How to become a professional wedding decorator?

Some may think that there is nothing complicated in the work of a wedding decorator. However, this is not the case. After all, such a person is responsible for decorating wedding events, namely for making the newlyweds’ dreams come true. And for this you need to be able to feel clients who cannot always explain what they want.

Get a private entrepreneur license

Of course, you can get a job at a wedding agency. But most often, wedding decorators work for themselves. And by and large, a license is not needed for this. You may need it if you want to expand your business, become its owner and hire assistants. In addition, it is better to pay a small amount of taxes than to answer unpleasant questions from the tax inspector.

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Approximate costs

Wedding planning, if properly organized, can be quite a profitable business. The agency must have an office near the registry office. The cost of renting such premises is quite high, however, it pays off. An area of about 30 sq.m is required to accommodate office equipment, furniture, as well as tables to perform all work. On average, the rental price for such premises is about 40,000 rubles per month.

It will take about 300,000 rubles to furnish the office (decorating the premises, purchasing furniture, computers and office equipment).

Since the vast majority of decorative elements for a wedding will be made in the office itself from purchased materials, the entrepreneur will need:

— desktop – 20,000 rubles;

— tools (scissors, knives, screwdrivers, office equipment, etc.) – 30,000 rubles.

In total, the work area will require an investment of 50,000 rubles.

To carry out decorating work, you will need at least 2 assistants. The salary of each of them should be 40,000 rubles. It is welcome if employees have experience in the field of design and floristry.

The consumables used to create decorations will be fresh flowers, paper, cardboard, ribbons, etc. They can be purchased both from stationery stores and from flower suppliers. All finishing work is carried out in the office and the venue of the celebration.

The approximate markup for created products ranges from 50 to 100% and higher (depending on the product). On average, the markup is about 80%. The average bill for a wedding planning agency is about 40,000 rubles. Accordingly, the profit will be about 36,000 rubles from registration of 1 wedding.

In this case, the preparatory work can be carried out over 2-3 days; accordingly, approximately 10 weddings can be arranged every month, which will make it possible to make a profit of 240,000 rubles. However, in winter, profits may drop, since the wedding business is seasonal.

Advertise yourself

Word of mouth is the best advertising for a wedding decorator. Therefore, your reputation is of great importance for a successful career. If time allows, do not only wedding decoration, but also decorate children's and any other events. This will all be a plus for you. Make beautiful business cards or brochures listing your services and distribute them to wedding supply stores and florists. Attend or participate in bridal shows and exhibitions and offer assistance to brides-to-be who are frequent guests at such events.

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Features of the profession

The work of a decorator begins with the production of graphic or color sketches and a layout, preparing the necessary materials for decoration, taking into account their appearance and quality. The next stage is the execution of drawings, according to which carpenters or model makers will produce the most complex design elements.

In general, the functional responsibilities of a decorator are as follows:

development of artistic and design projects and technical documentation;
creating style and color collages;
selection of materials, furniture, textiles, lamps, accessories;
design of exhibition stands, shops, showrooms, trading floors;
development of plans, drawings and sketches of scenery projects;
participation in the preparation of estimates, distribution of the allocated budget;
participation in design and finishing works;
designer's supervision and control over the timing of decorations;
direct execution of interior design work;
assistance in preparation for exhibitions, photo sessions and advertising events.

How to become a wedding planner

5 steps to becoming a wedding planner

Step 1 Get Formal Training
To learn the ins and outs of wedding planning, professionals can take a diploma program.
During these programs, students learn about contract negotiations, vendor relations, budget management, marketing strategies, and bridal registries. Additionally, students learn about various wedding ceremonies, attire, and stationery, as well as etiquette for these events. Step 2 Gain Practical Experience
Although completing a wedding planning diploma program can introduce students to the fundamentals they need to work in the field, hands-on experience is required to apply these concepts in everyday practice. Wedding planners can gain this experience by participating in an internship with a wedding planning agency. planning events and helping your friends plan their weddings.
Step 3 Select a Niche
Choosing a niche can help professionals stand out and enhance their expertise in a particular field.
Some niches that professionals can pursue include wedding planning, same-sex weddings, and wedding planning. Step 4 Find a Mentor
People who are new to business can learn by partnering with someone who has experience.
Finding an experienced mentor can help wedding planners see the day-to-day realities of the job, which is especially helpful if they want to start their own company. Step 5 Obtain a Professional Certification
Although wedding planners do not require certification to operate a business, these credentials can be useful for distinguishing themselves in the market. The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners offers certifications that can be obtained online or on your own. To earn this designation, professionals take courses in supplier relations, sales, workflow and budgeting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Obtaining Your Wedding Planner Certification

Many entry-level insurance agents learn their responsibilities by working alongside more experienced agents. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions from new and aspiring insurance agents:

Wedding manager salary and employment growth

Wedding planning can be a rewarding career, but before people say "I do" to the field, they need to know that they will have good job opportunities. This section discusses the job market for wedding planners as well as earning potential.

According to PayScale, the median annual income for wedding planners is $40,343, with the bottom 10 percent earning about $24,000 and the top earners earning at least $74,000. The site also lists how much these workers earn at different stages of their careers, as follows:


Mid-career (5 to 10 years)	$49,000
With experience (from 10 to 20 years)	$50,000

According to Planner's Lounge, there are several factors that can affect how much wedding planners earn. Some of these variables include years of experience, services offered, and business location.

Alabama Average Salary per Year: $43,790

Currently occupied: 400

Change in employment (2016-2026): 7.40%

Alaska Average Salary per Year: $60,020

Currently working: 80

Change in employment (2016-2026): 5.90%

Arizona Average Salary per Year: $ 44 890

Currently occupied: 1770

Change in employment (2016-2026): 16.90%

Arkansas Average Salary per Year: $ 43 830

Currently working: 570

Change in employment (2016-2026): 10.50%

California Average Salary per Year: $ 56 520

Currently occupied: 13 910

Change in employment (2016-2026): 14.10%

Colorado Average Annual Salary: $ 47 570

Currently employed: 3,350

Change in employment (2016-2026): 23.60%

Connecticut Average Salary per Year: $59,650

Currently employed: 670

Change in employment (2016-2026): 7.20%

Delaware Average Salary per Year: $50,530

Currently working: 220

Change in employment (2016-2026): 10.30%

Florida Average Salary per Year: $47,200

Currently occupied: 6,580

Change in employment (2016-2026): 21.70%

Georgia Average salary per year: $50,870

Currently occupied: 2690

Change in employment (2016-2026): 13.90%

Hawaii Average Salary per Year: $55,580

How to choose a wedding decorator

The wedding services market in Russia is very dynamic. Thanks to the unlimited possibilities of social networks, any interesting trend quickly gains momentum. So, in recent years, decorative design services have added a significant percentage of the total wedding budget. It turns out that professional holiday decoration is no less important than the restaurant, photographer and host. Let's think about how to approach the choice responsibly) An integrated approach Modern wedding decor is not limited to, say, only flowers or fabric draperies. For the desired result, you need a multi-faceted approach: these include floral arrangements in various forms, decorative fabrics, design elements for guest seating, furniture and tablecloths with skirts (if necessary), screens, stands, signs and much more. Taken together, all these elements will create a seamless and stylish decoration in which everything will fit together and be pleasing to the eye. Sometimes, tempted by a lower price or some other factor, some people divide the design work between several contractors, be it different studios or just a friend who knows one thing. There are several risks with this approach. • You will have to communicate with everyone separately, waste precious time, send photos and color samples to contractors from each other, maybe even several times. • Different components are unlikely to be a perfect match. The fabric may not match the color of the compositions. Or flowers on forged stands, and table numbers in a plastic frame. • If one of the participants does not do their job well, the overall appearance will suffer. We recommend paying attention to gifts - whether they are worth accepting. Restaurants often offer table skirt draping for free; ask what it would look like so that the gift doesn't upset you. The theme of wedding decor has now become a very fashionable hobby, so, probably, every person on their friend list has a friend who is a novice decorator. If you want to consider this option, make sure she knows that the fabric needs to be finished, tape with a burnt edge will scratch and snag, the seating plan needs to be placed on something, have time to do the installation in 2-3 hours (and apparently miss the ceremony). Ask if they know for sure what an element will look like and how it will be done. Accordingly, decorators must be able to work with different materials and have a good set of props that will allow them not to limit their imagination in developing a project. Please note the presence of a portfolio. Speaking of portfolios , there are many offers from banquet halls with their own floristry and textile design. As a rule, their portfolio is in order: in the room you have chosen there will be several ready-made options, all with good illustrations and everything is suitable. Naturally, it is convenient when you have your own room, all the fabrics are sewn well to fit, and there is an opportunity to reuse them. If the color of the textiles in the restaurant’s offer suits you, you can safely order. However, you should be careful about the floristic component: it may turn out that most of the photographs in the restaurant’s portfolio are the work not of their court florists, but of third-party decorators. The difference in the end can be quite noticeable. Props In decor, a lot depends on the props. Decorator's props include various vases, candlesticks, stands, frames, easels, baguettes, screens, three-dimensional letters, cages, arches. All this, as a rule, is provided as an integral part of the decor. The presence and quality of props is a very reliable indicator of the level of professionalism of decorators. The most current example is the arch for exit registration. Very often you can see decorators working on garden arches, which are sold at OBI. Everything can be wonderful until the wind blows: thin hollow pipes bend, the arch is deformed, it barely stands, a mountain of stones is placed at the base of the pillars, the look is sad. A beautiful design must be framed with high quality, and high-quality props are not cheap; only professionals can afford them. Knowing the site In order to design a space well, you need to understand what the environment looks like. Before accepting the decorators' proposal, make sure that all ideas will look organic in the interior. It’s great if the decorators are already familiar with the venue, have an idea of how high the ceilings are, what kind of lighting is in the room, where the sun is shining from, what color the tablecloths are, what kind of chairs they are. Many details of the interior of the restaurant itself or the area for off-site registration will greatly influence the overall appearance of the design. Naturally, it is unlikely that anyone has managed to visit all the sites in the city, but decorators certainly should not refuse to inspect the site in advance, take their measurements, and ask the administrators the right questions. Presentation of the project When signing a contract for the design of your wedding, you must imagine quite accurately what it will look like. Moreover, you and your decorator need to imagine the future result in the same way. Many decorators, and customers too, do not want an exact repetition of the picture. Brides want to have unique decor at their wedding, and decorators are more interested in adding different works to their portfolio rather than making carbon copies. Naturally, this approach imposes additional difficulties: how to present, illustrate and describe everything in the contract. If you are ordering an expensive wedding decoration, you have the right to ask for a high-quality presentation. Decorators can offer you: • photo selections to illustrate shapes, color combinations, colors used and accessories (here are the racks, on them compositions of this size, from such and such flowers, will look similar to this and that photograph); • sketches to illustrate the exit registration area or the newlyweds’ table: what shape the draperies will be, how the table will look against the background of the screen, how the decorative elements will be arranged; • trial compositions in reduced or full volume. You just need to understand that purchasing flowers or fabrics to hold a presentation is an expensive business and, accordingly, should pay off later. It is also worth understanding the reluctance of decorators to present a project with selections and sketches remotely, by e-mail. The fact is that drawing up a project is serious work that takes a lot of time. At the same time, it is possible that the customer will decide to send the finished project to competitors for a tender. Pricing The question of the price of wedding decor is a separate, delicate point.
Decorators often rack their brains about what price to set, but for the customer this question is generally difficult to understand. One way or another, you still need to understand why it costs so much. This is also the job of a professional decorator: to explain the difference between 30,000 rubles for a hall and 100,000 rubles. The maximum budget for decoration, especially taking into account the Western market, can really be anything, but the price must be motivated. Here are the main factors that influence the price of a project. • Number of decorative elements. How many tables with flower arrangements, how many columns in the exit registration aisle, how many meters is the perimeter of the staircase drapery, how many place cards or compliments for guests. The cost of all elements is added up, multiplied by the quantity. • Basic cost of fabric materials used. Different types of fabric can vary greatly in price. • Floral decor filling. Flowers are inexpensive, expensive and very expensive. Plus there is also a seasonality factor, for example, peonies in February will cost 3 times more than in June. There is another subtle point here: the ratio of the declared colors and greenery in the compositions. It’s one thing to have a clearing of cheap greenery with 7 roses and a palm tree branch sticking out in different directions; another thing is to be densely packed with flowers at different levels. • The need to produce unique props. For example, if you want a special screen in the shape of a heart, and the decorators have to make it for you, there is little chance of using it in the future. • Special installation conditions. Some restaurants are only allowed in 2 hours before the start of the event; you might not have time to set up much decor. Or, who knows, to implement the idea you like, you will need a high-rise installer. There are probably other factors, but those listed above are quite obvious. If you carefully regulate them, you can skillfully manage your wedding decoration budget: set your priorities correctly to get what you want at a price that suits you. An experienced decorator will be able to help you manage your budget correctly, so it makes sense at the meeting to outline the desired framework so that you are not teased by obviously expensive ideas, and the budget is not scattered on unnecessary decorative elements. It is also often important to give experienced decorators the opportunity to prove themselves, justify their trust and create something to their taste. This is very encouraging and motivating, and most likely the result will exceed your expectations. I wish you everything goes perfectly! Director of L'Flowers studio link

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