Online Bridal Consultant Certification and Certificate Programs

Distance learning certificate programs in bridal consulting are available through colleges and universities, as well as private companies and professional organizations that offer certification in the field. These programs often incorporate online elements with DVD- and textbook-based learning.

Online Certificate in Wedding Consulting

Aspiring bridal consultants study wedding etiquette and traditions, in addition to learning to arrange for catering, flowers, photography and other services needed to organize a wedding. Since consultants are largely self-employed, wedding consultant certificate programs also cover business and marketing concepts.

Program Information and Requirements

Typically, online bridal consultant students complete each lesson in a certificate program as they have time and then move on to the next lesson after they've passed an exam. Most programs can be completed in six months or less.
To take part in an online certificate program in bridal consulting, students must have a computer with Internet access and an e-mail account. A working DVD player and software programs like Adobe Flash and Microsoft Word also might be required.

List of Common Wedding Consultant Courses

Wedding consultant certificate programs do not include general education classes, instead focusing only on skills students need to become wedding consultants.

Business for Wedding Consultants Course

Students learn important steps in starting a business, including creating a marketing plan, pricing services and finding clients. They study techniques for writing contracts and learn ways to network with other wedding professionals, including florists, photographers and caterers.

Duties of the Wedding Consultant Course

In this course, prospective wedding consultants learn to coordinate a wedding while keeping a client's budget in mind. They learn about the various responsibilities of bridal consultants, including coordinating vendors, organizing rehearsal dinners and other pre-wedding parties, assigning speeches for the reception and assisting in the wedding dress hunt.

Working with a Bride Course

Students in this course learn to help a bride find a balance between her dream wedding and reality. Topics might include deciding on the type of ceremony, dividing up responsibilities among the wedding party and registering for gifts.

Wedding Gown Course

Aspiring wedding coordinators become familiar with various designers and the types of wedding gowns available. They also learn which styles of gowns look best on different body types.

Graduate Career Information

Upon completion of a certificate program, bridal consultants should be prepared to join a wedding coordinating business or start their own venture. The Princeton Review notes that wedding consultants work on commission, earning about ten percent of the total budget of a wedding. In 2009, the average U.S. wedding cost $30,000, according to figures from the Bridal Association of America (www.bridalassociationofamerica.com), so a consultant would have made around $3,000 per wedding.
In an August 2010 salary survey, PayScale.com found significant salary differences for wedding consultants based on experience. Those who'd been working in the field for 1-4 years had a salary range of $20,000-$39,236, while consultants with 5-9 years' experience earned up to $72,814 a year.

Continuing Education Information

Wedding coordinators who want to further their education might pursue an on-campus or online event planning program at the bachelor's or master's level. Additionally,they might choose to seek certification through a professional organization, such as the Association of Bridal Consultants or the Association of Certified Wedding Consultants. These groups award several levels of credentials for bridal consultants based on a combination of education and experience. They also host conferences and various other continuing education opportunities.