Module 9 : Wedding
Planning Introduction
make money
as it seems
By the end of this chapter,
you will know:
as it seems
9.1 : Introduction
For many
prospective events planners, being able to plan weddings
is the ultimate
goal.
Weddings, by their very nature, are joyous occasions.
As small and intimate affairs, they tend not to involve the hassles associated
with purchasing tickets and ongoing marketing. However,
that doesn't mean that a wedding planner's
role is always easy.
9.2 : What do Wedding Planners
Do?
Wedding planners take on several roles.
They're personal assistants for the happy couple, accountants specializing in wedding
finances, and people with great creative visions.
When a client comes to you as a wedding
planner, they want to know that you can take their ideas and turn them into a reality. They also want you to manage their budget,
make sure that everything goes right on the day, and help you finalise
the details of the wedding
once the big day is over.
As a planner, you can expect to work on engagements of all sizes. Location weddings
are becoming increasingly more popular. This means wedding planners now find themselves planning an event on the couple's behalf,
when the couple doesn't live in their locality but would like to get married in it.
Above all, one of your biggest priorities as a wedding planner is to negotiate.
People all over the world have a funny relationship with haggling. Many accept all prices and refuse to argue for something better. The couples who come to you are likely to be the same, but will expect you to get better prices for them nonetheless.
9.3 : Why do People Hire Wedding Planners?
Happy couples
have many different
reasons for hiring
wedding planners.
Today, many people are too busy to plan their perfect wedding.
They still want to take a key role in directing the process, but don't have the time to steer the grittier
details for themselves.
Some people may just love the idea of having a wedding,
but don't relish the thought of planning
it at all. While many couples love wedding planning,
others simply want the big day. When that's the case, you still need to take their artistic vision and make the magic happen. And at the same time, you still have to ask them to confirm all the final financial details.
Finally, some people hire wedding planners
because they need someone to manage their budget.
Weddings are more often than not a once in a lifetime
event, so people spend a lot of money on them. Some couples may spend far less, while others spend far more. As a wedding planner,
you have the right connections and negotiation skills to help couples get more for their money.
9.4 : How do Wedding Planners
Make Money?
Wedding planners tend to charge commission, which is around 10 – 15% of the couple's
budget.
How much commission you charge is going to depend on the budget itself. In other words, those that have a larger budget are usually
charged less commission.
In some instances,
you may find that you end up putting in a serious amount of hours for a return that seems somewhat frustrating.
Learning how to manage your clients' expectations so that you don't spend hours slaving away on their behalf for a chunk of commission that barely seems worth it is essential. At the same time, you need to do enough work for them to justify hiring you in the first place.
9.5 : Is Being a Wedding
Planner Glamorous?
Plenty of people will have seen films like 'The Wedding Planner',
causing them to believe that this is a glamorous
career they'd love to get stuck into.
While there are glamorous and fun elements,
at times you're going to find yourself feeling stressed.
Your also likely to find yourself doing tasks you'd never imagine
doing. Some wedding
planners have even reported having to spray paint bushes green so that they're
vibrant enough for photos.
Fortunately, Photoshop now exists, so your chances
of having to do that are pretty limited.
As with any career, wedding planning comes with its trials and tribulations. You'll love spending
time with the happy couple on the day and the glitzier
elements of planning
parties. But then there are logistics, arranging
things like cutlery
and portable toilets,
and taking calls
from stressed couples in the middle of the night just as the wedding is around the corner.
Ultimately, the fun balances out the stress,
but you have to be prepared to take everything the wedding planning
world is going to throw at you.
Module Summary
Becoming a wedding planner is an exciting
prospect for many who become involved in events management.
In this module, you had an introduction
to the world of wedding planning. You learned about what a wedding planner does, as well as why
people hire wedding planners. In addition, you learned about how wedding planners
make money, and whether becoming
a wedding planner is glamorous
or not.
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