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

Archive for the ‘Training’ Category

I’m already trading so why do I need more training?

Friday, January 13th, 2012

Here at the UKAWP we believe the only way to succeed as a successful wedding planner is to keep increasing your knowledge. Think about it, if you do the same in 2012 that you did in 2011 then your results will be the same, but expand your knowledge and think outside the box, and the world is your oyster. If you are ready and willing to push your business further ensuring increased profitability then take the plunge and commit to the various training options the UKAWP offer.

1. Attend our annual seminar WPE which is only for ‘working wedding planners’ no enthusiasts or suppliers allowed!. Sometimes we spend all our time working IN the business, i.e. planning weddings that we don’t spend time working ON the business and this is what WPE helps you focus on.

logo12

2. Bit hazy on marquees or unsure about marketing your business? Look out for our series of webinars. The next one is ‘the basics of organising a marquee reception‘ and will be held on the 8th February at 6pm. To register go to our booking form

A UKAWP Director leading a training session

3. Always wondered how to make an emergency bouquet or what should you do if the wedding cake collapses? Attend one of our evening workshops to find the answers. Keep checking our events page  for details of the next one. Have a topic in mind? Email Bernadette@ukawp.com

Wedding planners workshop

4. Already run a successful business but not sure on how to actually plan a wedding? Or perhaps you are a venue co-ordinator looking to launch independently? If so consider our training courses, more information via our brochure

Photo Credit: Lloyd Dobbie

Events 2012 Overview – 1st Quarter

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

As always the UKAWP are going to be incredibly busy with events throughout 2012 so we thought we better start telling you about some of the plans for the first few months of the year!

WPE ‘12 - Wedding Planning Excellence

WPE ‘12‘Wedding Planning Excellence’ was first established in 2009 and in essence is a training seminar for wedding planners. The directors of the UKAWP along with our members devised a specialised programme designed to inspire and educate you with your business, there are 2 days of intelligent, inspirational speakers for you to learn from.

WPE is held over 2 days Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd March 2012 at the fabulous 51 Buckingham Gate in Central London. There will be a Friday night dinner off sire which again is optional, more details to be published on the dinner in the New Year.

UKAWP member rate - for one day £170, for both days £320 / non member rate - for one day - £180, for both days £350 / Dinner is £45

We suggest you visit the beginners guide to WPE and will leave you with just one testimonial:

Testimonial

UKAWP “did WPE inspire you for 2011?”

WPE Delegate “Hell yes - thank you” & “Yes, yes, yes”!

Training Webinars

Following our successful webinar launch in November we will be running a series of additional ones throughout 2012. 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.

Please keep checking our blog and website for details as and when we announce them.

Title:  ‘The basics of organising a marquee reception‘ - based on the presentation given at WPE ‘11

Tutor: Bernadette Chapman, UKAWP Director

Date: Wednesday 8th February 2012

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 following your registration.

Testimonial following our marketing your business webinar

I think it’s an excellent way to offer a bite-sized training course as it means it’s easily accessible. This is really important for those of us that are trying to juggle other responsibilities such as jobs or children, as it’s often difficult to get away for a full day. I really liked it that you talked around the slides/course notes rather than just reading them verbatim. The discussion gave some really valuable insights into starting your business.”

Workshops

We held various workshops in 2011 both in London and Wimslow. Topics have included: Floral Emergencies, Fixing the Bridal Dress, PR Basics

We plan to run the workshops again from April 2012, if there are any topics you would like us to cover let us know!

In the meantime save the date for the 9th February in Manchester for a Northern PR Workshop hosted by Julia from Bridesup North

Training Courses

The successful training courses run by the UKAWP start again in February 2012.  See below for the planned dates. To find out more information, to download the brochure or indeed to book please visit our training page

Business Practicalities: 18th & 19th February (Northamptonshire) and 21st & 22nd April (London)

Step by Step: 24th & 25th March (Northamptonshire) and 19th & 20th May (London)

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

A little useful reading …

Monday, December 5th, 2011

Today we would like to bring a free e-book to your attention. If you source and book entertainment then this engaging, highly practical e-book is all encompassing and should make your job so much easier. Ideal for newer wedding planners, it is also a useful reminder to those who have booked a lot of entertainment already. UKAWP Director, Kelly Chandller, wrote the foreword for this e-book which is available here:

 http://www.facebook.com/LM2Entertainment.


The author, Brad is founder and MD of LM2 Entertainment, a professional function band management company. Brad also writes extensively on the topic of professional function bands through his LM2 Entertainment blog . He shares his knowledge and experience by serving as a mentor and running occasional master classes for music degree level students and alumni looking to pursue a career in the professional function band market at one of London’s foremost music institutions.

We hope you find it useful.

WPE ’12 – AN OVERVIEW

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

 What is WPE?

WPE ‘Wedding Planning Excellence’ was first established in 2009 and in essence is a training seminar for wedding planners. From visiting websites of our US counterparts we began to get a little envious of the number of specialised seminars open to wedding planners throughout the year. As our industry has grown we felt it was about time the UK followed suit and had an event just for ‘wedding planners’ and thus WPE was born.

Attendees at WPE 11

I’m already trading so why do I need more training?

Most importantly this isn’t a training course, it’s a seminar. There are 2 days of intelligent, inspirational speakers for you to learn from. If you are ready and willing to push your business further ensuring increased profitability, then take the plunge and commit to  WPE. Sometimes we spend all our time working IN the business, i.e. planning weddings that we don’t spend time working ON the business and this is what WPE helps you focus on.

Business-focussed presentations

 

So when is it?

As in previous years WPE is held over 2 days Friday 2nd - Saturday 3rd  March 2012, and after listening to feedback we have kept it to central London. The venue chosen for WPE ‘12 is the gorgeously luxurious 51 Buckingham Gate http://www.51-buckinghamgate.com/. There will be a Friday night dinner which again is optional, more details to be published on the dinner in the New Year.

How much?

The investment we ask from you for the 2 days + dinner is minimal compared to similar events in the US who charge $2,200! The prices will go up after the 2nd January so we advise you book early to make your pennies stretch even further.

Early bird UKAWP member rate - for one day £160, for both days £290 / Early bird non member rate - for one day - £170, for both days £320 / Dinner is £45

Annabel from Love my Dress at WPE 11

Who is Speaking?

We have a range of business and industry experts confirmed already (see below) and plan to add more over the coming weeks, do visit our website for full schedule information.

The art of negotiation

Looking Fantastic Online

Practical Marketing Strategies for Planners

Etiquette for the Modern Wedding Planner

Luxury Marquees & What to Look Out For

Using cocktails to enhance the wedding design - hot trends for 2012

Business Self Discipline

Wedding Planning business software demonstration

Wedding planners continue to learn

To review the schedule go to http://www.wpe.ukawp.com/schedule.htm

What’s New?

WPE ‘12 is going to be even bigger and better than in previous years. Alongside the formal presentations will be more Q&A + some panel discussions for more in depth questions.  After dinner on the Friday one of our members is organizing a surprise activity, more details will be announced in the New Year.

We hope to see you there!

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?

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.

WPE ’12 – REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN - 2nd & 3rd March 2012

Monday, November 14th, 2011

We are delighted to announce registration is now open for WPE ‘12. We will be sending invitations out very soon, but if you can’t wait, you can register online here http://www.ukawp.com/booking-form-seminar.php. As in previous years if you register before the 2nd January you will receive the early bird discounted rate.

 Wedding Planning Excellence '11

If you’re a planner and looking to take your business to the next level by way of continued development and learning, then Wedding Planning Excellence (WPE) is for you;  tailored to meet the needs of wedding planning businesses only, it’s pretty much one of a kind!

 

The programme is coming together nicely with a mix of business motivational specialists as well as industry gurus.  Keep checking back on the website for details on new confirmed speakers http://wpe.ukawp.com/index.htm

 

We hope to see you there!

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

Business Practicalities Course

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

I spent this weekend training a delightful bunch of ladies in London, from all over the UK.

It was great to see how well everyone interacted and to discuss the similarities and differences between geographic areas and target audiences.

If you are interested in training with us, we have a number of courses across the country in the next three months, some of which still have availability.

It never ceases to amaze me the variety of backgrounds and previous work and life experience our students have, each providing a different start point and approach to wedding planning.

Good Luck to those students who are about to launch their businesses!