Pursuing a New Career As a Wedding Planner

Have you ever wanted to find a job that allows you to put your creative side into over drive while contributing something meaningful to the lives of others? Then you just may have what it takes to be a wedding planner / coordinator. While weddings are meant to be one of the most memorable of all of the special occasions in a person's life, unfortunately they can also be extremely stressful fiascos for everyone concerned. That is why a wedding coordinator is becoming an essential element for most couples.

What Does a Wedding Planner Do?

Simply put, a wedding coordinator coordinates weddings. Of course it is much more involved than that, as a wedding coordinator you would help the bride and groom plan the wedding by selecting locations, coordinating color schemes, shopping and planning décor and layout of the ceremony site as well as the reception, choreograph the ceremony and reception (who stands where, when is the music to be played, etc.). You will also work with caterers, bakers, photographers, and other wedding vendors to insure that everyone is on task and that all of the wedding essentials are taken care of and delivered in a timely manner. You will be the go-to person on wedding etiquette for everything from how to word the invitations to who pays for what. But most of all your main job will be to organize a successful wedding, handling all of the details that will keep the bride from pulling her hair out.

Where Do Wedding Planners Work?

Wedding planners / coordinators have a variety of venues to pursue for their careers. Most wedding sites such as large hotels and other venues geared towards weddings will have an on-site coordinator to assist couples in planning their special days. Some bridal boutiques and other wedding related businesses may also employ wedding coordinators in order to offer an additional and much needed service to their clients. However, you will find that the majority of wedding coordinators are self employed, which is one of the things that make this job so appealing to many people. Having your own wedding planning business allows you to set your own prices, make your own schedule, and determine how many weddings you will take on.

What Skills and Training Do You Need to Become a Wedding Planner?

As a wedding coordinator, you must have exceptional organizational skills and be able to work on a strict timeline and budget. You also need to have a flair for the creative aspects of decorating and designing and be personable enough to work with the public. Good communication skills is also a must. You can usually train to become a wedding consultant right from home with a choice of correspondence schools that offer you training online and via regular mail. Places such as The American Academy of Wedding Professionals, Penn Foster, PCDI, The International School of Hospitality, US Career Institute, and the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants are but a few of the online choices available to help you get the training you need to start this new career as a wedding planner from the convenience of your own home. Most of these courses are designed so that you can work at your own pace but will generally be finished in less than a year. Another essential step to becoming a wedding consultant is professional membership. Joining professional groups such as with the ACPWC, the Association for Wedding Professionals International, or the Association of Bridal Consultants will help to enhance your professional status and gain more business. Many of the training programs will include your first month or so in one of these associations for no additional charge as part of your training package.

If you choose to pursue a goal of becoming a wedding planner just remember to listen carefully to the brides that you work with, and most of all, have fun.