Wedding planning in the US has become a $125 billion a year industry and continues to grow. It offers a challenging and rewarding career, with earnings upwards of $60,000 a year being a possibility. No wonder an increasing number of people are wondering about how to become a wedding planner. Here is a guide to gathering the information you need.



A good place to start might be to consider whether you have the necessary attributes of character to make a successful wedding planner. It is a profession that requires a combination of artistic flair and creativity along with hard headed business acumen. The nitty gritty of book keeping, correspondence etc, has to be dealt with as well as the more imaginative aspects of the job.

You will also need confidence, an outgoing disposition, assertiveness and resilience as well as skills in diplomacy. It is a calling that needs a special combination of talents and abilities to carry off successfully. For a better appreciation of the requirements, there are a few places you can try.

There are many organizations offering training and certification in wedding planning and their websites are well worth a visit. Some of these have some very detailed descriptions of what is covered in their courses. This can be a good source of information on the many and various aspects of wedding planning jobs. If you still feel that this could be a viable career for you, you can investigate further.

The good training establishments offer courses that lead to membership of one of the professional bodies associated with the industry. This is one good reason to consider formal training. Both the colleges and the trade associations keep directories of members. This is a good way to find properly accredited wedding consultants in your area. These would be good people to approach to find out about employment possibilities or even internship or work experience.

You will obviously stand a better chance if you have completed a training program and gained certification. Another thing that could go in your favour is experience of organising charitable events. If you don't have that already, it might be worth finding out if you can get involved in something locally. If you can't find a job with a local wedding planning company, self employment is always an option.

If you do go down that route, whether by choice or necessity, a good training course is essential. Apart from the particular skills that are related to planning a wedding, you will learn the general principles that are applicable to setting up any business. They will also provide tools that you will be able to keep and use in your daily activities. These could prove invaluable in your business.

There are no regulatory requirements and you could just buy a business licence at start up. But in common with all industries that have low entry requirements, there is a high attrition rate. Many people enter the profession who shouldn't have, and they drop out just as easily. Certification and membership of trade associations will not only give you credibility in the marketplace, they will put you on a sound business footing and help you to avoid the pitfalls.

If finding an employed position in wedding consulting is your preference, you will want to know that you are working for someone who is of good standing in the industry. If you want to stay in your wedding planner job for long haul, do your research through the proper channels. You might find out that your potential employer is less qualified than you are.