What is the best way to become a wedding planner?

Question

ive always wanted to be a wedding planner, and the work it will take to pull of a happily ever after excites me. Ive looked at some online schools but don't like the idea of giving my credit card information away to a place i cant actuallyy attend. anyone have any suggestionss on what the best way to learn and start this stuff?

Answer 1

The first answer is right on the money!  I've been a wedding planner for 17 years now, and i can tell you that brides don't care as much about where you were certified as they do about hands-on, actual wedding experience.

What I suggest you do, as I suggest to everyone who asks this, is to find a reputable planner in your area and talk to them about what they do.  See if you can assist (and when I say assist, I mean be her gofer!) with a few weddings with her.  If you still are interested after viewing first-hand how much work & drama is involved, then I suggest getting a part time job in a bridal shop.  This will give you a real picture of all the details, drama, and emotion that goes along with wedding planning & more importantly-dealing with brides & their mothers.

I have lots of people call me who want to do this, and after a few weddings as my assistant, they do not want to do it anymore!  Only b/c they thought it would glamorous & fun to be in charge, etc.  

After you have gotten some experience of this kind and you are still interested, only then do I recommend spending the big bucks on the course.  

Find out what's really involved in the business in your area before committing to something, and then later finding out you are not going to be "all in".

Answer 2

I would highly recommend that you attend an accredited school with a great curriculum that focus on all of the logistics of events. Some schools will put a focus on decor and rentals, when this is only a small portion of the whole event. A good school will have topics such as Risk Management & Law, Accounting, Logistics, Production & Staging, Sales, Catering, etc. etc.

These are typically things that people don't want to learn, but will make you a much better planner than your competitors. Whatever you do, don't just run out and start a business without event AND business educational, otherwise you could be headed for failure.

I believe that the Art Institutes have an event planning certificate program at their Canadian location. It is quite well known and respected in the event planning community.

Answer 3

While I think it's great to get the certification, I think you should first focus on getting experience. Call up established wedding planners and ask if they would hire you an an unpaid apprentice. You'll have to start at the bottom and work your way up (and work a lot of weekends - when wedding take place!). Do that for a year or two, and then start to take on small events that you know you can manage on your own. Post ads in craigslist saying that you're starting out, but have assisted with X amount of weddings under the direction of said wedding planner, and are therefore not charging for your services. When you meet with potential clients if you get responses, dress professionally and come prepared to win them over. Ask that they probide you with a testimonial that you can use for promotional materials in the future, and add them to your client list.

After about five or six free events, start to charge a small fee of about 10% of the total cost of the wedding to become even more established.  After about five or six of those, start charging 15%, and go up from there. You get the drift.

Do your market research, and see what other planners in your area charge. Read books. I've read a lot of starting up your own business books, and they've helped a TON. Also, while you start taking on more clients, build relationships with vendors so that you can offer clients a small discount (worked out between you and your vendors) so that it entices clients to work with you. If that's not possible (popular venues won't give discounts, no matter who you are), build the relationship with them as a referral business for you. Recommend each other for more business.

I hope that helps to get you started. Once you have a decent cash-flow, then start to get your certification so you can charge more for your services.

Overall, it'll take you about five years to become profitable and reputable.

EDIT: I agree with special_event. You really need to have a business background in order to start your wedding planning business, or really read up on it and take classes. I come from a marketing and sales background, and I've also been reading up on small business law and logistics as well. The above information is to be supplemented with the business aspect of running a business.