How to Become a Wedding Planner. One of the hardest tasks in the events sector is wedding planning. In addition to being one of the most significant, it is also one of the most satisfying. The wedding timeline is nearly entirely at the control of planners. It is their responsibility to go above and above to make sure a couple’s wedding is everything they hope it will be.
Denise Ferdinand of the Fairy Godmother Wedding & Event Planning Company stated in a statement on their website, “Being in the wedding and event industry has its problems, but there is nothing greater than witnessing months and months of hard work come together to produce the most ideal wedding day. One of the most satisfying things this profession has to offer is seeing all the hard work pay off. Watching your work bring your client’s fantasies to reality is such a fantastic sensation when you operate in a field where you constantly get to know your clients better. This is what makes their wedding so distinctive and different.
Do you want to find out how to organize weddings? Go on reading! We discuss both things you can do after you get off the ground in this piece as well as the actions you can take to get started. We also respond to a few often asked inquiries regarding wedding preparation.
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How to become a wedding planner
Step 1: Clearly define your wedding preparation objectives.
What is the first stage in becoming a wedding planner? Goal-setting. It’s okay if these objectives alter over time. But it’s crucial to have a plan before starting any project. Do you aspire to organize celebrity nuptials like Mindy Weiss? Perhaps you wish to collaborate with local venues to provide residents with the day of their dreams. What if you wish to travel the world and hold weddings at exotic locations like Italian lakes and tropical islands? There are countless alternatives; ultimately, it’s up to you!
Step 2: Research the industry.
Once you have your goals in mind, look into the best ways to achieve them. Make a list of the questions you don’t have the answers to to get going. How much can I expect to earn? Are there many demands for wedding planners? How do I acquire my first customer? Prioritize doing market research before starting, just like with goals. And a fantastic starting point is this article! Check out further industry studies like Brides.com’s American Wedding Study and WeddingWire’s Newlywed Report.
Step 3: Take into account official wedding planning education.
A special education or certification are not required to work as a wedding planner. But understanding the ropes and all the ins and outs might be quite helpful if you want to enter the field and you have little to no experience. For instance, “wedding professionals who saw the need for an organization dedicated to the education of those seeking to become wedding planners, and to elevate those already in the field through certification and continuing education” founded the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners.
The company provides both on-site and online training. After completing the course, students have two months to apply for membership as a Trained Wedding Planner.
The Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute is an additional choice; it provides a course for those looking to become Certified Wedding and Event Planners. Graduates receive a certificate, a letter of recommendation, and the professional designation of Certified Wedding and Event Planning after completing the course, which typically takes 8 to 12 weeks. One graduate stated, “I would highly recommend Lovegevity courses to those who are willing to take the risk and pursue your dreams.” The Certified Wedding Planner course provided me with the reassurance I needed that I was moving in the correct direction.
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Step 4: Create a business plan
Recall the Step 1 objectives and the Step 2 investigation? You can use a lot of that information while creating your company plan. A related essay, The Essential Steps to Starting an Event Management Business, goes into greater detail about the wealth of internet resources and templates available to assist. Here are some examples of the key components of your business plan:
- A concise summary: Your mission statement and goals should be put in writing. Outline your strategy for achieving success and the reasons you believe your company will.
- Company synopsis: Do you intend to work alone in the wedding planning industry, or will there be a team? Include your background, where you are located, and pretty much anything else you would disclose on the “about” part of your website.
- Services and goods to be provided: In this section, you should be specific about the services you will and won’t provide. Additionally, how much will you charge? Who do you view as your direct rivals? Don’t forget to think about distinctive ways you can stand apart.
- Summary of market analysis: Find out who your target audience is, then devise strategies for attracting their business.
- Summary of the strategy and implementation: Create a sales strategy, a sales forecast, and goals you want to accomplish.
- Executive summary: This will change based on how many, if any, planning teammates you intend to have. An organizational structure and a personnel plan are both included in this section.
- Plan your finances: Your estimated fixed and variable costs, marketing expenses, taxes, etc. are all included in this area. A break-even analysis, expected profit and loss, projected cash flow, projected balance sheet, and business ratios are also included.
Step 5: Construct a marketing strategy.
Your firm won’t be able to take off without the proper marketing strategy, regardless of whether you want to be an independent planner, a member of an agency, or anything in between. Wedding venue marketing and wedding planner marketing both revolve around knowing what couples want and then interacting with those couples through their preferred channels. Here are some pointers:
- Make use of social media: Every year, almost 40 million people use Pinterest alone to find advice on wedding preparation. Make creating a presence, if you don’t currently have one, a top priority. The same holds true for LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use relevant hashtags while publishing frequently “but not just for the sake of posting” to attract more followers.
- Start a blog: This is a fantastic opportunity to get noticed and use your voice to add value, whether it’s a blog on your website or guest pieces on other wedding blogs and magazines.
- Utilize testimonies and reviews: According to a 2019 WeddingWire research, ratings and images are the “most important features couples look at when deciding which vendors to initially contact.” Price is also a factor. Provide a simple means for the couples you’ve worked with to rate your services, and be sure to include those reviews on your website and social media pages.
- Engage in publishing work: Having your business included in a regional or national publication might help it grow significantly. Make contact with media outlets and provide them a fresh perspective. Also, be ready for questions and answers. If you receive a link back to your website, blog, or social media profiles, bonus points. SEO gold is in backlinks.
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Step 6: Find the resources you require to become a successful wedding planner
Let’s look at a hypothetical situation for this part. Consider two customers who both order a dresser from the same online furniture retailer. There are around a dozen bags of screws, nuts, and bolts in the three boxes that are delivered to their homes. Person A has a toolbox full of various tools, including a hammer, screwdriver, and drill. Person B is only carrying some super glue and their hands. Who will put the dresser together more quickly and effectively?
Similar principles apply when a business is expanding. Social Tables fills that need. Our software is used worldwide by both professional wedding planners and DIY brides, and it may help your business develop in a number of ways. Check out our free 3D wedding design tool to get started.
- Bring beautiful weddings to life with minimal stress
- Start now!
We looked into a number of businesses that provide comparable services and ultimately determined that Social Tables was the perfect fit for us, according to Kate Turner of Kate & Company. “We can be working on more than 100 distinct layouts at any given time. The superior quality of Social Tables’ products and level of customer care makes them the ideal choice for Kate & Company and our family of companies.
Wedding Spot, Joy, WeddingWire, Carats & Cake, and Zola are other helpful websites and applications for wedding preparation.
Step 7: Begin establishing connections across the industry.
It is imperative to establish relationships with venues, couples, vendors, and other planners, among others. There are countless opportunities that can be had by networking.
According to Chancey Charm Weddings’ Lauren Weidley, “Your business is going to thrive because of the relationships you build, now and over the next few years.” ” … Any successful business, in my perspective, began with a connection, whether it be with a business partner, a bride, or a vendor team that worked well together. Somewhere, it all began.
Give yourself patience and grace as you establish those connections. Sometimes you can make ten at once at a professional event, and other times you have to take a chance and send that photographer (whose work) an Instagram message! Don’t be afraid to reach out; you never know what kind of friendship you might develop.
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Step 8: Continue to learn.
Almost everyone who is successful, regardless of the business, continues to learn about their field. Planning a wedding is the same. There will be ups and downs, obstacles, and unheard-of situations. Consider those as chances for growth and learning.
The best wedding planners, according to Heather Hoesch, owner of LVL Weddings & Events, “never stop learning.” They engage in reading, watching webinars and social media livestreams, working together, and listening to podcasts. They participate in workshops, conferences, and courses.
Average wedding planner salary and job outlook
A wedding planner makes $46,469 on average yearly. The pay of a wedding planner might vary depending on their location, education, experience, and whether they work for an agency or independently.
Between 2021 and 2031, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in the United States projects an 18% growth in employment for meeting, convention, and event planners. The average rate of increase for other professions over the same time period was substantially lower than this.
FAQs on How to Become a Wedding Planner
What does a wedding planner experience on the big day?
A wedding planner is in charge of organizing the providers and locations for the ceremony and reception on the wedding day and making sure everyone shows up on time and is ready. To make sure everything goes as planned and that all of the couples' preferences and requirements are taken into account, they often establish a thorough timeline for the wedding day. Before the couple and their guests arrive, they can take care of any last-minute concerns or issues. They can also stay throughout the ceremony and reception to take care of any questions or requests that may come up.
Should wedding planners work for themselves or for a company?
A newcomer to the field typically works for an agency to gain as much knowledge as possible. After having sufficient expertise, individuals can launch their own business or take on a senior position within an established company. However, those with significant expertise in comparable fields like event planning may have the necessary skills to start out as independent wedding planners.
What does it takes to be a wedding planner?
While you don't technically need any certifications or degrees to become a wedding planner, getting experience from a veteran is essential. “As a wedding planner, you're also safeguarding one of the most important times in most people's lives so it's imperative you know what you're doing,” says Teissa Treynet.
How do you become wedding planner in Canada?
With over 9000 graduates in 36 countries, The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada is the most respected and sought after wedding planner training available. You can get certified in-class or on-line
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