How to write a wedding planner CV (with an example)

Wedding planners are professionals who help couples organise their weddings. This can be a good role to consider for those who like working with other people outside of traditional office environments. If you're interested in becoming a wedding planner, knowing how to write an effective CV can be very helpful. In this article, we explain what a wedding planner does, describe how to write a wedding planner CV and provide you with an example of one.

What is a wedding planner?

Understanding the typical tasks of a wedding planner can help you to determine what to write on your CV. A wedding planner is someone who plans and organises weddings for couples. This allows the couple more freedom to get ready and enjoy themselves in the period preceding their wedding, rather than becoming preoccupied with wedding preparations. The wedding planner meets with the couple ahead of time to discuss their budget and requirements. The planner can also suggest themes and provide advice to the couple.

Once they know what the couple wants, the wedding planner can prepare quotations and proposals and start contacting suppliers like photographers, florists and caterers to secure prices. They track these costs over time to ensure that they don't exceed the total budget and attend the ceremony on the day to ensure that everything proceeds smoothly. In their own time, wedding planners can also research new products and suppliers, promote their services and expand their professional network, as many of them work independently.

Related: How to become a wedding planner (with tips and key skills)

How to write a wedding planner CV

Knowing how to write a wedding planner CV is going to be useful for getting more work or clients. Here are some steps to consider:

1. Do some research

Prior to writing your CV, it's useful to first conduct some research. The nature of this research depends on the sort of work you want to get. Many wedding planners work independently, whereas others may work for events companies or similar employers on a contractual basis. If you're looking for employment with an organisation, research the vacancy and the hiring organisation itself. Carefully review the job advertisement and take note of any keywords, special skills or other attributes you find.

For an independent wedding planner, it can be useful to research the market. Try to identify recent trends and popular ideas, in addition to any other conditions that might affect people's expectations. For both independent work and employment, the information you gather is going to be useful for tailoring your CV when you write it.

Related: How to write a freelance CV (with tips, template and sample)

2. Write a compelling summary

When a hiring manager or potential client looks at your CV, the first part they're going to see is your summary. This is near the top of your CV, just below your contact details and personal information. This makes the summary essential for getting the reader's attention, which can be crucial when you want to stand out from multiple other candidates. Use the information you gathered from researching to inform your summary.

You can include a couple of keywords that you found, in addition to mentioning important achievements and skills that you possess. Remember to keep your summary to just a few lines in length.

Related: CV summary examples (and 5 steps for how to write one)

3. Describe your experience

One of the most compelling parts of your CV is your experience section, as previous work in wedding planning is likely to reassure potential clients and employers. You can use broadly the same method of describing both independent work and employment. For each previous role you've had, write your job title, the years worked, the employer and location. For independent work, you can replace the name of the employer with a word like freelance or similar. For every entry in your experience list, you can add a few bullet points to list key tasks and achievements.

If you've only ever worked as an independent wedding planner, it can be a good idea to add a few extra bullet points to provide additional detail, since this is the only entry on your CV's work experience section. If you've previously held other roles that aren't directly related to wedding planning, you can focus the information in your bullet points on transferrable tasks like organisation, planning, budgeting and others that are useful for a wedding planner. If you're applying for a position, remember to align this section with the requirements you saw in the job advertisement wherever possible.

Related: How to write work experience on a CV (tips and example)

4. List your skills

After your work experience, your skills are another key contributor to your CV. For a wedding planner, these are typically going to consist of soft skills. Like other sections of your CV, tailor your skills section if you're applying for an employed position. List the skills you possess that match the job advertisement and then add any others that can be beneficial for a wedding planner. For attracting clients and independent work, focus on making your skills section as comprehensive as possible to give it broad appeal.

Here are some examples of good skills for a wedding planner that you might add to your CV:

• verbal and written communication

• organisation, planning and time management skills

• patience

• ability to work and remain calm under pressure

• flexibility and adaptability

• networking skills

• negotiation skills

• ability to cooperate with others

• empathy and understanding

• responsiveness to feedback and criticism

• customer service skills

• competency with common software packages

• ability to use design and image editing software

Related: 10 valuable soft skills that you need to succeed in your career

5. Provide your education

A role like that of wedding planner typically depends on your abilities and organisational experience, which means that your education can be towards the end of your CV. The exception to this is if you've recently completed full-time education or training and lack work experience, in which case it's usually best to start with your education and training after your summary. For each course, degree or other educational qualification you have, provide its name and the name of the issuing institution.

Additional certificates or membership with professional organisations like the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners (UKAWP) or National Association of Wedding Professionals (NAWP) can also be in this section. If there are numerous entries in this section, you can split it up into education and membership sections.

Related: How to write your degree on your CV (with steps and FAQs)

Wedding planner template CV

Here is a template to inspire your CV:

[First name] [Last name]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City]

Professional summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as a professional].

Experience
[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]

• (Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]

• (Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

Skills
[Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

Education
[Degree], [Name of school or university]

Certifications
[Certification name], [Host organisation] - [Year completed or expiration date]

Wedding planner CV example

Here's an example of a CV for a wedding planner:

Laura Byrd
0111 222 3333 | laurabyrd@email.co.uk | Tipton, West Midlands

Professional summary
Meticulous wedding planner with more than five years of experience planning social events of all sizes. Confident and experienced with a wide range of planning elements, including budgeting, supplier negotiation and direct event management. Able to make plans based on couples' wishes and arrange various other needs like guest travel and accommodation.

Experience
Wedding planner | 2019–Current
Freelance | West Midlands

• collaborating with couples to select themes

• planning and estimating budgets and negotiating with vendors

• arranging travel and accommodation for guests

• advising on design, décor and venues

• overseeing the ceremonies themselves to ensure smooth running

Event organiser | 2017–2019
Maidenhouse Events Ltd | Birmingham, West Midlands

• planned and organised events like weddings, parties and birthdays

• oversaw running of events and managed vendors

• prepared themes and budgets based on client needs

Events assistant apprentice | 2015–2017
Maidenhouse Events Ltd | Birmingham, West Midlands

• assisted events organisers with vendor and venue research

• provided information and estimates to prospective clients

• oversaw various elements of the events on the day

Skills
Events organisation | Attentive to detail | Flexible and adaptable | Ability to work under pressure | Budgeting

Education
BA Hospitality Management | Autumn University

Certifications
Level 3 Wedding Planner QLS, West Midlands College - 2021
Level 2 Certificate in Event Planning, West Midlands College - 2020
Member of the UK Alliance for Wedding Planners (UKAWP)

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.