Planning a Wedding free essay sample

Becoming a Wedding Planner Running a business can seem like an impossible task to overcome at times. You have to go through all the right steps to getting a business license, make sure your register with your Secretary of State, and advertise well. That can be especially difficult when it comes to becoming a wedding planner. You have to give attention to detail, handle any problems that come up with a clear head, get it out the way quickly, and deal with customers that sometimes have difficult requests. It takes a lot of work but can be very rewarding if you enjoy weddings and dealing with other people. . 2 million weddings take place in the United States alone in 2010. (FabJob Inc, 1999) Couples are extremely busy between working and their lives, so naturally wedding planners, also known as bridal consultants, are plentiful and needed. It is one of the easiest businesses to get into, needing only a business license and a business card. Taking a planner certification course is a great thing to consider doing as well; it would let you learn all about the details about special weddings like military protocol, other religious ceremonies, and other non-traditional ceremonies. Another basic equirement is a high school diploma or an equivalence of the high school diploma. No degree is necessary, but a Bachelors of Science in public relations, business, or marketing is a plus and will make you look more knowledgeable and professional. (Degreedirectory. org 2003) You can Join an association to help you get on top of trends and to help further your education. Other than the educational requirements, you must have some personal skills to become a successful wedding planner. You must have wonderful networking and negotiating skills to help keep to the couples budget. A great eye for detail is a must. Mahalo. com Incorporated 2007) You have to have great organization skills and wonderful people skills. You will be dealing with weeping brides, demanding mothers, cranky vendors, bargaining with vendors, overseeing hordes of hired workers, mingling with reception guests and many others who will vie for your attention. You have to be able to keep your head on under pressure. A good sense of fashion and communication skills is great things to have as well. You could also use a good sense of humor. A positive, upbeat outlook is a must so you can keep a smile on your face when things go wrong so you dont upset your bride. There are certain steps to becoming a wedding planner. You must research wedding planner Job duties and responsibilities, get practice by helping to plan an actual wedding, take courses on planning a wedding, get certified, and lastly, but most importantly, cultivate professional contacts. (Degreedirectory. org 2010) Each one is Just as important as the next. Some Job duties entail: creating a wedding schedule, replying to phone calls and emails from clients, doing paperwork, consulting with clients about wedding d ©cor, the actual ceremony, entertainment and the reception to create a unique vision especially tailored to the couple. In short, you will be handling all the details of the wedding, big or small. (Degreedirectory. org 2003) You will be doing a lot of paperwork, between contracts and appointment notes etc. You will spend a lot of time on the phone; whether it is fielding inquiries from wedding preparations. (How to Become a Wedding Consultant 2010) You will be meeting with employed contracts or temporary workers on a regular basis to provide instruction and go over details. You will be spending a lot of time with the bride conducting consultations or accompanying them to various appointments. How to Become a Wedding Consultant 2010) Customers look to you for fashion advice, whats right and wrong for every aspect of the wedding, and recommending reliable suppliers that are good deal for their money. To build up experience, you need to apply for Jobs with businesses often used for weddings such as florists, photographers, caterers, hotels, and the list goes on and on. You can also offer to apprentice fo r an established wedding planner. That also gives you professional contacts to put on your resume. You can also request permission from family and friends you have assisted to use them as references (ask them not to mention you did t pro bond). You can get other referrals by former clients. All-in-all you have to prove a level of experience and training to your potential clients. There are certain things you need to have/do before you can be a successful wedding planner. You need to expect to pay $2,200 $10,000 in startup costs. (This may include, but not exclusive to, the business license fee, office supplies, advertising, training, and rental equipment. You could also make the investment in a professionally designed website. It should include everything about your business, what services you provide, ontact information, references and pictures Just make sure it makes you look professional. (How to become a wedding planner 2000) You should really get set up in an office separate from your home as well. It will make you seem more professional, but its perfectly 0k to operate from your home to begin with. You will need a computer, a printer, a fax machine, and the internet. Make sure to check your emails daily. How to become a wedding planner 2000) You will need contracts and attorneys, as well as business insurance, to protect you and your property from loss due to accidents/litigations. Get a professional photo album, collect photo albums of weddings you have coordinated and start a portfolio. Contact your local cities business license department to inquire about necessary licenses and permits to run a wedding planning business. (Mahalo. com Incorporated 2007) You also need to register with the Secretary of State in your state. South Carolinas Secretary of State is Mark Hammond. Then you need to sit down and write a good business plan. You then need to come up with a catchy, unique business name to grab potential clients attention.. You can look to get paid about $1,000- $1,500 per wedding or $10,000- 1 5,000 per year. (Mahalo. com Incorporated 2007) Now it is time to advertise. You should advertise anywhere and everywhere you can afford. (Online, phonebook, bridal magazines, and even local bridal shows, which has an added bonus of connecting with other vendors and networking more. ) When you meet potential clients at a bridal show, be sure to follow up with a phone call or at least a postcard. Also consider creating a certain type of wedding to specialize in such as theme weddings, destination weddings, discount weddings, culture-specific weddings, whatever you are best at. Create a good logo that people will remember. Create a colorful, unforgettable brochure to hand out at local events and hand out. Make sure to give business cards and brochures to the wedding coordinator of venues in your Incorporated 2007) Now there are several steps in planning a wedding that you must know about before you even think about planning a wedding for others. You need to know how to prepare a time line schedule. You need step by step wedding planner list of all tasks. One of the most important in todays economy, you need to be able to prepare a budget so you dont go over what your couple wants to spend. You need to be able to give advice on planning the ceremony; whether it be selecting the wedding date, choosing a venue, finding a wedding official, selecting the music, getting a license, the rehearsal, and the processional and recessional. You need to also be able to give advice for planning the reception; from the time of day, to the venue, then the activities, and finally working with the venue staff to create a wonderful reception. You need to know how to select reputable wedding vendors from the bridal shops, to the caterer, the wedding cake baker, the florist, the limousine, the photographer, the ideographer, the stationary, the reception hall, the entertainment/DJ, the banquet site, etc. (FabJob Inc, 1999) In conclusion, According to Gerard Monaghan, one out of every eight dollars is spent on wedding-related products and services, which makes the wedding industry about a forty-two billion dollar industry. How to Become a Wedding Consultant 2010) That is a lot of money to spend on one day, but it is supposed to be the best day of your life, and you shouldnt have to have the stress of planning it yourself. That is what a wedding planner is there for. Being a wedding lanner isnt easy, its hard and tedious work, but well worth it to see a couple beaming ear to ear because you helped them have an absolutely splendid day. Reference Degreedirectory. org. (2010). How to Become a Wedding Planner in 5 Steps. In Weddin g Planner.