How to Become a Wedding Planner

Planning

Few events are more challenging than wedding planning. It’s also one of the most critical and rewarding aspects of the job. A wedding planner oversees almost every part of the wedding timeline. Their goal is to guarantee that a couple’s nuptials are everything they want them to be, whether or not the couple knows exactly what they want.

Event planners face many challenges, but nothing compares to seeing months of hard effort come together to create the perfect wedding.

Here is a summary of what you need to get started.

Eight Steps In Becoming A Wedding Planner

Clarity

You need to define your wedding planning business objectives clearly.

These objectives may evolve, and that’s just fine. Perhaps you’d like to cooperate with local venues to provide residents in your hometown with the wedding of their dreams. Traveling the world and being married on tropical islands and Italian lakes is a dream for many. There are countless possibilities; the choice is entirely yours!

Research

Research is the second step in the process of doing market research.

Investigate how you’ll get there once you’ve figured out what you want to accomplish. Begin with a list of unanswered questions. So, what is my earning potential? Do wedding planners have a lot of work? To begin, how do I find my first customer? Prioritize market research before launching your business, just as you would your goals.

Training

It would be best to get out of your head what you believe to be real and meaningful and find out precisely what works in the real world by getting formal training through an established organization.

How to understand reality and work with it is what you need to help your clients later.

Anyone can become a wedding planner without formal education or certification. For those who have never worked in this field, grasping all of the nuances and pitfalls can be advantageous.

The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners was created to educate aspiring wedding planners and elevate those already in the field through certification and continuing education.

Online and in-person training options are available. Students must successfully complete the course within two months to become trained wedding planners.

Another alternative is available for those who want to become Certified Wedding and Event Planners through the Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute. Wedding and event planners who complete the 8-12-week training course are awarded the Certified Wedding and Event Planner credential.

Write It Down

Think about all your essential objects, like your home, car, and wedding certificate. They are all documented on a piece of paper.

A written business play implies significance.

Remember those first goals and the subsequent research? Writing your business plan will benefit significantly from the knowledge you get from these resources. Here are a few things to include in your business plan:

Marketing Plan

As an independent planner, a team member, a freelancer, or anything else, you need the correct marketing strategy for your firm to succeed. As with wedding venue marketing, wedding planner marketing is about knowing what couples want and then approaching them through their channels.

Make Connections

Word of mouth is still the best and most cost-effective marketing method in terms of cost and reliability. Assemble an industry-wide network of contacts.

When creating relationships with venues, couples, vendors, or other planners, the value cannot be stressed. When you network, you’ll never run out of possibilities.

The foundation of each successful business is a solid partnership: a business partner, a first bride, or a vendor team that works well together. There must have been a beginning.

Allow yourself some wiggle room when it comes to connecting with others. Connections are like rain; they sometimes pour, and sometimes you hit a dry patch. It would help if you worked at it continuously.

Stay In Tune and Touch

Continuing education is a must. Covid is an extreme example. Who would have believed a few years ago that wearing a face mask and displaying proof of vaccination would be acceptable wedding attire?

Every successful person, regardless of industry, continues to learn from their mentors and mentors in the field. Every step along the way will have challenges and surprises. Use them as opportunities to develop and learn.

Frequently asked questions about wedding planning.

Is a bachelor’s degree required to become a wedding planner?

No, but it’s not going to hurt. Depending on the wedding planning firm you’re hoping to join, you’ll need a different amount of schooling. You don’t need a college degree to manage your business and be your boss. However, a hospitality or event planning degree might help you better prepare for the company and may be favored by some organizations.

What do wedding planners make money?

Most wedding planners charge either a fixed price, an hourly rate, or a portion of a couple’s wedding budget.

How long does the training take to become a licensed wedding planner?

It all depends on your certification. Online Courses Australia’s Wedding Planner Certificate requires an estimated 12 study hours. Alternatively, the Wedding Academy’s Certificate in Wedding Planning takes three months.

Now that you know how to be a wedding planner, it’s time to get started!

You don’t need a degree to get started, but obtaining one teaches you how to do and what not to do more effectively, and it helps you build relationships.