where do I begin to eventually get into the wedding business?

Question

I have decided that I want to be a wedding planner/coordinator. But I don't really know where to begin. My goal is to own a business in wedding planning, and also have a venue attached to my offices for weddings or other elegant parties. My question is: where do I start?

I know I need a portfolio, but I don't really know how to place my foot in the right direction. I don't have any experience except for personal. So any tips? or advice? I will take anything! Even just advice on starting a business :) Thanks

Answer 1

You want to start with the Association of Bridal Consultants in New Milford, CT. There is an extensive training program. ABC is one of the prestigious "planning" organizations in the US. Not only do they have a training program but they also have local, state, and national seminars/meetings on a scheduled basis. The last thing a Bride and Groom (or the Bride's Mother) wants to hear is that you "planned" your cousin's wedding last year and people are still talking about it. Brides and Grooms want experienced planners who have details and photographs of previous events AND fantastic ideas. Start with www.bridalassn.com

Answer 2

the first place to start is in taking an online course which will make you a certified wedding planner. most of those are about 1000 dollars or so. the best ones will offer you an apprenticeship with a planning business so you can get some hands on experience because wedding planning is more involved than just picking out gowns and venues, flowers and food.



you much have knowledge of legal matters such as contracts, environment issues, local marriage laws as well as knowing how to find marriage law information in other countries and how to find help for people needing immigrant or fiance visas.



you also need some expertise on various traditions of various people groups and religions as well as knowlegde of how to use your computer to find out everything from what various colors mean to how to do a jump the broom ceremony or celtic handfasting.



an ability to offer people family counseling and a total understanding of proper wedding etiquette is also needed as you will have many situations that come up and your brides will turn to you for answers.



knowledge of insurance matters and liabilities are also required as many venues require their brides to have insurance of their own. so the courses which include these things are the best ones.



once you have completed the courses you can either get some experience by working for someone in the wedding business or start out on your own. you will need to have money to spend to advertise in local wedding guide magazines and your local yellow pages, have a website, and spend many hours networking with other vendors so that you become known. it is time consuming and expensive and you should not expect to make a profit the first couple of years. you only make about 10% of the overall wedding costs so the average is about 1500 to 2500 per wedding for what takes the greater part of a year to plan and takes tons of hours. if you become properly connected with other vendors, you may be able to work a recipricol agreement where they give you a percentage for anyone you recommend to them, which helps to boost income.



it's a great business but expect to really have to work hard. once you get a wedding, you are the first to arrive and the very last to leave every reception so the hours are long and tiring.

Answer 3

This parable is not in isolation. First read the closing of chapter 22: 42 Jesus said to them: “Did YOU never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone that the builders rejected is the one that has become the chief cornerstone. From Jehovah this has come to be, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 This is why I say to YOU, The kingdom of God will be taken from YOU and be given to a nation producing its fruits. 44 Also, the person falling upon this stone will be shattered. As for anyone upon whom it falls, it will pulverize him.” 45 Now when the chief priests and the Pharisees had heard his illustrations, they took note that he was speaking about them. 46 But, although they were seeking to seize him, they feared the crowds, because these held him to be a prophet. So, this chapter continues with the wedding. Jesus was showing that God had prepared the wedding of his son and that the Jews who had the first invitation, rejected their king's offer. And even in the end, some would take action to kill the ones sent to invite them. Considering that this was 3 days before Christ was murdered, and that for the next 3 years or so, the Jewish Christians continue inviting only fellow Jews to share in the wedding party and they responded by killing the Christians, (Stephen being the first), God started to invite those out side, ones passing by, the gentiles, when he sent Peter to Cornelius. Later in 70 C.E. the Romans carried out the execution of the Jews that rejected the wedding invitation. And as to the one that came to the party but was not wearing the special wedding garment, provided by the king, showed that he had rejected that special garment. He was a bad guest, unworthy of being part of the wedding. Since the ones invited would become part of the "Bride of Christ", then the bad guest would be those that falsely claim to be in a special relationship to Christ. They don't wear the garments, which according to Paul, would be the "new personality" based on the instructions of Christ.

Answer 4

If you are serious about starting your own business, I really recommend going to business school or taking some business classes at a local college. You can have all of the creativity and design talent in the world and not be successful if you don't know how to run a business, write a contract, handle a budget, market yourself, etc.