Archive for the ‘Becoming a Planner’ Category

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Want to become a wedding planner?

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

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. Today I would like to talk to you a little about our original, and ever popular , Business Practicalities. The 3 directors of the UKAWP teach the courses personally, and on the second day we are accompanied by some of our full members. The courses are held in spring and autumn as naturally, summer months are rather busy for full time wedding planners.

When can I attend

25th & 26th Sep (London)

23rd & 24th Oct (Northamptonshire)

6th & 7th Nov (Cheshire)

To sign up please go to our booking form

What topics are covered on this weekend course?

This course is aimed at those wishing to start their own business. For that reason we cover everything you should do pre-launch.  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.

To view the full list of topics please download our brochure

What is the cost

£599 inc. vat

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

Recent Feedback

 

March 2010   Diane Kay
“The course exceeded my expectations and has really spurred me on to move forward to set up my own company.”
 
“Kelly’s experience and anecdotes were extremely funny and invaluable.”
  
April 2010     Stacey Marie Chalk
“I loved the practicals – even if the consultation was scary – it makes the course more real.”

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Posted in Becoming a Planner, Training | No Comments »

Career opening at Mercure Hotels

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

‘Mercure Wedding Angel’

wedding-planner-image2

We are very excited to tell you about a wonderful opportunity with Mercure hotels. The hotel chain plays host to hundreds of wedding celebrations every year at its hotels around the UK - and is scouring the nation to find budding wedding planners to take up two newly created posts as ‘Mercure Wedding Angels’.  The hotel chain is looking for someone to bring their own unique touch to the wedding event services offered at the hotels and is offering two full-time contracts to the right candidates.

For details of how to apply, please visit the website .

But if you are not successful and you still want to become a wedding planner why not book onto one of the UKAWP courses?

Posted in Becoming a Planner, Uncategorized | No Comments »

The Benefits of Associate Membership

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Over the next few weeks I thought I would highlight the features and benefits of our various membership types. If these posts result in you wanting any further information, or to apply for membership, please don’t hesitate to contact membership@ukawp.com .

Associate Membership

This membership type is aimed predominantly at new planners.

Requirements are as follows:

  • Attendance at the Business Practicalities training course run by the UKAWP
    OR
    Completion of a training course recognised by UKAWP. Those currently recognised are QC School of Wedding Planning, the wedding planning course run by ICS Learn and The Wedding Planner School - distance learning or face to face. Written proof will be required.
    OR
    A minimum of two years in a 100% focused event management role within a hotel, event management company or similar. Written proof will be required.
  • Thorough understanding of the industry and what a wedding planner does.
  • Enthusiasm to learn and develop as a well respected planner.
  • Membership fee is £150 per year. Members can remain an Associate for up to 2 years at which point they should have met the requirements for Full Membership.
  • To download an application form please do so here…

    • Benefits:

  • Annual certificate of membership of the UKAWP to be shown to potential clients
  • Use of  ‘Associate’ logo of the UKAWP on website, advertising and all  marketing materials
  • Ability to refer potential clients to the UKAWP code of ethics to gain enhanced client confidence
  • Inclusion on the UKAWP on-line database of member companies
  • Increased media awareness of member companies. The UKAWP has links with a variety of media outlets and has an on-going press and public relations plan to continually increase the profile of the Alliance within the wedding industry. Journalists are put in touch with members for interview opportunities/coverage on a very regular basis.
  • Benefit from the UKAWP’s ongoing advertising plan in wedding publications and online. This alone can save members several hundreds of pounds.
  • Discounts to attend any UKAWP networking events, seminars, workshops or training courses.
  • UKAWP branded marketing materials such as brochures, pens and pads and other items available seasonally. Ideal for any exhibitions or events you are organising.
  • Access to a network of supportive, approachable and experienced professionals to help, guide and advise on any critical areas of difficulty or concern
  • Access to a network of experienced planners to assist where additional staff are needed at weddings at pre-agreed and competitive rates
  • Access to a network of keen, hungry students for ‘shadowing’ opportunities

    • For further information, please contact membership@ukawp.com.

    In two weeks we will highlight the benefits of Full Membership.

    Posted in Becoming a Planner, Membership | No Comments »

    Training Dates Autumn 2010

    Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

     

    We are very pleased to announce the Autumn 2010 dates for ‘Business Practicalities’, and ‘Step by Step’. Both courses have been improved for the Autumn making them even better than before. The brochure is being finalised and will be uploaded soon, but for those who cannot wait until then please complete our booking form  which will then take you to the online payment page.

    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).

    Business Practicalities

     25th & 26th Sep (Crowne Plaza, St James, London)  23rd & 24th Oct (Staverton Park, Northamptonshire)  6th & 7th Nov (Cheadle House, Cheshire)

    Step by Step

    16th & 17th Oct (Crowne Plaza, St James, London)  13th & 14th Nov (Staverton Park, Northamptonshire)  27th & 28th Nov (Cheadle House, Cheshire)

    To view further information please go to our training page.

     

     

     

     

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    Posted in Becoming a Planner, Training, UKAWP News | No Comments »

    Working with Friends

    Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

    One of our members  Isabel Smith Wedding Design has written the below article.

    Being a planner is like being a doctor, or an interior designer, or any other profession which involves a service rather than a product, in that as soon as you mention what you do, people ask you ‘oh, my sister’s getting married, do you know any good DJ’s?’ or ‘Where do you stand on monochrome?’.  Whilst these can get a little tiring depending on the situation, generally, I don’t have a problem helping out with an answer or two.

    But occasionally, you get the dreaded ‘I don’t suppose you could help me out on the day could you?’ and this is where things get sticky. Partly because when I first started out, I was so keen to be helpful to my friends and show off my knowledge (not to mention gain experience), I was happy to help, but now I find I am so busy balancing my weddings, the marketing/accounting elements of the business and my personal life, my time is much more precious to me.  

    The other problem though is finding the client/friend balance.  Unless the friend in question is a particularly close one, with whom you can be totally honest, it is often easier to be firmer with a client than a friend when insisting on having the information you need by a certain deadline or pointing out that having the decorative items delivered the night before would take a real pressure off the wedding day.  

    My advice therefore to anyone starting out who is looking to broaden their experience by assisting friends or family is to set the parameters early on, as you would with a client.  This is even more true if you are to be a guest at the wedding as well, since there will come a point when you will want to clock off and enjoy the day.

    You may not feel that a contract is necessary, but a frank discussion about what you will and won’t do, and the way that you work will not only help to prevent any problems later on, but it will also give you practice at negotiation when you do start getting paying clients.  To help keep things on more of professional level, perhaps you could discuss payment of some kind - if not in cash terms, maybe they have a skill that could help with your business (know any accountants, web designers or PR types?)

    Thank you Isabel, how have you found working for friends?

    Tags:
    Posted in Becoming a Planner, Business Development, Life as a Planner | 3 Comments »

    Last chance for training

    Friday, April 30th, 2010

    We have a few spaces remaining on the STEP BY STEP course on the 8th & 9th May in Ipswich, this is the last chance to train with us before the autumn courses start in September. To download the brochure please go to our website.

    In this 2 day weekend course we go through the full role of a wedding planner and how you can plan a successful wedding. Just what exactly does the role of a ‘Wedding Planner’ involve? We run through the moment you are hired until the wedding day itself.

    This is also the last chance to attend the course at £550 as from September there will be a price increase. To find out more information please call Bernadette on 01376 561 544.

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    Posted in Becoming a Planner, Training | No Comments »

    A fantastic bunch of students

    Monday, April 26th, 2010

    Recently I taught 11 students on our Business Practicalities course in Ipswich. It was a really good group of students with some amazing experience under their belts already. They asked some very interesting and thought provoking questions over the 2 days and I feel very confident once they launch they will be an asset to the industry. In fact on the Sunday I was so impressed with the quality of work the students were producing that I decided to share one of the editorial pieces with you by Kirstie Findlay. Happy reading.

    Are you having a SIZZLING summer wedding??

     Most brides seem to prefer getting married between the months of May and August. Why is this?? We can’t guarantee the weather in this country these days. I’ve been caught in a rain storm in the middle of July but went to an amazing sunny wedding in December in the Lake District. Don’t get me wrong I do love a summer wedding and there are lots of up sides to this but I urge you to consider the winter months as well. Let me sent the scene for you….Imagine arriving at a Christmas card scene at a tiny country church with snow laden trees sparkling in the winter sunshine. Your bridesmaids wearing burgundy dresses with soft fur wraps. A feast of tasty winter warmers and hot mulled wine at your wedding breakfast. There are lots of practical pros for winter weddings as well, such as the cost of venues and suppliers. There are often heavy discounts for weddings “out of season” and suppliers have more time to spend on your every need as they don’t have as many other clients at this time of year. So don’t let the rain put you off, there are loads of beautiful wedding umbrellas, bridal boots and amazing indoor venues to choose from.

    December weddings can have that magical Christmas wow factor so don’t rule it out!!

     By Kirstie Findlay

     

    New wedding planners at UKAWP training course

    New wedding planners at UKAWP training course

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    Posted in Becoming a Planner, Training, UKAWP News | No Comments »

    Posts We Love

    Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

    I thought I’d share with you a couple of posts which we Directors of the UKAWP founds ourselves nodding at behind computer screens and humming with ‘how trues’?. It’s of course comforting/daunting (depending on your mood) to know that our peers in the USA, a much bigger, sophisticated and well established wedding planning market, encounter the same issues, difficulties, activities and frustrations that we do. 

    We often refer to Think Splendid but this post in particular struck a cord entitled “You Didn’t Invent Weddings”. Let’s take our hats off to those in the wedding business who have gone before.

    http://www.thinksplendid.com/2010/03/you-didnt-invent-weddings.html

    And on a different note entirely, take a read of ‘Sell the Sizzle’. It’s affirming to know that “downbeat venue sales person” goes on the world over, not that it’s right in anyway. And we also had a giggle about “venue torturing planners”; nice to know we’re in the good company of Marcy Blum with that too!

    http://adventuresofwedhead.com/2010/04/08/569/

    Enjoy the sunshine!

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    Posted in Becoming a Planner, International Planners, Life as a Planner | No Comments »

    Seeking interns

    Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

    We believe very strongly in work experience and practical training here at UKAWP and an opportunity has arisen for an internship which we wanted to publish here:

    We are looking for 3 very special interns to work with Dream Occasions, Dream Occasions Hire and at times the UKAWP. Please read the following to see if you are a suitable candidate. The candidate must be willing to work from the home office belonging to Bernadette, based in Essex, UK.

    What is an internship?
    An internship gives someone the chance to experience the administrative side of event planning and to further your skills. It is an unpaid learning experience.

     Why undertake an internship?

    • o Will help you determine if this is the career for you
    • o Enables you to gain experience before entering into paid employment
    • o Enables you to make professional networking connections with suppliers and event planners
    • o Enables you to (hopefully) receive a commendable reference from Bernadette Chapman
    • o Enables you to learn from Bernadette, a wedding planner since 2002 and director for the UKAWP

    Skills

    • o A passion for weddings and events
    • o Extremely organised
    • o Detail orientated
    • o Confident personality
    • o Ability to adapt to a home office environment
    • o Excellent communication skills both written and spoken
    • o Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office and the internet
    • o An understanding of social media inc. Twitter and blogging

    Hours:

    3 days per week (flexible on the days), 10am - 2pm

    Length/Availability

    1 month

    Start Date

    1st intern:          4th - 28th May

    2nd intern:         1st - 24th June

    3rd intern:         28th June - 22nd July

     If you are interested please send an email with CV to Bernadette at bernadette@dream-occasions.co.uk.

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    Posted in Becoming a Planner, Training | No Comments »

    Step By Step Course Last Weekend

    Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

    Last weekend I trained a wonderful group of ladies on our Step by Step training weekend in London; half of the group had already attended our Business Practicalities course either recently or over the past year so it was lovely to see some familiar as well as some new faces. Our courses are always very honest and open and full of interaction. I do notice a trend in the questions which are asked time and time again by students so I thought I’d write about the top three that always crop up.

      

    How many weddings should I aim to plan a year?

    An established wedding planner working full time, might reasonably manage 10 weddings per year and earn a good income although the number of weddings will vary according to the budget of each wedding also. It’s not sensible to aim for that level in the first couple of years though, a good start would be  2 or 3 full planning weddings in year 1, increasing that gradually over the years.

     

    What uniform do you wear on the wedding day?

    Always a tricky one as you want to look smart and respectful to the fact that it’s a wedding yet be comfortable enough. The job generally entails lifting, packing, sticking and carrying of some form or another so comfort is key, as are flat shoes in my opinion. The Directors of UKAWP generally wear black trousers, a coloured shirt (not white or you look like waiting staff) and flat smart shoes. A comfortable black dress might also be a good option.

     

    Will I get any clients without a portfolio to show of past work?

    Yes, you won’t get every client as some will prefer to use a tried and tested planner who can demonstrate their work but people never think the same and some clients will see this as a benefit that you don’t have any pre-conceived ideas and have bags of enthusiasm; think of ways around not having a portfolio that can still demonstrate your creativity and past working experiences.

     

    For more information on training courses  go to http://www.ukawp.com/planner_training.htm

    Posted in Becoming a Planner, Life as a Planner, Training, UKAWP News | No Comments »

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