balances emotional depth and humor. She also coaches clients on delivery techniques to maximize impact.
Clients often express relief and excitement by the end of the process, ready to share their speeches confidently in front of large audiences.
“I feel so much better. I can’t believe I’m actually excited to say this speech in front of 200 people.”
Client testimonial via Katelyn PetersonScaling Amid Competition and AI Influence
Initially, Peterson cultivated her client base through wedding Facebook groups and offered free services in exchange for testimonials. This strategy helped build trust and credibility.
Today, Wedding Words charges $999 for speechwriting and $499 for editing sessions, with monthly revenues exceeding $8,000 as of August 2025. The company remains self-funded and profitable since inception.
To meet increasing demand and maintain accessible pricing, Peterson recently expanded her team by hiring additional full-time writers, a significant step toward scaling the business.
While AI tools have disrupted content creation—cutting Wedding Words’ blog traffic by half and enabling rapid competitor output—Peterson remains confident in the unique value of human-crafted storytelling.
“The people that are happy using AI tools to write their wedding speech are not my clients. My clients value human storytelling.”
Katelyn PetersonShe underscores the irreplaceable nature of authentic human emotion in milestone speeches, asserting this demand will persist despite technological advances.
FinOracleAI — Market View
Katelyn Peterson’s Wedding Words exemplifies how niche, emotion-driven services can thrive in an era of increasing automation. The company’s growth highlights the sustained demand for personalized, human-centered communication in life’s most significant moments.
- Opportunities: Expansion through additional writers can increase capacity and reduce turnaround time, enhancing client satisfaction.
- Risks: AI-driven competitors may undercut pricing or saturate the market with generic content, pressuring Wedding Words to emphasize quality and personalization.
- Market Dynamics: The wedding industry’s steady demand for bespoke experiences supports continued revenue growth for specialized services.
- Strategic Focus: Maintaining the brand’s reputation for authentic storytelling will be key to differentiating from AI-generated alternatives.
Impact: Wedding Words’ success demonstrates resilience against technology disruption by leveraging emotional intelligence and human creativity, positioning it well for sustained growth in the personalized services market.
