Qualifications

• Getting certified as a wedding consultant can help you get jobs.7055 image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
  
  To become a good wedding coordinator, you must be highly organized and a strong communicator. Brides want to know exactly what is going on, so it is essential that you be detail oriented and able to effectively explain what is going on. Brides can also sometimes be very demanding, so it helps to have a thick skin. Much of the work of a wedding coordinator relies on being able to find just the right person or company for the job, so being a pro at networking is an essential skill. While it is not necessary, it is advisable to pursue training and certification in the field.
  
  

Training

• There are a wide variety of training and certification options available to prospective wedding coordinators. From schools that offer seminars that last several days, to online courses that may span several weeks, to actual college courses that can be taken, there are a myriad of opportunities for training.
  
  The Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants offers a program that is delivered through a three-day seminar. Completion of their program can result in participants being awarded a certification in wedding planning. Other institutions have their own programs, each of which offers different benefits to wedding coordinators. Experience also is one of the best forms of education for this job, as working with local vendors is the best way to learn their strengths and weaknesses.
  
  

Compensation

• The more experienced and well known you are, the higher your fee.100 image by kaleff from Fotolia.com
  
  Typically, wedding coordinators charge either a flat fee or a percentage of the overall cost of the wedding. With the average modern-day wedding costing just shy of $20,000, this can mean a planner is making anywhere from $1500 to $5000 for the event. Costs vary depending upon what level of service the couple is expecting. Some will opt for services on just the day of their wedding. Others may request consultations all along, while others still want all of the planning to be in the capable hands of the experienced planner. As with most things, the more involvement you, as the wedding coordinator have, the higher the fee that you can charge will be.
  
  

Getting Started

• Putting together the perfect wedding takes practice.bouquet image by Fabio Compagnoni from Fotolia.com
  
  The hardest part about getting a wedding coordination business off the ground can be booking your first wedding. As a new planner with very little experience to show off, you may need to be a little more flexible in your pricing. Some planners report doing their first weddings free of charge, for friends and families. Others join up with a larger organization, such as a hotel or a church, to offer planning assistance to couples that use their facilities. Once you have a few successful weddings under your belt, it will be easier to get new business.