•   1. Do you find yourself volunteering to plan weddings or parties, for family, friends and acquaintances?  
•   2. If you planned your own wedding did you find that you enjoyed it a little bit too much?
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•   3. If we contacted Modern Bride and Martha Stewart Weddings, would we find that you have an annual subscription, but you're not engaged or already married?
•   4. Are fine details important to you?
•   5. Is budgeting your time and keeping on a schedule part of your everyday life? 
•   6. Do you enjoy socializing and being around people?
•   7. Are you passionate about party details? 
•   8. Are you the first one to come up with a wedding or event theme...the moment you find out about the engagement? 
•   9. Are you unhappy in your job and day dream about wedding cake, bridal gowns and bouquets?
•   10. Do you think about finding a job in the wedding industry or running your own wedding and event planning business?
• Results = If you answered YES to the majority of these questions, you are a perfect candidate for a career as a wedding planner! 
• Now which type of Wedding Planner are YOU? 
• As you consider this career path, you need to examine the type of wedding planning career you are looking for. There are three career path options: 
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•   1. Wedding Planner Business Owner 
•   2. Wedding Planner Employee 
•   3. Wedding Planner Hobbyist 
• The majority of wedding planners are independent business owners who run their own business. Out of this group of business owners, most work part-time. The industry is structured such that the wedding planner runs her own business, picking up bridal clients, planning their weddings and offering suggestions on vendor selection, planning ideas, how to keep on budget, etc. To learn more about starting your own wedding planning business, please read through our section on Start a Business.
• If you’re not the entrepreneurial type, but are serious about planning wedding for a living, they you'll want to go the route of being hired by a wedding planning firm, hotel, or destination wedding resort. Finding a job as a wedding planner can be more of a challenge, however, jobs in the industry have become more readily available over the last few years, due to the shift in the wedding planning industry. Review our Find a Job section for more detailed information on what you can do to prepare to be hired by an employer.
• The last option is the wedding planner hobbyist. If you find that you enjoy planning weddings, but do not have the drive to start your own wedding planning business or enough ambition to find a job as a wedding planner, don't fret...planning weddings is a great hobby and you should continue doing what you enjoy. Help your friends and family, and have fun doing it. You'll know when you're ready to make the move to the next level.

What does the bride expect from a wedding planner?                  The wedding planner should set the expectations of the client, right from the start. Whether your running your own business or representing a business, the first consultation will set the tone for the rest of the "planning relationship". Most brides truly don't understand what a wedding planner does or can do. They "assume" that a wedding planner is there to plan the wedding start to finish and that the planner has entire control over the event, which is just not true. A wedding planner is there to assist in the planning process, based on the bride's (client) needs.

• How do I start my Wedding Planning Career?
• The first step in approaching any new career is doing your homework.  Learn as much as you can about the career from educational requirements to salary.  www.WeddingPlanningCareer.net provides an excellent overview of the career as a wedding planner. 
• Here are the basic steps in getting your career as a wedding planner started: