Are you the one that likes celebrating occasions?
Are you the one that likes being the person who is contacted to plan these occasions?
Are you the one that puts in all the effort to make it special for someone’s big day?
Are you the one who is in awe when looking at beautiful decorations?
Are you the one that likes coordinating with multiple people and being the one executing the action plans?
If yes, then wedding planning might be one of the careers that you might be inclined towards. In this article, you will learn about how you can become a wedding planner, what is the educational path to be pursued, the skills required, the job preparation required, and much more.
Who is a Wedding Planner?
A wedding planner is an expert individual who specializes in consulting, researching, arranging, planning, designing, and implementing everything that the couple wants for their wedding in their desired budget. Wedding planners are usually hired because the couple wants their day to be perfect and well-organized.
Know about: How to become an Image Consultant
How to become a Wedding Planner?
Step 1: Stream to Choose
Job as a wedding planner is not specific subject bound and therefore your subject choice post 10th grade will not impact your future. You can choose any of the streams- Arts, Science or Commerce. Go for subjects that you like and enjoy reading about.
Step 2: Certification Courses and Project Courses
Enrolling in a few online courses will allow you to see if a career in Wedding Planning is the correct choice for you. With the help of such courses, you may more rapidly determine your preferences.
Course | Institute Offering | Mode | Duration |
Wedding Planning course certified by the Association of Bridal Consultants | The NewYork Institute of Art and Design | Online | 18 months |
Certified Wedding & Event Planner | Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute | Online | 8-12 Weeks |
Wedding Planner MBA | Udemy | Online | 7.5 hours |
The Wedding Planning and Management course | The Wedding School | Hybrid | 35 sessions on weekends for 6 months |
Certificate in Wedding Planning, an Advance certificate in Wedding Planning Styling and Business | Wedding Academy | Online | Approximately 12 Weeks |
Wedding Planning Course | Shubh Arambh | Online | 3 Months |
Step 3: Educational Qualifications
How to become a wedding planner after 12th?
A) Undergraduate/ Diploma Courses in India to become a Wedding Planner:
During your college, here are some of the undergraduate courses that you can pursue which will help in opening paths to becoming a wedding planner
Undergraduate Course | Duration |
BBA | 3 Years |
B.A. Event Management | 3 Years |
Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication | 3 Years |
PATH 1:
BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) is the most commonly chosen undergraduate degree that helps in opening up paths to becoming a wedding planner. The different specializations that one can choose from include:
- BBA in Event management
- BBA in hospitality and tourism management
PATH 2:
B.A. (Event Management) is a degree that will equip you to plan any type of event- be it weddings, fashion shows, or any corporate events.
PATH 3:
Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication makes students efficient in written and verbal communication- which is the core of managing any event. Additionally, the course also equips students with advertising, social media, and media research.
You can also opt for a diploma in wedding planning or event management. These courses will provide you with an upper hand and are a great way to begin your career if you don’t want to invest so much time.
Course Name | Institute offering | Duration |
Diploma in Wedding Planning | The Wedding Academy | 6 Months |
Diploma in Wedding Planning | EMDI Institute of Media and Communication | 6 Months |
Diploma in Event Management | NIEM (Delhi) | 11 Months |
Diploma in Event Management | EMDI Institute of Media and Communication | 11 Months |
Diploma in Event Management and PR | NAEMD | 1 Year |
B) Top Colleges/ Institute In India:
- National Institute of Event Management (NIEM), Mumbai
- National Academy of Event Management and Development (NAEMD), Mumbai/ Delhi
- Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
- Jain Deemed-to-be University, Bangalore
- NIEM- The National Institute of Event Management, Pune
- MIT World Peace University, Pune
- Sage University, Indore
- GEMS B School, Mysore
- National Institute of Event Management, Patna
- National Institute of Event Management, Lucknow
A) Undergraduate/ Diploma Courses abroad to become a Wedding Planner:
Just like in India, the way to wedding planning abroad is through an event management degree. Some of the courses that you can check out include:
Undergraduate Degree | Estimated Duration |
BSc (Hons) Leisure and Event Management | 4 Years |
B.A. (Hons) Event Management | 3 Years |
BSc (Hons) Global Events Management | 3 Years |
BSc in Recreation, Event and Sports Management | 120 credit hours |
Bachelor of Arts – Event Management | 3 Years |
Bachelor of Business- Event Management | 3 Years |
The name of these courses and their duration may differ depending on the country you apply to. However, there are various diploma courses – in event management as well as specific to wedding planning that you might want to check out:
Diploma/ Certificate courses | Institute offering the course | Duration |
Diploma in Event Management | Melbourne Polytechnic, Australia | 12 Months |
Diploma in Event Management | Fanshawe College, Canada | 1 Year |
Wedding Planner Diploma | International Career Institute, USA | 24 Weeks |
Luxury Wedding Planner | London School of Trends (Online) | 4 Weeks |
Wedding Planning Diploma | HTL International School of Hospitality, Tourism, and Languages | 6 Months |
B) Top Colleges Abroad:
- Ulster University, UK
- Iowa State University, USA
- University of Derby, UK
- Victoria University, Australia
- Coventry University, UK
- Aukland University of Technology, New Zealand
- University of North Texas, USA
- Deakin University, Australia
- University of West London, UK
Step 4: Job Preparation required to become a Wedding Planner
Usually, a Master’s (like an MBA) is a good addition to your portfolio. However, before you opt for a master’s, it is better to gain some industry experience. But how do you prepare to get these experiences? Here are some tips:
- Get Internships:
Check the websites of several wedding planning businesses to see if any internship positions are available. Apply for a banquet or event planning internship at a large hotel if you can’t locate one to gain some relevant experience.
- Volunteer:
If you can’t get any paid internship, try volunteering at these institutions. And even if you can’t get these volunteering opportunities, try planning some events for your friends or family. These experiences will also equip you with valuable skills.
- Start reading Wedding Magazines:
Reading wedding magazines, blogs or websites is a great way to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry. You can also use this knowledge to leverage your chances at interviews as recruiters are always looking for people who stand out.
Learn more: Career as an Event Manager
Skills required to become a Wedding Planner:
- Communication
- Detail orientedness
- Flexibility
- Networking
- Creativity
- Organization
- Coordination
- Negotiation
- Budgeting
- Be the calm in the Chaos
You can also open your own wedding planning business which will require a lot of Entrepreneurial skills. But are you wondering where you can get a hang of these skills? Don’t worry, we have your back. You can pursue Clever Harvey’s course on Entrepreneurship and get to know the basics of how to run a business strategically in just 15 days.
Salary of a Wedding Planner
Salary of a Wedding Planner in India
The base salary of a Wedding Planner is around 20,165- 33,333 INR per month. However, As you move ahead in your career it will keep increasing, depending on the type of employment and the years of experience you come with.
The geographical location also determines the salary level. In India, the following are the highest paying cities:
- Mumbai: 55, 725 INR/Month
- Jaipur, Rajasthan: 38, 676 INR/Month
- New Delhi, Delhi: 33, 234 INR/ Month
- Bengaluru, Karnataka: 19,010 INR/Month
- Gurgaon, Haryana: 18,885 INR/ Month
Salary of a Wedding Planner Abroad:
Salary Abroad also differs depending on the company and the geographical location. However, an overview of the salary abroad is given below:
Country | USA | UK | Ireland | Australia | Italy | Spain | Thailand |
Entry-level Salary/ year | $43953 | £20,500 | € 37 400 | $59781 | 28.995 € | 27.511 € | ฿335,296 |
Top Recruiters in India
- Swarovski
- Savya Weddings
- Seventy Event Media Group
- The wedding Curator
- Memorable Indian Weddings
- Diwas Weddings
- Sketchnots
- DreamKraftz
- Magic Lights
Top Recruiters Abroad
- Farmington Country Club
- Chapel of the Flowers
- Roche Harbor Resort
- La Belle Vie
- Encore Events Rentals
- Kyle Michelle Weddings
- Wedding Wire
- Hilton
Here are some other cool resources that will help you in making your choice. Don’t worry, these are not some books. These are TV shows or movies that you can binge-watch and also get a feel of the profession:
- TV Show: Made in Heaven
Where: Amazon Prime
What to expect: With different projects they take, they understand different types of clients
- MOVIE: Band Baja Barat
Where: Amazon Prime
What to expect: How a wedding planning business is set up and the challenges you might face.
If you are keen on starting your own enterprise and want hands-on exposure, check out the Clever Harvey JuniorMBA- Entrepreneurship course.
I hope this information was helpful for you to make a choice regarding your interest in becoming a wedding planner.
FAQs about how to become a wedding planner
Is being a wedding planner a good career in India?
Any type of wedding can benefit greatly from having a wedding planner. Wedding planners are very creative. So, if you believe you are similarly creative and want to pursue a different job, becoming a wedding planner is a fantastic option. It’s not always necessary to choose those 9-5 jobs.
How much do wedding planners in India earn per wedding?
Wedding planners earn an estimate of about 10-12% of the entire budget of the wedding on the basis of the services provided, the role and responsibilities assigned, the size of the gathering, etc.
What exactly does a wedding planner do?
Wedding planners, also referred to as bridal or wedding consultants are in charge of helping clients plan full weddings or certain wedding events. They negotiate vendor contracts, coordinate wedding day activities, and consult with customers about wedding logistics.
Do you need any particular qualifications to become a wedding planner?
You can complete your bachelors in any stream. As long as you have experience in the wedding industry and a record of organizing weddings successfully, your qualification doesn’t matter that much.
What is the scope of a wedding planner?
The wedding industry is one such field that will never die. Especially in India, a lot of people want to have big fancy weddings. A big and fancy wedding without a planner is quite difficult to execute. Therefore, people hire a wedding planner to make all essential preparations, such as booking wedding venues, providing lodging for guests, decorating the venue, choosing music and entertainment, ordering invitations, ordering apparel for the bride and groom, catering, and other related chores.
How can I become a wedding planner after the 12th in India?
You can get either a bachelor’s degree in event planning. A BBA in event management works great. Some other Certificate/Diploma courses that you can take include:
–Certificate in Wedding Planning.
–Diploma in Wedding Planning.
–B.A. (Hons.) (Event Management)
What would be the drawback of being a wedding planner?
The working hours of a wedding planner are erratic and lengthy. Wedding planning is definitely not a 9-5 job. You’ll need to be available on Saturdays to go to the bride’s dress fittings, cake tastings, and other events.