AACWP Training
Are you considering a career as a Wedding Planner?
In-Person Training
Upcoming Session January 24 - 26, 2025
The Mason Dallas
115 S Beckley Ave
Dallas
AACWP’s training is the first step towards a successful career as a Certified Wedding Planner. Upon training course completion, you will receive a course completion certificate. You are then eligible to apply for membership as a Trained Wedding Planner (TWP) with AACWP.
AACWP has three designations for its members:
- Trained Wedding Planner
- Certified Wedding Planner
- Certified Master Wedding Planner
AACWP has been training professional wedding planners since 2007. Engaged couples and vendors in the industry look for professional planners, and they know the first thing to ensure competency is training and certification. There are many programs available, but only AACWP offers you an excellent curriculum, a mentor experience, continuing education, and fellowship with other professional planners.
AACWP’s training courses provide in-depth training by experienced professional planners, along with guest speakers chosen from among the top wedding industry vendors. Our Curriculum Committee continually strives to review, update and ensure the attendees receive the most current information on wedding planning, trends in the industry, and how to build a business. AACWP believes in the importance of great education and growth. We encourage you to join us!
Payment for the complete course includes:
- Continental breakfast and lunch each day
- All training materials in digital format include our course book, handouts, and exercises
- Online examination at the end of each course day
- Many questions you might have will be answered in the “Frequently Asked Questions” located at the end of this page.
- For additional information~
Stephanie Evans, training@aacwp.org or 844.202.2297, ext. 1 - Please register to receive our email if you wish to be notified about future Wedding Planner Training Courses.
The course fee is $1700. An advance registration rate of $1500 will be available to students who register and submit payment prior to the deadline stated on the payment page.
Following is a description of what the AACWP course offers:
Defining the Role of the Wedding Planner
- Identify skills needed
Service Categories and Levels
- Understanding the services offered by professional planners
Business Fundamentals
- Business ownership and start-up information
Marketing Fundamentals
- Building your portfolio
- Advertising
- Social Media
Pricing Your Services
- Operating costs
- Pricing your services with various fee structures
Presentation and Personality
- Professionalism
- Putting your best foot forward
- Necessary skills
The Interview
- Choosing your client
- Certification and confidence
Vendors
- Building a contact list
- Compiling your database
Etiquette
- Common etiquette questions
- Who pays for what?
- The wedding planner’s role and resources
Basics of Planning
- Discussion with your client
- Creating a budget
- Creating a timeline
- Final details
Handling Emergencies
- The role of the wedding planner
- Emergency kit
- Special Event Insurance
- Emergencies and practical approaches
About AACWP and Membership
- Let’s talk about Certification
The Ceremony
- Basic elements
- Civil/Secular
- Basic order of service and logistics
- Walk through
Reception Planning
- Choosing the venue
- Floor plan—table sizes, seating, dance floors, etc.
- Banquet Event Order
- Reception traditions
To receive a Certificate of Completion, you must attend each day, pass the examination at the end of each day, and complete and pass the assigned homework in the allotted time frame.
What Our Students Are Saying
“My favorite part about this course was that we got to learn from a lot of different planners and industry professionals about the industry in different aspects of planning a wedding. Learning how to budget to run a company and learning each point of contact with vendors and clients for a wedding really helped me understand how I can do better in my job every day.”
1. Does AACWP offer an online course?
Yes! Our online self-led course consists of webinars, videos, and digital downloads of course materials.
2. Can you recommend a course in my area?
We do not have a list of courses taught by other organizations or listed by area. We encourage you to reach out to your local industry organizations if you prefer local training opportunities.
3. Does this course apply to my area?
Yes! AACWP developed these courses using general information that applies to most weddings in the United States. We do not focus on a geographic area other than we invite local vendors as guest speakers to the courses.
4. Do you allow international students?
Yes, however, we do not offer certification to international students as this requires a membership. Membership is only available to those in the United States.
5. Will I be certified after taking the course?
After the course, if you complete all the requirements, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. To become a Certified Wedding Planner, you must become a member of AACWP and complete the requirements listed here.
6. How long is the course?
Each in-house course day is from 8:30 am to approximately 5:00 pm.
7. When and where will the next course be?
Typically, dates are announced and registration is available a few months prior to courses. Information can be found on the Training page of our website. The best way to learn about future courses is to sign up to receive our emails.
8. Who can I contact with more questions?
Please contact our Training Course Director, Stephanie Evans, with questions about our courses at training@aacwp.org.
