Find Your Place in the Wedding Planning Business
The wedding planning industry is big business. Last year brides and grooms spent an average of $27,000 on their weddings, and wedding expenses are increasing by approximately 20 percent every year. With such a substantial investment in weddings, it's no wonder couples are using planners to make sure they get the maximum value for their hard earned money.
What Wedding Planning Specialists Do
A wedding is so many things. It is a religious ceremony, a commitment ceremony, a family reunion, a catered meal for a crowd, a live concert, a dance, and a big party, all rolled in to one. A professional planner will coordinate all these events, leaving the bride and groom, and their respective families, to enjoy the big day.
Weddings involve coordinating about a dozen vendors, and planners will make all the arrangements for the happy couple. Wedding planning specialists will arrange for the locale, the officiator, the flowers, the hair stylist, the bridesmaid gifts, the men's tuxedos, the photographer, the videographer, the caterer, the band, and anything else the bride and groom ask the wedding planner to handle. After all, they are event planners.
Planning a wedding - even someone else's wedding - can be very stressful. The wedding planning business is not for the faint of heart. They work most weekends, especially during the busy summer wedding season. A wedding is one big party - for everyone except the planner.
Certifications
Several national regulating bodies offer certifications as a wedding planning specialist. Becoming a certified planner is an important first step in your wedding planning career. A certification will tell prospective clients that you are serious about your business, not some amateur looking for a weekend gig.
If you want to get formal education in wedding planning, look for courses in general business management, event planning, and hospitality. After your education and your certifications are complete, spread the word that you are open for business as a wedding planning specialist. You can market your wedding planning business in a number of creative ways:
Offer to plan a close friend or relative's wedding for free, in exchange for the bride's recommending you to future prospective customers.
Leave your business cards with wedding dress boutiques, bakeries, and caterers specializing in weddings.
Set up a booth at a bridal trade show.
Visit local sites that specialize in weddings and ask to work as their planner's assistant. Soon enough, the planner will need an occasional weekend off and will be more than happy to share the work with you.
