Wedding Planning Market Size
The Wedding Report estimates that the average amount spent on a wedding in 2008 was $21,814. Because of the high cost of weddings, many young couples rely on wedding planners to guide them through the process and ensure they are spending their money wisely and cost-effectively.
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Market Size
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There were more than 2 million weddings in the United States in 2008 with a total spend of more than $59 billion. More than half of the weddings that took place used some type of wedding consultant, which resulted in $1.2 billion of revenue to the wedding planning industry. With approximately 10,000 wedding consultants in the United States, the average annual income for a wedding planner is $123,000.
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Function
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A full-service wedding planner's job is to help with the planning, budgeting, negotiating and hiring of all of the vendors that will be used at the wedding. This list includes photographers and videographers, disc jockeys, reception halls or hotels, caterers, chauffeurs and limousines. A wedding planner is there to lend expert insight, make suggestions and take much of the burden of planning and executing off of the bride and groom.
Types
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There are several different types of wedding consultants besides the full-service planners. A wedding consultant can specialize in getting the bride and groom started in the planning, but then they leave the execution up to the couple. A consultant can also come in during the month before the wedding to help with execution after the couple has completed the planning. Wedding consultants who are hired just for the day of the wedding are popular. Their services leave the couple and their families free to enjoy the day. Many wedding planners offer both full-service and a la carte services in which the bride and groom can select specific tasks they want the wedding consultant to handle.
Cost
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The average cost per wedding for a full-service wedding planner is $1,940. A la carte services average approximately $950 per wedding. A wedding consultant who is hired for the month before the wedding costs approximately $950. Both day-of and getting-started wedding consultants cost between $600 and $700.
Getting Started
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If you are highly organized, possess nerves of steel and network well, then a job as wedding planner might be something for you to consider. Because referrals tend to bring in the bulk of business, it would be wise to consider starting in the field working for another wedding planner. There are many training and certification courses that you can take as well that will lend to your professionalism. You will need to apply for a business license and set up your website and office. You should also join one of the industry associations such as the Association of Bridal Consultants to interact with your peers and keep on top of industry trends.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "spring's best bouquet" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: [griff] [griff] 'n [chuck] under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
