How To Become A Wedding Planner

Planning a wedding may feel like one of the most tiresome professional jobs. You must possess excellent communication and coordination skills, be resourceful, and have a sharp creative sense. While the job seems glamorous on the outset, it requires some serious commitment. If you want to learn how to become a wedding planner, our quick guide will help you gain better insight into the profession and help you decide if this is the career for you.

What Educational Training Will I Need To Become A Wedding Planner?
In terms of educational programs, there is no formal degree which trains students specifically in the field of wedding planning. However, a preferred route to take is to complete high school or take the General Education Development (GED) test. After this, enroll in an undergraduate degree, where you can major in a topic like Marketing, Communications, or Hospitality Management. Each of these will help develop general skills, which could be applied to wedding planning or may be used in other careers.

It is also recommended that you use your time in college to gain as much practical experience as possible. Working with existing event management companies or smaller catering companies will help give you a sense of what it takes to organize and ensure the smooth running of an event. It will also teach you how to deal with the many different parties (caterers, deejays or bands, event site hosts, and clients), which is required to arrange all the facilities for the event. Gaining some formal certification, though not required, will definitely add credibility to your skill set. The Association of Bridal Consulting (ABC) and the Association for Certified Professional Wedding Consultants (ACPWC) are two possible organizations from which you can obtain this certification. These organizations offer basic programs which will help you improve your vendor contracting, sales, and legal skills.

Entering The Professional World
Planning a wedding is serious work. Not many clients may flock towards you initially; you will have to build your reputation by doing a good job at smaller events and proving yourself worthy. Once you have a few good working relationships with particular vendors, your entire planning process will become much smoother, and you will be able to further expand your operations.

Key Points To Remember
Always ensure that you understand the client's demands fully before you begin on the planning front. There is very little room for error as far as wedding planning is concerned. You must also be prepared to go beyond your comfort zone in fulfilling client demands. As a professional, you will be responsible for everything; from presenting the client with choices of location to ensuring the wedding cake is exactly the one they wanted. Be prepared for emergencies and keep the client updated on your progress. If you want to know how to become a wedding planner, you must know how to be able to multitask effectively and stay ahead of schedule at all times. You should not consider this option professionally if you are not able to handle difficult situations well.