COURSE PROGRAMME
FIRST MODULE
· The Wedding Planner’s profession
o Profile of the profession
o Overview of the profession and its rules and regulations
o Skills and clichés of the profession
o Do not get this wrong. And this is why....
o The personal requisites of the perfect Wedding Planner
o The differences between a professional WP and a non professional one : the risks of improvisation
o Crucial managerial skills of the Wedding Planner
o Pleasures and tribulations of the profession
o Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses
o The Wedding Planner’s style and image : how to study this and what to focus on
o Professional development: where and when
o Errors you must not make
· The Client
o Types of Clients
o The Briefing: how this is done and collated
o The fundamental rules of Customer Service
o Possible types of services
· Operational tools of a professional Wedding Planner
o The Wedding book
o The Database
o The portfolio
o Contracts and forms
o Reports
· The suppliers
o Suppliers: who they are and how many of them are there?
o The right tools to find them
o The relationship with the supplier: From Supplier to Partner
o The risks of choosing the wrong one
o How should I assess in order to avoid risks?
o Evaluation forms
o Option or booking?
o The Contracts
o Knowing the rules of negotiation
· Planning –Pre-production of the events
· The Budget
o How to define the budget
o How to extend Budget Control
o Cost estimates
o The traps and pitfalls to recognise and avoid
o A feasibility study
· The Wedding Project
o The Wedding as an Event
o The characteristics of a successful Event
o How a Wedding Project is born
o How to present the Wedding Project to the Client
o The theme and leitmotif of the event
o The mood of the event
o Timings
o The importance of set design
o Examples of Wedding Events with themes and leitmotifs
o How to enhance creativity : the real added value
· Timelines
o Inspections of venues
o From options to booking suppliers
o The action plan and job description
· Sets and Design
o The value of preparation: from special to unique
o How to create a successful atmosphere
o Choice of materials and decorations
o The leitmotif
o The timing for preparation
o Errors to avoid
· Communication in the Wedding Event
o Communicating with the guests
o Elements and values of the co-ordinated image : where to start
o The order of service
o Invitations
o Thanks
o Bonbonnières (sugared almonds) or Favours
o Seating arrangement board
o The Menu
o Other material which makes the event unique
o Creative ideas at work
· Comfort for the guests
o The guests as co-protagonists
o How to ensure a memorable event for the guests
o Entertainment elements which make the difference
o Creative and courteous elements
· Children and Weddings
o What to anticipate
o How to manage them
o Creative ideas
· Logistical elements of a Wedding Event
· Means of transport
o Transport for the bride and groom
o Transport for the guests
o Errors to avoid and precautions to take
o Amazing creative ideas
· Locations
o The location of the wedding ceremony.
o Characteristics of the wedding location.
o Variables which need to be monitored
o The Reception venue
o Checking a location. Tricks and traps.
o The inspection visit. How is this carried out?
· Reception and buffet
o How to choose the right type
o Pain and pleasure : choosing the menu
o Planning and defining the service
o How to create a unique reception
o Organisational events and an image which makes the difference
o Errors to avoid
o Variables which the Wedding Planner has to keep under control
o The Wedding Cake: a special moment
· Flower Design
o The importance of floral settings
o How to choose the flowers: skills needed
o How to create an unforgettable and unique setting
o Creating the right balance between set design and floral settings
o Decoration in the church
o Decoration at the Reception
o The bouquet
· Bonbonnières and favours
o How to choose the right box of Bonbonnières or favours
o Creative ideas
· Photography and Video
o The importance of the choice of professional
o How and what to offer
o Fundamental elements to monitor during the Wedding Day
o Creative variations
· Music and atmosphere
o How to choose it
o What and how to offer it
o Errors to avoid
· Gifts and Etiquette
o Communicating with the guests
o Invitations
o The Bonbonnières or favours
o Thank you cards
o Timing
o The wedding reception line-up (entrance and exit)
o Page boys and bridesmaids
o The witnesses
o Guest seating
· Clothes and accessories
o How to choose the right clothes and elements to consider
o Timing and costs
o Elegance does not just mean classical. How to rethink the bride’s dress.
o The right accessories
· Unexpected events
o How to recognise unexpected events
o Learning how to foresee unexpected events
o Solution for each unexpected event
· Control and co-ordination
o The Wedding Day
o Controlling the events
o Assistance at the event
o Briefing of the event: the real ally
o How to make a spontaneous briefing
o Control during the ceremony
o Control during the Reception
· The Wedding Planner’s check list
SECOND MODULE
A step by step guide on how to start up a business as a Wedding Planner, how to find funding, how to position the service on the market, how to promote it and how to find your clients.
How to start up a successful business
· The Market
o How to position oneself on the market
o The business Plan
o SWOT Analysis
o Competition
o The Clientele
o Positioning
o Legal matters to start up a business
o Sole proprietorship
o Partnerships
o A company
o Bureaucratic duties
· The company’s Business Plan
o Drawing up the Business Plan
o Budget and investment
· From prospective Clients to actual Clients
o Studying prospective Clients
o Questionnaire
o What Clients observe
o What Clients expect
o How to prepare the first meeting
o How to conduct the first meeting
o Elements of mirroring
· Types of services offered
o The various types of consultancy required
o The Wedding Day co-ordinator
o Types of payment : free, included or payable
· The Marketing Mix
o What is the marketing mix?
o Product
o Place
o Promotion
o Price
· The Wedding Planner’s office
o Where and how to choose it
o Elements to evaluate:
o Structural issues
o Market positioning
o Atmosphere
o Budget
o Preparation of the office
o Errors to avoid
o Added value
· Communication and Company Image
o The importance of Communication
o What it means and how this is studied
o The name
o The logo
o The brand and its registration
o The co-ordinated image
o Errors to avoid
o The brochure
o Folders
o The Web Site
· The Wedding Planner
o Communication and self image
o How to develop and enhance the skills of fundamental Communication
o Communication is key
o How to have the right image
o How to study this and what to focus on
o Errors to avoid
· Marketing tools and Communication
· Press Office
o The Press release
o The Press day
o Press conference
o Press Kit
o Mailing list, Recall and Press monitoring
o Press cutting
· Direct marketing
· Web marketing
o Social marketing
o Attention to the reputation of the Web
· Wedding fayres and exhibitions
· Sponsoring and events
· Errors to avoid
· Monitoring the activity
o Business plan, Marketing Plan, Communication Plan
o Action plan
o Annual Budget
o Press Cutting
o Professional development
o Monitoring the competition
· In conclusion
o How to be successful : the golden rules
o The Errors to avoid for a successful business
