IT WAS wedding planner Shirley Ogden's own big day that got her interested in the wedding industry.
"I planned my own wedding and just loved it," Ogden says.
After working in the advertising industry for a number of years, and with an honours degree in psychology, Ogden decided that wedding planning was what she really wanted to do.
The job is in the detail
To do well at this job, you have to be a stickler for detail. "You have to be a perfectionist. You have to notice things like watermarks on cutlery and lipstick on glasses," she says.
A wedding planner has to be meticulous about every aspect of the wedding, from budget development and management, décor, flowers, invitations, finding a venue, suppliers, to dress fittings, guest accommodation, ceremony planning, rehearsal coordination and sometimes even planning honeymoons.
A wedding planner has to ensure that every detail of a couple's fairytale wedding is in place.
"Your wedding is the biggest day of your life and every person wants it to be perfect," she says.
The bride shouldn't have to worry about anything on the day. This means that the wedding planner shouldn't get stressed easily and if things go wrong, you must be good at crisis management and solving problems. Good people skills are essential, not only to deal with clients, but also to handle difficult family members.
Ogden loves her job, but she warns that it's not glamorous. Be prepared to spend as much as 17 hours on your feet. "Its hard work, but every wedding is different and this makes the job fun and challenging," she says.
As a wedding planner, you also have to determine what a couple likes and think of original ideas that suit their personalities.
A wedding planner's role can vary considerably. It could be as involved as planning the entire wedding for brides who don't have time, to helping a bride who wants to do her own planning and only needs help with certain aspects and final wedding day coordination.
Getting into the industry
Ogden recommends that if you're interested in a career as a wedding planner, first work for an events or wedding coordination company, or shadow an experienced wedding planner for a while.
"Planning weddings involves many of the same skills as events management and doing a course on this could be very useful," she says.
Keep in mind that even though you're a wedding planner, you can also plan other related events such as anniversaries, bachelorette or bachelor parties.
You could also specialise in arranging culture-specific weddings that have very particular ceremonial requirements, such as Greek or Hindu weddings.
Ogden says one of the best things about a wedding is when the groom sees his bride for the first time.
"Even though there is a lot of stress on the day, it's this moment and being part of someone's special day that makes it all worthwhile," she says.
QUICK FACTS: Career as a Wedding Planner
SALARY
Varies depending on experience. Some wedding planners add 10% onto each supplier's invoice.
Others are paid 10-15% of the overall wedding budget as their fee.
The client usually pays a deposit to book the wedding date and the planner and the outstanding amount is paid in instalments.
Decide what works for you, but be sure to stipulate in the contract how payments are to be structured.
QUALIFICATIONS
You can do online or events planning courses. Ogden completed a wedding planning course through the SA School of Weddings.
WORKING HOURS
This is not a 9-to-5 job and there is no "average" day. On some days, you may have very little to do, and on others every client you have wants something done. Each workday can be very unpredictable. Keep in mind that weddings take place mostly over weekends and in the evenings, and you have to work at these times.
PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT
You can start your own business or work for an events or wedding planning company. Ogden runs her own wedding planning company.
- SAcareerfocus
Shirley's big day set her on career track
IT WAS wedding planner Shirley Ogden's own big day that got her interested in the wedding industry.
"I planned my own wedding and just loved it," Ogden says.
After working in the advertising industry for a number of years, and with an honours degree in psychology, Ogden decided that wedding planning was what she really wanted to do.
The job is in the detail
To do well at this job, you have to be a stickler for detail. "You have to be a perfectionist. You have to notice things like watermarks on cutlery and lipstick on glasses," she says.
A wedding planner has to be meticulous about every aspect of the wedding, from budget development and management, décor, flowers, invitations, finding a venue, suppliers, to dress fittings, guest accommodation, ceremony planning, rehearsal coordination and sometimes even planning honeymoons.
A wedding planner has to ensure that every detail of a couple's fairytale wedding is in place.
"Your wedding is the biggest day of your life and every person wants it to be perfect," she says.
The bride shouldn't have to worry about anything on the day. This means that the wedding planner shouldn't get stressed easily and if things go wrong, you must be good at crisis management and solving problems. Good people skills are essential, not only to deal with clients, but also to handle difficult family members.
Ogden loves her job, but she warns that it's not glamorous. Be prepared to spend as much as 17 hours on your feet. "Its hard work, but every wedding is different and this makes the job fun and challenging," she says.
As a wedding planner, you also have to determine what a couple likes and think of original ideas that suit their personalities.
A wedding planner's role can vary considerably. It could be as involved as planning the entire wedding for brides who don't have time, to helping a bride who wants to do her own planning and only needs help with certain aspects and final wedding day coordination.
Getting into the industry
Ogden recommends that if you're interested in a career as a wedding planner, first work for an events or wedding coordination company, or shadow an experienced wedding planner for a while.
"Planning weddings involves many of the same skills as events management and doing a course on this could be very useful," she says.
Keep in mind that even though you're a wedding planner, you can also plan other related events such as anniversaries, bachelorette or bachelor parties.
You could also specialise in arranging culture-specific weddings that have very particular ceremonial requirements, such as Greek or Hindu weddings.
Ogden says one of the best things about a wedding is when the groom sees his bride for the first time.
"Even though there is a lot of stress on the day, it's this moment and being part of someone's special day that makes it all worthwhile," she says.
QUICK FACTS: Career as a Wedding Planner
SALARY
Varies depending on experience. Some wedding planners add 10% onto each supplier's invoice.
Others are paid 10-15% of the overall wedding budget as their fee.
The client usually pays a deposit to book the wedding date and the planner and the outstanding amount is paid in instalments.
Decide what works for you, but be sure to stipulate in the contract how payments are to be structured.
QUALIFICATIONS
You can do online or events planning courses. Ogden completed a wedding planning course through the SA School of Weddings.
WORKING HOURS
This is not a 9-to-5 job and there is no "average" day. On some days, you may have very little to do, and on others every client you have wants something done. Each workday can be very unpredictable. Keep in mind that weddings take place mostly over weekends and in the evenings, and you have to work at these times.
PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT
You can start your own business or work for an events or wedding planning company. Ogden runs her own wedding planning company.
- SAcareerfocus
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