Wedding consultants, wedding planners, or bridal sales consultants, work directly with clients (brides-to-be) to offer advice for their wedding days. They provide guidance for wedding photography, floral arrangements, wedding gowns, reception venues, and décor. A typical day may include wedding cake tastings, bridal gown shopping, creating invitation lists, and calling venues and vendors to set up appointments and place orders. Wedding consultants with years of experience often keep a portfolio of past weddings that they can show potential clients.
A wedding consultant may have a flexible schedule and needs to be self-motivated and goal-oriented. Previous retail sales experience in a high-volume environment is helpful. Wedding consultants often work customized schedules for commission rates, and the environment is fast-paced and stressful. They must have time management and multi-tasking abilities. Sales, marketing, or customer service experience is preferred. Excellent organization skills and basic computer skills are necessary to complete transactions. Some wedding consulting companies offer thorough training programs and support from executives along the way.
Wedding consultants must be outgoing, friendly, and customer-oriented. They frequently meet with clients, listen to their requests, and offer solutions for their wedding needs. Their goal is to make the bride-to-be happy and make sure her big day is perfect. A pleasant and professional demeanor helps wedding consultants connect with clients. They build and maintain relationships with customers by regularly communicating throughout the entire planning process. In order for wedding consultants to speak with clients from various backgrounds, bilingual skills are a plus.