Article: Visit the websites of different wedding planning companies to see if they have any internship opportunities available. If you can’t find one, apply to a banquet or event planning internship at a major hotel to get some relevant experience.  Make sure your cover letter and resume are well written and up to date. If you’re interested in a particular company but can’t find any internship opportunities with them, don’t be afraid to reach out. Just make sure you’ve given their website a thorough search first. Internships can be extremely time consuming. If you’re working a full-time job while trying to learn the ropes of the industry, ask to volunteer as an intern at a reputable company a few times a week. It’s free work for them, and valuable experience for you! Experience is super important, so if you can’t get an internship or just want more practice, offer to plan birthdays, weddings, and parties for family and friends, free of charge. Treat these people like clients. It’s good practice for your future career, plus they can be valuable references down the line. Take pictures of the events so you can start building your portfolio. These jobs can help you develop your event planning and client management skills, both of which are key to breaking into the wedding planning business. As a wedding planner, you’ll need to help the couple pick out the decorations, the cake, and the wedding photographer. Taking classes in floral design, cake design, and photography can prepare you to make top notch decisions. Take online classes or see what’s available in your community. Read, read, read. While there’s nothing like learning from experience, reading advice from other professionals can give you valuable insights, tips, and tricks.   The FabJob Guide to Become a Wedding Planner by Catherine Goulet & Jan Riddell is a great book for beginners. Wedding Planning and Management by Carrie Loveless & Maggie Daniel has useful information about the planning process, plus some good case studies.  Check out blogs like Bayside Bride and Snippet and Ink for style inspiration.  Visit Brenda’s Wedding Blog for a vendor guide, creative wedding decor and food ideas, and marketing tips: http://www.brendasweddingblog.com/blogs/. As a wedding planner, you’ll be running a business, so a solid understanding of business is helpful. A degree in Communications, Public Relations, or Business can help equip you with the management and business skills that you’ll need in the wedding planning industry.  You can also take classes at your local community college or online. Don’t worry if you can’t take business classes. They’re helpful, but not necessary. Practical experience trumps all!
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Get an internship at a wedding planning company. Volunteer at a wedding planning company if you have limited time. Plan free events for family and friends. Apply for entry-level jobs at public relations or event planning firms. Take classes in photography and wedding design. Check out wedding planning blogs, books, and websites. Take business or marketing courses if you are in college.