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Muzique Affair: Events Planning Services & Entertainment

WANT TO BE A WEDDING PLANNER?
Imagine having an exciting high-paying job that lets you use your creativity to organize the happiest day of
peoples lives. Welcome To The World Of Wedding Planning!
There are a few jobs that offer so many benefits. As a wedding planner (also known as bridal consultant,
wedding consultant or wedding coordinator) you will have a job that is fun, interesting and rewarding . If you
start your own wedding planner business you can enjoy the freedom of being your own boss.
In our busy society, an increasing number of couples need to hire a wedding planner to plan their special day.
With more than 2.2 million weddings taking place in the United States along in 2008, there are more
opportunities to become a wedding planner than ever before. Whenever a couple marries, someone is
needed to oversee all the details to ensure the wedding is a success. That someone the wedding
planner could be you!
As long as you have the desire, you can become a wedding planner. No special education or experience is
necessary to break into a career as a wedding planner and succeed.

WANT TO BE A WEDDING PLANNER?

Congratulations on choosing a rewarding career as a wedding planner!
Wedding planners will wear many different hats, including those of organizer, coordinator, supervisor,
director and creator. As a wedding planner, you will ultimately be assisting your clients (the bride and groom)
with planning and creating a fabulous stress-free wedding experience to remember for the rest of their lives.
Join the glamorous and always exciting wedding industry and planning weddings on a professional basis.
Receive your training conveniently and affordably through this basic, comprehensive step-by-step home study
course developed by the Philippine Institute of Weddings an organization dedicated to the highest
standards and levels of professionalism in the wedding industry.
For the individual with a genuine love of weddings and a desire to carve out a career in the glamorous,
romantic, and always invigorating wedding industry, the Philippine Institute of Weddings offers an in-depth
home study course designed to lead the student, step-by-step, through the process of establishing and
operating a successful wedding consulting & coordination service.
The wedding industry offers a uniquely enjoyable atmosphere in which the potential exists to earn a very
rewarding income. The area of consulting/coordinating, specifically, can be a particularly exciting field to
become involved in, provided the consultant is guided by the appropriate knowledge and training.
The wedding consulting business is highly suitable to the home-based operation, however, if desired; it may
also be operated from an office or studio location.

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The services of wedding consultants are also frequently used in the planning of other social events such as
anniversaries, engagement parties, graduation celebrations and other similar functions, creating the
potential for the student to tap into these other markets as well, thereby expanding the overall potential for
their business, if desired.

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BENEFITS OF THIS CAREER
As a wedding planner, you will enjoy a career with tremendous benefits. They include:
REWARDING WORK
You will have the opportunity to do work that is fun and interesting. A career in wedding planning offers
plenty of variety. Chances are no two weddings you work on will be exactly the same, and each one will give
you the opportunity to learn and grow.
PERSONAL FULFILLMENT
Working as a wedding planner allows you to use your creativity and other talents. This career also allows you
to see the results of your efforts, and have the satisfaction of making your vision a reality.
MEETING PEOPLE
As a wedding planner you will meet and interact with a variety of people. You will support and assist the
bride and groom, making their lives easier for them even at least for a day (on their wedding day) and your
work can help people to experience more joy on this happy occasion.
BOOMING INDUSTRY
The wedding is a $45 billion a year industry in the United States alone. Here in the Philippines, it is estimated
to be Php100 million every year. Time is the key element here.
Time is the new money. People would rather spend money than time. Rather than doing it themselves, more
couples are hiring wedding planners to plan their special day.
UNLIMITED INCOME
As a wedding planner, you can certainly earn a comfortable living. Most people perceived that a part-time
wedding planner could actually earn P100, 000.00 or more per year. Experienced and full time wedding
planners who work with wealthy clients may even earn more P150, 000.00 per year
FREEDOM
If you start your own wedding planning business, you will enjoy the freedom of being your own boss. You can
turn down work you dont want and take time off when you want to.
WORKING HOURS
There is no typical week in this profession. Hours for wedding planners/consultants vary tremendously,
depending on current work load, season, day of the week, etc. at some time, you might be working 14-16
hours per day, if you have more than one client and/or are handling creative projects for clients as well as
general booking and organizing. At others, you may have only a few hours of work, or none at all. It can be
very much a feast or famine career.
You should be prepared to work evenings and weekends, because often thats when the clients have time to
meet with you. But you will also need to have weekday, business hours available to make calls and
appointments with vendors, etc. You also should expect to work a lot of Friday night rehearsals and all-day
Saturday weddings. Many clients, if you create a personal bond with them, will want you with them for the
actual wedding events as well as the pre-wedding planning.

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Muzique Affair: Events Planning Services & Entertainment

JOB TITLE: WEDDING PLANNER / COORDNATOR

Wedding Planner is the most popular term to describe people who work in this profession (thanks to
Jennifer Lopez movie, The Wedding Planner; that brought this fabulous profession to the
forefront.)
However, there are actually a variety of titles used to describe people hired to plan weddings. You
may hear any of those as you embark upon your new career, so its good to be aware of them and
understand what people may be referring to. (Although, common practice here in the country, is
that all of those names/titles mean only the same thing.)
Any of the following jobs may be used to refer to someone who plans weddings, although some of
the terms may also have other meanings.
WEDDING COORDINATOR
The most common title given to people hired by the couple for their wedding, however, most of the
coordinators are involved only on the day itself.
WEDDING PLANNER
The term wedding planner is sometimes used interchangeably with wedding coordinator. A
wedding planner assists in planning and organizing any or all aspects of a wedding ceremony and
reception. A wedding planner has a wider scope than just coordinating the wedding on the day
itself. Choosing the right suppliers is one of those responsibilities f a wedding planner.
WEDDING CONSULTANT/SPECIALIST
Typically refers to someone who owns a wedding planning business and someone who have gained
more experiences and knowledge in the industry of weddings. A wedding consultant may plan the
entire wedding or simply consult or give advice to couples who want to plan their own weddings.

WEDDING INDUSTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES

MULTIMILLION INDUSTRY
HIGH END SUPPLIERS
WEDDING BUDGET 500,000 AND UP
PLANNING STARTS 12 MONTHS BEFORE WEDDING
RECESSION PROOF BUSINESS!

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Muzique Affair: Events Planning Services & Entertainment

THE BASIC FILIPINO WEDDING DETAILS

THE FILIPINO WEDDING
Wedding Month: DECEMBER bride NOT JUNE bride
Peak Season: NOVEMBER, JANUARY, APRIL, MAY, JULY, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER
Ghost Month: AUGUST
Lean Season: FEBRUARY, MARCH and JUNE
WEDDING TRADITIONS & SYMBOLS
1. COLOR MOTIF
2. Wedding Gown & Veil: PURITY & INNOCENCE
3. Wedding Ring: THE EVERLASTING LOVE & FIDELITY OF THE SPOUSES
4. Arrhae: (OR COINS) SYMBOLIZES THE SUFFICIENCY OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS THAT THE
HUSBAND SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THE MATERIAL NEEDS OF THE FAMILY
5. Wedding Cord: INFINITE LOVE, UNITY, AND UNBREAKABLE MARRIAGE
6. Wedding Veil: PURITY IN THE MARRIAGE AND THE UNION OF TWO FAMILIES
7. Wedding Doves: PEACE & TRANQUILITY
8. Wedding Cake: PROSPERITY & FORTUNE
9. Garter: MODESTY
10.The Bouquet: FERTILITY & THE START OF A NEW LIFE
11.Unity Candle: PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THEIR MARRIAGE LIFE
12.The White Doves: PURITY & INNOCENCE, AS WELL AS A SIGN OF PEACE BEING ANNOUNCED
TO THE WHOLE WHORLD.
13.Joining of the Hands: COUPLES TOTAL COMMITMENT TO ONE ANOTHER
14.Shower of Rice & Confetti: WISHES OF PROSPERITY FOR THE COUPLE
15.Cake Cutting & Wine Toasting: FIRST MEAL OF COUPLE AS HUBAND & WIFE
16.First Dance: FIRST DANCE OF THE COUPLE AS HUSBAND & WIFE
17.Money Dance: TO BRING PROSPERITY IN THEIR MARRIAGE
18.Best mans Toast: TO CELEBRATE THEIR MARRIAGE LIFE TOGETHER WITH ALL
THE GUESTS
THE WEDDING ENTOURAGE
1. BEST MAN
The closest brother/friend/relative of the groom
Church: Assists the ring, coin, and the bible bearer
Reception: Propose a toast for the couple
2. MAID OF HONOR
The closest sister/friend/relative of the bride
Church & Reception: Assists the bride all the time
Church: Assists with the contract signing

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3. PRINCIPAL SPONSORS
To stand as witness in their marriage
To guide & advice them in their marriage life
4. SECONDARY SPONSORS
Must be one of the special people in the couples life
Candle, Veil & Cord: To stand witness in the lighting of candle, putting the veil & cord
5. ENTOURAGE
Bridesmaid & Groomsman: To assist the couple in the church & reception
Bearers: To bring and hand the ring, coin and the bible
Flower Girls: To shower the isle with petals for the bride
Junior Bride: walks down the isle before the bride; wears a gown exactly the same style that
of the brides
The Duties of Wedding Planners
Typically, wedding planners start off by meeting with the couple to:

understand the events not just the wedding day itself, but also the rehearsal dinner,
bridesmaid teas, day after brunches, and any other related events.
review the overall budget
understand the style, colors, vibe, and taste of the couple
discuss progress to date
They'll then propose how they might be helpful and present the couple with a contract for the
wedding planners' services. Probably they will be a combination of some of the below, depending on
your
needs
and
budget:

Organizational Queens
Even if you're newly engaged, you're probably realizing that this process includes many details that
require you to be organized, stick to a budget, and stay on schedule. So even if you are a well
organized person, you'll want to make sure that your wedding planners are not only on top of things,
but that they'll help you stay on top of things. They'll

create and review vendor contracts

organize your wedding day timeline

coordinate vendor arrivals and deliveries with your venues

prevent expensive mistakes such as rush shipping charges or unnecessary changes

remind you of obligations, appointments, and budget constraints

Style Mavens
For those of you who are looking at bridal magazines, but worry you don't have the aesthetic eye to
pull it off, look for wedding planners who are designers. They can:

give you ideas, and tell you about current trends

help pull together any disjointed elements, and create a unified "look"

see and add details you might have missed

coordinate the florist, caterer, printers, invitation companies, graphic designers and any
other aesthetic vendors

help you choose bridesmaid dresses and other wedding party attire, your bridal gown and/or
groom's wear
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find coordinating and stylish favors

design your tables, lighting and other visual details.

Peace Makers
If you're constantly arguing with your parents, or with each other, wedding planners can use their
negotiating skills to create peace. Whether it's talking to the mother-of-the-groom about the blood
red dress she wants to wear, or helping to mediate budget disagreements, and saving you from
etiquette
snafus,
wedding
planners
can
be
invaluable.
Vendor Resources
Experienced wedding planners have a rolodex of contacts in the biz, so they may be able to find you
that reception venue with the perfect view, or the one caterer who will work with small budgets.
They may also be able to pull in favors to get discounts or freebies.
Day-of-Wedding Coordinators
On your wedding day, you're going to be pulled in a million directions. Old friends will want to say
hello, you'll want to relax and get ready, and people will be asking you far too many questions. And
that's just before the ceremony starts. Wedding planners can help you avoid the chaos by
meeting vendors and deliveries, and handling any no-shows
solving other last-minute emergencies
running the rehearsal
setting up the ceremony and reception spaces
making sure that the wedding party is on time and in the right places
coordinating the reception timeline
dealing with wedding crashers and unruly guests
ensuring that the space is left clean and that you'll get your deposits back
collecting personal items wedding gifts and making sure they get back to you safely.
returning rentals and borrowed items.

Most wedding planners will handle these tasks, but it is possible to hire people just for these tasks.
Though they're called "day-of" coordinators, you should meet with them at least a month in
advance, and they should start confirming with vendors at least a few days before the event.
Full-scale wedding planners for big budget brides
These are the wedding planners that you see on TV. They do everything -- creating a lavish event
to impress and handling all the details while the happy couple just gets to enjoy the whole event.
Things to Watch Out for With Wedding Planners
First and foremost, you need wedding planners who are easy to contact and responsive
to your needs. If they don't return your calls promptly or don't seem organized, look elsewhere.

Beware of wedding planners who are getting kickbacks for recommending certain
vendors make sure you are hearing about vendors who are right for you, and not just those
who have a hand in the wedding planners' pockets.

Make sure that you like their taste and style you want your big day to look like you,
not like your wedding planners.

Like any vendor, you'll want to have a clear contract with your wedding planners that
spell out their duties, costs and expenses, and deposits and payment schedules. Make sure
there are clauses that spell out how increased duties and costs will be negotiated, and what
happens if they fail to meet obligations or you want to cancel the contract.

WHAT A WEDDING PLANNER DOES

Wedding planners can provide a variety of services including:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Complete planning and coordination of wedding

Partial wedding planning of a wedding
On-The-Day coordination of a wedding
Rehearsal services only of a wedding
Consultation services only

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Muzique Affair: Events Planning Services & Entertainment