Weddings are a big expense, with the average wedding costing around $20,000. A wedding planner usually gets about 20% of this price. So as you can see, this is a very good paying business to get into. But do you have what it takes to be a good wedding planner?

To be a good wedding planner you must be highly organized and have an eye for detail. You must learn to be tactful and to be a liason between family members who may have trouble agreeing on certain areas of the wedding. You must be a people person to be a good wedding planner, because that is what it is all about. It is your goal to please everyone that is involved in the special day.

You must decide on the services that you will offer and have your attorney draw up contracts for each one. The different types of services that a wedding planner can offer are:

Complete wedding planning services.

This is the complete package. You coordinate the whole wedding after a consultation with the bride and groom. This includes choosing the theme, preparing the budget, making the guest list, and even providing the information needed to obtain a marriage license. The complete wedding planning service provides a stress free day for the bride and groom.

Partial wedding planning service.

This is where the couple plans their own wedding but need assistance in finding the best vendors for services. You will have an initial consultation with the bride and groom. After finding out what kind of wedding they are planning, you supply them with a list of suitable vendors to fit their needs. This list will include caterers, photographers, printers etc.

Rehearsal and wedding day services only.

Some couples want to plan the whole wedding but want help when it comes to the rehearsal and actual wedding day. You will coordinate the rehearsal and dinner. You will confirm with the vendors that everything is in place for the wedding day and oversee the wedding ceremony to make sure everything flows smoothly.

A lot of wedding planners will offer all three services, while some prefer to do just the complete planning package.

There are various wedding planning courses that you can take to obtain a certificate in wedding planning. It is a good idea to take one of these courses and get your certificate before you set up shop. Most people will be very hesitant to pay you good money unless you can produce some type of training or prior experience in wedding planning services.

Becoming a wedding planner is a glamorous and exciting job for the right person. Do your research, get certified, and start your wedding planning business.