Wedding planners help couples and their families with wedding planning, hiring, purchasing, and administration. Some consumers will only participate in some process phases, such as arranging caterers and entertainment or helping on the event day. Wedding planners will be in charge of organising almost everything for others.
Responsibilities
Throughout your apprenticeship, you may help:
- meet couples to discuss their requirements and budget
- come up with creative ideas and themes
- advise on wedding customs and etiquette
- prepare proposals and quotations for the work
- agree prices with suppliers like florists, photographers, caterers and venues
- make sure costs stay within budget
- attend the venue on the day of the wedding to make sure everything goes to plan
- research new products, services and suppliers
- market your wedding planning service online.
Salary
- Starting salaries for an apprentice is £17,000 per year.
- Experienced wedding planners can ear up to £29,000 per year.
Working hours
You will typically work 37 to 39 hours per week, including evenings and weekends when customers need assistance.
Working environment
You could work from home or in an office.
Your working environment may be you’ll travel often and emotionally demanding.
Qualifications
Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice wedding planner include:
- Level 3 Events Assistant – Entry requirements for this level include 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship. This qualification will take 18 months to complete.
Skills
On a wedding planner apprenticeship, you’ll learn:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- the ability to work well with others
- customer service skills
- to be flexible and open to change
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- administration skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently.
Employers
Because many wedding planners work for themselves, establishing your own company early in your career is not unusual.
Wedding planning companies exist and often list employment positions on their websites; otherwise, you may send a speculative application. For example, you might start your profession as an assistant wedding coordinator. Search the internet for similar businesses in your area.
It would be best if you worked hard to get some job experience to help you find employment. Offer your services to a local wedding planner or wedding venue to get your foot in the door. Show them what you’re capable of, and you’ll have a permanent position.
Professional development
To get a more junior position, such as assistant wedding planner, you may demonstrate your skill via professional experience and/or event planning for people you know.
You will need wedding-specific knowledge to advance to the wedding planner position. Some companies need two years of wedding planning expertise. For example, you may work as an assistant wedding planner for two years before moving on.
Career prospects
You could set up your own wedding planning consultancy or events management company.