Want to start a business? Plan a wedding!

NO, this is not a much-delayed review of the Hollywood comedy starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey. But if you did love the movie and wish you could have Jennifer's job, read on…

According to wedding planner Dipa Sheth of Occasionz Unlimited, "A wedding planner is a full-time manager. Everything that you can think of in a wedding is done by the wedding planner!"

So, if you want to be a wedding planner, beware, because you have to handle everything from the budgeting to the baraat.

On a budget

You will have to get to work with the preliminary preparations. This includes the very important budget discussions!

Dipa says, "Most clients who come to us don't know much about their budget and how much they plan to spend. You have to help them come to a best possible plan within a suitable budget."

Most of the times, you will be hired to plan the wedding ceremony and the reception. However, if you have the experience and the popularity, you could be asked to plan all the functions in a wedding, starting from the engagement!

Planning and networking

As a wedding planner, networking should be the prime feature on your agenda. This is because the more people you are connected with, the better deals you will get and consequently, you will also get more clients.

Work can be fun too…and after you have overcome the initial hassles about budgeting issues with the respective families there is an entire wedding to be planned!

You need to sit with both families and decide on the number of functions, venue, food and the budget! You should have enough contacts (and clout) to offer your clients discounts on food and venue.

Invitations need to be sent out as well, If you are handling the invitation design, make sure you have a range of designs to offer.

Apart from the above, you also need to plan a concept or theme for the wedding, make travel and stay reservations for out-station guests and arrange for videographers and photographers.

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What does it take?

According to Dipa, "You should have excellent managerial skills to be a wedding planner. You also need to be creative and have unique ideas. No one wants the same ghisa pita (done to death) concepts all the time."

Remember, a wedding is a once in a lifetime event for people. So every family will want it to be the BEST.

Moolah matters…

According to Dipa, "In the West, wedding planners are hired as a service. But here, it is still a matter of status and prestige. The market is still very unorganised."

Hence, there are no fixed rates as such. You can charge your clients through a dual mode of payment.

The first would be a management fee, which is a fixed price for coordinating the entire marriage event.

You can also charge a percentage for each service that you offer, which is anywhere between a 7 to 20 per cent.

For 'on site coordination', a bulk payment is made to the wedding planner for managing the entire wedding from start to finish. The bride or groom's family need not be at the venue to see that things are functioning smoothly. They can arrive in time for the wedding, quite like the rest of the guests!

Getting started

In India, any wedding is an event in itself! You need to enrol yourself for a course in event management to learn the basics. This includes planning, scheduling and even managing accounts!

A good idea is to start work as a trainee with an event management firm to learn how a professional setup functions.

This is also a great way to build your network with caterers, decorators, venues, travel agents, etc.

Once you have learnt the tricks of the trade, you can then think of branching out on your own, Begin by organising smaller functions -- like an engagement or sangeet ceremony for family and friends.

Wedding planning is a fun, challenging job. If you like being in charge and love interacting with people, a career as a wedding planner is just right for you!

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