becoming a wedding planner, the finale
It’s the finale for talking about becoming a wedding planner. We talked about it here and here and here.
I know if you are dead set on this career path, I cannot scare you by telling you how much hard work it is. Glamorous moments are slim and the reality is that you are on your feet for 12-14 hours AND working weekends (more importantly Saturday evenings without your S.O. or hubby). You need a very understanding family. And you need to be willing to miss out on a lot of fun personal events.
Nope, I won’t touch upon those things because they are not pleasant to talk about.
What I WILL say that this is one of the most challenging and rewarding careers I’ve ever done (and I have a background in various sales and marketing areas). It’s new everyday and I have the ability to make an impact in someone’s family; helping to create positive memories that will last a life time. It’s so special and I (and my other coordinators) take this to heart. And that is what drives us every single weekend (even when our feet hurt terribly).
If you have that love, drive, passion and the business sense for this industry - then don’t let anyone squash your dreams. Just please be savvy about it.
I wish I could hire more of you that contact me, but it’s simply impossible. Good luck to all of you that wish to continue down this path; I wish you many opportunities for success! And sanity!
Plan on! - saundra
October 2nd, 2007 at
great post and great series! and it’s true - studying psychology paid off - I use it every day - just not in the way I thought I would.
October 2nd, 2007 at
Thank you so much for your posts about becoming a wedding planner. As a wedding photographer I’ve been thinking about doing a similar series! I can’t tell you the number of people who have told me they want to do wedding photography but they have no concept of the investments required ($50k and every weekend).
October 2nd, 2007 at
amen sister…. thank you from the vendors that have and will continue to deal with the “psuedo” wedding planners. we work in these facilities every weekend and know what we are doing and work will work, it is so hard to swallow sometimes that a bride will trust a “friend coordinating” instead of our professional advice. Professional experienced planners however are a god send! To all of those aspiring to be a planner… my advice is work as a catering waitress at some events, bartend at theses events, volunteer at a church to help coordinate. These “dream jobs” are just that… A JOB! When you have to clean up beer at 3am off of a reception hall floor…and deal with the drunks wanting rides home in your work trucks…. THEN you will understand.
November 21st, 2007 at
Just happened on this blog and this series. Wish I had seen it when it was new! As a planner in Philadelphia, I have to tell you how hard it is to sustain myself and keep the brides coming. I read, every day on The Knot boards, about a bride who is now a “wedding planner” and all the other brides are recommending her. The things you say are so true. This is a tough business and one that requires experience, maturity and oh, so much patience!!! I wouldn’t trade what I do for anything, but it is not glamorous! It is hard work and can be very stressful. Hope this series made some young, aspiring planners stop and think and I hope it helps those of us who have put in our time, paid our dues to get the recognition we deserve. I will enjoy reading your blog regularly.
January 12th, 2008 at
i have learned so much and now i kow what to do. thanks