WEDDING PLANNING COURSE BTR104

Become a Wedding Planner- Learn the essentials with us!

If you get excited by the thought of organising events, the most exciting event to organise is a wedding. A rewarding career where you get an amazing kick out of seeing everything run smoothly and help the couple start their lives together in the best possible way!

A wedding planner will have a range of tasks from hiring the band, talking to the photographer, finding a caterer, getting better prices for things and above all be VERY well organised. They are normally self employed and understand all aspects of the wedding industry, and are continually cultivating a network of contacts within that industry. Don’t worry if you are unfamiliar with the wedding industry, or for that matter, basic business practices NOW: that’s why you need to be doing the course.

Plan the Perfect Wedding, Learn the Essentials with us for the pathway to a rewarding wedding planning career!

Work as a Wedding Planner; or just learn to organise and run your own wedding.

There are lots of opportunities that you can use, including:

Expand the services you offer in an existing business, such as a florist, reception centre, hotel, B & B, open garden, photography business, or something else
Add to existing qualifications to extend your career opportunities
Start a new business, or make yourself more attractive to employers.
....or just learn to plan your own wedding ....get a wedding more in tune with what you want, and explore how to save on wedding costs.

People take this course for many reasons....these are just a few.

Our course is unique, not only in content, but also the extensive support services provided by our academic department. Learn from experienced and highly qualified experts.

Course Content and Structure

There are 9 lessons in this course:

Introduction
- Nature and scope of Wedding Planning
- Skills a Wedding Photographer needs
- Getting Started in the Industry
- Types of Ceremonies
- Traditional Christian Weddings; parts of a service, participants and their roles
- Muslim Ceremony; Nikah
- Jewish Wedding
- Budhist Weddings
- Pagan Weddings
- Legalities in different countries; including Australia, UK and USA
- Inter Country Weddings
Planning
- Setting the date
- Suggested Plans
- Themed Weddings
- Renewal of Vows
- Inviting Children
Managing People
- Wedding Planners Role
- Managing the Mother of the Groom
- Managing the Mother of the Bride
- Chief Bridesmaid or Maid of Honor
- Best Man
- Conflict situations associated with Weddings
- Dealing with Advice from too many people
- How to deal with a Bridezilla
- Psychological stress on the Bride
- Cancellations
- Conflict Handling Techniques
- Anger
- Expressing Anger
- Strategies for Anger Management
Managing Locations
- Factors to consider with choosing a Venue
- Locations on a Budget
- Table Plans
- Developing a Check list for Wedding Photos
- The Photo Shoot
Managing the Programme
- Transport Arrangements
- At the Reception
- The Receiving Line
- The Reception
- After the Meal
- Cutting the Cake
- The Party
- Leaving the Reception
- Customs
Other Issues
- Coordinating service providers and sub contractors: Photography, Video, Flowers, Clothing, The Beautician, Printers, etc.
- The Wedding Cake
- Stationary; Save the date announcements, Wedding Invitations
- Buying the Wedding Dress
- Flowers
- Wedding Photography
- Videos
- Gift Registry
- Thank You Notes
- Beautician and Hairdressers
Managing the Client
- Interviewing a Client
- Establishing a Contract
- Cancellations
- Setting a Budget
- Managing a Budget
Managing the Wedding Day
- Guidelines
- Planning for Contingencies.
- Calling off a Wedding
Operating a Wedding Business
- Marketing and Publicity
- Networking
- Developing and promoting a web site
- Advertising
- What Fee to Charge
- Bookkeeping and Financial Management
- Planning

Lesson Aims

Describe the nature and scope of wedding planning and the wedding industry.

Present a client with options and facilitate key decision making for a wedding.

Explain how to handle different personalities and the roles of different members of the bridal party.

Select and manage the use of appropriate locations for and associated with a wedding

Develop a programme or schedule of activities and events associated with a wedding.

Manage events within the time constraints of the established schedule.

Effectively control events on the day of a wedding.

Improve your ability to communicate with, and assist the people who have employed you to manage a wedding; to achieve a desired outcome.

Prepare to manage a wedding day, planning for all foreseeable and significant contingencies.

Establish and run a viable wedding planning service

WHO DOES WHAT AT A WEDDING

The Mother of The Groom
The mother of the groom may sometimes feel at a loss at her son’s wedding, not knowing particularly what role she is expected to play. This may be even more so if she has previously been involved in organising her own daughter’s wedding for example. The mother of groom will have the following responsibilities according to etiquette –

Upon hearing news of the wedding, she should initiate contact between the families, introduce herself and her husband to the bride’s parents. This may include a phone call, invitation for dinner etc. The couple may or may not be there for this.
If the bride’s family lives a distance away, a letter and perhaps a photo of the family and her son as a child may be welcomed by the bride’s family.
When told the numbers to invite to the wedding, the groom’s mother must produce the list of details for her family promptly, including full addresses.
Once the bride’s mother has chosen her dress for her daughter’s wedding, the groom’s mother may chose a dress in a complementary style or colour. For example, if the bride’s mother wears a knee length dress, the groom’s mother should not go for a full length dress etc. She should not wear the same colour as the bride, bridesmaids or bride’s mother, but choose a complementary colour.
If any of the groom’s family are from out of town or require accommodation, the mother of the groom should arrange that.
The groom’s parents will host the rehearsal dinner if there is one. This can be simple or elaborate. Everyone involved in the ceremony should be invited to the rehearsal dinner.
If there are photos to be taken prior to the wedding, the groom’s parents should ensure that they are there well ahead of time.
The groom’s mother will be escorted down the aisle as the wedding begins to the first pew on the right hand side (in a traditional Christian wedding). Her husband will follow along behind. If the parents are divorced, the father will be seated two pews behind the mother.
If possible, it is a nice touch for the groom to escort his mother, then the husband follows. Sometimes the head usher or groomsman will escort her.
In the ceremony, the groom’s mother may light the family candle with the bride’s mother.
At the reception, the mother of the groom will stand in the receiving line to greet guests and introduce her family and friends to the bride and her family. She will usually stand between the bride and her mother. If the fathers stand in the line, she will stand between them.

The Mother of The Bride (MOB)
The main responsibility of the MOB is to see that the bride’s wishes are carried out, to help the bride have the wedding she wants (not what the MOB wants). Her main responsibilities will be to:

Help the bride choose her wedding dress.
Help the bride and groom set a wedding budget.
Contact the mother of the groom if she doesn’t contact you.
Help put the guest list together.
Order invitations as soon as possible.
Make reservations for out of town guests for the bride’s family and friends.
Choose your own clothing for the wedding day and tell the mother of the groom the colours and style asap so she may choose a complementary gown.
Find the instructions for the ceremony asap, determining the seating schedule and receiving line for the reception.
At the ceremony she may light the family candle with the groom’s mother.
Liaise with the wedding planner (this may obviously vary depending on whether the bride’s mother is taking over organisation from the bride or not. So you will need to determine this initially, you don’t want to spend all your time liaising with the MOB only to find out that the bride does not have the wedding day she wants. This will require good negotiating skills for you).

The Chief Bridesmaid or Maid of Honour (CB)

The CB may have a range of tasks, some of which may be passed on to you or done by the couple themselves. Again, find out for sure. The CB will attend all prenuptial parties and do the following.

Arrange the hens party if there is one.
Help address invitations.
Help arrange the bridal shower.
Help the bride with going away clothes and luggage.
Ensure other bridesmaids are kept aware of fittings, appointments etc.
Arrive at the home of the bride early enough to help the bride and bridesmaids with dressing.
Remind the best man which ladies will wear flowers.
Assist the bride with her train during the ceremony.
Hold the wedding bouquet during the exchange of rings.
Assist the photographer in identifying family members.
Witness and sign the marriage certificate.
Stand in the receiving line, usually at the groom’s left side with the other bridesmaids.
Help the bride when she is ready to change.
Help the couple depart.
Take care of the bride’s gown in the way she wishes.
The bridesmaid should also be made aware that it is the bride’s day, so she should not try to outshine the bride.

Best Man (BM)

The BM should ensure the groom has the wedding licence with him if required.
Gets the minister’s fee from the groom and pays him privately before the ceremony.
Help the groom pack for the honeymoon.
Help him dress for the ceremony.
Carry the ring for the groom if there is no ring bearer.
Help the bride and groom with luggage arrangements.
Ensure that their car is ready and they have the necessary travel arrangements.
The BM will travel to the church or location with the groom.
THE BM will ensure that the ushers are together before the ceremony.
The BM will ensure the ladies who are wearing flowers have them.
The BM will perform tasks the groom or the mother of the bride request at the church.
He should be first at the reception to welcome the bride and groom.
The BM makes the first toast at the wedding.
He should act as host making introductions if necessary and ensure the guests feel welcome.
He should dance at the reception with the bride, both mothers and bridal attendants and other guests if possible.
He should help the groom change after the reception.
Returns any hired clothes after the wedding.
The best man may be involved in signing the wedding certificate too.

WHY STUDY WITH US?

Distance education doesn't mean you're going it alone - you have tutor support every step of the way (We believe in old fashioned service -Easy and unrestricted access to tutors to help with anything that helps your learning)
Don't follow the crowd - develop uniqueness and skills unlike others in your field
Resources are extensive and under continuous revision
Study to suit your commitments - your education doesn't need to stop as life make demands
Our program design has less focus on assessment and more on your lifelong learning
Affordable study and payment options available
Courses different to main stream qualifications -being different gives you an edge in the workplace