There is no clear path to becoming a wedding planner, however, if you are passionate and the wedding planning industry is your goal, then we would suggest three steps to ensure your success:
1. Complete undergraduate degree or diploma that will help you run your wedding planning business:
· Business Management Degree:
o Principles of Finance
o Business Analysis and Intelligence
o Human Resource Management
o Functional and Project Management
o Customer Service
· Marketing Degree
o Principles of Marketing
o Principles of Management
o Principles of Finance
o Business to Business Marketing
o Marketing Research
o Consumer Behaviour
· Psychology Degree
o Scientific fundamentals of psychology
o Psychology of certain groups of people
o Childhood and development
o Cognitive processes
o Negotiation and persuasion
2. Complete a short course specifically on wedding/events planning- this will give you the tools and self-confidence to start planning weddings. In courses such as these you will become familiar with the wedding planning process, receive standardised documentation examples, and recognize what a client will expect from you as a wedding planner.
· Hospitality
o Food & Beverage Management
o Food Production Theory & French Culinary Terminology
o Front Office
o Housekeeping Management
o Facilities Management
o Sales & Marketing
o Guest Care
o Current Hospitality Trends
· Event management
o Event Role Players
o Event Organisation and Project Management
o Event Operations and Logistics
o Event Design and Decor
o Financial Management
o Event Marketing and Sponsorship
· Wedding planning
o The role of the wedding planner
o The planning processes
o Catering and beverages
o Flowers and decorations
o Invitations and gift lists
o Entertainment
o The day of the event
o Budgeting and contracts
3. Gain specific event experience. Wedding planners need to manage many moving parts throughout the wedding day which can be stressful and overwhelming. With this in mind… practice makes perfect! The more practical experience you get, the more chance you have at one day successfully managing a client’s wedding day independently.
Start by securing an unpaid internship within a wedding coordination company or wedding venue. This will allow you to start from the bottom up in terms of gaining valuable experience while executing assorted tasks. Before you can plan and run your own weddings, it would be a valuable experience for you to have examined and assisted with ten or more weddings. During this time, you will witness how the wedding planner liaises with service providers, manages the timeline, overcomes any last-minute challenges and most importantly, exceeds the client’s expectations.
Contact Warren-Stone Weddings to discuss our wedding packages, guide you through our wedding planner checklist and to help you plan your special wedding day.