What Schooling Is Required to Become a Wedding Planner?
No formal education is required to become a wedding planner. Instead, you'll need to develop a diverse set of skills necessary for any event planning business. According to the "Entrepreneur" article "How to Start an Event Planning Service," event planners need a comprehensive understanding of what goes into coordinating events, including designing events, planning transportation, negotiating with vendors, hiring event staff, choosing a venue and supervising the event. A single degree may not encompass all of these tasks, and isn't the only way to learn how to handle all of them.
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Hospitality Management
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For an overall view of what's involved in event planning and the service industry, aspiring wedding planners can pursue a degree in hospitality management. Many schools offer this program, with the option of certification, or an associate or bachelor's degree. Hospitality management programs prepare students to run hotels, event centers or other venues, and include training in customer service, working with vendors, planning events and crisis management -- key skills required by a wedding planner.
Business Courses
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While wedding planners specialize in creating a couple's dream wedding, knowledge of weddings or even event planning isn't enough to ensure their business thrives. Just like any small business owner, wedding planners also need to understand how to operate a business, including everything from tax laws to financial planning to marketing and advertising of services. A two-year or four-year business degree covers many of these subjects, and many community colleges and vocational and technical schools offer short-term programs specifically for small business owners and independent professionals and consultants.
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Consultant Training
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Wedding planners can also benefit from training designed for independent consultants. Many schools and professional associations offer training in consulting, which teaches students how to find clients, how to communicate with clients, how to set and negotiate fees and how to network. Consultant training includes everything involved in starting and maintaining a one-person business, including identifying your target audience, marketing yourself and your services, distinguishing yourself from the competition and understanding how your clients think and what they want.
Wedding Planning Certification
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Instead of an academic degree, you can opt for training and certification from a professional association. The Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants offers a training and certification program that includes topics like setting fees, choosing vendors and establishing a planning schedule for events. Graduates of the program receive a certificate of completion, and can move up to higher levels of certification, including professional title and certified title, as they gain experience. The Association of Bridal Consultants offers seminars and workshops focusing on everything from growing your business to networking and etiquette. The Wedding Planning Institute offers courses at community colleges across the United States.
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References
- Photo Credit wedding rings, flowers, and programs from wedding image by Paul Retherford from Fotolia.com
