Wedding Planner Career / Become a Wedding Planner
Enjoy the many benefits of a wedding planner career
Many dream of a wedding planner career. It seems very glamorous and you can get a lot of satisfaction from happy couples. Just what is a wedding planner and how do you become a wedding planner?
It's more than just shopping and visiting. It is a very high energy, fast paced and detail oriented profession. Let's take a peek into the life a wedding planner and see if it might be right for you.
photo credit sxc.hu/Caro Peraza
It's more than just shopping and visiting. It is a very high energy, fast paced and detail oriented profession. Let's take a peek into the life a wedding planner and see if it might be right for you.
photo credit sxc.hu/Caro Peraza
Your own wedding coordinator career
Become your own boss as a wedding coordinator.
- You can become a wedding planner
- What Does a Wedding Coordinator Do
- Wedding planner news
- You may be responsible for coordinating all of these
- Speaking of a wedding planner business
- Your own wedding planning business
- Some books to help you get started with your new wedding consultant business
- Starting a business books
- Some organizations that offer wedding planner courses
- Ok, what is a wedding planner salary
- Where to find wedding planner jobs
- Become a wedding planner
- The Wedding Planner Movie
- The Wedding Planner Soundtrack
- See what others are saying about a wedding planner career
- Some of my other wedding and business lenses
- I would love to hear your comments
You can become a wedding planner
A great business to start
Become a wedding planner and you will have a career that is highly sought after, pays extremely well and will satisfy your creativity. It is a very rewarding career, as well.
Brides and grooms are often stressed and trying to do too much. By becoming a wedding planner you will be the contact person for the couple and family and friends who are helping to plan the wedding.
The routine will vary. You may be required only for the day of the wedding to make it all run smoothly, plan every last detail of the event or anything in between. Many wedding consultants choose to have a specialty while others help where needed. You get to decide how to run your business and play to your strengths.
Brides and grooms are often stressed and trying to do too much. By becoming a wedding planner you will be the contact person for the couple and family and friends who are helping to plan the wedding.
The routine will vary. You may be required only for the day of the wedding to make it all run smoothly, plan every last detail of the event or anything in between. Many wedding consultants choose to have a specialty while others help where needed. You get to decide how to run your business and play to your strengths.
What Does a Wedding Coordinator Do
The good, the bad and the ugly
You will be responsible for what ever the couple needs help with. This may entail setting the date, finding flowers, making/buying and sending invitations, wedding dress selection, tux, bridesmaids and groomsmen attire, selecting decorations, decorating the church and reception area, choosing a cake, hiring photographer and videographer, coordinating the actual wedding day or a simple consultation. Most importantly you will need to do all of this on budget.
You may not do all of these with every wedding. Many wedding consultants will offer packages that the couple can choose from. This is often a starting point and they will add or delete the items that are important to them. If you choose to specialize, you may only be available for day of the wedding or only for destination weddings, you will decide how to run your own business.
You may not do all of these with every wedding. Many wedding consultants will offer packages that the couple can choose from. This is often a starting point and they will add or delete the items that are important to them. If you choose to specialize, you may only be available for day of the wedding or only for destination weddings, you will decide how to run your own business.
Wedding planner news
There will be an estimated 2.2 million weddings in the United States this year. They will average $28,000 and a wedding planner will receive 10%-15% in commission.
You may be responsible for coordinating all of these
Speaking of a wedding planner business
Is it mine or someone elses?
Again, you decide. Close to 80% of all wedding planners own their own business. But, many wedding planners will choose to first work for another wedding planner. This is beneficial for a number of reasons. The most notable is you will be able to learn the business from a successful wedding planner. This will help with time coordination and with the minute details that can only be learned by doing them.
It is also nice to have some experience under your belt before you take on the expense of starting your own business. While it is a mostly service business, there will be some expenses involved and you will be better equipped to handle them with some experience and contacts within the industry.
It is also nice to have some experience under your belt before you take on the expense of starting your own business. While it is a mostly service business, there will be some expenses involved and you will be better equipped to handle them with some experience and contacts within the industry.
Your own wedding planning business
Have a web presence.
Once you decide to have your own wedding planner business, you will need customers. Two easy ways to do this, a website and word of mouth. Word of mouth will come later with happy and satisfied customers. First, let's get you a website that will bring in some couples.
You can make your own site easily that will actually get traffic. You don't want to use a free, cheap service. That will never get get traffic or look very professional. Also no need to spend thousands of dollars (or your chosen currency) to have someone do it for you. Check out these videos and ebooks for the right way to go about it.
You can make your own site easily that will actually get traffic. You don't want to use a free, cheap service. That will never get get traffic or look very professional. Also no need to spend thousands of dollars (or your chosen currency) to have someone do it for you. Check out these videos and ebooks for the right way to go about it.
- Video Tour of SBI
- This company is so much more than a web hosting company. They will show you how to easily build a website for your business that will get traffic to the site. No sense in making a site if no one sees it.
- How to Build a Site that Works
- Again, why build it if no one will see it. You can build a beautiful site, but until you have visitors, it doesn't mean anything.
- 12 Week Elearning Course
- This course is being taught in colleges and universities around the world. See how easy and fun it can be to build a profitable business.
- Actual SBI Owners
- See how others are using SBI to build a business. Lots of great information and ideas from successful retirees, WAHM, business owners and others who have decided to take charge of their lives.
Some books to help you get started with your new wedding consultant business
Starting a business books
Get started on the right foot
Some organizations that offer wedding planner courses
Your own wedding planner school
- American Academy Wedding Professionals (AA-WP)
- With AAWP's professional wedding planning course you can learn from the comfort of your own home. It is based on 15 years of experience in the wedding industry and years of research. It is the most comprehensive, professional wedding-planning course ever written.
- Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants (ACPWC)
- ACPWC offers a 5-day personalized training course, a 3-day extended weekend class, seminars and a home study program for Wedding Planners/Wedding Consultants. You will have the chance to receive certification after class. It is a good program if you are just starting out, but will be equally as good for professionals who have been in the biz for years.
- Weddings Beautiful
- Since 1968, The CWS designation (Certified Wedding Specialist) has been awarded to the graduates of this 18-lesson home-study course. Students learn everything they need to know to begin a successful career in the dynamic field of wedding planning.
Ok, what is a wedding planner salary
A wedding planners salary is unlimited.
Wedding planners are becoming very mainstream. It's not uncommon for couples to consult a wedding professional when they are planning. This, coupled with the ever growing wedding industry, offers a wedding professional a very lucrative career.
Many new wedding planners will earn $12,000-$25,000 their first year with as few as 10 weddings. While experienced wedding consultants can earn $70,000 or more with up to 40 weddings. High end wedding consultants earn up to $250,000. There are many variables to consider, but it has lots of potential as a business and is limited only by you.
Many new wedding planners will earn $12,000-$25,000 their first year with as few as 10 weddings. While experienced wedding consultants can earn $70,000 or more with up to 40 weddings. High end wedding consultants earn up to $250,000. There are many variables to consider, but it has lots of potential as a business and is limited only by you.
Where to find wedding planner jobs
You can start by calling wedding coordinators in your area. See if they need a new apprentice. Many are willing to take on less experienced professionals. They will get a worker who is eager and won't cost as much as an experienced planner and you will get some much needed experience.
You can also check with hotels. Many resorts and hotels, especially in hot destination wedding markets will have their own wedding planning staff. This is a good and controlled way to gain some experience.
If all else fails. Offer a local wedding professional your services in assisting them for free. In exchange they will agree to help you learn the ins and outs. After a few of these, you will have the basics and may wish to take on some of your own clients who have simple needs.
You can also check with hotels. Many resorts and hotels, especially in hot destination wedding markets will have their own wedding planning staff. This is a good and controlled way to gain some experience.
If all else fails. Offer a local wedding professional your services in assisting them for free. In exchange they will agree to help you learn the ins and outs. After a few of these, you will have the basics and may wish to take on some of your own clients who have simple needs.
Become a wedding planner
News and information on a wedding planner career
- When Valentines and prenups go together
- "Parents will often want to be sure their children are provided for in case of their death," says Elaine Morgillo, a certified financial planner in North Andover, Massachusetts. For younger couples, prenups are often sought when one partner stands to ...
- When to Delegate Making the Wedding Cake
- Don't be fooled: Baking a wedding cake isn't easy. Even for a professional baker, it is a laborious project and the results can be "disastrous" if you lack a tried-and-true plan, says veteran Bay Area wedding planner Kathy Higgins.
- Alaska women become first to say 'I do' in New York
- The 2012 Valentine's Day Wedding Event at Empire State Building is being produced by Colin Cowie Weddings, named after the celebrity style and entertainment planner. The Facebook-run contest required interested couples to submit a two and a half minute ...
- Special night for wedding planners
- By AMANDA NG YANN CHWEN and ANN-MARIE KHOR IT WAS a night of glitz and glamour at the Hilton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur as graduates of the ADAMAS School of Weddings marked the end of their formal training to become professional wedding planners.
The Wedding Planner Movie
Time for some fun inspiration
The Wedding Planner
Amazon Price: $3.92 (as of 02/16/2012)
The Wedding Planner movie is a great romantic comedy. It stars Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey. It gives a glimpse into the wedding planner business and the highs and lows.
It also has fun romantic twist that hopefully will never happen to you in your business.
The Wedding Planner Soundtrack
More inspiration...
The title track from The Wedding Planner, fun to listen to for inspiration.
See what others are saying about a wedding planner career
Some of my other wedding and business lenses
I would love to hear your comments
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tdove
Jul 22, 2009 @ 9:24 pm | delete
- Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!
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WG-Tiaras
Jul 20, 2009 @ 10:28 am | delete
- Hey, you've been accepted into theWedding Planning Group, we only accept cool wedding related lenses, so we wanted to say congratulations and welcome. The Wedding Planning Group is run by Wedding And Gems tiaras and jewellery.
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MarleyK
Jul 17, 2009 @ 10:30 am | in reply to Joan4 | delete
- Thanks Joan, Glad you liked it!
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Joan4
Jul 17, 2009 @ 8:50 am | delete
- Great information! Lensrolling to my wedding lenses and Fairy Godmother, too!
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This UpMarket page written by
MarleyK
MarleyK
Wedding planning can be a very fun and rewarding career! Even better, it offers constant learning and a great salary, as well.
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