UKAWP - THE LEADING INDUSTRY BODY FOR THE UK WEDDING PLANNING MARKET

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Summer/Autumn dates now released!

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

We are delighted to announce new dates for our summer/autumn training courses AND with a brand new location of Gloucestershire in November.

The UKAWP are well known for our in depth and honest training courses for those wishing to become wedding planners. With so many training schools out there it can be hard to know which one is right for you. We believe the most successful way to learn a new skill is by interacting with likeminded individuals. We are registered by the UK Government’s Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP). All tutors are full time wedding planners so can teach you honestly about the industry, giving tips about what works and what doesn’t.

The support we give you doesn’t stop with our courses as we hold regular events throughout the year including an annual seminar, educational workshops and social evenings. The UKAWP are very much a community and this is why our courses are so popular.

Bigger & Better

We believe it is our responsibility to give you the latest information relating to the wedding planning industry which is why the course content has been updated to make it even better for future students.

What training courses do we offer?

‘Business Practicalities’ is recommended for those thinking of becoming a planner or to newly launched companies. It goes through the practical elements of how to conduct your research and how to ensure you launch successfully.

 

‘Step by Step’ is designed to help students understand the process of planning a wedding day to day. We run through from the moment you are hired until the wedding day itself.

What is the cost?

£599 or £1,078 if booking both courses

Earlybird Offer

Students booking the course 8 weeks in advance will receive a bonus booklet of discount vouchers to use on future UKAWP services.

What is included?

• Full lunch & refreshments on both days

• Concise bound notes to take away

• Certificate of attendance

• Logo to use on future marketing material

• CD of useful templates

• Do your own PR workbook (BP) Flower Handbook (SBS)

How to register

To register please complete our booking form which will then take you to the payment page

Recent Feedback

Thank you! Really helpful & inspired me to get going! Jeni Crabb – April 2012

Everything was amazing thank you. Matthew Hiscutt April 2012

 

 

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Associate Membership

Monday, May 7th, 2012

We are often asked why new planning businesses should apply for membership, or Associate membership as we call the first step.

Well, the answer may occasionally be you shouldn’t – if you don’t plan to adhere to our Code Of Business Practice for example – but in most cases new planners are keen to be associated with an organisation with a great reputation in the industry, whose website listings often generate the majority of their members’ business opportunities.

You don’t have to have trained with us to become an Associate member …. we are well aware that some courses, other than our own, are very sound, and for this reason we welcome those who have successfully completed them.

Sandy, Membership Director, explains ‘I often get new planners calling or emailing who feel that they will never get their first booking if they are listed alongside more established planners ….. this is understandable, but in fact we have learned over the years that people buy people and will meet the planners in their location and make a decision based on ‘likeability’ and trust rather than necessarily always experience’.

If you are a new planner and have a host of questions about the UKAWP, you are not alone. Please contact sandy@ukawp.com to ask those questions – she’s a real person, a real planner, and will make every effort to help you make your decision.

 

 

 

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Great course over the weekend

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

Kelly and Sandy, ably assisted by the ever energetic Isabel Smith, had a great weekend course training 11 delightful students.

As ever we were thrilled not only to see the dedication of a lovely bunch of new planners, but also how well everyone got on/ hopes to collaborate etc.

Good luck to all who plan to launch soon – we look forward to seeing you again at one of our upcoming courses and/ or other events.

 

 

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Spring Training Courses – last chance!

Friday, April 6th, 2012

The UKAWP are well known for our in depth and honest training courses for those wishing to become wedding planners. With so many training schools out there it can be hard to know which one is right for you. We believe the most successful way to learn a new skill is by interacting with likeminded individuals. We are registered by the UK Government’s Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP). All tutors are full time wedding planners so can teach you honestly about the industry, giving tips about what works and what doesn’t.

Directors of UKAWP and course tutors

The support we give you doesn’t stop with our courses as we hold regular events throughout the year including an annual seminar, educational workshops and social evenings. The UKAWP are very much a community and this is why our courses are so popular.

What training courses do we offer?

‘Business Practicalities‘ is recommended for those thinking of becoming a planner or to newly launched companies. It goes through the practical elements of how to conduct your research and how to ensure you launch successfully. It reiterates that this is a business and should be treated as such.
‘Step by Step’ is designed to help students understand the process of planning a wedding day to day. We run through from the moment you are hired until the wedding day itself.

step-by-step-show-round

What is the cost?

£599 or £539 if booking both courses

What is included?

  • Full lunch & refreshments on both days
  • Concise bound notes to take away
  • Certificate of attendance
  • Logo to use on future marketing material
  • CD of useful templates
  • Do your own PR workbook (BP) Flower Handbook (SBS)

ukawp-classroom

Don’t just take our word for it

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for two fantastic training weekends. I’ve learnt so much, it’s insightful to hear from real wedding planners, you give answers to all my questions and have given me the confidence to launch my own business. Looking forward to staying in touch.” Gemma Foster

“it exceeded my expectations as it allowed us to address any concerns about weddings and ask questions specific to what we are doing.” Alexandra Moseley

“Excellent course. Plenty of time & opportunity to ask questions. Didn’t feel at all rushed” Karen Walker (Nov 2011)

“This is a fantastic course and I am convinced I want to launch in 2012″ Josie Orchard (Nov 2011)

Student taking notes
Warning!

We have just 1 space remaining on Business Practicalities 21st-22nd April and 4 spaces on Step by Step 19th & 20th May. These are the last courses until September.
To download our brochure or complete the booking form please go to our training page.

Photo Credit: Lloyd Dobbie

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UKAWP Business Tools

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Following many requests by planners, the UKAWP offers a variety of types of support in the form of business tools.

Essentially, business tools are documents, products and services which should be beneficial and helpful to new and established independent wedding planning businesses. There are many templates, procedures and equipment which the founders of UKAWP have had to work their way through and find over the years they have been in business but would like to make it a little easier and more straightforward in the future. We are keen to develop more services and products over time so do let us know what you are missing and we will certainly consider what we might be able to put together.

In the meantime, a reminder of what is currently available:

Terms & Conditions/Business Contract @ £140

Business Mentoring Service @ £500 per year
(10% discount for signing up within 6 months of attending a Business Practicalities or Step by Step training course)

Business Support Hotline @ £60 per hour 

Freelance Staff Contract @ £115

For full terms & conditions, more information, or to purchase any of these tools, visit our Business Tools Page or contact Bernadette Chapman, Training Director on 01376 561544 or bernadette@ukawp.com

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Training Overview

Monday, December 19th, 2011

Before we all switch our phones off and shut down our computers we thought it was a good idea to remind you of the training courses taking place in the New Year. 

Our training courses will be starting again from February.

We believe the most successful way to learn a new skill is by interacting with likeminded individuals which is why we only run classroom based training. Held at locations throughout the UK there should be a date and location convenient for you. We are registered by the UK Government’s Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP). We have a brochure which is available to download via our website   .

Business Practicalities

This course is aimed at those wishing to start their own business. Primarily your research and marketing before moving onto the type of services you wish to offer and how to decide what to charge. We take you through the basics of PR and why this is so important for small businesses. One element that is always popular is the mock consultations we undertake with the students, this gives students the chance to understand how important it is to ask the right questions in a consultation. And finally we go through how to produce your proposal.

18/19 February in Northamptonshire  /  21/22 April in Central London

ukawp-classroom

Step by Step

This course literally teaches you how to plan a wedding from the moment you have been hired. We go through how to create a client budget and work out what % of the budget should go on certain areas. We advise how to create payment plans for clients and what to do if you have a client bank account. We show you examples of the different ceremonies in the UK and how etiquette plays a part in today’s weddings, albeit in a modern way. Then its time to discuss suppliers from how to find them to what questions to ask. The final part of the weekend takes you through the day from the ceremony up until the evening entertainment.

24/25 March in Northamptonshire & 19/20 May in Central London

step-by-step-show-round

Price

We have decided to keep the course price the same as it has been this year at £599. This includes your course notes, CD templates and some books. More information can be found via here

Photo Credits: Lloyd Dobbie

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Training and Using Your Talents

Monday, November 21st, 2011

On 15 and 16 October I trained an inspiring group of ladies all looking to enter the wedding planning industry. Although I’m the tutor I always learn or reaffirm something from every course which is wonderful.

Recent UKAWP training

 It was fantastic to welcome back 3 UKAWP students who had done our Business Practicalities course previously and are ready to launch after completing this Step by Step training. It was also really great to welcome new students onto the course and what struck me most was the diversity of talent we have entering the wedding planning industry. One student comes from an interior design background, another is an event florist, another an experienced wedding photographer. Now you may well ask, why are these ladies wanting to enter wedding planning too? Everyone has a different focus, motivation and plan but mostly these ladies love the wedding industry they have already seen, recognise that they have talents for the planning and design side and want to tap into them. And good for them.

Recent UKAWP training

 Although many of our UKAWP member wedding planners focus full time on planning, that doesn’t suit everyone and in these days of flexibility how marvellous that many are choosing to combine multiple and often complementary talents to make a working lifestyle that suits them. We don’t all have to follow the 9-5 plan.

 A few planners we know who do this marvelously are:

 Liz from  Simply Elegant who is a balloon artist as well as running her planning business

Melanie from Cranberry Blue Weddings who offers a bespoke table plan design service.

 Both of the ladies above were contributors to our successful The Wedding Sanctuary bridal event which will return in autumn 2012.

 Then there is Helen from Bespoken Dreams who is a clever wordsmith and offers a “We Heart PR” service to those in the industry seeking to improve their PR presence so do have a look if you need help on that side of things.

 And then we know a range of planners who whilst they don’t formally practice other careers, have very useful backgrounds in law, finance, marketing, PR and design. We really are rather a diverse and talented bunch if we say so ourselves!

 Do you combine wedding planning with another business pursuit? Or do you find that wedding planning is more than enough of a day job?

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New UKAWP service – Webinar launch

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

UKAWP are delighted to announce a brand new webinar training service.

 The webinars will be a combination of topics designed for new planners and for more advanced learning by already established planners.  We hope that the flexibility of being able to join a webinar online will appeal to many who cannot travel easily to other training we organise or have missed a previous session.

UKAWP training

 The topics will include certain key sections of our highly popular face to face Business Practicalities and Step by Step programmes although are by no means a replacement for the face to face learning on our two-day courses.  Not all topics in BP and SBS will feature.  Initially we are launching one webinar during 2011 and we hope that a series will follow during 2012.

 Details below are for our first webinar which we hope you can join. Ideal for candidates considering entering the wedding planning industry who have not conducted any formal training as yet and want to get started with their planning business.

 Title:  ‘Marketing your Wedding Planning Business including the importance of your website’

Tutor: Bernadette Chapman, UKAWP Director

Date: Weds 30 November

Time: 6pm-7pm

Cost: £60

How to book your place:  go to our booking form here

Technical details: you will need internet access with speakers and will be sent an event invitation which will require you to set up a password. At the relevant webinar time you will need to log in. You will be able to hear the tutor deliver the session as well as be able to see a slide presentation on screen. You will be able to ask questions online via a chat page. Further notes will be posted to you also.

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UK Wedding Planners’ Mixing and Mingling!

Monday, November 7th, 2011

 Today I’m writing on the recent Mix and Mingle Events which took place on 20 October across the country. We were rather ambitious in our plans to get wedding planners together across various regions of the country on the same night and were delighted with the results. 

Mixing and Mingling

We had over 35 planners attend the largest London event with smaller, but equally successful, events in the Midlands and Cheshire taking place on the same night. The format of the evenings were informal and an opportunity for wedding planners (many of whom work alone) to get together with others running the same kind of business in their area. Whilst many of our UKAWP members regularly network with each other and meet at lots of our events, we welcomed lots of recent students, newcomers to the industry as well as more established planners who wanted to get to know their industry colleagues.   

UKAWP Directors Brief Welcome

UKAWP Directors Brief Welcome

 

Planners dig into delicious bowl food by BMA House

Planners dig into delicious bowl food by BMA House

Venue showround

Venue showround

Fragranced champagne candles by Sandy Bay

Fragranced champagne candles by Sandy Bay

Wedding planners catch up on the summer season

Wedding planners catch up on the summer season

Wedding planners in Cheshire at their mix and mingle

Wedding planners in Cheshire at their mix and mingle

And the Cheshire planners were treated to goody bags by Molton Brown

And the Cheshire planners were treated to goody bags by Molton Brown

Our enormous thanks to all of the venues who so kindly agreed to host us.  In London we were welcomed by BMA House (where most of the above photos were taken), in Cheshire at Doubletree by Hilton and in the Midlands at Hampton Manor.

Also thanks to Sandy Bay London and Molton Brown for their wonderful goody bags as well as the ever-fabulous Lloyd Dobbie Photography for capturing images from the London event.  

The below comment from one of our guests sums up the ethos of UKAWP we feel -

‘I wanted to write to say thank you for organising such a lovely evening. It was a real pleasure to meet new and established planners who shared their experience and knowledge. Being new, I felt slightly apprehensive about the idea of meeting so many lovely ladies who would probably have so much to say about their businesses while I had relatively nothing to say. I was so pleased to notice, however, that everyone was exceptionally friendly and helpful!’

Future events – Our annual social event will return next autumn 2012. In the meantime do look at our Events page for more on upcoming seminars, workshops, training and learning opportunities with UKAWP, whatever stage of business you’re at.

Recent course students chat to Director of UKAWP, Bernadette

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Business Practicalities last chance!

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

The UKAWP are well known for our in depth and honest training courses for those wishing to become wedding planners. With so many training schools out there it can be hard to know which one is right for you. We believe the most successful way to learn a new skill is by interacting with likeminded individuals. We are registered by the UK Government’s Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP).

All tutors are full time wedding planners so can teach you honestly about the industry, giving tips on what works and what doesn’t.

The support we give you doesn’t stop with our courses as we hold regular events throughout the year including an annual seminar, educational workshops and social evenings. The UKAWP are very much a community and this is why our courses are so popular.

Business Practicalities

What training courses do we offer?

‘Business Practicalities’ is recommended for those thinking of becoming a planner or to newly launched companies. It goes through the practical elements of how to conduct your research and how to ensure you launch successfully. It reiterates that this is a business and should be treated as such.

‘Step by Step’ is designed to help students understand the process of planning a wedding day to day. We run through the moment you are hired until the wedding day itself.

Business Practicalities

What is the cost?

£599

What is included?

Full lunch & refreshments on both days

Concise bound notes to take away

Certificate of attendance

Logo to use on future marketing material

CD of useful templates

Do your own PR workbook (BP) Flower Handbook (SBS)

 Directors of UKAWP and course tutors

Don’t just take our word for it

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for two fantastic training weekends. I’ve learnt so much, it’s insightful to hear from real wedding planners, you give answers to all my questions and have given me the confidence to launch my own business. Looking forward to staying in touch.” Gemma Foster

” Thoroughly professional and inspirational, a perfectly sized group” Susan Leverick

 ”it exceeded my expectations as it allowed us to address any concerns about weddings and ask questions specific to what we are doing.”  Alexandra Moseley 

Warning!

The last Business Practicalities for 2011 is this weekend, if you miss this date you’ll have to wait until March 2011.

Step by Step

19th & 20th Nov             – Leeds

3rd & 4th Dec                – Northamptonshire

To download our brochure or complete the booking form please go to our training page.

 Step by Step venue site visit

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