Here Comes the Guide: Making the Move to a Career in Wedding Planning

Embracing change can be daunting, yet it often leads to beautiful experiences. This rings especially true when considering a transition to a career in wedding planning.

Whether ignited by a newfound passion for organizing someone’s special day or a drive to establish a business, becoming a wedding planner presents many career growth and fulfillment opportunities.

Discover strategies to shift from your current career to something new.

 

What Are the Responsibilities of a Wedding Planner?

This profession entails helping soon-to-be-married couples plan their ceremonies and receptions. A wedding planner wears many hats and performs various tasks, including:

• Answering client calls and inquiries
• Coordinating with wedding suppliers, such as musicians, florists and caterers
• Communicating with venue staff
• Crafting a schedule for everyone involved in the wedding
• Ensuring a smooth event
• Acting as the point of contact for vendors and other people involved in the ceremony
• Negotiating contracts and performing administrative tasks
• Ensuring proper cleanup and return of rental items after the wedding

 

Can You Make Money as a Wedding Planner?

A wedding planner can earn around $75 per hour, but higher-end professionals make $100 to $275 an hour. Many factors contribute to your final rate, including your services, business size and percentage fee. A larger operation can handle more accounts and generate profits over the same period compared to a freelancer.

While the average rate sounds promising, how much you can earn as a career shifter depends on your willingness to learn and adapt to challenges. If being a wedding planner sounds like an enjoyable career, prepare to know the steps to become one.

How to Become a Wedding Planner

Transitioning from a different career to wedding planning may be daunting. These strategies can make the shift more manageable.

1. Take an Online Course

Around 70% of working-age employees are actively seeking new career opportunities, so you’re not alone in thinking about changing jobs. People are always looking for ways to earn more money and grow their skills.

One way to do this is by taking online courses, which makes learning almost anything easy and accessible. You can explore various wedding planning-related courses, such as design and event coordination.
 

2. Seek Learning Opportunities

Embracing a growth mindset allows you to broaden your social circles, learn about the career and tell if it’s right for you. Consider interning for a wedding planner to have firsthand experience of the job. Here’s what you can do to increase your chances of getting an internship:

• Stand out: Be personable in your approach. Avoid using corporate terms like “To whom it may concern” when sending emails. Allow your personality to shine through.
• Conduct research: Learn more about the company you’re applying to. Understand what type of clients it serves, its location and the opportunities it offers.
• Follow on social media: Show genuine interest in company projects by engaging with it online.
   

3. Build Clientele

Networking is an excellent way to advance in your new career. Joining bridal fairs and wedding shows allows you to meet various vendors you can connect with for upcoming events. Hand out a business card with your name and contact information to prospective clients and company representatives you meet. Consider joining online wedding communities to search for potential job opportunities.
 

4. Earn a Certification

As a newcomer in the industry, finding a way to stand out is essential. Acquiring a certification legitimizes your knowledge. Whether you have little to no experience, it lets prospective clients know you’re knowledgeable and capable of organizing a wedding.

The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP) provides training to aspiring wedding planners, allowing them to advance in their careers. When choosing a certification course, consider how it will improve your skills.
 

5. Establish Goals

Jumpshipping to a new career without a solid plan can negatively affect your journey. Goal-setting allows you to strategically head in a new direction so you feel guided. Do you want to work for local wedding planners? You may wish to establish a business that caters to destination weddings. The possibilities are endless.

Mistakes to Avoid

Shifting to a wedding planning career is not without some possible pitfalls. Here are some of the biggest mistakes you should avoid when transitioning to a new job.
 

1. Not Doing Research

As with any industry, research is the foundation of a successful business. Find out more about the established planners in your city, what they offer and how successful they are. This is essential so you can differentiate your offerings from theirs. If you can’t tell what makes you different, prospective clients might find it challenging to trust you.
 

2. Booking for Free

Providing free work to improve your portfolio can be advantageous in some cases, like planning for your sister’s wedding. However, consistently doing this for the sake of experience won’t guarantee you quality clients. You must assert the value you can provide and offer a reasonable price to attract the customers you want.
 

3. Using Others’ Work for Your Portfolio

This is one of the biggest mistakes you should avoid. Never use other people’s work for your Instagram feed. Quoting Pinterest as your source also doesn’t cut it. Passing off different planners’ work as your own can land you in legal trouble, which may leave a negative impression on your potential clients and wedding industry professionals. Use your own content or stock images when designing visual boards and social media content.

 

Become a Successful Wedding Planner

Shifting to a new career can be intimidating, especially when entering an industry reliant on deadlines and coordination among various clients. Wedding planning has many challenges, but these obstacles serve as opportunities for people who find satisfaction in creating meaningful events. Follow these strategies to make your transition easier and start doing what you love.

 

Author Bio: Oscar Collins is the editor-in-chief at Modded, where he writes about a broad spectrum of topics. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for frequent updates on his work.

 

 

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