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How to become a wedding planner?

Share your journey & guide aspiring Wedding Planners on their path!

Note: Given the growing interest in the wedding planning field, we're inviting our experienced professionals to share their knowledge.

career-advice event-planning wedding-planner events weddingcoordinator bridal
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Rob’s Answer

Degrees and certifications related to Event Planning and Hospitality are widely available. My wife, who is an active player in this industry, frequently collaborates with numerous Wedding Planners. During the bustling "wedding season," they often recruit extra help to ensure smooth operations. My advice to you is to reach out to the top venues in your vicinity, inquire about the planners they associate with, and then contact these planners. Ask them if they require help for the season, or if they could suggest a suitable path for you. Make it clear that your aim is to work under an experienced planner, and that their name was recommended by the venue.

Consider volunteering at places like schools, churches, retirement communities, or residential facilities where event organization is a regular activity. Be it bars and restaurants, retirement homes and hospitals, or businesses and hotels, event planning has become an integral component of their business and marketing plans. As a brewpub owner, I've seen the impact of event planning firsthand. Through hosting monthly events and other special occasions, we've established our reputation as a preferred venue for parties and social gatherings. We've hosted a variety of events, from retirement parties and birthdays to wedding receptions, tasting events, pairing dinners, and meet-up groups. Event planning is a thriving industry, offering ample opportunities for those who wish to freelance or become part of a team.

Best of luck to you!
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Doc’s Answer

There’s no specific path to become a wedding planner and no formal education is required. While a college degree isn’t required, majors like business, communications, public relations, hospitality management, marketing and event planning provide a helpful foundation. In addition certifications aren’t required either, but they can help you look more appealing to potential clients and provide useful information on how to become a wedding planner.

Organizations like the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners, the Wedding Academy and Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute all offer courses for certified wedding planners. These courses typically last two to three months. Upon completion, you’ll receive a certificate, a letter of recommendation and a professional designation. It’s also smart to join a professional wedding planner organization, like the Association of Bridal Consultants or the Association for Wedding Professionals International. Networking is essential if you want to become a wedding planner. Professional organizations are a great way to meet vendors that you can enlist for upcoming events while fostering relationships with other wedding planners in your area.

Research what it takes to become a wedding planner. Learn about training and education requirements, certification options and job duties to find out if this is the career for you.

Doc recommends the following next steps:

A good start might be securing an unpaid internship within a wedding coordination company or wedding venue. This will allow you to start from the bottom up in terms of gaining valuable experience while executing assorted tasks. Before you can plan and run your own weddings, it would be a valuable experience for you to have examined and assisted with ten or more weddings. During this time, you will witness how the wedding planner liaises with service providers, manages the timeline, overcomes any last-minute challenges and most importantly, exceeds the client’s expectations.
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