Here Comes the Bride: Online Training as a Bridal Consultant

by Amelia Gray
Online Degrees Columnist

As the familiar music begins, everyone in the room turns to watch the beautiful bride glide down the aisle. Weddings can be beautiful, and planning them is a practiced art. Now, it's possible to learn the tricks of the trade with an online course in bridal consulting.

How to Become a Wedding Planner
Weddings are big business: one in eight retail dollars is spent on wedding-related products and services, according to Gerard Monaghan, President of the Association of Bridal Consultants. The average cost of a wedding runs at about $17,500, although that number can skyrocket up to $35,000 in larger metropolitan areas. Taking a course online in bridal consulting could be the first step to your career in a lucrative year-round market.

Making a good impression is important in this industry, where word-of-mouth recommendations can mean new jobs. A distance learning course in bridal consulting can give you the skills you need in a convenient online format that doesn't require classroom attendance

Bridal Consulting: Distance Learning Essentials
If you're considering taking a distance learning course in bridal consulting, look for a program that offers a variety of instruction. Bridal consultants should seek training that includes:

How to coordinate invitations, photography, and receptions
Knowledge of proper wedding ceremony etiquette for various cultures/faiths
Instruction in budgeting and marketing

According to American Demographics magazine, there are approximately 2.4 million marriages per year. Working as a bridal consultant requires a sense of humor, the ability to work with people, and a highly organized nature. If you have those skills, an online course can back up your natural ability with education and training.

Source
Entrepreneur.com, "How to Become a Wedding Consultant"

About the Author
Amelia Gray is a teacher and freelance writer in San Marcos, TX. Amelia earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Arizona State University.

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