Services typically include consulting with couples and helping them to arrange their wedding, and sourcing and booking suppliers such as photographers, caterers, venue-decoration services, transport and entertainment. Wedding planners often carry out the administrative work associated with the event, including managing the budget, organising the itinerary and seating plan, overseeing the sending out of invitations and providing help with themes and colour schemes.

Wedding planners usually offer couples a choice between a ‘full planning’ package, which involves organising the whole wedding from start to finish, or various different ‘partial planning’ packages, which provide support just for the final view weeks or on the day itself, or support with specific tasks.

This profile provides information about starting up and trading as a wedding planner. It describes the skills required, the training available, the current market trends and the key trading issues. It also explains the legislation that must be complied with and provides sources of further information and support.