What You Need to Be a Wedding Planner
Wedding planners go by many titles, including wedding specialist, wedding coordinator, wedding consultant or bridal consultant. Regardless of title, the wedding planner’s job is to help the engaged couple plan the wedding of their dreams. The average cost of weddings is $30,000, and more than two million weddings are performed in the United States each year, making this a growing industry, according to Entrepreneur Press.
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Personal Attributes
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Successful wedding planning begins with personal attributes. A wedding consultant must enjoy working with people, particularly in stressful and frustrating situations. She needs to have a sense of humor and the ability to solve problems quickly and creatively. Dependability and flexibility are also required. An eye for wedding trends is critical, as is attention to detail.
Education
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Wedding planners are not required to seek certification, but certification is a growing trend and a mark of professionalism throughout the industry. Several professional associations, including the Wedding Consultant Certification Institute and the American Academy of Wedding Professionals, offer programs for wedding planning certification. Certificate programs cover an array of topics such as event planning, networking and fundamentals of business practices. At the very least, seek work as an assistant to obtain wedding industry training before starting out alone. A general business background and computer skills also provide a good foundation for success.
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Establishing a Business
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A wedding planner needs to get formally established as a business entity. Follow the locally-accepted business practices, such as acquiring a business name and license. Prepare an office or work space, including office equipment complete with software for wedding planning. Establish a network of bridal service vendors, from wedding venues to florists. Determine the level of service the business will offer, such as total wedding coordination from start to finish or simple consultation to provide budgets, schedules and lists of vendors.
Marketing
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Market and advertise wedding services through multiple formats. Wedding planning requires a realistic marketing plan. Know the demographic profile of your area, the likely client base and available facilities for weddings. This is essential knowledge for identifying and acquiring clients. Advertising needs to be prepared and distributed. Print brochures and business cards. Create a website and portfolio featuring highlights of your wedding services. Exhibit at bridal shows.
Professional Resources
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Obtain professional resources to help with planning and professional development. Have etiquette books, wedding planning guides, bridal magazines and similar resources available for reference. Purchase subscriptions to industry magazines and publications to maintain personal currency and knowledge. Again, be sure to acquire wedding planning software to help coordinate events and facilitate project management.
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References
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- Photo Credit wedding celebration image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com bridal thank you image by Brett Mulcahy from Fotolia.com
