A wedding planner invoice is a post or pre-service billing document that contains highly detailed information regarding the planning services that were ordered by a soon-to-be, or newly married couple. The document, which is typically professional in nature, should contain any pertinent notes regarding service, how the clients are required to go about paying for the services, and the date that the invoice should be paid in full. Depending on the wedding planner’s preference, payment can be requested weeks in advance of the wedding or after a set amount of days post-wedding.

What does a Wedding Planner do?

Wedding planners are responsible for organizing and overseeing weddings to ensure they go as planned and on budget. Depending on the to-be-married couple, the wedding planner can have complete control over every aspect of the wedding after discussing the couple’s preferences and budget (called a “Full-Service Coordinator”), or they can offer advice and guidance on a single subject or task. The exact tasks and responsibilities a wedding planner may be entrusted with are entirely dependent on the couple getting married and the amount of planning they desire to do personally. Nonetheless, a wedding planner can be expected to do the following:

• Schedule Planning
• Budgeting 
• Wedding Design
• RSVP + Vendor Communication
• Wedding Etiquette
• Wedding Schedule + Rehearsal

How to Become a Wedding Planner

To become a wedding planner, there is no standard set path. Many great planners have received no formal education, and others believe it to be essential. Regardless, for those looking to maximize their chances of starting a successful wedding planning business, the following steps can only aid in achieving the goal:

1. Complete High School – Earning a high school diploma or GED is mandatory for those seeking a college education in an applicable major for wedding planning. For those looking to become a wedding planner without formal education, having a diploma may not be necessary.
2. Earn a Degree – Both Associates and Bachelors degrees can put prospective wedding planners on a strong career path. Recommended degrees include event planning, tourism & hospitality, business, and marketing. Regardless of the degree chosen, it is highly suggested the student enrolls in classes relating to business and entrepreneurship due to the majority of wedding planners being freelancers and small business owners.
3. Obtain Certifications – Upon graduating with a degree, earning a certification can give clients a sense of trust that the services they receive are reputable. The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP) is a trusted organization that provides both training and certifications bundled together in one course package. The AACWP offers three (3) wedding planner designations, which include the Trained Wedding Planner, the Certified Wedding Planner, and the Certified Master Wedding Planner. Training can be taken online as well as in-house.

Wedding Planner Salary & Hourly Rate ($/hr)

Salary: $48,418/yr (source: PayScale)

Hourly Rate: $21/hr (source: ZipRecruiter)