You want to become a successful wedding planner with your own business. Your goal is to lead your own independent lifestyle while spending your time on work that is creative and delivers a reasonably high salary. What will it take to get there?
Starting a wedding planner business takes sweat equity.
And what does that mean? A potential wedding planner needs to recognize that he or she should quickly learn that a wedding planning business is a dream job, but he or she better take the veil off their own eyes first.
What are those misconceptions about a wedding planner business?
Well, it begins by realizing that having your own wedding planner business is not glamorous, but it is fun. “In reality, the work is physically and mentally demanding,” explains Marsha Ballard, past president/secretary for the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACW) and owner of Stardust Celebrations Corporation, Dallas, TX. “Think about planning 12 to 20 weddings every year.”
Hmmm, 12 to 20 weddings each year. That can’t be so bad. Think again.
The independent wedding planner serves as the person who must bring together all of the required professionals to execute the wedding event. That includes the catering manager, musicians, church/ceremony person, photographers and more.
And the hours to do this can be long. “Most of the time the wedding planner functions as the promoter, the sales person, the secretary and then the person who directs the wedding and reception,” Ballard adds.
So what’s the financial payoff for a wedding planner?
“To make over $50,000 each year, expect to work about 50 to 60 hours each week. To make $100,000 each year, expect to work seven days a week and 80 hours each week,” Ballard advises. “In reality most wedding planners seriously underbid the work and make about $30 to $40,000 each year. Additionally, most wedding planners must hire assistants to help them, which ultimately reduces the personal income of a wedding planner.”
But for the person with the right skills who enjoys organizing detailed logistics and negotiating with many different parties, this is the perfect job match.
AACWP (the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners) was founded in 2006 by seven Dallas wedding planners, and has expanded to include the central region of the country – and intends to serve as a national voice for wedding planning certification and expertise.
Ballard, a registered nurse and holds an MBA, started her firm with her lifelong friend and colleague Jenny Cline after leaving a career in health care management. Established in 2001, Stardust Celebrations Corporation, Dallas, owns two bridal Salons, employs about 40, and serves as wedding planner for more than 20 weddings each year.
