Become a Wedding Planner

The schooling you need to become a bridal consultant covers many fields, e.g. Hospitality, Event Planning, Decorating & Diplomacy to name a few. Other abilities that can come in handy are Bookkeeping, Marketing & Negotiating. These are not the only things required of a consultant. It will also help that you like weddings. You do not need credentials in order to operate as a consultant, but I strongly recommend them as the better brides will be looking for the credentials you have. Many of you will be self-employed, which means you will need to do your own marketing to find your customers. Most of the bridal industry spends 10% of their income in marketing, to start you may need to expend 12-15%. The reason for this high percentage is that the brides are less then 1% of the population.

You will find one of the more effective methods of marketing will be exhibiting in bridal shows, we can assist you in finding those shows.

The second most effective way is to join networking groups. As a suggestion, do more then join, get involved with the associations.

One thing you might start putting together is a directory of ALL (well the most popular ones at least) of the wedding facilities in your area. Include photos of before & after a facility is decorated for a wedding. Fee ranges and any requirements should be filed there as well as their preferred vendor lists. Anything else including your recommendations when you do a wedding at the facility. When meeting brides you will be in a better position to assist them (and get their bookings) with this knowledge.

WARNING

Bridal consultants are the target of scammers. They rely on your inexperience and hope you will be so excited by their offer you will not confirm everything you need to confirm. Details are Here For Scam Details

What Afwpi can do for you if you are a consultant is to offer exposure for you in our "Consultants" section. We are looking for consultants everywhere in the world to assist the brides that need the help. To view the section for the US, go to Consultants USA to reach the other countries visit our "bride" page at Brides, and look about halfway down the page. You do not need to be a member to be listed here! Members, aside from the logo next to your name in this section you will receive many other benefits, to see what those are go to Benefits

Some of our members have books that will be of Great Value to you in your business.

Wedding Directing and Coordinating - A training Manual with Challenging Stories and Scenarios - How to Be a Professional Wedding Director With Competence, With Style, with Elan by Elaine M. Parker,Ed .M., . CWC. CE ISBN - 978-0-9816172-1-3 275 PAGES.

Directing Weddings At Hotel - A training Manual for Staff - How to be an On-Premises Wedding Director with Competence, with Style, With Elan by Elaine M. Parker, ED.M., CWC, CE with Sue Davies- Rephan ISBN -0-9764940-7-8 275 PAGES.

AFWPI members (With member valid date) may order DIRECTLY from the author and receive a 20% discount. Method of payment may be using Paypal, Certified, or Business Checks.

To find the consultant organizations that offer credentials please go to our member's section (the link is below) and click on the Associations Heading. You will find a few members there that offer the training. Or click on our sponsor Weddings Beautiful, they have been training wedding planners since 1968.

We do ask a favor, please JOIN our newsletter for consultants before moving on to the other associations. Without your information, we will not be able to update you on the mixers, seminars & conferences that you need to know about.