Colours, textures, lighting, fabrics, and furniture—what more does an interior designer need? London Design Week 2024 is the ultimate celebration of all things home. Bursting with opportunities for networking, inspiration, and discovery, the five-day event will offer an inside look into global interior design trends and practices in 2024.
From March 11-15, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour will host a plethora of panels with interior design industry leaders, workshops with world-renowned designers, and showrooms featuring luxurious collections. The all-encompassing design event with over 100 unique programmes caters to designers and creative minds alike in search of a source of inspiration.
In such a competitive and demanding sphere, designers are always expected to be at the top of their game. London Design Week will present attendees with the invaluable tools and resources needed to grow their interior design businesses in 2024. For interior designers, London Design Week offers...
“Find out what sparks connection and gain valuable advice on creating spaces that feel right."
Speakers: Flora Soames and Kathryn Ireland
“A discussion of practical tips from across the industry to be more sustainable.”
Speakers: Jules Haines (founder of Haines Collection) is joined by experts from Kirkby Design, Hagen Hinderdael, Soho Lighting and Edward Bulmer Paint
“What is it that really sets you apart and how do you communicate it in a way that feels authentic?
Speakers: Suzy Hoodless, Adam Bra, and Mimi Shodeinde
“Discover her secrets to creating boutique hotel vibes from the comfort of home that focus on a warm, welcoming ambience.”
Educator: Susie Atkinson, Atkinson Studio
“A fast track to the latest design directions for spring/summer 24, from the tropical to the whimsical, and the styling secrets that brought them together.”
Educators: Arabella McNie, creative director and Rebecca Gleeson, head of public relations, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour
“Whether you are creating a calm space or a vibrant interior, discover the impact of colour, not only on the space itself but also those who occupy it.”
Educator: Marianne Cotterill, Esther Patterson, and Stefan Ormenisan
“Enjoy muffins and mimosas as you browse the refreshed showroom filled with new style sure to inspire.”
“Join Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour’s concierge and discover the most talked-about product debuts at London Design Week 2024 with a tour into the showrooms.”
"Sanderson and Giles Deacon invite you to view and experience their sublime collection of fabrics and wall coverings"
Can't get enough? View the full London Design Week 2024 programme.
In the world of interior design, delivery delays are pretty commonplace. However, that doesn't make them easy to deal with—even for the most experienced interior designers.
There is an abundance of reasons why a supplier may not deliver on time: global supply chain issues, material shortages, shipping delays, etc. As an interior designer, dealing with supplier issues and delays in a professional manner is essential.
If not handled correctly, delayed delivery of furniture or materials can have a domino effect, leading to missed deadlines, frustrated clients, and potential project derailment.
But don't panic! There are many ways to resolve supplier issues in order to ensure client satisfaction and the healthy function of your interior design business. In this article we explore...
Don't let unforeseen delays throw your project timeline off course. Let's get right into it...
The interior design supply chain is made up of many interconnected components: materials, labour, logistics, etc. Even the smallest of breakdowns at any stage can delay the entire process. At some point in your interior design career, a curtain fabric will be unavailable, or a key piece of furniture will go awry—it's inevitable and simply out of your control.
Delays can be frustrating, but try not to let your emotions get the better of you. There is nobody to blame for supply chain breakdowns, and keeping a cool, professional head will serve you best in the long run.
Common causes of supplier delays:
Supply chain breakdowns in the interior design world are here to stay. So, what should you do? The first step—for your own sanity—is acceptance. The second is preparation—the more you anticipate potential delays, the easier it is to work around the issue and bounce back.
Here are five tried-and-tested ways to handle a supplier delay as an interior designer...
Allowing leeway in your contracts is a sensible move all around, but particularly useful when it comes to unexpected delays. Adjustable contracts provide room for modifications under certain conditions, or in this case, supplier delays.
For example, an adjustable contract would specify the expectations in terms of timeline and payment, if you, the designer, encounter unforeseen delays beyond your control. The contract will also outline how you'll let your clients know about any delays and agree on new deadlines or ways to keep the project moving smoothly. Having everything in writing at the beginning of the project ensures that your client relationship won't break down even if the supply chain does.
Even with an adjustable contract, there will be clients who will question any sudden delays. Stay prepared for such talks by compiling order confirmations and any correspondence from your supplier about the issue. This will serve as proof that you've done your part in the process.
Transparency is key to maintaining trust and confidence with clients. So make sure to provide regular updates on the status of orders and communicate openly about the steps being taken to address any issues that arise.
Prepare a backup plan to mitigate the impact of supplier delays. Your backup plan could be sourcing a similar piece from another supplier, creating an alternative yourself by means of up-cycling, or even running with a new design idea altogether.
Whatever your plan B, be sure to present the idea to your clients confidently and in good time—they need to remain informed and in charge of the process.
Why not have a plan C and D too, you can never be too prepared !
Delays are significantly more common with international shipping, so if you can shop local then it's better to do so. Ordering materials from abroad might be cheaper, however local suppliers offer shorter lead times and more reliable delivery schedules.
Sourcing locally is also a more environmentally responsible option.
The more interior design professionals and vendors you know, the more people you can contact in case of a need for a last-minute order.
When sourcing, make a note of suppliers who housed similar products so you'll know who to contact as the need arises.
As an interior designer, it's important to know how to effectively handle supplier delays to avoid conflict between you, your suppliers, and your clients. Supply chain breakdowns can be caused by various issues such as power outages, labour shortages, border restrictions, freight issues, natural disasters, health threats, and cyber attacks.
A quick list of ways to handle delayed deliveries as an interior designer:
As a wedding planner, you've likely dreamed of being named a preferred planner at your favourite wedding venue. What if we told you that dream could soon become a reality?
We are often swayed by the opinions of an expert—Spotify's top picks or a chef's recommendation at a fancy restaurant, for example—and the same applies to newly-engaged couples looking for their wedding planner. If a couple's chosen venue recommends your wedding planning business, the couple will instantly understand your planning services to be professional and compatible to their tastes.
How do you become a venue's preferred planner? Start by learning:
Begin your journey to becoming a preferred wedding planner today...
A preferred planner is a trusted wedding planner recommended by the venue. Most wedding venues have preferred planners, along with preferred vendors to supply things like flowers and catering.
A spot on a renowned venue's preferred planner list is the Michelin Star of the wedding world. As a preferred planner, you have a fast-track pass to booking more couples. Not just any couples either, but couples whose taste and style align with your own.
Access to your ideal clients is not the only benefit of being a venue's recommended planner—security, saving time, and stress-free marketing are all part of the appeal. Here are a few of the benefits of becoming a venue's recommended planner:
In much the same way that you are particular about which wedding suppliers you work with, venues are highly selective when it comes to preferred planners—after all, your performance as a planner reflects on the venue itself.
As well as an alignment in style and values, wedding venues look for the following qualities in their preferred partners:
Reality check: becoming a preferred planner is not easy. But that doesn't mean it is impossible.
Once you have chosen a venue that you want to work with, get serious about researching them—thoroughly. Learn about the venue's style, their facilities, and the types of weddings that they host.
Then, seek to understand their preferred vendor selection process and any specific requirements they may have. Knowing all this information will help you tailor your approach and stand out as a perfect fit for the venue.
In addition, browse through the venue's existing recommended vendor list and see if you have any connections. If you do, reach out to ask them about the process and perhaps for a recommendation, or introduction to relevant staff at the venue.
The next step is to actually book a wedding at the venue—that is if you haven't already. This gives you firsthand experience of their space and how to man the ropes throughout. Additionally, this allows you to think about whether or not the venue is a good match for you.
During your visits, build a positive relationship with the venue staff and ask questions. Ask about their experiences, their goals, and what they look for in a wedding planner or vendor—this way, you will express your genuine intention of wanting to learn.
Even if you're feeling nervous, try to present an air of confidence—venue's want to work with planner who make themselves, and their clients feel at ease. A positive personal relationship is the basis of a strong venue-planner relationship.
Now that you're familiar with their preferences, it's time to show them what you can do! After a few bookings or visits, express your thoughts about wanting to become their preferred wedding planner in the near future. If possible, present your proposal in person to show your commitment.
This is not the time to be modest. Venues want to work with the best wedding planners in the business, so be sure to tell them why you are! Before making your move, compile your best work into a stunning wedding portfolio, and support your claims with glowing client reviews.
Give the venue ample time to consider your proposal and never force them into a decision. Be patient as the venue evaluates your suitability as a preferred planner. Keep in touch regularly, update them on your latest projects and achievements, and continue to demonstrate your professionalism and value. Over time, your persistence and dedication will surely pay off!
Wedding venue's recommend planners that they hold in high regard to couples that book their space for their wedding—these are known as preferred planners.
As a preferred wedding planner, you can connect with ideal clients (without as much marketing), enjoy exclusive perks, and strengthen your reputation in the industry.
To become a venue's preferred planner, you need to earn their trust. Start by getting to know the venue's style, history, and requirements for becoming a preferred vendors. Next, invest time in building relationships and rapport with the venue and it's staff. Then, make your move. Be upfront about your desire to become a preferred planner and prove why you're the perfect fit.
Best of luck!
A double-page spread in House Beautiful—that's the dream right!?
Landing a feature in a celebrated interior design publication has long been seen as the hallmark of a successful interior design career—and is still an amazing achievement. However it is not the only form of press that is beneficial to your growing interior design business.
In fact, there are several reasons why other types of interior design publications are a better place to focus your PR attentions, depending on your career stage, ideal clientele, and long-term goals.
In this article, we cover:
Excited to secure your first interior design feature? There's no time to waste...
In the words of Alex Abramian, founder of The PR Collaborative, "Print is not the objective, getting published is the objective." No interior designer should turn up their nose at any form of press, no matter what career stage they're at.
If you want to succeed as an interior designer, you'll need a a diverse portfolio with all the different flavours of press available to interior design businesses—national, local, digital, quick comments, full-length features, etc—all of which hold a unique value for interior designers.
Broadly speaking, your interior design project can either be published digitally, or in print. Print publications can be national or local. Here's what they all mean...
When it comes to speed and reach, digital publications take centre stage. Unlike interior design magazines which can take up to two years to publish, online publications are refreshed daily—meaning you can get your work out there in a matter of weeks. Naturally, digital articles are far more accessible than print and so have a much larger readership—meaning your work can be seen by even more admirers and prospective clients.
Online publications also support more engaging and creative formats to showcase your designs such as video—a virtual home tour can really show off your work in a way that a printed image can't. Also, they're paperless—something to think about when it comes to your interior design business's commitment to sustainability.
The lifespan of a digital feature is also much longer, so more people have a chance to see and share your work in the future. That is, if they manage to find it in the overcrowded realm of digital content. To make the most of a digital feature, you need to create designs that really stand out!
The classic print interior design magazines are the traditional aspiration of many interior designers—and we get why. Having work printed in high-res on the glossy pages of an industry-renowned magazine is not only an amazing feeling, but also an amazing opportunity for exposure.
There are two types of print magazine national and local:
National publications have prestigious reputations and large audiences—including potential clients. A feature is sure to expose you to a wide audience seeking inspiration from design professionals just like you. Being published nationally can also lead to exciting opportunities like brand collaborations, speaking engagements, and even exclusive international design events.
In many cases, the real value is closer to home. Local publications target your immediate community—the place where your future clients live. By getting featured locally, you can establish yourself as a trusted expert amongst those who are most likely to hire you—your neighbours. This focused approach allows you to build relationships and grow your business right in your own backyard.
One down side to print publicity: print takes a long time to publish. If you're an early stage design looking to get your name out there fast, the delayed publication of print press could be an issue. Not to mention print features are highly competitive for interior designers. That being said, print features should always be on an interior designer's bucket list!
There are three things to consider when choosing the type of publication to pitch to: your career stage, your ideal clientele, and your short and long-term goals.
Based on your answers to the above, one type of press might be more suitable at this stage of your interior design career. However, usually a combination of all three is the best marketing strategy for your interior design business. they are incredibly important in your PR Portfolio. Firstly because you want to have a diverse portfolio of PR—national, local, digital, features—all the different flavours of PR.
We've outlined the unique benefits of local and national features for interior designers alongside practical tips for getting published in each type of interior design publications to help you get started...
Don't underestimate local publications—local is where your future clients live.
Local press opportunities include the city magazine, neighbourhood newspapers, and neighbourhood blogs. Local publications allow you to connect with prospective clients in your area and also raise your profile to local vendors.
Press features in local publications help to build brand awareness in your local community. Picture this: A local resident wants to redesign their kitchen. They sit down at the counter with their morning coffee and the local paper and open it to find a feature of your interior design business. Who do you think they're going to call to inquire about a kitchen redesign?
Remember: national publications might impress, but local publications attract.
National publications, such as Architectural Digest and Lonny, seek luxurious, innovative, and trend-setting interior designs from around the world.
This means you'll be competing with hundreds of skilled interior designers for a spot. Thus, building a strong local presence first can enhance your chances of being noticed by larger publications.
It's much like jumping into a 10-foot-deep pool when you've just learned how to swim!
Getting your interior design project published in trade publications is a huge marketing win, showcasing your skills and boosting your business exposure. Whilst national publications like Architectural Digest seem like the ultimate goal, it's important to explore other types of publications that can be more beneficial to you and your business.
A strategic and targeted approach is important to successfully land a spot in your dream interior design publication. Tap into local publications to build brand awareness and connect with potential clients in your community. Use national publications to build a name for yourself in the interior design industry and wow prospective clients.
Before pitching to an interior design publication, conduct thorough research. When writing your pitch be targeted to the specific publication and editor, and always focus on your USP.
Happy pitching!
You might have reached a stage in your wedding planning career where you are wondering how else you can scale your wedding planning business. One strategy to grow your wedding planning business: diversification. In other words, expanding your services to offer an array of wedding planning packages and add-ons.
Today's couples are seeking an increasingly personalised service from their wedding planner, that can cater to all their needs as a new couple. They may be interested in arranging engagements, vow renewals, and anniversary celebrations. Diversifying your wedding packages lets you accommodate these evolving preferences and opens up new revenue streams, particularly during traditionally slow periods.
To enable you to successfully diversify your wedding planning business, we'll discuss...
There is no better time than now to take the next step in growing your wedding business. Let's begin!
Diversifying as a wedding planner means expanding the range of services and products that your wedding planning business provides.
Wedding planners who have expanded their offerings from the traditional "full service" vs. "day of coordination" packages have enjoyed access to a new market of clients and thus healthy returns.
One success story is Alexis Alcala, founder of Jaded Events. Alexis affirms, "Diversifying our offerings has been instrumental in our growth." Offering a range of packages can enrich your wedding planning business by appealing to a broader clientele, increasing revenue streams, and enhancing your brand reputation. Clients appreciate the value of niche services which leads to greater client satisfaction and a stronger business foundation.
One of the most notable benefits of diversifying your wedding packages is that it attracts a new wave of clients. With packages at varied price points and inclusions, you attract not just those seeking full-blown assistance, but also budget-conscious couples or those looking for specific services only. Think decor rentals or RSVP management. In addition, it also ensures year-round income since elopements, vow renewals, pop-up weddings, and anniversary celebration packages can fill in for the slow months. Moreover, offering add-on services can add value to your packages since couples can personalise their chosen package.
On another note, over-expanding your wedding planning packages can lead to a quality nosedive, confused clients, operational chaos, and financial stress. Don't pressure yourself into being a jack-of-all-trades—it's not worth it. Instead, focus on your strengths, target niches that you are passionate about, and consider collaborating with other professionals. Remember, it's not about offering everything but offering the right things to grow sustainably and keep clients happy.
One of the many strengths of a wedding planner is that they never run out of ideas. On top of wedding planning services, Alexis highlights the potential of offering bachelorette party planning to diversify business offerings. "Kansas City has always had staple things to do and places to see," she starts, "so bachelorette parties just fit organically as an offering for us." Alexis and her team also partnered with businesses to develop a Street Car Bar Crawl. This allows clients to enjoy their nights without the after-party worries like driving home or calling for cabs.
Alexis's keen eye for detail also recognised a need for cost-effective and flexible decor options, so she began offering event space and decor rental. "I started with a few things from my own wedding" she begins, and gradually, she started adding in a few neutral items that she found popular with brides. It was a huge hit. Apart from the low price point, a lot of brides loved the idea of using decorative items without the commitment of having to bring them back home.
In the world of luxury weddings, Deborah Kugler, owner of OFFICIALE, has mastered the art of PR by offering to assist her clients in getting published in magazines. And of course—you can do it too! With a wide network of one-call-away media professionals, you can craft press releases and connect couples with suitable publications. Not only does this elevate your clients' experience, but also ensures that publishers receive a steady stream of fresh, captivating content.
But that's not all. Another strategy that doesn't stray too far from the wedding planning niche, is wedding proposal planning. By venturing into proposal planning, you're investing in a strategic expansion that builds loyalty, opens doors to new clients, and allows you to be a part of their love story from the very first "Yes!". Not to mention, there are over 1,300 engaged couples in the UK as of 2023. This means that there is a large pool of potential clients eager to invest in a memorable "Will you marry me?" moment that could convert into future wedding clients!
Pop-up weddings are also gaining a lot of traction from modern-day couples. Pop-up weddings are unique ceremonies that ditch the traditional format for intimate gatherings, often involving just the couple and their dearest loved ones. Rather than being about "taking the easy route," it's about prioritizing what truly matters. Pop-up weddings are ideal for couples who value personalization, spontaneity, and an authentic connection over extravagant formalities.
Now, what if you don't have enough time for additional services? According to Candice Coppola, there is a way to diversify your wedding packages without increasing your workload—remove some services and turn them into a la carte! A la carte services are services that are offered as a standalone. Clients can book these services by themselves, or add them to an existing package to customise their experience.
These a la carte services don't have to come from scratch. Instead, you can evaluate your current packages, identify the least popular service and offer it individually. This way, you can cut down your package prices and successfully diversify your wedding services.
Examples of a la carte services:
Diversifying your wedding planning packages can significantly benefit your business, from attracting new clients with personalised options to securing year-round income. But remember, quality matters more than quantity. Don't pressure yourself into being a jack-of-all-trades to prevent over-expansion and burnout.
There are a lot of different ways to diversify your business, including bachelorette party planning, decor rental, securing magazine features, proposal planning, and offering a la carte services.
Like many wedding planners, you probably dream of seeing their work as a two-page spread in a leading wedding industry publication. Not only will your wedding look amazing on the glossy pages of a magazine, but having your wedding published is a beautiful way to celebrate your hard work, bolster your reputation as a professional in the wedding industry, and draw potential clients to your wedding planning business.
Aside from industry magazines, digital wedding publications and wedding blogs are also great places to get your work published and advertise your wedding business to a whole new world of couples. However, getting published as a wedding planner is no walk in the park. You'll need to craft the perfect pitch to editors that not only highlights the beauty of your design work, but the story behind the wedding design too.
Don't let this deter you. A lot of wedding planners think twice about pursuing publication of their work for fear of wasting time and effort. But we're here to convince you that you can get published. Start by learning...
Your debut in a wedding publication is just one e-mail away...
Newly engaged couples flock to wedding magazines and blogs for inspiration—your work is sure to catch their eye. Getting your wedding published is a stamp of approval that validates your creativity, your expertise, and your professionalism to prospective clients.
Four benefits of getting a wedding published as a wedding planner:
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be a renowned wedding planner to land a spot in your favourite wedding publication. Play your cards right, and even your first wedding could get published by a reputable wedding industry media outlet.
Before you submit a wedding for publication, you first need to conduct thorough research. Research wedding-related publications—both print and digital—and compile a list of platforms you'd like to target that align with your style and dream clientele. It is a good idea to pick an array of publications to target from small scale online blogs, to wedding industry heavy-weight print magazines such as Vogue Weddings.
From here, you should identify the key contact at each publication—the person who handles submissions or editorial content. Look for editors, content managers, and submission coordinators. Try to familiarise yourself thoroughly with the type of features each publication covers, and what content the editors tend to prefer.
Once you know where and who to contact, it is time to craft your pitch. This is not a matter of one-size-fits-all. Each pitch must be tailored to the publication's audience and editorial style.
Pitching to professional platforms might seem intimidating. But it is accessible to wedding planners at all stages of their careers. All you have to do is say, "I DO".
Don't just say it, show it! Your wedding design was made to be eye-catching and emotive, so let it do its job.
Attach high-quality photos, or short video clips if appropriate, to every email pitch you send.
Select an array of shots which showcase the details of your, from stunning close-up portraits to wide-shots of the ceremony and decor. It is also wise to send an assortment of portrait and landscape imagery—publishers love options!
Lastly, if you're photographs were taken by a professional wedding photographer, then be sure to credit the photographer in your correspondence with editors from the outset—this exposure benefits them too!
Remember: attention to detail matters. Be intentional with the photos you send in your original pitch—five is enough. But those five should all be of the utmost quality and serve to tell a cohesive story.
Editors crave details! So when pitching your ideas or expertise, don't shy away from diving into detail. Share your values, what sets you apart from others, the specific topics you plan to cover, and any relevant insights or trends you can offer. Be as detailed as possible—publishers love adding the small details that make a story unique!
Don't forget to list every single vendor you worked with on the wedding from florists to wedding assistants. Some publications, like Brides, like to include this list in the feature for the readers to view. Plus, this shows appreciation for all the people who contributed to the success of the event.
Highlight your unique selling points, such as your creative style, your expertise, or any recent trends or insights you can offer. Include high-quality images or examples of your work to showcase your talent and grab the editor's attention.
Include testimonials from satisfied clients or industry peers to further validate your skills and professionalism. These personal anecdotes and endorsements help humanise your pitch and make it more attractive for editors who are looking for content that resonates with their readers.
Suggested article: https://www.visualistapp.com/blog/how-to-collect-great-client-testimonials-wedding-planners
Publications usually respond after one or two weeks, sometimes more. If you don't hear back after your initial pitch after then, don't be afraid to follow up politely. A brief, friendly follow-up email or message can serve as a gentle reminder and demonstrate your continued interest in collaborating with the publication.
Wedding publication is a stamp of approval that validates your expertise and establishes you as a go-to expert in the field. It can enhance credibility and authority, increase visibility, boost SEO, and ultimately drive increased business.
Despite common misconceptions, even inexperienced wedding planners can get featured. To succeed, you have to do your research, nail your pitch, and send a follow-up as needed. Don't forget the I DO secret formula to writing the perfect wedding planning pitch: incorporate captivating visuals, dive into detail, and offer narratives and testimonials.
Recently, Visualist has attended a flurry of wedding industry events, including Wedding MBA 2023 and the latest instalment of the Wedding Summit Series. From these experiences, we've witnessed firsthand the resolute commitment of this generation of wedding planners to growing their businesses. They're not just passionate about weddings; they're passionate about building enduring businesses and generational wealth.
One thing we recognised: those at the top of the wedding industry know that education is fundamental to success.
Wedding planners seek education in courses, workshops, and mentorship programmes in order to develop their skills and remain clued up on the ever evolving wedding landscape. Continuing education translates to smoother weddings, happier couples, and ultimately, a competitive edge in the market.
If you too are ready to build your wedding planning empire, read on. What you'll learn:
True professionals never stop learning. The wedding industry is continually evolving, and wedding planners must too seek continual learning and growth.
True professionals never stop learning. Especially in a fast evolving industry such as wedding planning. There is a huge bank of educational resources available to wedding pros, with lessons in covering topics from bettering the client conversion process to setting yourself up for legal + financial security. Why is it important that wedding planners make time for continuing education?
There is a huge bank of educational resources available to wedding pros covering topics from bettering the client conversion process to setting yourself up for legal and financial security. The question is—what exactly do you get from taking further wedding planner education?
Four benefits of continuing education for wedding planners:
Grow your wedding planning business with the best courses, workshops, and educators in the wedding industry
Type: Live workshop
Cherie Yang and Margaux Fraise discuss Visualist——an AI-powered software for wedding pros—ahead of The Wedding Summit Series.
The Wedding Summit Series a bi-annual online gathering of the wedding industry's top educators, hosted by by Margaux Fraise. Expect a stellar line up of educational presentations, live panels, and interactive workshops.
Each summit is centred around a specific topic impacting the life and work of wedding industry professionals. So, instead of feeling overwhelmed by a ton of different information, you'll leave the event feeling focused and equipped for growth.
Type: Mentorship
No fluff or generic advice here; just powerful, 90-minute-long coaching sessions with Megan Gilkin of The Planner's Vault. Whether you're struggling to convert inquiries, feeling overwhelmed with delegation, or looking to make your business more profitable, these clarity calls are all about helping you make smart decisions.
You'll receive a detailed pre-call questionnaire to ensure each session is designed to tackle your specific challenges head-on. A post-call summary is also provided so that you can refer back to all the insights whenever you need them.
Type: Digital course
It's time to change the narrative that you have to choose between passion and profit. The Planners Who Profit Accelerator Programme offers next level training for experienced event planners—"helping event planners build profitable, six figure businesses with a part time schedule."
Planners Who Profit is committed to empowering wedding professionals to attract high-end clients, nail those sales pitches, and optimise their businesses for maximum profitability
Additional resources from Planners Who Profit:
Type: Digital course
If you're looking to level up your wedding business and rake in more bookings, then the Book More Brides' Growth Academy is for you. In 90 days, you'll learn exactly how to communicate your value to clients and receive ongoing support from industry professionals as a long-term member of the Growth Academy community.
Type: Mentorship
The Union Mastermind Mentorship is all about giving you the real, no-BS advice you need to succeed in the world of wedding planning. Jamie Wolfer provides pre-recorded lessons with live monthly calls, so you get the information you need in a way that's easy to understand and implement. The cherry on top: once you've completed the programme, you'll receive exclusive referrals from Jamie herself.
Type: Digital course
If you're tired of hustling non-stop to fill your calendar with wedding bookings, then you have to hear about The Bridal Show Blueprint—a three-step method guaranteed to help wedding professionals score leads right on the spot at bridal shows.
From learning what to say to connect with couples without sounding "salesy" to creating a stunning booth design, The Bridal Show Blueprint has got you covered.
Today's wedding professionals are driven by ambition and passion, and there are plenty of educational resources available to aid wedding planners in their quest to build successful and robust wedding planning businesses.
Continuing education in wedding planning is crucial for staying ahead. Joining wedding planning courses and workshops helps planners enhance skills, boost confidence, increase profits, and expand professional networks.
A quick list of the top wedding planning courses and educators in 2024:
Pro bono wedding planning services are deeds driven by passion and compassion. Aware of the fact that a wedding is a luxury not everyone can afford, a wedding planning business organise charitable weddings to extend their services to those in need. This could include planning, coordination, or consulting services.
Unlike regular, paid weddings, however, a pro bono wedding will cost you not just time and effort but also money out of your pocket. Most charity weddings are completely free. So you need to compromise to keep your financial health steady while working for good causes on the side. But don't worry, it only gets easier and the rewards are remarkable!
In this article, you'll learn:
Ready to take your first charity wedding gig? Let's get the ball rolling...
Pro bono is derived from the Latin phrase pro bono publico, which translates to "for the public good". If a wedding business offers a pro bono wedding service, they will be planning a wedding for free for chosen beneficiaries. A planner may choose to offer pro bono wedding planning services for a variety of reasons, usually pro bono wedding services are offered to couples who have undergone hardship or are struggling financially.
When wedding planners work pro bono, they have the opportunity to change a couple's lives for the better. To successfully manage pro bono weddings, a wedding planner must be...
Pro bono work is extremely rewarding, even without the financial compensation. Working pro bono, or for charitable causes, is a way for wedding planners to give back and make a difference in the lives of others.
Sarah Klingman, CEO of Gather, intermittently donates her time to pro bono weddings and also donates a portion of her company's proceeds to Best Buddies—a non-profit organisation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For Sarah, the decision to do so was simple. "Pro bono work has been integral to our model from the very beginning. These are not just causes; they are commitments to making a meaningful impact. The decision to offer services pro bono was driven by a desire to contribute positively to these areas."
Wedding planners are natural givers and always want to go above and beyond for clients. But, at what personal cost? It is important to ensure that working pro bono is a viable move for your wedding planning business. Before you start taking on pro bono wedding work, assess your business' capacity and clarify boundaries for yourself to avoid putting your finances at high risk.
Three questions to ask yourself before offering your wedding services for free...
Whilst pro bono work can be fulfilling, it should not come at the expense of your personal goals for growth. The work you do for free should enrich your portfolio and be an enjoyable experience for you both professionally and personally. Planning a wedding pro bono should be an opportunity to connect with a new roster of wedding suppliers, a new photographer, and even a new venue. The content captured can be posted across your social media channels and your website in order to attract new couples and opportunities.
Without a clear agreement in place, pro bono projects may be susceptible to scope creep—where clients expect more services than initially agreed upon. Setting boundaries protects your time, energy, and resources when you work for free. You have to communicate the scope of work, establish limitations, and make agreements in writing. Most importantly, you need to know when to say, "No".
Offering pro bono services puts strain on valuable resources, such as time, finances, and manpower. Sarah explains, "Balancing pro bono work while ensuring financial stability is simply said, challenging. Success requires stringent financial planning and prioritising projects that ensure financial health."
The charitable weddings you take on must not compromise the profitability and financial health of your wedding business. It is also important that you don't spread yourself too thin and risk creative burnout.
To avoid financial losses, Sarah plans strategically ahead and looks for support from fellow wedding professionals. "We actively seek partnerships and grants that align with our cause-driven work. These collaborations not only provide financial support but also amplify the impact of our work."
You may not earn money from charity weddings, but there are plenty of unexpected rewards to reap from doing a good deed.
Sourcing wedding suppliers to work for free might seem like a daunting task, but it is only difficult at the beginning. After a few charity weddings, you'll find yourself attracting vendors and professionals who share your values and views. This opens up opportunities for building your ideal vendor network and working on larger-scale projects.
Pro bono weddings are a gold mine for stunning photos and stories that you can use for digital marketing. Additionally, charity events like this always garner attention from publications since they're always hungry for heartwarming stories. If you're lucky, you might just get featured on bridal magazines or wedding blogs!
Pro bono weddings add a meaningful touch to your portfolio. Other wedding planners could have a long list of grand weddings, however a pro bono wedding done out of pure generosity is rare. This speaks volumes of who you are as a person and how passionate you are about not just your career, but the community as well.
Having an advocacy attracts a new wave of clients who value good deeds above everything else. When clients learn about your commitment to giving underprivileged couples a chance to get wed, clients will flock to you for their wedding planning needs in silent allegiance to your goal. It's a similar idea to how committing to sustainable practices as a wedding planner attracts eco-conscious clients.
Pro bono wedding planning is a compassionate gesture where you offer your expertise and services for free to underprivileged couples. Working pro bono comes with its set of challenges, from managing finances to setting boundaries. However, the rewards are just as remarkable, as they allow you to expand your professional network and clientele and explore exciting PR opportunities.
When you start working for charitable causes, you're working to redefine success. Pro bono projects offer something that paid weddings cannot, and that is the sense of achievement and pride in giving back to the community. As Sarah says, "Success is not just measured in profit, but in the difference we make in people’s lives and in the causes we believe in."
The key to success in not-for-profit wedding planning, according to Sarah is, "creating a sustainable model where passion and pragmatism coexist."
Wedding planning is a whirlwind of deadlines, last-minute changes, and administrative tasks all at once. While you may thrive in the industry, there comes a point when you start wondering: is it time to hire a wedding planning assistant?
Assistant wedding planners are in charge of repetitive, time-consuming tasks that you just don't have time for anymore. It differs from one planner to the other. It could jump from replying to emails to keeping the bridezilla meltdowns at bay. Managing an assistant wedding planner can have its challenges, but with the right approach, they can easily be one of the best investments for your wedding planning business.
In this article, you will learn:
Should you hire an assistant wedding planner? Let's find out.
A wedding planning assistant can play a crucial role in helping you deliver a high-class service for your wedding couples.
You, the planner, can delegate small, but time consuming, tasks to your assistants to free up your time to focus on high-level tasks such as conceptualising the design and co-ordinating with your vendors. You can hire two types of wedding assistants: day-of assistants and lead assistants.
The day-of wedding assistant works on the day of the wedding only. They swoop in to set up decorations, troubleshoot hiccups, and guarantee everything runs like clockwork. A day-of assistant is suitable for wedding planners who prefer to work on the preparations by themselves and just need someone to help them execute the plan flawlessly on the day.
Day-of assistant wedding planner responsibilities:
On the other hand, a lead assistant works with you throughout the wedding planning process. They're by your side from concept to completion: researching vendors, managing budgets, attending venue tours, and so on. Lead assistants are best if you're working on several weddings at once and struggle with keeping up with each.
Lead assistant wedding planner responsibilities:
Hiring the right wedding planning assistant can take your wedding business from good to great. Your planning assistant should be someone who understands your vision and your style to ensure you are providing a consistent service to your couples.
Not sure where to start looking? Explore the following avenues when looking for a wedding planning assistant:
Your time is precious. Hiring a wedding planning assistant allows you to share your workload
and claim back your time.
There are many benefits to hiring an assistant, here are a few:
If you're used to working independently, it can be difficult to integrate an assistant into your wedding planning process.
You may be unsure of what responsibilities to delegate, or worry that your assistant will not be able to execute in the way you hope for, ultimately adding to your workload. But here's the thing: you never know unless you try. Most successful wedding planners rely on a trusted team of assistants to help them offer their exceptional service.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to good communication, trust, and oversight. Ready to delegate? Here's some ideas of what a wedding planning assistant can do:
While assistants are there to alleviate your workload, you cannot simply dump your responsibilities on to them. A successful planner-assistant relationship requires an investment of your time, and consistent careful planing.
The five golden rules of managing a wedding planning assistant:
If you're overwhelmed with tasks, want to grow your business, or seek a better work-life balance, then now is the time to hire an assistant planner.
Hiring an assistant is an investment in your business's future. So once you decide to hire, you need to clearly define the assistant's role, communicate openly, and provide proper training. Don't forget the five golden rules when managing a wedding planning assistant—plan ahead, give ample resources, lead by example, communicate well, and be kind.
On the seventh floor of Bergdorf Goodman, Cherie, Visualist's founder, listens intently to Deborah Kugler, founder and lead designer of intimate luxury destination wedding service OFFICIALÉ. Cherie sips a mocktail. Deborah, hungry after a full day of meetings, orders the afternoon tea.
OFFICIALÉ is both new and novel, having launched at just the end of 2023 with a refreshing perspective on what a wedding can and should be. In fact, speaking with Cherie is one of the first times Deborah has verbalised the "scribbled notes" and "simmering thoughts" on her new venture.
The pair talk of their experiences as female founders, recent adventures in Vegas, distilling art into data, and the future of the wedding industry. Before the teapot is empty, Cherie has already arranged for me to call Deborah from across the Atlantic.
A month later, via video call, Deborah, or Deb as she introduces herself, greets me like an old friend and we launch into an exploration of her journey into design, the origins of her systematic creativity, and the thought process that led to her debut into the luxury wedding industry.
Deb might be new to the wedding industry, but she is certainly not new to life as an entrepreneur. We start our chat with the memory of Deb's earliest creative hustle... in fourth grade! Deb created her earliest compositions on an IBM PC, brought home by her father. The PC was pre-plugged with Print Shop Deluxe and Deb soon realised that creating compositions was simply a matter of selecting and arranging compatible elements: font, image, border. Deb's artwork found a fanbase in her fellow classmates and soon enough she was trading her art for their lunch money. Deb's masterpieces could be produced, and reproduced, following a simple sum: font + image + format = work of art. This is a theory which she still applies to her work as a designer: "I love analysing the data behind something artistic and making sure that something scientific is imaginative."
Deb has always possessed an affinity for maths and sciences but selected her college studies based on what she wanted to do, not what she was told she should, and subsequently studied communication art. Her parents would have preferred something more traditional—namely medicine, law, or business. But Deb talked them round, quelling their anxiety with the idea that she could go into broadcast media. But Deb instead chose the path less-explored—I am beginning to spot a pattern here—and pursued visual communication.
Before graduation, Deb's college professor advised her that she would befit New York. So, in the year 2000, she packed her bags and made the 8,000 mile move to NYC to study her masters at Pratt Institute. Before graduation, Deb had landed a job with a manufacturing company as a product designer and was soon promoted to head of design. From there, she took a graphic design job in a marketing firm but made no secret of her intent to progress into a directorial role within the company. Three months in, Deb won the company an eight-million-dollar contract. The role was hers. Today, Deb works as the regional design director for PepsiCo in North America. Deb refers to her journey as an "atypical trajectory." She explains, "You often hear luminaries in the design industry that have a stellar projection from start to finish, as though the carpet had been rolled out for them. But for me the road was clunky and jagged, sometimes it had missing parts, and I had to really throw myself into the next leg of things in order to make it here."
Deb's job, in essence, is to make things beautiful. Though she did not become a lawyer or a doctor, her parents came to understand that her work takes much more than an eye for the aesthetic—that it is in fact founded in "a robust systemic thought process" that Deb has spent years shaping and refining.
Deb appreciates beauty, but she is not satisfied with the superficial. She wants to dissect and inspect, to figure out the mechanics, and apply that learning elsewhere. Complexity does not intimidate Deb—it excites her.
To an untrained eye, the wedding industry may appear uncomplicated. A wedding is the simple sum of all its parts: wedding = guest list + venue + music + decor + florals + dress... But Deb is, of course, not satisfied by this simple equation. "I feel like the wedding industry is ripe for redesigning itself", she explains. Deb is throwing caution to the wind with her own complex equation—and it takes both experience and an eye for the nuance to redefine the variables and constants, and along with them the operators and functions.
And yet, in her mathematical approach, Deb always accounts for a necessary constant: emotion. After conducting extensive research on the wedding industry, Deb concluded that "emotion" was underutilised in the brand positioning of wedding planners. The duty of a designer, Deb explains, is to translate emotion into something tangible. To make a complex emotion comprehensible. Conveyance of emotion is so central to her offering as a wedding planner that Deb named her brand after the thinking, "Casa Officialé delle Emozioné"—translated in English to "The Official House of Emotion".
In mathematics, a convolution is an operation on two functions that produces a third function. A wedding is the transformation of two individuals into a couple ready to begin a future together. In such a convolution, Deb is aware of the array of emotions that need to be brought to the forefront. "Each couple has a very unique love story to tell. My challenge is to be able to make that come forward—not to bring about some other fantasy that has nothing to do with what they love." A beautiful sentiment, but a difficult one to execute. I ask Deb how exactly she digests this information and translates it into a design, a mood, an experience. Deb's eyes light up at this question. It hits the spot—that rare intersection between her analytical mindset and her creative spirit. For Deb, the process is perhaps even more captivating than the finished product.
Each couple, Deb explains, contains a huge sum of data. Her job is to:
1. Extract the information.
2. Analyse the findings.
3. Transform the raw data into something beautiful.
Deb begins by ascertaining the primary information: when, where, how many guests are invited. She then layers on secondary information: taste, style, personality. Deb wants to get to know her clients as individuals, and as a couple. Her questions are extensive: "Where do you shop for homeware? What is your favourite way to spend time together? What do you like doing when you're alone? What kind of music do you listen to? Do you prefer to travel locally or globally?" Deb's background in UX design trained her to never design by assumption and so, her wedding planning process always goes back to its roots—the client. It's important that her client remains informed and in control. Deborah leans in, "My process, in essence, is to bring my clients in as collaborators."
Deb encourages her clients to pick an anomalous reference point for their wedding. This becomes a motif that can be explored and abstracted to produce the unique look and feel for their big day—the "wedding personality" as Deb calls it. If a couple were choose the House of Chanel as their inspiration, Deb would begin her research at last season's runway—not the bridal collection but the ready-to-wear, she distinguishes—inspecting the concept, the materials, the repeated design devices. Deb deduces that Chanel corresponds to a lot of tweed, sparkles—"but only in the right places, carefully curated"—and pearls. Deb's innovative mind would then set about applying these familiar trademarks in an unfamiliar setting—wedding design.
For her own destination wedding on the banks of Lake Como, Deb was inspired by the concept of a Baroque artwork. The inspiration manifested first in the materials she chose for her decor: the colour palette, the mixing of metals, and the use of worn things versus the new. Her invitation was finished in an antique gold and opened up like a gate, echoing the entrance to the villa in which guests would be staying. Invitees had to peel through different layers of the invitation and hidden inside was a miniature colour palette, a subtle hint to what guests could expect from the day—the smallest details always hold the highest impact. As for the table setting, Deb leaned into the Baroque ideology with Roman busts and fresh fruit. She used nuts as an alternative way to add texture to the table because, Deb asserts, "you should bring in natural wonders. I don't think that table decor starts and ends just with florals."
Why does an invitation have to just be a card? Why do centrepieces have to be florals? Deb's willingness to experiment with the unconventional—tweed for example—is precisely what sets her apart. The wedding industry is ready for an injection of the irregular and the innovative, and Deb is seeing that it gets it.
Deb promises to provide her clients with an inimitable celebration of their one-of-a-kind love. It is this promise of the bespoke that makes OFFICIALÉ deserving of its luxury label—a label that has become liberally applied. Deb agrees, "The term 'luxury' has been heavily overused, especially in my industry." At a recent convention for wedding planners, Deb sought out the agreed definition of luxury amongst the wedding industry. The answers she found varied: "Luxury is abundance, volume, excess." Deb could see sense in the definition, but worried this thinking was irresponsible. "Luxury is creating a fantasy." This did not sit right with Deborah either—should luxury not feel undoubtedly real? Unsatisfied with her findings, Deb analysed her own perception of luxury and landed on two definitions...
1. Luxury is the effortlessness that comes from mastering a craft.
"A luxury brands creates a product or a collection that is so refined one cannot see the amount of work that went into it. You would love to own it simply because it's a work of art. You don't see a stitch of imperfection because of the abundance of time and love devoted to it. I love the idea of effortlessness derived from mastery. I would love for my couples to experience this level of service. An effortless look is actually an effort full look, right?"
2. Luxury is the priceless quality of giving and receiving the world's most intentional work.
"Luxury and value are almost synonymous. You always think that to have a luxurious experience, you have to spend so much money. But there is a difference between money and value. Something that is valuable to one person might not be valuable to another. Instead of placing a value on my work which might not resonate with somebody else, I want to be priceless. There is the luxury of giving in my role. I want to give the luxury of my most intentional work."
Deb's definitions of luxury speak to her unwavering devotion to her craft and to her clients. Her weddings are not fleeting dates in the diary but are instead opportunities to share in a memorable, meaningful celebration. Deb relishes the time spent with her clients in the planning process but worries that too often precious time in the lead-up to the big day is shunned because the planner, and as a result the couple, are too focused on the singular moment at the top of the aisle. "I noticed that planners seem to focus on just that one day—not even a full 24 hours. The fact that, in a year of planning, you're only focused on 24 hours feels wasteful."
Deb rejects the narrative of the wedding day as the apogee. Her role is not to co-ordinate a singular day of celebration but rather escort her clients on a journey throughout their wedding year that benefits their physical and emotional wellness. This journey is designed to strengthen their bond as a couple and their circle of treasured friends and family. "A wedding is a celebration of a couple's love. But it's also a love story between them and the family and friends that have supported them." As such, Deb dedicates time within the planning process to gather loved ones together to simply talk about what is to come. "Preparing for a wedding is a chapter where people are bringing a couple from one point into the next and I would love to be there as the guide, the mentor, the coach, and the best friend." Deb concludes, "A wedding is an opportunity to strengthen relationships between each other, with your own self, and with those closest to you. I hope that my couples will come away from the celebration transformed not just by the 24 hours in which they get to be the bride and groom, but by a full year of appreciating the value of taking care of themselves and connecting with their people. The wedding is not a final destination, but a journey of preparation for a new life together."
It is this understanding of all that a wedding is, and all that it can be, that has become the defining piece of Deb's equation. In an industry rooted in tradition, Deborah has entered as a new variable.
Let's get one thing straight: weddings can be grand, stylish, and exceptionally fun, whilst also being kind to the Earth.
Sustainable weddings are not a fleeting trend, they are a movement towards a greener future. Wedding planners have a responsibility to support the movement by encouraging clients to make sustainable choices and by evaluating the eco-friendly updates they can make to their own planning process.
A sustainable wedding business equals happy clients and a healthier planet—so what are you waiting for? We have gathered leading sustainability advocates in the wedding industry to give us an insight as to the environmental impact of the wedding industry and how planners can contribute to a more sustainable future for the wedding sector.
What you'll learn:
A greener future for your wedding business awaits...
According to the Green Bride Guide, each wedding produces approximately 400-600 pounds of trash and emits around 60 tons of CO2. This is equivalent to the weight of a grand piano and the annual emissions of approximately ten regular cars—in other words, its a lot. And all for just one event. Now, take into consideration the millions of weddings that happen annually and you'll understand that if every wedding planner were to turn a blind eye to their environmental responsibility, the results would be devastating.
Sarah Klingman is the CEO of Gather—an award-winning wedding planning concierge team based in the US. According to Sarah, "The prevalence of waste in the events industry is massive." Sarah estimates that each wedding guest generates up to one pound of waste, with some of the biggest contributors to waste being single-use plastics used in decorations and catering. Sarah also duly notes the large carbon footprint being produced by transport to and from wedding venues, along with the huge amount of energy needed to power the big day. Sarah points out that in order to tackle these deep-rooted issues in the industry, the onus must be placed on the industry at large not the individual, "Addressing these issues is not just a matter of corporate responsibility but also of industry-wide sustainability."
These statistics might paint a pretty grim picture, but the continually growing awareness amongst wedding professionals of the need for more sustainable practices is something to celebrate. And so too is the attitude of the consumers. Sarah notes, "In recent years, there has certainly been a noticeable shift in client preferences towards more sustainable ceremonies and practices. Clients are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their events and are seeking options that align with their values." Weddings are no longer solely for show, couples want celebrations that reflect their beliefs. This growing demand is a clarion call for wedding planners to adapt their services to reinforce their commitment to sustainability and cater to the evolving demands of their clientele.
The wedding industry needs to be more sustainable, on that we can all agree. But what exactly is a sustainable wedding business? The buzzword of the moment might change (green, sustainable, eco-friendly, etc.) but for JoAnn Moore, certified green wedding planner and founder of JoAnn Moore Weddings & Events, the definition of a green wedding remains the same: "When a couple and their wedding team make choices that decrease the negative impact on the environment, that is a Green wedding."
True sustainable planners are actively engaged in minimising their environmental impact at every step of their operations, which includes those they choose to collaborate with. Sustainable planner should seek out vendors and venues whose environmental values align with their own, JoAnn gives the example of photographers who work with digitals, or caterers who source their ingredients locally. When building a network of trusted wedding vendors and venues, JoAnn advises planners undertake thorough research in order to avoid falling victim to green washing.
Of course, planners must also take responsibility for their own practices. "Where and who a planner works with is essential, but there will be no credibility with such businesses if they don’t also make efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their own work." explains Gwenda Jeffs, editor and owner of The Green Union—a community and resource bank for eco-friendly wedding professionals.
Gwenda started her career in the wedding industry as a florist and recalls feeling like somewhat of a minority when it came to her concern for the negative environmental impact of floristry and the wedding industry at large. She spent the next few years refining her practice to be as eco-friendly as possible, and watching out for others who were doing the same. Thankfully, the commitment of Gwenda and other early-adopter sustainable wedding pros paid off. Gwenda recalls, "Slowly, a small but noticeable shift began to happen. What was seen once considered to be predominantly of interest to ‘unwashed hippies’, as I once heard it described, was being increasingly embraced in the mainstream and even luxury end of the industry."
The shifting attitude towards sustainability in the wedding industry mirrors the growing awareness of the general public. Gwenda notes, "Strides forward have been directly linked to events that have caused financial insecurity (namely Brexit and the dreaded Covid), as well as the more obvious media attention paid to the realities of the climate crisis." Gwenda explains that before the pandemic, couples would often only choose to dial down their guest list or extravagant decor due to budgetary constraints however in recent years, scaled-down sustainable weddings have become "a genuine choice for wedding professionals and couples alike."
Ever increasing awareness of the climate crisis has left wedding professionals keen to understand their role in making the industry more green. "The industry is thirsty for information and ways to improve how they do things", assures JoAnn. In fact, JoAnn has taken an active role in providing such education to her fellow wedding pros across the U.S. and Mexico—she even has the backing of the Mexican government who are keen to sustainably scale their destination wedding industry whilst decreasing the impact on the local environment.
JoAnn is currently working on compiling her eco-philosophy into a book alongside Kate Harrison, author of The Green Bride Guide, and Helena Ricon, a certified green wedding planner and educator. The guide will focus on the responsibility of wedding professionals and venues in building a more sustainable future for the industry and is due for publication later this year (2024). Testament to her growing presence as an advocate for eco-conscious weddings, JoAnn was invited to speak at the latest Association of Bridal Consultants conference in Puerto Rico and the positive response to her talk was overwhelming. JoAnn beams, "I'm still receiving text messages, emails, and calls with questions." It is clear that wedding planners are keen to assume responsibility for their carbon footprints and take the first step in building more sustainable businesses.
The response to JoAnn's work serves as evidence that the wedding industry is ready for a green revolution. And yet, progress remains slow. Whilst wedding industry professionals have good intentions, building sustainable practices does not happen overnight and going green poses significant challenges to planners and vendors alike.
A primary concern, as is always the case for wedding pros, is appeasing the client. "We are people pleasers, after all" explains JoAnn, "Professionals need guidance with making a stand between doing what is right for the environment and pleasing their clients." Sarah Klingman echoes these sentiments, "The most challenging aspect of our transition [to greener practices] was balancing sustainability with client expectations." Thankfully, wedding planners aren't often forced to choose between the two—"I have not encountered many couples who are anti-eco-friendly", JoAnn clarifies—but sometimes clients don't even realise the devastating environmental consequences of their dream wedding. JoAnn recalls a client who was besotted with the idea of launching Chinese Lanterns. The problem? The wedding was scheduled in the midst of a severe drought and federal fire restrictions had to be strictly observed. When it became clear the bride was not going to change her mind, JoAnn politely turned down the wedding. But she wonders how may professionals would be willing to do the same. If wedding planners are serious about improving their environmental impact, they must be prepared to turn down work that no longer aligns with their sustainable principles.
Additionally, the mounting pressure to run a sustainable wedding business can leave wedding planners fearful to take the first step. Many industry professionals grapple with the desire to be more eco-friendly but falling short of executing sustainable business practices perfectly. As a "recovering perfectionist" herself, Gwenda relates, "I totally get it! But to repurpose the tagline of a well-known supermarket chain, every little helps." Gwenda is quick to reassure fellow wedding pros that moving forward imperfectly, is preferable to not making progress at all. Gwenda references Anne-Marie Bonneau to drive home her point, "We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly. This rings just as true to me if you replace ‘zero waste’ with ‘sustainable weddings’. " The quest for a more sustainable wedding industry starts with a shift in mindset towards progress over perfection. Sustainability is not a competition. It doesn't matter if all you can do right now is minimise your single-use plastic consumption, what's important is that you are doing what you can. The only rule: be transparent. Gwenda advises, "Just stay clear of greenwashing. Simply communicate what you are doing right now, and what you strive to be doing in the future. You’ll find this will resonate with heaps of prospective clients who are doing their own imperfect best, too."
When it comes to sustainability, there is no shame in starting small. JoAnn shares some quick-fix examples of where to start:
Embracing digitalisation is another powerful step towards reducing the environmental footprint (and boosting the efficiency) of your wedding planning business. Gwenda explains, "The majority of a planner’s work is administrative so going fully paperless is an ideal place to start. Eco-friendly mobile phone plans, renewable energy tariffs for the home/office, green website hosting, and repairing over replacing fixable tech are other easy wins. If you are able, consideration should be given to restricting the area in which you will travel for work (and to carbon offsetting with one of the plethora of schemes out there for anything you are unable to avoid.)"
These little changes add up. However wedding planners should also be aware that building sustainable practices might take an initial investment of both time and money. Sarah recounts the transitional period at Gather, "It required a significant investment in training our staff to prioritise green practices—such as biodegradable materials, sourcing locally to reduce transportation emissions, and ensuring efficient energy use at our venues—without compromising on the quality of our services."
A financial commitment might not always be possible, and that is okay. Gwenda assures, "I am all too aware of the fine balance that needs to be drawn between one’s budget and one’s conscience." But she can also speak from experience when she says that a lot of the sustainable swaps mentioned should have minimal cost implications. In fact, some will likely save you money in the long run—bonus!
Building a truly sustainable wedding business requires long-term commitment and continual revisions, but every wedding planner can implement small changes to their process that together will make a huge difference to the environmental impact of the wedding industry. Take this as your sign to work towards a more sustainable future for your wedding business, You can start small, the most important thing is just to start. Because, as JoAnn encouragingly rallies, "We can do better."
Let's get one thing clear: you don't need a wedding planning certification to become a wedding planner. However, undergoing a formal wedding planning education, and having the certificate to prove it, is bound to help you in your journey to building a successful wedding planning business.
Albeit not mandatory, getting certified as a wedding planner is bound to help your wedding business stand out from the crowd. A wedding planning qualification serves as a validation of your expertise and reassures clients that you're more than capable of managing their special day.
Success in the wedding industry is influenced by a multitude of factors such as practical experience, your professional network, and general business acumen—all of which are topics covered in a professional wedding planner course. In this article, we'll discuss the fundamentals of becoming a certified wedding planner and starting a career in the wedding industry, such as:
Your journey to becoming a certified wedding planner starts here...
Technically, you do not need any formal qualifications to become a wedding planner. However, following a formal educational course to become a certified wedding planner will boost your chances of success in the highly competitive wedding planning industry.
But as we know, some things cannot be taught. To be a successful wedding planner you need to possess strong organisational skills, innate creativity, and have a serious ability to multitask. Here are a few must-have skills for wedding planners...
If you feel like you tick all of the above, then you have what it takes to start a successful career as a wedding planner. Pursuing a wedding planning certificate will help you to consolidate your skills and learn how to apply them to the work of a professional wedding planner.
A wedding planner certification is a formal credential acknowledging your completion of an industry training programme and your proficiency in executing successful weddings. Wedding planning certification programmes provide a structured learning curriculum that covers key areas like event management, budgeting, etiquette, cultural sensitivities, and more. This knowledge allows you to handle diverse wedding scenarios professionally and confidently.
A wedding planning certification programme can take between 2 week and 6 months to complete depending on the complexity and format. Online wedding planning courses tend to be shorter since they can be accessed anytime and anywhere. Whilst in-person courses require you to follow a specific timeline.
Becoming a certified wedding planner will make you better and more confident in your work—a bonus in itself. But you can also use your wedding planning certificate as a badge of honour and a way to symbolise to new clients that you are the real deal. Three ways to use your wedding planner certification to promote your wedding planning business:
Ready to start your career in the wedding industry as a certified wedding planner? Whether you're a planner based in the UK, the US, or anywhere else in the world, we've found the right course for you!
Price: $598
Type: Online
The Wedding Planning Certification Program by CWP is a 20-hour online wedding planning course that covers the essentials, from effective client communication to establishing a professional online presence for your wedding planning business. The course also provides insights into the current job market for wedding planners. Upon completion of the CWP course, you will receive a lifetime membership to the CWP Society.
What you will learn:
Price: $697
Type: Online
The perfect introduction to wedding planning. This online wedding planning course by The Wedding Planner Institute covers every aspect of wedding planning, styling, and design, providing a step-by-step guide to kickstarting your new career in the wedding industry. By completing this certification, you gain the practical skills and confidence needed to oversee all aspects of a wedding.
What you will learn:
Price: £3,449
Type: In-person (Kent, UK)
The Elite Course by The Wedding Planner School is a one-week intensive wedding planning certification programme that provides both theoretical learning and practical experience in wedding coordination. Under the guidance of an award-winning professional wedding planner, students collaborate to coordinate a real life wedding!
Upon completion, students will receive an externally accredited certificate from the International Association for Distance Learning (IADL) and valuable resources such as planning templates and ongoing support tailored to their needs.
What you will learn:
Price: £1,350
Type: In-person (London, UK)
The Certificate in Wedding Planning short course offered by Event School London is a transformative 5-day programme curated by renowned wedding planning expert Siobhan Craven-Robins. Classes are held on the ExCel London Campus—one of Europe's most prestigious event spots—where you'll tackle every nook and corner of wedding planning. That is from understanding client needs to starting and promoting your own wedding planning business.
What you will learn:
Price: $3,300
Type: In-person (Las Vegas, NV)
From the first client meeting to the day of the wedding, this wedding planning course by The International School of Hospitality equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the wedding industry. You benefit from top-notch guidance from experts in the Las Vegas' wedding world on topics that jump from cultural ceremonies to vendor relations and more. After completion, you'll receive a Wedding Coordination and Design (WCD) Certificate that proves you're well-equipped to be the next star in the industry.
What you will learn:
Price: Starting at $1,595
Type: Online/in-person (US)
Lovegevity offers a comprehensive certification programme for wedding planners. The 12-week long programme is designed to educate you on the top strategies, practices, and techniques to become a wedding planner. Take the course on a self-study basis, or add on the fast track package which offers real-life experience working on actual events guided by industry experts. As a graduate of this programme, you won't just receive a certification, but also a letter of recommendation and CWEP designation that recognises you as an industry expert.
What you will learn:
Wedding planning s a highly competitive industry. Whilst it is not a necessity to have a formal qualification as a wedding planner, aspiring wedding planners seek to stand out by gaining recognition through certification.
Becoming a certified wedding planner offers a competitive edge, validating expertise and commitment to professionalism. Comprehensive training equips individuals with a deep understanding of industry trends, vendor relations, and event logistics. Certification fosters confidence, assuring clients of a planner's proficiency in creating seamless, memorable weddings. Networking opportunities and access to a supportive community enhance ongoing professional development. Aspiring planners find that this certification not only opens doors to diverse clientele but also provides a solid foundation for a rewarding career in the dynamic wedding industry.
We help
personal stylists
interior designers
architects
wedding planners
event stylists
fashion stylists
creative directors
graphic designers
personal stylists
build
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