How to Become a Wedding Event Planner
A beautiful gown. A walk down the aisle. A bouquet of fresh flowers and a glass of champagne. Every bride wants the perfect wedding--and many of them are turning to wedding planners to make their dreams come true.
Wedding planners oversee every aspect of a wedding, from consulting with brides to speaking with vendors to making sure the groom makes it to the chapel on time. With the average cost of a wedding nearing $20,000 in America, wedding planners are needed more than ever.
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Instructions
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Taking the Plunge to Becoming a Wedding Planner
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Study, study, study. Read wedding magazines and attend bridal shows. Get to know people in the business (bridal consultants, florists, clergy and caterers). Brush up on your finance skills, too, since wedding planners oversee their clients' budgets.
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2
Get certified. While this isn't a requirement, getting certified as a wedding consultant is a great way to dive into this business. Organizations like Weddings Beautiful and the Association of Bridal Consultants offer home-study courses that show you the ropes of wedding planning.
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3
Get to work. Apply for an internship or entry-level position at a wedding planning business. Offer to coordinate weddings for your family and friends for free.
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4
Build a portfolio. Take pictures of the weddings you've coordinated, and organize them neatly in a professional photo album. Create a resume that reflects your skills and experience.
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5
Start a business. First things first, write a detailed business plan. After that, contact your city's business license department to find out what permits and licenses you need to get your business started. You may want to consult with a lawyer, too, to help you draft contracts and make sure your business is legally sound.
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Advertise your services. Create a logo and website for your business. Distribute your business card to local wedding venues, like reception centers, bridal stores and hairstylists. Set up a booth at bridal fairs and consider advertising in bridal magazines.
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Tips & Warnings
Successful wedding planners are organized, reliable, enjoy working with others and have a keen eye for detail. A wedding planner usually makes between $1,000 and $5,000 per wedding, depending on experience. More established planners can make much more.
When you start your own wedding planning service, expect to pay between $2,000 and $10,000 in start-up costs.
Resources
- Photo Credit Image courtesy of David Ball.
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Comments
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msnae
Jul 25, 2010
I have always dreamed of being a event planner since i was in high school but i could never find a school in my area that offer this course so i have decided to go ahead a take the class online (still gotta come up with the money) but is it a requirement to be certified to become a event planner or you can just do it.
