Wedding planner

Wedding planners help couples organise their wedding.

Also known as: Wedding co-ordinator

• Starter salary£21,000 a year
• Experienced£34,000 a year
• Typical hours37 to 39 a week

What you'll do

As a wedding planner, you could:

• meet couples to discuss their requirements and budget
• come up with creative ideas and themes
• advise on wedding customs and etiquette
• 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

Working environment

You could work from home or in an office.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• 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

How to become a wedding planner

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• volunteering
• applying directly
• specialist courses run by private training organisations

College

You can take qualifications in a related area that will teach you some of the skills you'll need for this job.

Courses include:

• event planning
• hospitality
• event management

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements for this route but it may help you to get in if you have:

• GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an Event Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Work

You could start as an administrator or assistant for an events management company and work your way up, or work at a wedding venue as an in-house wedding co-ordinator.

Volunteering

You could get some work experience with a wedding planner, or organise events like fun days, charity balls or fashion shows for local organisations.

Do It has information on voluntary opportunities in your area.

Direct application

You can apply directly if you've got experience and skills from organising your own wedding, or the weddings of family and friends. Experience from other jobs would also be useful, including:

• event management
• hospitality and catering
• project management
• marketing
• public relations

Other routes

You may find it useful to take a short course in wedding planning. These are offered by several private training organisations and can be found online.

Career path and progression

You could set up your own wedding planning consultancy or events management company.

Career tips

Many wedding planners have their own social media pages or website to showcase their work, personality and style.

Guides for this industry

• Administration: pay, interviews and getting started →

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• Job roleExecutive assistant
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