Event and Wedding Planning

Event and Wedding Planning
Course Outline

The IEWPTM (International Event and Wedding Planning Professional Certification) professional event and wedding planning course will equip you with all the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this fast growing industry. Bonus business modules have also been added to the course, providing you with the tools needed to start your own event and wedding planning business. The course is full of practical assignments to prepare you for a rewarding career, and the best part is there are no exams. Study from home and get professionally certified today!

Here is an overview of what you will learn:

Unit A

• Introduction to event planning: An in-depth look into industry opportunities and your role as a professional event planner.
• The planning timeframe: Learn how to collect important information from your clients and plan on short timeframes.
• Primary event components: Discover the eight primary event components and learn how they apply to every event.
• Secondary event components: Learn about the more complex components used for larger events.
• The planning budget: Learn how to set the budget, how to organise budget priorities, and how to raise additional funds.
• Starting your own business (optional): Learn how to choose a great business name, how to write a business plan, and exactly how to get established.
• Internal corporate events: Discover the world of corporate events and learn how to plan meetings, workshops, and team-building retreats.

Unit B

• Milestone parties: Learn how to plan birthday parties, baby showers, retirement parties, and other life markers.
• Holiday and theme parties: An exciting module on holiday functions and a variety of creative theme parties.
• Social internal corporate events: A close look at how to plan parties and many other social events for corporate clients, from incentive travel, to staff training, and more.
• External corporate events: Learn how to plan groundbreaking ceremonies, open houses, product launches, and customer appreciation events.
• Marketing and promotion (optional): Learn how to sell your services and start making money!

Unit C

• Parties for children and teens: Learn how to create fun and memorable events for tots and teens.
• Religious rites and funerals: You'll learn all the special considerations involved in planning baptisms, first communions, and other religious rites. Next, we'll show you how you can appropriately assist those who have lost a loved one by helping them organise the funeral and the gatherings associated with the service.
• Industry and special events: Gain the skills you need to plan large-scale industry and special events like fundraisers, public exhibitions, tradeshows, and arts events.
• Working with clients and vendors (optional): Develop selling skills, learn how to respond to requests for proposals, learn how to work with vendors, and much more.

Unit D

• The world of wedding planning: An exciting look at the duties and responsibilities of a wedding planner and the services you can offer.
• The wedding step-by-step: A detailed look at all the events that take place before, during, and after the wedding.
• Wedding roles: Learn the roles of all the important people involved in a wedding and their responsibilities. Learn how to manage and help them.
• Working with the wedding party: Take a look at all the possible situations that might arise with brides, grooms and attendants during the wedding process. Learn how to solve all sorts of predicaments.
• Religious wedding variations: An overview of the customs and traditions of a wide range of religious faiths.
• Civil and cultural variations: Learn the basic practices and requirements for both civil and cultural ceremonies.

Unit E

• Early planning tools: You'll get a complete wedding planning timeline, including planning forms, templates, checklists, and handouts to give to the bridal party.
• The wedding budget: Examine examples of wedding budgets, both small and large, and discover how to spend money wisely.
• Pre-wedding parties: Help your clients plan elegant parties, wedding showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, stag and doe parties, and the important rehearsal dinner.
• The guest list and wedding stationery: A detailed look at how to develop and manage the guest list, how to select and design wedding stationary, as well as invitation etiquette and wording.
• Wedding attire and aesthetics: Learn how to help your clients choose engagement and wedding rings, how to guide the wedding party in choosing their attire and accessories, and how to help them find professional hair and makeup services.

Unit F

• Planning the ceremony: Learn the different options available for religious and non-religious ceremony venues. You'll also learn about poetry and readings, music, the marriage vows, and the rehearsal.
• Planning the reception: Learn how to choose the perfect reception location, how to select the menu and how to get special event permits.
• Reception vendors: Practice sourcing vendors for the reception including food and catering, music and entertainment, alcohol and bartending, and many others.
• After the wedding: Learn about the reception take-down, wedding gift transportation, dress and flower preservation, thank-you cards, and the professional planner's post-wedding wrap-up.
• Special topics: You'll learn about second marriages, vow renewals, and destination weddings. You'll also cover planning on short notice and what to do if the wedding is called off.

Recognition

The IEWPTM programme is recognised by the Association for Wedding Professionals International (AFWPI), an established international organisation that provides the event and wedding industry with a central place for information and referrals.

AFWPI members benefit from getting discount services and networking opportunities. Its referral service is an excellent resource for both professionals and clients. AFWPI members receive monthly mailing lists of clients looking for assistance, a great tool when trying to start or grow your business.

Students of our school are eligible to join the AFWPI's new student programme, and graduates, IEWP professionals, can become a regular member and receive additional benefits.

How It Works

The IEWPTM programme was designed to be an enjoyable and easy-to-follow learning experience. You'll work through your course as follows:

Step 1: Your course begins

All the beautiful course materials you need to get started arrive in the mail and your exciting path to becoming an event and wedding planner begins! Study at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home! Your study guide will lead you through the course step by step. It will begin by giving you an in-depth introduction to the world of event and wedding planning. You will then get detailed instructions on how to go through your course materials and when to send your completed assignments to the School.

Step 2: You follow your course guide, read your lessons and watch the School's movies

Your course is carefully designed to give you all the knowledge, skills and tools you need to become a successful event and wedding planner. Your full-colour course texts walk you through every single step involved in planning an event. Our exclusive DVD set, "Professional Planning Secrets," gives you vital insider information on the whole event and wedding planning industry.

Step 3: You work on your assignments and start to develop your professional skills

All the course assignments have been designed in a way that give you practical experience both as an event and wedding planner and as a business owner. You'll gain practice in organisation, seeking and working with clients and vendors, and in outlining timeframes. You'll even get templates to make completing your exercises a breeze.

Step 4: You contact the School for support

We believe you deserve all the support you need to complete the course. You can either call or email the school with any questions about the course. Our counsellors will be more than delighted to help you or connect you directly with your personal tutor.

Step 5: Your instructor carefully reviews your work

All of your exercises are given directly to your personal tutor. He or she will critique your work and provide you with detailed audio commentary, identifying both your strengths and weaknesses. Remember, your tutor is a working event and wedding planner, eager to share his or her experiences in order to get you on the fast-track to becoming an event and wedding planner yourself.

Step 6: You move smoothly from step to step

You move on to the next unit in the course. You'll be introduced to new concepts and build on materials you've just learned. You'll develop your professional skills and gain confidence as you work through the course.

Sept 7: You graduate and receive your IEWP certification

Once you've completed and passed all your assignments, you will receive your certificate in the mail and officially become an IEWP certified event and wedding planning professional! You can finish your course and graduate in as little as four months!