How to Become a Wedding Planner
Tell me if this sounds familiar…
- …you’re not getting married, but you’ve managed to accumulate a stack of bridal magazines.
- …you’ve successfully planned the best parties and special occasion celebrations that your friends and family still talk about.
- …you’re the “go to” person when anyone around needs help with their special event!
- …you know the broadcast schedule of just about every wedding TV show known to man.
While these are all really fun ways to pass the time away and help out those you love, this might be a great opportunity for you to make a (part-time or full-time) living doing something you love!
Maybe you Should Become a Wedding Planner!
While this is by no means a comprehensive guide about how to become a wedding planner, it does explain what a wedding planner does and will, hopefully, help you determine if planning weddings for a living is the right fit for you.
First, Know What a Wedding Planner Does
There’s something appealing about telling folks that you’re a wedding planner, right?
But you do know what a wedding planner does? It’s a lot more than directing the bridal party at the ceremony site and making sure that boutonnieres are pinned on correctly.
Although your wedding planner duties will change from wedding to wedding, you’ll soon realize that certain tasks are standard. In fact, some are downright mundane!
And of course, because a wedding is such a personal event, your personality has to be a fit with your prospective clients. If you think I’m kidding, check out a few episodes of the popular TV show ‘Bridezillas’!
When I was a new wedding planner, it became apparent, rather quickly, that when it came to working with clients who were paying my fee to plan their big day, it was all about them. Not me. Be prepared to check your ego at the door! (No…I’m serious!).
Certain personality traits will make working with brides and grooms so much easier (ask me how I know this!).
Figure out What Type of Wedding Planning Services you Want to Provide
If you’re still here, then I’m guessing that you’re seriously considering this wedding planning ‘thing.’ (There’s no turning back, now!) 
Next, you’ll need to decide which wedding planning services you’d like to offer to couples who are getting married.
- Do you want involvement from the moment she says, “I do”, or are you drawn to the creative world of wedding design?
- Will you charge by the hour, or does the idea of wedding planning packages appeal to you, instead?
Thankfully, you’ve got several options when it comes to being a professional wedding planner. In fact, you may decide that you want to mix things up a little and offer a variety of wedding planner services.
Whatever you do, please, don’t wait until someone contacts you to figure out which wedding planner services you will offer!
I hope this helps.
–Deb
