While marriages are made on earth, there is no doubt that weddings are made by wedding planners. The business is growing at a phenomenal pace year on year! In terms of events, wedding planning is certainly the next big thing. Today, weddings in India are a gala affair. And you need wedding planners to plan it well and organize it meticulously. While hiring wedding planners has become a style statement for urban Indians, it is catching up with middle-class families too. This is an untapped service industry which is growing gradually and the possibilities are great for extrovert, customer service-oriented entrepreneurs

The traditional Indian wedding, a chaotic mix of color, food, music and melodrama, has undergone a makeover, and spawned a new industry. The marigolds are being replaced by orchids, the impromptu song and dance by professionally choreographed performances, folk songs have given way to the latest Bollywood remixes and the cuisine is Thai, Italian, Vietnamese, you name it. Then add signature cocktails, bespoke wedding stationary, live twitter updates and more.

What is it: Wedding planners serve an important role in the lives of many couples by making what they consider to be one of the most special days in their lives beautiful, memorable and as stress-free as possible. They are the ones who assist couples in planning their wedding as per requirement. A career as a wedding consultant involves working with brides and grooms throughout the wedding planning process. A wedding planner assists with the design, planning and management of a client’s wedding. Wedding planners ensure that the overall vision of the bride and groom is executed, which could include consulting with clients about the wedding’s theme and decor, ceremony, reception and even the costumes. The services of a wedding planner can include budget preparation, booking venues, hiring of wedding professionals and service providers including caterers, photographers, videographers, beautician, florists, musicians etc. In this job, multitasking and the related pressure is inevitable and only an ardent passion for what you do will make you a successful wedding planner. The USP is getting best service for the clients at reasonable rates. Since wedding planning as an industry is in its initial phase in India, no legal formalities are required to become a wedding planner. All one needs are the permissions from various agencies as corporations, fire and police on the day of the occasion.

Career: You can’t become a wedding planner overnight. There are various things you ought to keep in mind before entering this field. With the growing competition in the field, planners need to be always prepared. Amidst various challenges, the most taxing is to understand what the couple wants. Getting into this industry as an entrepreneur or working with a company is sure to guarantee a respectable salary. The pay depends on the grandeur of wedding. There is no fixed remuneration pattern. It’s all about the nature of the deal. Either there can be a fixed fee or you can have a commission from the total expenses.

Skills Required: Successful wedding planners have a number of traits in common. They are usually creative people with excellent interpersonal skills who love to plan events. Excellent Planning and organization skills, Budgeting, Attention to detail, Leadership and management skills, Managing Time, Good communication skills, Negotiation skills, Ability the get on well with different kinds of people, Good problem solving skills, Business acumen, Networking, a creative bent of mind as well as colour sense, Ability to keep calm under pressure, Awareness about the latest trends, Knowledge about customs and traditions etc.

Personal Traits: This is a career for a versatile person. An aspiring planner must know the wedding events and rituals of different castes and religions to plan it accordingly. A wedding can be an elaborate affair lasting from two days to 15 days depending upon the customs of a particular caste. You are expected to have a high-level of energy and self-motivation to sustain yourself. Besides, you should be prepared for any eventuality, as things can go wrong prior to such a complicated event. Always have a Plan B. It is possible that you might have to make certain last-minute changes; be ready for that. Decorations, seating or even the flow of the wedding may need to be tweaked, thanks to bad weather conditions, a delay in the bride’s arrival etc. An alternative plan will help you deal better with unforeseen circumstances.

Education and Training: No special education or experience is necessary to break into this career and succeed. Being a simple graduate always helps. Interested students can either go abroad for specialized training in the field or take up courses in hotel management, event management or floral arrangement wherein there is a module on wedding planning or management.  The best way to excel as a wedding consultant is to get as much wedding industry work experience by working in different capacities and to gather as wide a variety of skills, talents, and knowledge as possible. You can impress customers only with your talent and knowledge about weddings, not with any diploma or degree. Even if you plan to start your own business, consider getting a job in the industry first. These positions can be used as a stepping-stone to gain valuable experience and contacts. 

Top Institutes: National Institute of event management- Mumbai, Tania-Tapel Wedding Planner-Mumbai, Event Management Development Institute –Mumbai, National Academy of Event Management and Development- Ahmedabad

Learn about weddings: There are numerous details involved in planning a wedding. You can learn how to plan weddings by teaching yourself. Attend and help out with as many weddings as possible, visit bridal shows, read wedding magazines, and conduct informational interviews with recently married brides and anyone else connected to the wedding business such as florists and caterers.  

Create a portfolio: To develop a portfolio, offer your services to friends and family who are getting married in exchange for pictures for your portfolio. You can ask them to write reference letters for you as well. You can also include photographs of table settings or room decorations you have created to show your creative side.  

Choose a specialty: Wedding planners offer a variety of services and packages based on their specific skills and interests. Decide which services you would like to offer. 

Be recognized as a professional: Successful wedding planners are always interested in learning new ideas they can use with their clients. Consider joining a professional association for wedding planners to keep up with new developments in the industry. Clients will be impressed with your affiliation to a professional organization, especially if it certifies you as a professional wedding planner.

Develop relationships: Vendors such as car rental companies, musicians, photographers, party supply companies, invitation printers, florist, caterers can be a valued partner in planning a successful wedding and a great networking ally.  Maintaining good relations with new as well as established people in the industry is very important. Work with people who can help you learn more about your business. And believe in yourself.

A wedding planner should never forget that a wedding is the most important day in the life of the couple, so plan and execute it with the personal touch it deserves. Make it special for the bride and groom for them to cherish it forever

Manu Anand

Director Alpha Mindz

manu@alphamindz.com