How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Wedding Consultant & Planning Business

Weddings are big business. The Association of Bridal Consultants estimates that consumers spend a whopping $46 billion on their weddings every year. In 2010 the average wedding cost about $24,000, and many couples spend more than that! Today's bride is spending more money than ever before to ensure that her wedding day the single most important day of her life is planned to perfection. Once reserved only for the very rich, today's brides and grooms-to-be, often busy with dual careers yet wanting to make their wedding uniquely personal, are turning to consultants for help to help save time, money, and considerable stress planning a wedding. More people are finding that a good wedding consultant is a great source of information, ideas, and contacts for the bride-to-be. Hiring a wedding coordinator could help ensure that the wedding day turns out to be far more spectacular than the bride ever envisioned. They provide guidance on etiquette, invitations, planning and directing the rehearsal and ceremony, even arranging transportation and accommodations, and help you manage your time with all the details. Wedding coordinators may also assist in locating a site for the ceremony, shopping for the wedding gown and wedding accessories, and even arranging for childcare. As such, professional wedding consultants are compensated well for their knowledge, talent, time, and expertise. A wedding consulting and planning career makes an ideal home based or part-time business. You do not need an office, etart-up costs are low, and you don t need any costly special equipment. All you need is a calendar, a good organizer, a desire to succeed, and the tips for success in this book. A consultant's primary function is to help a couple learn, implement, and manage all the necessary tasks required to host a successful wedding event. Here is the manual you need to cash in on this highly profitable segment of the service industry. An average wedding using a coordinator costs about $20,000. Some coordinators charge an hourly rate ranging from $50 to $150. According to many wedding coordinators, the average wedding takes about 30 to 40 hours of coordinating, ending up earning between $1,500 and $3,000. Creating a dream wedding requires imagination and energy, a concern for detail, and a love of organization to make certain that things run smoothly. You will help couples decide on a budget and help them stick to it. You will also help them select the wedding dress, set trial hair and make-up appointments, confirm wedding day appointments, prepare and confirm wedding reception toasts or speeches; update life, house, and car insurance policies; complete change of name and change of address paperwork; open joint bank account (if desired), determine who will return groom's formal attire, location, caterer, entertainment, wedding cake, and going away wardrobe. You will learn how to prepare for and run a successful wedding including determining realistic costs, helping with the guest list, setting the wedding date, organizing the wedding ceremony and the reception, acquiring bridesmaids' and groom's attire, ordering invitations and other stationery, and dealing with the gifts and thank-you messages. This new book is a comprehensive and detailed study of the business side of the wedding planning and consulting. If you are investigating opportunities in this type of business should begin by reading this book, picturing yourself producing the perfect wedding. If you enjoy meeting people and planning parties, this may be the perfect business for you, but keep in mind this business looks easy, but as with any business, looks can be deceiving.