Overview

PDT-BusWED-01

Professional Wedding Planning Certificate

Have you ever dreamed of combining your passion for business, event planning, and relationship building into a career? Join UNH Professional Development and Training for a multi-week certificate program dedicated to helping you turn your career aspirations into reality. A group of experienced industry professionals will guide you through what it takes to be a successful wedding planner in a dynamic, growing industry. Participants with experience in the hospitality industry will benefit most from this program, but experience is not required. Please click the "What You Will Learn" tab to view the specific agenda for the program, and begin the journey towards your wedding planning career!

What You Will Learn

PDT-BusWED-01

Professional Wedding Planning Certificate

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

SESSION 1 | Wednesday, June X, 20XX
Led by Linnea Tangorra

  • Introductions
  • Overview of the wedding industry
  • The role of a “wedding planner” – realities and misconceptions
  • The event planning process (research, design, planning, execution, evaluation/follow up)
  • Sample wedding planning timeline
  • A Day in the Life of a Planner

SESSION 2 | Wednesday, June X, 20XX
Led by Linnea Tangorra

  • Learning about weddings
  • Client intake and contracting
  • Budgeting for the client
  • Matching clients with correct vendors
  • Vendor selection, negotiation, and contracting
  • GUEST(s) – Event DJ

SESSION 3 | Wednesday, June XX, 20XX
Led by Nicole Mower

  • Site selection, inspections, use and setup, floor plans
  • Venue contracts and room blocks
  • Insurance
  • Food and beverage overview
  • Liquor and liability issues
  • GUEST(s) - Catering Manager

SESSION 4 | Wednesday, June XX, 20XX
Led by Linnea Tangorra

  • Theme, vision, and style
  • Floral selection and design
  • Music, lighting, videography, photography
  • Tents, rentals,
  • Cakes and food vendors
  • Day-of scheduling, communication, and execution
  • GUEST(s) – Florist, Tent Rental

SESSION 5 | Wednesday, July XX, 20XX
Led by Nicole Mower

  • Translating client vision and expectations
  • Etiquette and traditions – religious, ethnic, marriage equality
  • Invitations and printed materials
  • Bridal party attire, hair + makeup
  • Logistics of the wedding day
  • Transportation
  • GUEST(s) – Photographer

SESSION 6 | Wednesday, July XX, 20XX
Led by Tiffany Learned

  • The business of planning weddings – in-house event manager vs. independent contractor
  • Marketing and branding
  • Starting a business and business structure (S corp vs. sole proprietor, etc.)
  • Key forms and documents
  • GUEST(s) – Business Lawyer

SESSION 7 | Wednesday, July XX, 20XX
Led by Linnea Tangorra

  • Sample wedding day timeline
  • Post-event evaluation and follow up
  • Building and expanding your wedding planning business
  • GUEST(s) – networking opportunity with regional wedding consultants

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OFF SITE EVENT: An optional site visit to a local venue will be held on Saturday, June XX. Times and location TBD. 

Tools & Materials

PDT-BusWED-01

Professional Wedding Planning Certificate

All participants will receive a hard copy of "Start Your Own Wedding Consultant Business: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Success" by Entrepreneur Press, as well as a binder of resources and access to digital files. 

Instructor Bios

PDT-BusWED-01

Professional Wedding Planning Certificate

  • Nicole Mower

    Nicole Mower has an award-winning event planning business and also serves as the Leader of the Seacoast New England chapter of The Rising Tide Society. She has been voted Best Wedding Planner in New Hampshire Magazine's Best of Bride, featured in multiple national blogs, newspapers and magazines and has taught at workshops and events for other wedding professionals. In addition to planning weddings, she has also assisted with the planning of a full day educational workshop for New England wedding professionals where more than 100 wedding professionals in attendance. Her latest venture is the Seacoast Wellness Series which she co-founded with Bridget Shannon of Wellness Lately.  Their first event, The Summit, is the Seacoast’s first premier full day wellness event. The Summit brings together wellness enthusiasts, educators, entrepreneurs, and leading businesses from all over the Seacoast. She also manages the events at two Historic New England properties - The Governor John Langdon House in downtown Portsmouth and the Hamilton House in South Berwick, Maine. She spends her free time bartending part-time in downtown Portsmouth, NH, attending conferences and workshops so better serve her community and clients, and enjoys hanging oceanside with her husband, rescue pup, and friends.

  • Linnea Tangorra

    Linnea Tangorra, owner of Tangorra Wedding Planning (Newburyport and Boston MA), has a degree in Business Marketing and has worked in the advertising and event planning industry for thirteen years. In 2003, after planning several events and weddings, she combined her professionalism and experience in business and her passion for wedding consulting to create Tangorra Wedding Planning. Linnea has been professionally trained through the Association of Bridal Consultants and has worked with some of the finest providers and vendors in the industry. 
This course is currently unavailable.