Crafting A Wedding Planner Resume: A Guide

A wedding planner's role is to assist couples in organizing and executing their weddings, handling everything from the venue to flowers, music, food, and more. To succeed in this role, one must possess strong coordinating and organizational abilities, a sense of style, vendor connections, and attention to detail. When applying for a wedding planner position, it is crucial to have a well-crafted resume that showcases your relevant skills and professional history. This resume should highlight your expertise in event planning, communication, and problem-solving, as well as any certifications or academic credentials related to the field.

Contact information

Name

Start by including your full name in the header, preferably in bold font. You can use a larger font size for your name to make it stand out. For example:

Natalie Krause

Phone Number

Provide an active phone number where you can be reached. Make sure to include the area code to ensure employers from other regions can reach you. For instance:

000-000-0000

Email Address

List a professional email address that you regularly check. Avoid using informal or outdated email addresses. You may want to create a new email address specifically for your job search. An example is:

[email protected]

Address

Include your city, state, and zip code to indicate your location. This is particularly important if you are applying for jobs in a specific geographical area. Here is how it can appear:

123 Fake Street, City, State, Zip Code

Online Portfolio or Professional Website (Optional)

If you have an online portfolio or a professional website showcasing your wedding planning work, be sure to include a link in your contact information. This can be beneficial for showcasing your skills and past projects. For example:

Www.anicajesenko.com

By providing these details in your contact information section, you make it convenient for hiring managers to reach out to you and learn more about your qualifications as a wedding planner.

Professional summary

A wedding planner resume should include a professional summary that highlights your training, experience, and skills. This section should be brief but detailed, acting as an introduction to the rest of your document. Here are some examples of professional summaries for a wedding planner resume:

"Energetic and detail-oriented professional with a passion for creating unique and romantic events for a wide range of couples. Over six years of industry experience with skilled time management, organization, and communication."

"Seasoned wedding planner with more than 13 years of experience. Expert in all elements of wedding planning, including vendor management, contract negotiations, timeline development, and budget administration. Offers additional services, including post-event logistics such as travel arrangements and accommodations for newlyweds."

"Creative, personable, and organized wedding planner with several years of event planning experience. Customer service-oriented and committed to interpreting the client's vision and turning it into a successful reality. Calm and professional under pressure, with strong negotiation skills to bridge the gap between vendors and clients."

"Highly experienced and dynamic wedding planner adept at orchestrating all aspects of wedding planning, creating detailed budgets, nurturing professional partnerships, and guiding couples through the entire wedding process. Demonstrates a strong professional demeanor, exceptional communication and leadership skills, meticulous attention to detail, and superior time management prowess."

"Enthusiastic and dedicated wedding planner with five years of experience in the event planning industry. Skilled in contract negotiations, budget management, and vendor relations. Committed to providing exceptional customer service and ensuring every wedding is a memorable and seamless experience."

Education and training

A bachelor's degree is often required for wedding planner positions, with common majors including hospitality management, business, public relations, and marketing. An associate degree or prior industry experience may be accepted by some employers.

Industry-related certifications can also be listed in this section of your resume and include:

• Certified Master Planner: Completion of a training program from Longevity's Wedding Planning Institute, including internships, mentorship, and lectures.
• Trained Wedding Planner: The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners offers this certification through in-person or online courses.
• Professional Wedding Planner Program Certification: Administered by the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC), this certification includes seven training modules covering subjects such as etiquette, planning strategies, and client consultation.
• Certified Wedding Planner (CWP)
• Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP): An internationally recognized certificate showcasing expertise in managing special events, customizing them to individual needs, and following industry trends.
• Certified Business Negotiator: Showcases abilities in negotiation tactics, industry analysis, and relationship management.
• Certified Event Diagrammer
• Certified Venue Executive
• Certified Destination Management Executive
• Certified Interior Designer
• Certified Professional in Catering and Events

Other relevant training could include:

• Project management certification
• Wedding planner workshops
• Software proficiency: Proficiency in wedding planning software or apps such as The Wedding Planner, Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Aisle Planner, HoneyBook, Salesforce, and Expedia.
• Language proficiency
• Flower arranging
• Conflict mediation

Professional experience

When it comes to the "Professional Experience" section of your wedding planner resume, there are a few key steps to follow and best practices to keep in mind. Here's how to make your work experience stand out:

Review the Job Description:

Start by reviewing the job description of the wedding planner role you're applying for. Identify the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities that are listed as requirements or preferences. This will help you tailor your resume to the specific job and highlight the most relevant aspects of your professional experience.

Highlight Your Greatest Achievements:

Think about your previous roles and identify two to three of your most impressive achievements or contributions in each position. These could be specific events you planned, challenges you overcame, or positive outcomes you delivered. Focus on the impact you had rather than simply listing your job duties.

Use Numbers to Measure Your Impact:

Whenever possible, quantify your achievements using numbers. This could be the number of events planned, the budgets you managed, the number of clients you worked with, or the percentage by which you improved a particular process. Numbers make your resume more concrete and help employers understand the scale of your accomplishments.

Format Your Professional Experience Section:

Here's how to format the "Professional Experience" section for a wedding planner role:

• Label the Section: Use a clear heading such as "Work Experience" or "Career History." You can bold or underline it for emphasis.
• Include Company Details and Dates: For each role, mention the company name, your job title, and the timeframe during which you worked there.
• Use Reverse-Chronological Order: Start with your most recent job and then list the previous ones in reverse-chronological order.
• Describe Your Achievements: Under each job description, use three to four bullet points to highlight your most impressive and relevant achievements. Make sure to provide context and explain how your actions benefited the company or clients.

Example of Professional Experience Section for a Wedding Planner Resume:

Here's an example of what your "Professional Experience" section could look like:

Wedding Planner, *The Big Day Events*, _Boulder, Colorado_ _(June 2016 – Present)_

• Coordinated all aspects of weddings according to couples' preferences, including venue selection, floral arrangements, catering, music, and photography.
• Communicated and negotiated with vendors to ensure client satisfaction and stay within budgetary constraints.
• Created detailed schedules for wedding-related events, such as rehearsals and dress fittings, ensuring a smooth and timely flow.
• Assisted couples in selecting and managing external vendors, such as caterers, bakers, photographers, and videographers.

Wedding Planning Assistant, *All About Love Events*, _Fort Collins, Colorado_ _(May 2014 – May 2016)_

• Supported senior wedding planners in planning and executing weddings, including scheduling meetings, sending follow-up emails, and managing event staff.
• Supervised caterers and bartenders during events, ensuring compliance with the event schedule and menu requirements.
• Utilized event planning software to organize events, prioritize tasks, and coordinate with vendors.

Remember to tailor your professional experience section to the specific job you're applying for, focusing on the skills and achievements most relevant to wedding planning.

Relevant skills

As a wedding planner, you need to be adept at multitasking and have strong organisational skills. You should be able to work under pressure and have excellent communication skills. It's also important to be able to remain calm in stressful situations and have good active listening skills.

A wedding planner should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Strong negotiation skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and event scheduling software
• Knowledge of cultural and religious customs
• Budget management
• Vendor management
• Timeline development
• Contract negotiations
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Leadership skills
• Financial acumen
• Knowledge of the latest trends
• Ability to use planning and CRM tools

Frequently asked questions