Planning a wedding is not an easy task. It requires people to spend several months looking through all sorts of details. From arranging the venue to finding the right dress to making sure that all the guests are accommodated, the amount of work can pile up significantly. People also want to make this special event as memorable as possible, and often plan weddings based on entire themes.
While families would normally manage all the affairs on their own, wedding planners have become more in vogue now. These trained professionals are able to take all the responsibility on their shoulders, and ensure that the event is arranged according to the client's exact specifications. If you are interested in entering this profession, or simply want to learn more about it for your own use, you could get training in a wedding planner certification online program.
What Will I Learn?
A number of vocational training schools and online institutions offer wedding planning certifications. These vary in their duration, but offer roughly the same curriculum. Students will begin by developing their communication skills, which are integral to the business. You will learn how to help clients articulate their expectations specifically, and offer suggestions to make the event as great as possible. You will also be taken through modules to help sharpen your multi-tasking and organizational skills. As a wedding planner, you will be responsible for coordinating everything from the caterers to the photographers and even the minister. Having the skills needed to negotiate and manage each of these areas will help you get a competitive edge. The aim of certification courses is to build your skill set, and give you greater confidence to enter the professional field. You will learn how to effectively deal with crises and manage clients from a variety of backgrounds and expectations.
Who Should Take These Courses?
If you are interested in making a career out of wedding planning, or want to enter the field of event management as a whole, obtaining a wedding planner certification online is an option you should consider. The best part about these programs is that they may be completed at your own pace, from anywhere in the world, so long as you have a reliable computer and internet connection. You may be able to save a lot of money because online courses focus on the essentials, so they may charge less than campus-based, which are usually longer-duration programs.
Job Outlook
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) places wedding planners under the category of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners. This occupation category is expected to grow by 33 percent between 2012 and 2022, which may mean that a number of opportunities could become available. The median salary in 2012 for this category, according to the BLS, was $45,810. Given the principles and skills you will learn, it is also possible to become an event planner in general. You could then apply and work for corporations; arranging personalized meetings for clients, as well as dinners and larger events. The skill set is highly useful many areas of business.