Institute of Professional Wedding Planners

1. An introduction to wedding planning

• The role of the wedding planner
• Personality matching
• Career benefits
• How to get started
• How to use this course
• Assess your strengths and weaknesses

2. Organizing yourself

• The planning process
• Create a wedding folder
• Timeline

3. The ceremony and location

• Religious versus civil ceremony
• The law relating to weddings
• Choosing a physical location
• Weddings abroad
• Once your clients have chosen a venue

4. The day of the event - Part 1

• Wedding day
• Final timings
• Contingency plan

5. The day of the event - Part 2

• Final details
• Follow up

6. People and their roles

• Bride and Groom
• Maid of Honour and Best Man
• Other Attendants
• Priest and Officiant
• Toastmaster
• Wedding Staff
• The photographer

7. Catering

• Wedding catering
• Planning for a catered wedding
• Prospective caterer interview
• Food and drink
• The cake
• Evening catering

8. Flowers and decorations

• Flowers
• Decoration
• Decorating the venue

9. Invitations and gift lists

• Guest list
• Invitations
• Gift list

10. Entertainment

• Types of entertainment
• Timings
• Music selection

11. Transport

• Calculating transport needs
• Style of transport
• Trial run or inspection
• Planning the schedule
• Delegating

12. Organising extras

• Stag and hen parties
• Stag and hen party locations
• Stag party ideas
• Hen party ideas
• Choosing the wedding rings
• Customizing the rings
• The ring exchange ceremony
• Last minute detail

13. Your first meeting with a client

• Preparation
• At the meeting
• Communication skills
• Proposal to client

14. Budgeting for your client's big day

• Need for making a budget
• Figuring costs
• Networking for value
• Assertiveness
• Working to deadlines

15. Setting up your business

• Your office at home
• Location
• What your home office needs
• The tools you'll need
• Your company name and notepaper
• Getting prepared

16. Marketing your business

• Marketing your wedding planning business
• How to look for work
• Printed materials
• Printed advertisements
• Creating a website
• Networking

17. Finance

• Setting up your business on a small budget
• Pricing your services

18. Contracts

• Wedding contract basics
• Contract components
• Important legal terms