Do you always cry at weddings? Do you love planning and organizing big important events? You could turn your love of weddings and party planning into a career by becoming a bridal consultant. Bridal consultants are also sometimes called wedding planners. Wedding planners are the gurus of the wedding world. They assist their clients with everything from wedding dresses and cakes to locations and ministers. You name it when it comes to weddings, and good bridal consultants can arrange it, organize it, and make it happen on a wedding day.
There are no state requirements to become a bridal consultant. Most employers prefer bridal consultants to have some college training and a degree is even better. Many bridal consultants own their own bridal consulting companies or work for reception and convention centers where weddings are generally held. Bridal consultants can also specialize in planning other large events like business conferences and other large gatherings of people.
Employment Outlook for Bridal Consulting and Meeting and Convention Planners
The employment outlook for those in meeting and convention planning and wedding planning is very positive. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics is expecting the meeting and convention planning field to have an increase in job growth of nearly 16 percent through 2018. This is much faster than other occupations and includes wedding planning. This growth will be caused by more large groups like businesses and families wanting to meet. This growth will also come as more and more brides want a professional to help them make their special day perfect. Keep in mind, economic events like the recent terrible recession can deeply impact how much brides can spend on their wedding day, and can also impact the bridal consulting industry for the negative.
Good Earning Potential in Bridal Consulting
It can take several years to build a successful bridal consulting business, but it can be a very successful career for people with the right training and business know how. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook in 2008, those working in meeting and convention planning had average salaries of around $44,000 annually. The middle 50 percent of convention planners had salaries from $34,000 to $57,000 annually. The top ten percent of meeting and convention planners made over $76,000 annually.
Colleges Offering Great Bridal Consulting Programs
Colleges have put together some excellent degree and certification programs in bridal consulting. You can get a college certification in bridal consulting that will take several months to complete. You can also get a full blown bachelor's degree in a business field (4 years of study) and use this as your foot into the door of bridal consulting.
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