How to Be a Wedding Consultant

Do you love to plan huge parties? Do you enjoy helping people make decisions and stay organized? Consider a career as a wedding consultant.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Wedding Planner Book
• Flower Bouquets
• Business Cards
• Notebooks
• Pens

1. Develop your people skills. The bride and groom, as well as their families, can be nervous about getting everything ready for the big day. Your cool head and social graces will help.
2. Think about your experiences from attending weddings, and perhaps coordinating your own. What were some great ideas you came across? What were the big mistakes or fiascoes? Collect your ideas in a notebook.
3. Gather some wedding planner books to start compiling your own organizational guide to planning a wedding. You will benefit from reading what others have done as you develop your own style.
4. Read up on wedding etiquette. It's a good idea to know all the ins and outs of wedding protocol.
5. Learn about wedding and reception decorations, starting with flowers. Catch up on the latest trends in this area and in wedding attire.
6. Research the vendors that provide food, beverages, entertainment, clothing, supplies and so forth for weddings within your region. It's a good idea to know who's available and what they charge, and to get acquainted with their reputations.
7. Remember that you'll need to be flexible to work with the varying needs, tastes and budgets of each of your clients.
8. Consider learning the profession by working for someone else at first. You can always go solo once you've developed your skills.
9. If you decide to go into business for yourself, study the pricing of other wedding consultants. Compare what they charge for specific duties and draw up a general price guideline for what you will offer.
10. Print up business cards if you'll be working for yourself. This is often a word-of-mouth business, where a friend of a friend or an attendee of a wedding will recommend you.
11. Talk with representatives of local churches and tell them about your services. Offer to leave some of your business cards with each.
12. Consider joining a professional organization such as the Association of Bridal Consultants (bridalassn.com) or the Association for Wedding Professionals (afwpi.com), which can lend credibility to your business.

Tips & Warnings

• Most people have a hard time planning a wedding for the simple reason that they have never done it before. The wedding consultant knows all the ins and outs ' the etiquette, the right people to work with, and ways to manage within any budget.
• Duties can include setting up appointments, offering etiquette advice, mailing invitations and recording responses, coordinating the decorations, negotiating contracts, and attending to many other details.
• Wedding consultants can be asked to do just about anything regarding a wedding. Decide which services you will offer, and know your limits in advance.