Want to build your career as a wedding planner
Over the past few years, wedding planning has become a growing field. Thanks to the changing lifestyles, weddings are no longer just a social obligation but are more of a celebration with friends and family. And with young people occupied more and more in their high-profile jobs, hiring a wedding planner makes the process of organizing a wedding totally hassle-free and convenient. There is no doubt that when it comes to formal training, be it in wedding planning or any other business, starting your business becomes much easier. Others need years of experience when they self-train themselves, while the ones who are formally trained, surely have an edge above the others. If you have just finished or are about to finish your formal training in the field of wedding planning, then here are a few tips to kick-start your business.
Certification
A certification from a well-known institute adds the much-needed weight or value to your CV. The difference between a hobbyist wedding planner and a certified professional is huge. When you receive formal training, you learn the intricacies of the business. As a student, the internship that you undergo teaches you negotiations, marketing strategies, finding out about the ongoing trends, management of budget and preparing plan etc. You also learn about the different kinds of ceremonies, cultures as well as etiquettes. Your certificate is the proof that you are well aware of all such details already.
Gather Experience
Experience is extremely important in an industry like wedding planning, and hence it is highly recommended that you prefer a course that provides you on-site internships. But in case your institute did not provide you any field training, it is a must that you get some on your own. This would make you familiar with the field and will be hugely beneficial in putting this knowledge into your business. When you work as an intern, you learn about the various aspects and the professional environment a wedding planner works under, thus thoroughly preparing you to excel in this field.
Build An Impressive Portfolio
If you are just starting out, then you may not have a big portfolio, but it is always recommended that you get started with developing your own portfolio as soon as it is possible. Invest in a shoot with photographers, decorators, venue managers and vendors to give the clients an idea of your skills and assets. A portfolio is probably the best tool that can help you secure clients. Even if it costs you a bit of money at the start, go ahead with developing a strong portfolio.
Be Realistic
Being realistic doesn’t mean that you don’t dream big. Graduating from a renowned institute will surely give you a great platform to start your business, but do not get overwhelmed by the offers that you get or do not get. Remember, the first few steps are the most crucial. Be prepared that your phone will not start ringing right away. And keep in mind that you must be 100% prepared when you commit to a client. Be comfortable and confident about your wedding planning styles before you dive into the hectic environments.
Start When You Are Ready
For giving a launch pad to your business you need to pay attention to the various aspects of starting a business. You need to be sure of the administration, accounts and the marketing departments. Be prepared with your strategies and start advertising your services. Talk to your friends and acquaintances about your business. You never know, that the lady you met casually at the supermarket, is looking for a wedding planner.
The Bottom Line
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither would your Business. The key, however, is to be consistent in your efforts and work patiently. A career in wedding planning needs a life-long penchant for learning. Keep innovating and hang in there!
Good Luck!
Certification
A certification from a well-known institute adds the much-needed weight or value to your CV. The difference between a hobbyist wedding planner and a certified professional is huge. When you receive formal training, you learn the intricacies of the business. As a student, the internship that you undergo teaches you negotiations, marketing strategies, finding out about the ongoing trends, management of budget and preparing plan etc. You also learn about the different kinds of ceremonies, cultures as well as etiquettes. Your certificate is the proof that you are well aware of all such details already.
Gather Experience
Experience is extremely important in an industry like wedding planning, and hence it is highly recommended that you prefer a course that provides you on-site internships. But in case your institute did not provide you any field training, it is a must that you get some on your own. This would make you familiar with the field and will be hugely beneficial in putting this knowledge into your business. When you work as an intern, you learn about the various aspects and the professional environment a wedding planner works under, thus thoroughly preparing you to excel in this field.
Build An Impressive Portfolio
If you are just starting out, then you may not have a big portfolio, but it is always recommended that you get started with developing your own portfolio as soon as it is possible. Invest in a shoot with photographers, decorators, venue managers and vendors to give the clients an idea of your skills and assets. A portfolio is probably the best tool that can help you secure clients. Even if it costs you a bit of money at the start, go ahead with developing a strong portfolio.
Be Realistic
Being realistic doesn’t mean that you don’t dream big. Graduating from a renowned institute will surely give you a great platform to start your business, but do not get overwhelmed by the offers that you get or do not get. Remember, the first few steps are the most crucial. Be prepared that your phone will not start ringing right away. And keep in mind that you must be 100% prepared when you commit to a client. Be comfortable and confident about your wedding planning styles before you dive into the hectic environments.
Start When You Are Ready
For giving a launch pad to your business you need to pay attention to the various aspects of starting a business. You need to be sure of the administration, accounts and the marketing departments. Be prepared with your strategies and start advertising your services. Talk to your friends and acquaintances about your business. You never know, that the lady you met casually at the supermarket, is looking for a wedding planner.
The Bottom Line
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither would your Business. The key, however, is to be consistent in your efforts and work patiently. A career in wedding planning needs a life-long penchant for learning. Keep innovating and hang in there!
Good Luck! 
A Trained Professional
Though a wedding planner doesn’t need a specific technical qualification, but these days many wedding planners are undergoing specialized courses to get some formal training in this vocation. This hands-on training gives them an edge over the other wedding planners in the market. They master the tricks of the trade, even before entering the market. Therefore, managing a budget is not an issue and they can make your event more cost effective when it comes to a trained Wedding Planner.
Can Negotiate Deals and Discounts
As a bride, you would be planning just one wedding, but for a wedding planner, handling dozens of weddings every year is a cakewalk. With their wide network of vendors and artists, wedding planners often facilitate the best costs involved in a wedding. He would know how to negotiate with the various vendors, something that might be next to impossible for you and me.
Saves your Time and Effort
If you are self-employed or are otherwise engaged in your job, you may not have the time to go into all the details of every aspect of planning the wedding. Even if you take a few days leave there’s so much to do, that it might become too overwhelming. Planning a wedding is a full-time job. When you hire a trained wedding planner, he takes over the entire responsibility of giving you your dream wedding, while you can sit back and enjoy the last few months or weeks as a bachelor/ bachelorette.
Provides you Workable Alternatives
An experienced wedding planner will be able to guide you when you wish to add an unnecessary ingredient to the wedding. From the discounted rates of caterers to florists, from venue to seasonal flowers, he knows all the trade secrets and will save every penny possible.
Is well Connected
Your wedding planner will have contacts, that you and I can only think of. Bookings of your favourite venue, or stylist or the designers may not be possible but for the wedding planner, it is something that he deals with on a regular basis. He is also a good source of reference for vendors and service providers, so many a time he would be the first one to get info on availability and deals.
It is a common myth that hiring a wedding planner is a costly affair. No doubt that the wedding planner will charge you a fee but at the same time, he would also be providing you with his elite services that will save you so much of your time and effort. You and the other family members may feel tempted to go over-budget, but an expert wedding planner will not do so. He would be able to help you in striking a balance between the things that are absolutely necessary and the things that can be discarded. So, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that hiring a wedding planner is not an expense but a necessity. 
Limiting yourself to a budget is the biggest challenge one may face when planning a wedding. There is so much temptation to do more and more, that often leads to going overboard in the beginning and then cutting corners as the wedding day arrives. A wedding planner is a professional and will stick to the budget that you have given him. He will not only help you in avoiding any costly mistakes but will also be able to get you the best discounts from the vendors that would be a part of the wedding.
Can Keep Stress Under-Control
Weddings can rarely go without an emotional drama. Indian weddings especially are known to have ‘emotional outbursts’ a regular occurrence. It is a time when emotions are running high, deadlines are being missed and last-minute changes are on, and in a situation like this, even the most patient people may lose their cool. That’s when the wedding planner comes in extremely handy. He can be very helpful in ironing out the problems that crop up suddenly. He is an expert at handling such high-high-pressure situations and keeping everything peaceful.
Your Very Own Personal Assistant
Whether you are going to be a bride or a groom, being stressful at your own wedding, maybe the last thing that you wish for. There is already so much going on in your mind, that worrying about the wedding details is only going to make you miserable. At such a time, your wedding planner can help you as much as you require. From booking appointments with the stylist to organizing a Bachelor’s/ Bachelorette’s Party. It’s great to have someone by your side.
Turning Your Dream Into A Reality
Many of us have planned a wedding ever since we were very young. Though it may seem to be the best option to do everything on your own, it can become quite overwhelming and take a toll on you. From the invites to the decor, from the caterer to the venue, from the stylist to the mehndi-wala, the list is never-ending. But the wedding planner has a template ready for every little detail. You simply need to tell him what you want, and you can rest assured that your wedding will be the way you always wanted it to be, maybe Better!
As the D-Day gets closer, the stress levels involved are going to soar. In such a time, the presence of a wedding planner can give them peace of mind, and they too can enjoy the wedding. A wedding is after all an event of a lifetime, and rather than running around making arrangements, you should be focused on making memories!