Is There Demand For Wedding Planners
ABSOLUTELY!
Not to mention, theres also the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to consider. Throughout 2020, thanks to what felt like endless lockdowns, couples all across the globe had no choice but to postpone their special day. Now that life is finally starting to return to normal, all of these people are only too eager to get their weddings back on track.
Whats more even couples who did tie the knot in 2020 are now wanting to have the lavish, legitimate wedding celebration they werent able to have.
S For Getting Your First Event Planning Job
If event planning sounds like itâs right up your alley, you may be curious how you go about getting started in the industry.
People like to think event planning is only open to college graduates, former marketers, or people with strong event planning experience. But, thereâs no generic entryway into event planning, so lets get creative!
In fact, the event planning industry is diverse and complex.
And, with so many unique skills necessary to coordinate successful events, people from all walks of life can find success in the industry.
But, being good at something and having the chance to prove that youâre good at something are two wildly different things.
For many of you, trying to get your foot in the door can seem impossible. Here are 7 ways you can inch your way into the event planning industry without a loaded resume.
How To Restructure Your Resume And Social Media Profiles
In order to become an event planner, you need to start thinking and presenting yourself like one. You can do this by:
- Making a list of important skills to have as an event planner.
- Matching your experience to those skills. What role required you to be organized, for instance? Play that up.
- Making event planning a major part of your resume by molding experience where you can. If you planned your trade show participation, highlight that.
- Starting to use the title. In order to get found on social media as an event planner, you need to start calling yourself one and playing up your abilities.
- Using data whenever possible. If you sold tickets as a volunteer quantify how many you sold and what percentage that was. Give it context and compare that to others actions when noteworthy.
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You Are Not A People Person
Planners work with many different kinds of clients and vendors. The wedding industry is very social and being a planner is probably the most social vendor category in the industry.
If you are introverted, shy, or dont like to be around people, being a planner could be a difficult career choice. This isnt to say that you cant overcome those personality traits, but it is something to consider. Being an event planner may be the encouragement you need to overcome shyness.
Ensure All Services Agreed Upon Are Properly Implemented
As we have just said, the services youwill provide the couple depends on what kind of wedding planning package theywill avail. As a wedding planner, its up to you to come up with the list ofservices you will provide although in general, wedding planners do followalmost the same format.
You may check the list of services wementioned earlier for your reference.
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Finding A Wedding Planner Program
Just as itâs important for people to choose the right person to tie the knot with, itâs important for wedding planners to make the right choice when it comes to selecting an education program. This section provides information on how prospective wedding planners can pick the right school.
Some of the factors to consider when looking for a program include the tuition cost, how courses are delivered, and how long to complete. In addition, future wedding planners may be interested in programs that allow them to earn professional certifications.
Join An Industry Association
For anyone considering wedding planning as a profession, I recommend joining an industry association, says Lynne Kennedy, lead planner and owner of wedding planning firm The Gilded Aisle. They can be quite helpful for staying informed about the profession and networking.
One association Kennedy suggests is the Association of Bridal Consultants . The association offers training and certification and even has state chapters that enable you to network with other professionals in your area.
As the ABC state manager for Illinois, she says, I mentor many of our novice members and allow them to shadow me at weddings to gain experience and perspective.
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Step : Acquire A Formal Training
Although you can do wedding planning even without formal training, its still is different if you have one. This allows you to learn the intricacies of wedding planning. You can complete a diploma program if you really want to step-up your game.
Remember you are in an industry that is very competitive. Needless to say, you will compete with so many established wedding planners. So, you got to have a good strategy to be able to succeed in this field and getting formal training is one of them.
On top of that, you will also learn thedifferent types of wedding ceremonies , attire, as well as stationary. You will also learn about properetiquette at these events.
You see, having all these kinds ofinformation will definitely make you stand out from the rest of course withyour personal touch into it.
Some of the institutions where you can get a diploma program on wedding planning are:
- Atlanta Technical College
- George Washington University
- Indiana University-PurdueUniversity-Indianapolis
Again, these are just some of the institutions where you can get a diploma program. For sure, theres one in your area, too. All you have to do is check online where you can enroll for the said program.
How Do I Become A Event Planner With No Experience
How to get into event planning with no experience Get an education. Consider pursuing an education in event planning or a similar field. Earn professional certifications. Find your niche. Engage online through social media. Attend local events. Research industry leaders. Find a mentor. Volunteer with local organizations.
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How To Make Wedding Planner
How to Become a Wedding Planner in 8 Simple Steps Step 1: Establish clear-cut wedding planning goals. Step 2: Conduct industry research. Step 3: Consider formal wedding planner training. Step 4: Write a business plan. Step 5: Create a marketing plan. Step 6: Find the tools you need to be a successful wedding planner.
Final Thoughts: Jump Right In
I know that was a lot to digest! Becoming a wedding planner is not a fast or easy process. Its going to take determination, passion and patience to book your first clients.
Take it from me as someone with very little support system when I started and a big dream you can make it. Spend time learning the ropes and youll discover just how fulfilling wedding planning is as a career.
Keep pushing forward and good luck!
Bombshell Contributer
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Am I Naturally Good At Multitasking And Staying Organized
Being a wedding planner takes multi-tasking and organization to a whole new level. Not only will you have to multi-task and remember the many details about your clients events, you have to think and act quickly.
During the wedding planning process, you could be working with 10-20 different couples at a time. If you arent organized, it will show in your work and in your reputation. If you are working with 10 couples to plan their wedding and each couple has at least 10 wedding vendors, you may be communicating with over 100 different people in a week!
In this career, you have to be on the ball ALL the time. Juggling many weddings, each with its own set of vendors, can be daunting for even the most organized of wedding planners.
Do you tend to keep your life and the work well organized? Can you multitask when needed? Do you like to plan events and parties in general? These are important traits to have as a professional wedding planner.
Wedding Planner Certification: What You Need To Know
Is getting wedding planner certification necessary? What if youre already creative, crafty, talented and great with details?
Where is the best place to get certified as a wedding planner? What about online wedding planner certification?
In todays competitive atmosphere, wedding planning certification is becoming more and more necessary for aspiring wedding planners. In this article, well go over the different reasons to complete wedding planning certification and where to find the best programs.
Lets start with what I consider to be the most important of all.
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Business Makes No Sense To You
Many wedding planners own their own business. If you are not a big picture thinker and dont have any desire to start a wedding planning business or learn marketing, accounting, networking, and finance, owning a wedding planning business probably is not a good fit for you.
You can still work in the wedding industry but will be better suited to working at a hotel, for an event planning company, or at wedding venue where you can focus solely on the clients instead of running a business in addition to planning and designing weddings.
Whenever you own a business, your income can fluctuate greatly. The typical salary for wedding planners is broad, depending on where you live and what types of services you offer. You may have years where you make a significant income and other years where you barely scrape by.
I could write a post with 500 great reasons to be a wedding planner but I wanted to share the not-so-glorious side with our readers. If you are thinking about becoming a wedding and event planner, these are great things to keep in mind.
Starting Your Professional Wedding Planning Business
To be a wedding planner, and to be respected as a professional, there are many benchmarks to be achieved. You must prove a level of experience or training. The bridal consultant is supported by referrals from other wedding professionals and former clients. In order to gain this referral base, you must be able to prove your value. You must show them your training level, your experience within the profession and your ability to make it work.
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Step : Decide On A Niche
You are probably wondering what we meanby choosing a niche. Well, in this day and age, wedding planning is not justabout being wed in a church and then the reception. Today, couples do have alot of options. Apart from that, we have to take into consideration that thereare also different types of marriages.
So, what exactly do we mean?
Some ideas you can consider as a nicheare:
- Destination Wedding
These are just some of the options youhave.
But why does a wedding planner need tofind or choose a niche?
Having a niche or a specialty will help you stand-out from other wedding planners. It will also help increase your expertise in that specific area. Always keep in mind that wedding planning is very competitive, needless to say, huge industry to be at. So, again, you got to step up your game to gain clients, and eventually, rise on top.
What Do Wedding Coordinators Wear
Wedding coordinators do not have a set attire, as you fill many different roles throughout the process. You should plan your outfits each day based on your tasks at hand. If meeting with a couple and vendors, business casual attire is appropriate. When working in an office or from home, wear whatever is comfortable, unless your employer has a dress code. On the wedding day, you can wear something that suits the formality of the event but does not call attention to yourself. A non-ornate dress or standard suit and tie are the best options for this event.
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Interning For A Wedding Venue
Our natural inclination is to intern for a wedding planner, but wedding venues are great opportunities to intern and work full time if you want to be a wedding planner. They assist hundreds of couples every single year and often have a site coordinator who helps to facilitate the wedding. That can be you!
When approaching a venue as an intern or hire, I strongly suggest you complete your coursework at The QC School and pitch working for them during the upcoming wedding season. The same steps I gave you to apply at a wedding planning company also apply hereso follow them closely.
How To Become A Wedding Planner From Home
If you love everything about weddings and are looking for a flexible job that you can do a few days a week, you might want to become a wedding planner from home.
Given that you can easily do wedding planning as a side job while working full-time, it is great for stay at home moms who can work on the weekends or anyone with a Monday to Friday job that would like to make some extra money.
According to The Knot, around 27% of couples hire a wedding planner or coordinator to help with their big day, making wedding planners in demand nationwide.
The best thing about being a wedding planner is that you can choose to work as little or as much as you like and can make up $1000 for a days work at the top end.
This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn a commission if you use those links. Please read my Disclosure for more information.
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What Education Do You Need To Become A Wedding Planner
Some colleges offer degrees in meeting, event, or hospitality management that will give you basic education in event planning. You can also find schools that award degrees and certificates in how to become a wedding planner.
If youre looking to get a head start on your career right out of college, check out these meeting and event-planning scholarships for help funding your education.
The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners offers an in-person wedding planner course as well as online wedding planner courses. These one- to two-day seminars discuss how to:
- Do a client consultation.
- Run your own business.
Become A Wedding Planner Today
Like most creative occupations, becoming a wedding planner has many perks. For one, there is so much excitement when you can contribute to someones special day. Other than that, wedding planners have the opportunity to meet new people daily, travel a lot, and work with a flexible schedule. However, the icing on the cake is creating lifetime memories for clients. Head over to our to learn more about wedding planning, event management, and other related career paths.
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