With the explosion of weddings in this country over the last 10 years, and the increasing cost and complexity of those weddings, it’s no wonder that more and more people are turning to professional wedding planners to coordinate the most important day of their lives. 

There’s a great need for professional wedding planners, and it’s a challenging, rewarding career that allows the planner to express their own creativity while organizing a memorable event. There were over two and a half million weddings in 2004 in the US alone, and with people’s busy lives and work schedules, it’s no wonder that most wedding planners have to turn away clients because they’re booked up through the wedding season.

One of the great things about a career as a wedding planner is the fact that you don’t need any special training or education to become one. As long as you have the passion and desire to plan weddings for a living, you can break into this exciting career field and make your dreams a reality. 

Wedding planners are generally outgoing, well-organized people who can work well with others. Remember, you’ll be coordinating with the bride and groom, as well both of their families, plus a host of contractors and support people. So good interpersonal skills are a must in this profession.

But as with any new career, you’ll need to do your homework and formulate an action plan to make it happen. Below I’ve highlighted some action steps you should take in order to make your transition into a professional wedding planner a smooth and successful one. 


LEARN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO BECOME A WEDDING PLANNER


As I said earlier, wedding planners don’t require any formal education, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need to learn and develop your skills in order to work in this field. Weddings are 
expensive, one-time events that can’t be “done over” if things don’t go right the first time. So you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for the work involved before you plan your first event.

If you’re more comfortable learning in a classroom environment, you may want to take a continuing education class in order to gain the knowledge necessary to becoming a wedding planner. Or if you learn well on your own, you can teach yourself by attending as many weddings as you can. See if you can find a wedding planner in you’re area who will take you on as an apprentice. Or if you have someone in your family who’s getting married, see if you can volunteer to plan it for them at no charge (in exchange for photos for your portfolio).

And study and learn as much as you can about the wedding business. Read books on wedding planning, study bridal magazines, and attend as many bridal shows as you can fit into your schedule. And of course if you’re married yourself, try to rememeber every detail that went into the planning of your own wedding, and write them all down in the order in which they were performed.

Another option of learning and gaining experience as a wedding planner is to work in the industry for a while. You can work as a bridal consultant in department stores or bridal shops, as well as caterers and florists. Some country clubs and churches will hire novice wedding planners, as long as you convince them that you’re competent to handle the job. This can be a great way to gain experience and make important contacts in the field.


CONSIDER SPECIALIZING


The wedding industry has become so large that many wedding planners specialize in a particular niche or sub-category, depending on their skills and interests. This could include planning and coordinating the entire wedding, or just the wedding day events. Some wedding planners act as consultants or “helpers” to brides and grooms who want more hands-on control of their weddings. And there’s even a growing demand for planning “destination weddings” on cruise ships or at resorts in places like Mexico or Hawaii (sounds like great work to me!). 



LANDING THAT FIRST ASSIGNMENT


Okay, so you’ve helped out one some weddings, you’ve read books and studied bridal magazines, you’ve consulted various people in the industry, and you’re ready to try planning you first event for a paying customer. 


In order to secure a paying job as a wedding planner, you’ll usually have to show your prospective clients your portfolio. A portfolio normally consists of a series of photographs of your prior work – the wedding chapel, the reception hall, table settings and room decorations, etc. These can even be photographs from your own wedding. And if you have a few letters of recommendation (friends or family will work here), then include them also. You’ll also want to have a good quality business card and brochure put together by a graphic designer or professional printer.

Another good idea is to develop relationships with vendors in the wedding industry. These are people who provide products or services to the wedding industry, and can include photographers, DJs, limousine drivers, tuxedo rental companies, bakers and caterers, invitation printers, etc. These folks can be invaluable allies when it comes to getting clients, and of course as a wedding planner, you’ll want to develop relationships with as many quality vendors as possible.

Many wedding planners get the bulk of their new clients through vendors. Make sure you give your business cards and brochures to any vendors you come into contact with, and ask them to put in a good word for you the next time they meet a couple who’s planning a wedding. 

Other marketing ideas include running ads in local bridal magazines, building a website for your wedding consulting business, yellow page advertising (this can be expensive, so go for a small ad in the begining), and networking at bridal shows and other wedding industry events.


WORKING WITH CLIENTS


Once you’ve landed your first assignment as a professional wedding planner, the real work begins. Your first order of business is to schedule a meeting with the bride and groom in question. You’ll need to ask a series of questions in order to find out exactly what they expect from their wedding, how much they’re planning to spend, how many people will be attending, where they’d like to have the event, what type of photography and catering they want, etc. And of course you’ll want to establish what your fees are for coordinating these services, and the benefits you’ll provide in exchange for those fees. 

Then, once you’ve established a framework for the event, you’ll want to line up a list of vendors and visit the prospective sites for the wedding ceremony and reception. You’ll want to visit and inspect those sites early in the process to make sure they meet the client’s needs. And make sure your vendors will be available and capable of delivering on wedding day. Remember, it’s your reputation on the line as much as theirs.


SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS


As an independent wedding planner, you’ll be operating a small business in the same manner as your vendors. You’ll probably be working from home, so you won’t need to worry about leasing an office or hiring employees. But you’ll still need a business license to operate in your state, a business checking account, an accountant to handle you’re bookeeping (unless you plan on doing that yourself), and an office space designated in your home. You don’t want to be running your business from the kitchen table, espcially if you plan on having clients over for face-to-face meetings. The US Small Business Association is a great place to find out more about starting a small business.


KEEP LEARNING


Just like any business, the wedding industry is constantly changing. You’ll need to keep abreast of new trends, because many clients will want this year’s fashions. Consider joining a professional association for wedding planners, and read industry trade journals.

And stay motivated. If you truly enjoy planning weddings and working with people, you’ll find this to be a fascinating and rewarding career that will keep you happily employed for many years to come. 

 

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