What does a Wedding Planner do?

A Wedding Planner may work as an Independent Contractor, for an event planning company or for a business that hosts weddings, such as a hotel, resort or dedicated wedding venue. Wedding Planners help couples plan their wedding details and handle the logistics. By ensuring a successful experience for the couple, they can create a positive impression of the venue or company, potentially attracting more clients.

Once hired, Wedding Planners also act as a liaison between the couple and vendors when During the planning phase, they schedule meetings with vendors, negotiate vendor contracts, facilitate payments and ensure vendors understand the details. Wedding planners act as the liaison between vendors and couples when couples have questions or want to make changes. They also plan the itinerary.

Wedding Planner skills and qualifications

Qualifications to consider for your Wedding Planning job description include:

• Creativity to make the couple’s vision come to life within a budget

• Understanding of the wedding industry and wedding trends

• Strong organizational and time management skills

• Budgeting and negotiation skills

• Fast, effective decision-making and problem-solving skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Management skills and the ability to take charge

• Ability to stay calm under pressure while managing various responsibilities

Wedding Planner experience requirements

It’s common for a Wedding Planner job description to require at least one to two years of wedding planning experience. You might accept experience in event planning or hospitality if those roles involved coordinating large events. Other relevant experience may involve coordinating with vendors, negotiating contracts and managing budgets.

Wedding Planner education and training requirements

Wedding planning doesn’t require formal education or a training program. Organizations may benefit from a skills-based hiring approach to find candidates with the ideal skills for the position

Many Wedding Planners receive on-the-job training or shadow experienced Planners. Candidates can also gain industry knowledge by earning a certification through the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP). Consider adding this designation to your wedding planning job description.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this job description of a Wedding Planner doesn’t fit your needs, explore these additional job descriptions for similar positions:

• Event Planner

• Event Manager

• Event Coordinator

• Vendor Manager

Wedding Planner job description FAQs

What’s the difference between a Wedding Planner and an Event Planner?

Wedding Planners and Event Planners have similar responsibilities and may work for the same types of venues. They plan the activities associated with the event or wedding from start to finish. The main difference is the type of events they plan.

Wedding Planners focus specifically on wedding ceremonies, receptions and other events associated with marriage. Event Planners handle the logistics and planning for various event types, including corporate events, birthday parties, fundraisers, retreats, concerts, art events and other gatherings.

What does an average day look like for a Wedding Planner?

The day-to-day activities of a Wedding Planner can look vastly different depending on the stages of the weddings they’re planning. They might start the day reviewing upcoming weddings and returning client calls. Meetings with clients and vendors often happen during the day. They might work at the venue or travel to different locations. A Wedding Planner’s schedule often includes nights and weekends spent at the location to support wedding activities.

What makes a good Wedding Planner?

A good Wedding Planner understands what works well and what’s trending for weddings. They can understand the couple’s desires and make them happen within the budget, which requires financial skill and creativity. An ability to assume responsibility can help them resolve issues and ensure the couple has a positive experience.