Whether you always dreamed of becoming a wedding planner or only recently realized that it can give you the life you want, aiming for certification is the ideal way to go. Doing so provides a host of benefits that you simply can’t get from “going it alone.” Far too many people believe that prior business experience will prepare them, but this simply is not the case. This is why you should understand the benefits of wedding planning certification and everything that becoming certified entails.
Benefits of Wedding Planning Certification
Before diving into everything that’s involved in getting certified in wedding and event planning, it doesn’t hurt to look at the many benefits that come along with doing so. After all, these will become part of your life after you receive certification. Here are just a few benefits that entice people to get appropriate training at an educational institution.
Reputability
If you had two choices in wedding planners, would you choose the one who’s certified or the one who isn’t? Rest assured that the majority of consumers feel the same way.
Work Flexibility
Receiving a certification offers a great amount of work flexibility. First, the knowledge gained prepares you for all types of event planning – not just weddings. Additionally, wedding planning gives you the option of picking your own hours. This means you’ll still have plenty of time for family and relationships.
Avoid Costly Mistakes
One of the biggest benefits of wedding planning certification is the wealth of knowledge that comes with it. Entrepreneurial people who attempt to jump in the industry with just their good intentions often make costly mistakes starting out. You can learn to avoid these mistakes and jump right into a fun career by becoming certified.
Easier Access to Industry
Whether you’re planning on starting your own business or want to get hired by the premier wedding planner in your area, certification will help. Consumers and business owners always prefer to work with someone who took educational initiative.
Holistic Knowledge
Former caterers, hospitality managers, business owners and salespeople often try their hand at wedding and event planning. While knowledge in one of these fields is helpful, becoming certified provides experience in all these areas. Having a holistic knowledge will better prepare you for success.
How to Become a Wedding Planner
There are numerous avenues to becoming a wedding planner, but this is typically the case with most professions. As in other industries, though, there is a pathway that will improve your likelihood of success. Certification in wedding and event planning is no doubt the right way to go. Here’s what you can expect from the process.
Sign Up for Certification
The first step in becoming a certified wedding planner is simply signing up for a program. It’s important to note, though, that wedding planning certification isn’t regulated by the government. This means you need to be thorough when researching the right institution for your education. Fortunately, the internet has made this much easier than in the past.
Your goal should be to find a reputable institution that’s gained recognition from other educational organizations. The Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute (LWPI), for instance, has nearly 2,200 accredited universities and colleges within its network that offer their curricula. This makes their programs the most highly standardized and recognized in the industry.
Choose Class Type
Your next big decision will be the type of classes you take. Most reputable organizations offer both campus and online options for wedding planner certification. Fortunately, neither of these choices are widely considered better than the others. It all comes down to what you need. Consider some of the following:
- Community: Campus learning allows you to meet other future professionals and thus build a network.
- Scheduling: Campus classes have a very strict schedule. If you need more flexibility, online certification may be best.
- Clarification: Learning on campus allows you to immediately have questions answered and speak with instructors when necessary. Many online teachers are very responsive, but people with certain learning styles may benefit from a classroom setting.
- Self-Discipline: Online wedding planning certification requires self-discipline. Greater freedom means greater responsibility, and this is a perfect opportunity to become more focused and self-motivated.
The best choice between online and campus classes will be different for everyone. With stellar programs available online, the location should have no effect on your decision. In the end, it’s all about what benefits your needs.
Internships
Most people who have earned their bachelor’s – or even a master’s degree – often come to a rude awakening: people really want experience. A certification in wedding planning can go a long way, but consumers and business owners alike want to know that you’ve had real-world experience in getting the job done.
This makes completing an internship essential to your success. Fortunately, reputable institutions typically offer internship placement. This is certainly the case with LWPI and many of the institutions that offer their wedding planning curricula. While it’s possible to land a job without completing an internship, rest assured that it will be much more difficult.
Continued Education
No matter how much you learn when getting your wedding certification, new trends will always emerge. This means that, even once you’re certified, you’ll want to occasionally attend seminars. This is also a great way to get started in the wedding planning industry, but staying on top of those emerging trends and new knowledge is essential for continued success.
Enjoy the Benefits of Wedding Planning Certification
While getting certified in wedding and event planning isn’t overly complex, it does require more experience than simply helping your sister call vendors to plan her special day. Far too many people jump into the industry without appropriate training, and in some cases, this is because they’re hesitant about the training entails. Fortunately, wedding planning certification is straightforward when you choose a reputable school like Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute!
