Planning Weddings: Is It Your Calling?

Planning a wedding is a complex and demanding task. Wedding planners need to be highly organised, creative, and adept at problem-solving. They must also have strong communication skills and the ability to empathise with their clients. While the role can be challenging, it can also be extremely rewarding, offering the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships and turn a couple's vision into reality. If you're considering becoming a wedding planner, it's important to gain relevant experience, build a network of industry connections, and develop the necessary skills to succeed in this competitive field.

Do I have the necessary skills?

Wedding planning is a complex and demanding job that requires a unique blend of skills and qualities. While it can be a rewarding and exciting career, it's important to assess whether you have the necessary skills and attributes to succeed in this field. So, what does it take to be a successful wedding planner?

Firstly, excellent organisational skills and attention to detail are crucial. Wedding planners need to manage multiple tasks, vendors, and logistics, all while keeping the couple's vision in mind. Strong organisational skills ensure nothing slips through the cracks and help create a seamless experience for the couple and their guests. Attention to detail is equally important, as small details can make or break the big day. From ensuring the correct flower arrangements to confirming arrival times with vendors, a keen eye for detail is essential.

Effective communication and people skills are also vital for wedding planners. They need to communicate effectively with the couple, understanding their vision, preferences, and expectations. Additionally, wedding planners must build relationships with vendors, negotiate contracts, and resolve any issues that may arise. Strong communication skills ensure everyone is on the same page and help create a positive and collaborative environment.

Problem-solving and quick decision-making abilities are also key. Unforeseen challenges are inevitable, and a good wedding planner must be able to think on their feet, devise solutions, and make timely decisions to keep things running smoothly. Whether it's a last-minute vendor cancellation or unexpected weather changes, a problem-solver remains calm and composed under pressure.

Creativity and design skills are also beneficial. While not all wedding planners specialise in design, having a creative eye can enhance the couple's vision and create a unique and memorable event. Understanding colour schemes, decor, lighting, and spatial arrangement can transform a venue and create a magical atmosphere.

Lastly, empathy and a client-centric approach are essential. Wedding planning is an intensely personal and emotional process for couples and their families. A good wedding planner should be able to listen, understand, and support their clients throughout the journey. Empathy helps build trust, ensures the couple's happiness, and creates a positive and meaningful experience for all involved.

What are the pros and cons of being a wedding planner?

Pros of being a wedding planner:

• Self-employment potential: You can either work for an event planning company or be an independent contractor. If you choose the latter, you can set a flat rate for your services or decide on a percentage of the total wedding expenditures.
• Free food and travel: If you're planning a destination wedding, you get to travel to that destination, too! You'll also get to sample gourmet foods and cakes when planning the menu with the couple.
• A growing field: An increasing number of brides are deciding to take the stress of wedding planning off themselves, so there's job security in this field.
• Little training required: While some wedding planners have a degree in communication or business, many only have a high school diploma. Being successful in this field depends more on your organisational and social skills and experience.
• Personally rewarding: Aside from the benefits of getting paid to travel and taste delicious food, this career can be very personally rewarding. A couple's wedding day is one of the most important days of their lives, and they'll thank you for making it memorable.
• Networking opportunities: You'll meet a lot of people in the industry, build networks, and get to know suppliers firsthand.
• Flexibility: You have the freedom to set your own hours, which is beneficial if you have other commitments. You can also work remotely on tasks such as event design, budget planning, and timeline creation.
• Creative expression: There are opportunities to showcase your artistic flair and bring your clients' visions to life.
• Emotional fulfillment: Seeing the joy and gratitude on a couple's faces when their dream wedding comes to life can be incredibly fulfilling.
• Lucrative earnings: There is the potential for a substantial income due to the high demand for wedding planning services.

Cons of being a wedding planner:

• Long and irregular hours: Planning a wedding is not a 9-5 job. You'll have to be available on weekends to accompany the couple to cake tastings, dress fittings, etc. Once the wedding gets closer, you will likely have to put in a few long nights of decorating and finishing touches.
• Intense competition: It can be difficult to get clients, especially when you're first starting out.
• High-pressure atmosphere: If the bride's dress rips right before she walks down the aisle, for example, it's on you to solve the problem. The couple will be under a lot of stress and will rely on you to handle everything.
• Lots of responsibility: You're not only responsible for your own duties but also for other people doing their jobs well.
• Dealing with difficult clients: You will have to communicate and plan with the couple in a friendly manner, even when you think they're being too controlling. You will also have to keep the couple's families content throughout the process.
• Managing expectations: You will have to juggle the expectations of multiple brides at the same time and keep track of different schedules and timelines.
• Bargain hunters: Many couples will ask for discounts or bargains.
• Seasonality: Most weddings happen in the warmer months, so your workload will be unevenly distributed throughout the year.
• Impossible expectations: You might encounter clients who expect the impossible, such as an underwater wedding.
• Low pay: You might be shocked at how little pay you get for the hard work and long hours you put in.
• Dealing with emotions: You will be the one to wipe the tears, be the shoulder to cry on, and the peacemaker when there are family arguments or a teary maid of honour.
• Work-life balance struggles: Juggling long hours and weekend work can impact your personal time and limit opportunities for rest and relaxation.

What are the different types of wedding planners?

Wedding planners can be lifesavers, saving couples time, money, and stress. But what type of wedding planner do you need?

Full-Service Wedding Planner

The full-service wedding planner is likely what you think of when you hear "wedding planner." They help with everything from creating and sticking to a budget, managing the planning timeline, recommending and hiring vendors, facilitating venue tours, and handling the guest list, invitations, and RSVPs. They will also help with day-of timelines, floor plans, and on-site management. This is the most expensive option, but it can be well worth it to alleviate the pressure of planning a wedding.

Month-Of Wedding Coordinator

A month-of wedding coordinator will step in four to eight weeks before your wedding day. They will review final vendor contracts, finalize day-of needs (last-minute details, payments, and tipping), conduct the final walk-through, sign off on the wedding-day timeline, organize floor plans and guest counts, work with the vendor team, and coordinate the wedding rehearsal and wedding day.

Day-Of Wedding Coordinator

A day-of coordinator handles truly last-minute details and might not step in until the week before your wedding date. Their job is to ensure the choreography of your day is followed and keep things running smoothly and on schedule.

À la Carte Wedding Planner

Also known as a part-time wedding planner, this option offers all of the expertise of a full-time planner, but only for the aspects of your choice. You can customize your package to suit your specific needs and budget. They can provide vendor recommendations and design support and be there for on-site execution.

Destination Wedding Planner

A destination wedding planner is a full-service planner with expertise in planning events at far-flung locations. In addition to the full-service scope of planning, they can help you scout the perfect location, wedding venue, and vendors, as well as support your guests with travel and accommodations, design trip itineraries, and navigate cultural differences, laws, and regulations.

Wedding Specialist

A wedding specialist is typically part of the venue's planning team and focuses mostly on weddings. They will have recommendations for vendors that are familiar with the venue and can also run you through any inclusions or in-house vendors the location might have, like on-site catering.

Bilingual Wedding Planner

Bilingual wedding planners speak two or more languages and can be helpful if you or your family members prefer to communicate in a different language. They come in all types, from full-service to day-of coordinators, and will have the additional benefit of being able to communicate in multiple languages.

Wedding Decorator/Designer

Wedding decorators take care of your floor plan and the overall wedding venue design and aesthetic. They are a great option if you've got the planning and logistics of your wedding under control but want help bringing your creative vision to life.

How much money do wedding planners make?

There are many factors that determine how much money wedding planners make, and salaries can vary widely. Wedding planners can be self-employed or work for an event management company. Self-employed wedding planners can make anything from a few hundred dollars per event to over $100,000 a year, while those working for a company can expect employee benefits such as paid vacation and healthcare plans.

According to Payscale.com, the annual salary for a wedding planner with 1-4 years of experience ranges from $18,873 to $60,133. Wedding planners with five to nine years of experience will usually see a rise in compensation, and those with ten or more years of experience can make upwards of $70,000 to $80,000 per year.

Wedding planners who work part-time can expect to make between $5,000 and $15,000, while full-time planners in rural areas can make $25,000 to $75,000. Full-time wedding planners in major cities can make much more, with salaries ranging from $55,000 to over $150,000.

The number of weddings a wedding planner takes on in a year varies, with some planners handling 15-20 weddings, and others choosing to book only 8-10. Some planners even juggle over 50 weddings annually. The average cost of a wedding planner in the US in 2020 was $1,500, but this can range from $500 to $5,000 or more, and is usually based on a percentage of the total wedding budget.

Other factors that influence a wedding planner's salary include the number of years in business, business knowledge, the area they live in, the reputation of the business, marketing knowledge, the types of services offered, and the number of planners on staff.

What qualifications do I need?

While a degree is not a requirement to become a wedding planner, it can be beneficial to have one, especially if you want to enter the industry with little to no experience. The most common degrees for wedding planners are bachelor's degrees, with 71% of wedding planners holding one. The second most common is an associate's degree, held by 13% of wedding planners. Common fields of study include business, communications, social science, hospitality management, marketing, and psychology.

If you choose to pursue a degree, you can also gain experience by getting involved in societies and clubs at university and being proactive in organising their events.

Alternatively, you can gain experience by completing an apprenticeship in the events sector, or by planning your own wedding or those of friends and family. You can also take a short, online course in wedding planning.

Although not essential, a background in hospitality and event management will help you develop the necessary skillset. You can also gain hands-on experience by interning or volunteering at an event planning agency, or by helping a seasoned wedding planner.

If you plan to be self-employed, it is recommended to seek out courses that include modules on setting up and running a business, as you will be responsible for additional administrative tasks such as managing accounts and promoting your services.

Frequently asked questions