According to research and statistics from WE tv Networks Wedding Report, the average cost of a wedding increased 21.9 percent in the first half of 2010, from $19,581 (in late 2009) to $23,867. That’s a good-size increase for the industry, and it should put a smile on the face of wedding planners everywhere. Despite the slow-to-churn economy, the wedding industry is growing, which means there are opportunities for success at every turn - if you know where to look. While not every service sector saw growth, most of them did. Let’s break down the increase (with more thanks to WE for these numbers):

* Planner/consultant a la carte services were up 84.2% at an average of $1,171.
* Gifts for the bride were up 53.1% at an average of $253.
* Hiring a consultant for initial planning was up 50.4% at an average of $920 - the sector with the biggest gain in spending.
* Other jewelry was down 61.7% at an average of $304.
* Reception accessories was down 55.3% at an average of $200.
* Ceremony accessories was down 49.7% at an average of $207 - the sector with the biggest decline in spending.

Demand went up in the first half of 2010 for products and services. Those with the biggest increases were travel and transportation and musicians, while demand went down the most for facials, manicures and pedicures and teeth whitening.

We don’t think there is a lot of surprise hidden in these numbers. It makes sense that brides are putting their money where it matters most and not with the frivolities often associated with weddings. Hiring a wedding planner to put together a budget at the very beginning makes perfect sense to us, and we’re not surprised to see an increase in that sector of the industry. What does this mean to LWPI’s certified wedding and event consultants? It shows you exactly how to market yourself in this down economy. Showing brides how to get the most bang for their buck is exactly what they’re looking for, and these numbers prove it. It’s easy to get down about business right now if you don’t look for the smaller opportunities. Offering smaller planning packages is a great way to get your foot in the door, and from there you can easily prove to a bride that she can’t live without you.

In today’s wedding market it’s a given that to succeed you must utilize the Internet. With such social-networking sites as Facebook and Twitter growing in leaps and bounds, certified wedding and event coordinators have to not only be comfortable using these sites, but they must also figure out how to successfully fit them in to their business plans.

The Wedding Report estimates that online wedding sales will grow to $22.7 billion by 2013, with an estimated growth rate of 7 to 10%. It also found in a recent survey that 81% of couples use the Internet to plan their wedding because of the specific planning tools they find there. Their top reasons for using the Internet? Tips and ideas; photos of other weddings; creating a wedding website. The Wedding Report also says that the average age of a newly married person is about 27, which means that most of your bridal couples are part of a generation that is the most technologically advanced ever. It also means that for your wedding and event coordinating businesses to survive you must embrace technology. How can you do this? Here are a few ways:

1. You turned to your community college or local university to become a wedding planner, right? You may want to consider turning right back around to check out what kind of classes they have on Web design, online marketing and social networking.
2. Pick up copies of popular magazines that cover computers, marketing and networking. An afternoon spent at your local bookstore, coffee in one hand and magazine in the other, will be time well spent.
3. Integrate social networking into your business plan. Build a Twitter following by focusing on the wedding industry in the region you target. Start a Flickr page, and fill it will slideshows of the weddings and events you’ve planned. Start a blog, giving tips to brides, showing them how a coordinator can help alleviate their stress! And create a Facebook page to help guide users to your blog and other sites.
4. Keep all of your sites and information updated. Wedding and party trends ebb and flow, and you need to show possible customers that you’re up on the trends - and maybe even have a lot of great ideas of your own.

Getting out there, pounding the pavement, if you will, is definitely one way to grow your business. But to attract the Wired Generation you have to show them that your business is modern and growing. Being a successful wedding and event coordinator depends a lot on word of mouth, yes, but you want to attract business from every possible angle. And the Internet is an excellent place to begin.

The average bride will spend $1,038 on her wedding gown in 2010, according to The Wedding Report. This is of course down a bit from a few years ago, but it’s slightly up over 2009, which is a very good thing for the wedding industry. The average price of a gown is projected to increase a bit a year for the next several years, albeit slowly. This is probably because while brides are beginning to open their wallets a little wider this year they’re still a bit gun-shy because of what many of them still see as a shaky economy. This is exactly where a certified wedding and event planner steps in. It goes without saying that the most important part of planning a wedding is working out the budget, and said budget should be set in stone before a bride goes gown shopping. It’s a lot easier to fall in love with a gown that’s in her price range if she only tries on gowns in her set price range. It may sound obvious, but I think we at the Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute can all agree that brides get stars in their eyes mighty quickly when it comes to their dream gowns!

According to online surveys of bridal couples, bridal attire accounts for 8 to 10 percent of the wedding budget. While the gown is important most brides also want to purchase shoes, jewelry and other accessories along with it, which eats into the budget even further. If you find yourself with a frugal bride who still wants to walk down the aisle in style consider these tips:

* At bridal salons every bride is likely to make a bee-line for the wedding-gown department. But many bridesmaid gowns come in white and ivory, and they’re offered for sale for a much lower price than a traditional gown - we’re talking hundreds of dollars less in many cases! No, this tip won’t work for every bride, but for the ones who are trying to get more bang for their buck this is a great idea.

* Experts all agree that brides should buy their gowns at least six months before the big day (if they have six months to spare!) This time needs to be allowed for a few reasons: mistakes, alterations, weight fluctuations and lost shipments. A portion of the budget should be set aside for these things that occur after the gown comes in. You don’t want your bride to be shocked when she gets an alterations bill that she didn’t budget for.

* Remind your bride that it’s the shape of the gown that flatters her, not the beading and lace, which can significantly push up the price. A simple gown can look gorgeous with a more intricate veil and beautiful jewelry!

* Sure, it’s fun to go to the top designer boutiques and try on everything they have to offer. And if it fits your bride’s budget that’s great. But if she’s trying to save money consider these shopping ideas:

- Thrift stores and consignment shops: You’d be amazed at what you can find at a top-quality thrift stores these days.

- eBay: Lots of brides are selling their once-worn, fabulous gowns at ridiculous discounts in an effort to recoup some of the money they spent on their weddings.

- Sample sales: If you have a bride who won’t settle for anything less than a designer gown but doesn’t have the cash for it make sure you introduce her to The Great Sample Sale. Especially take her to off-season sales. The earlier the better for the gown, like we said before, and getting an off-season piece will be even better for her pocketbook.

- Chains: Shops like David’s Bridal are always a good option for the bride who wants lots of choices but doesn’t want to spend a fortune. In addition brides may want to consider asking shops if they rent gowns, which can be a super-affordable option.

- Online retailers: If your brides has an easy-to-fit figure an online retailer may have the perfect dress, and deal, for her. And be sure to check out such sites as Craigslist, preownedweddingdresses.com and sellyourweddingdress.com.

* And last but not least see if your bride is willing to borrow a gown. We all know that wedding gowns are easily one of the most pricey keepsakes women ever buy. But in our opinion sharing a gown - even if it’s altered to suit the newest bride’s taste - is a very special thing. We love the idea of daughters wearing their mother’s - or even grandmother’s - gowns!

Being a certified wedding and event planner means that you’re up on all the trends, and you can guide couples in any direction they want to go. As the wedding industry expands on television and the Internet there are literally hundreds of thousands of ideas out there. Sifting through all of this information can be overwhelming for couples - especially those whose idea of the perfect wedding may be less formal and/or less traditional. This is where a wedding coordinator comes in: It’s your job to help them form their idea of the perfect day then make it a reality.

According to the Wedding Report, traditional, formal weddings continue to be on the decline. Surveys of real couples in 2008 and 2009 found that brides and grooms are looking for less opulence and more focus on the family. Sure, crystals and sparkles are fabulous, but in today’s economy couples are putting more focus on their vows, their families and each other on their special day. Some wedding planners disagree with these findings, saying, “I’m getting my price, planning the right wedding for the budget. It’s all about knowing your market and providing the right service– and caring,” according to eWedNews. But that’s where we think experts are right: Being a wedding planner doesn’t mean you only work with couples who have huge budgets and big dreams. Being a wedding planner means you help all brides, regardless of budget, bring their fairytale to life. If this means a more intimate ceremony and a smaller reception that’s okay because all brides need help with the details.

Brooch Bouquet

Among the more popular low-key wedding ideas are ceremonies on the beach or at other outdoor locations and those with DIY touches. Some other ideas for low-key weddings may be receptions with more home-style food and personal touches during the ceremony such as a bouquet made of brooches that belonged to the bride’s family members.

What are other ways a certified wedding and event planner can help a bride and groom have the wedding of their dreams but make it a more simple day? The idea isn’t to cut their budget; it’s to make their budget work better for them. That’s where you come in. Start a folder of ideas for simple weddings. Show brides with smaller budgets that a wedding planner can still be their best friend. A good planner makes every wedding special, no matter the cost. And we all know that if you do a good job and make a great impression the referrals will start to flow in!

According to The Wedding Report, and as expected, “the average cost of a wedding in 2009 dropped 10.2% over 2008.” 2009 was a rough year for everybody, and while 2010 is already starting off stronger brides are still finding that planning their wedding is a challenge with a small - or shrinking - budget. This is where certified wedding and event planners can step in and, in essence, save the day.

Spending was down the most in 2009 on jewelry, gifts and invitations. But couples were less likely to cut costs when it came to their music and photographer, and brides were still intent on finding the perfect gown no matter the cost. As certified wedding and event planners you are the person every bride should turn to simply because you’re In The Know when it comes to vendors. More couples are using certified wedding planners to help them get the most value for their wedding budget. In fact, statistics show that in regard to a-la-carte planners, getting-started coordinators, and day-of planners couples spent more in 2009 than 2008. A good planner is worth his or her weight in gold, and that’s what you need to let brides know. How can you do that? One way is to hit bridal shows.

According to eWedNews, “Bridal shows across the country are reporting a steady rise in both attendance and vendor participation over last year, signaling a better 2010 season.” Experts suggest that events that were put on hold in 2008 and 2009 are now in planning mode again because couples are putting job losses behind them. Couples are still being cautious about their spending, experts say, but in many cases they believe the worst is behind them, and they’re ready to move forward with planning the happiest day of their lives. As the economic climate improves, so will couples’ attitudes and with that will follow increased spending.

Any uptick in the economy is a positive right now. And as things improve more and more couples will go ahead with their engagement and weddings. It’s a great time for those interested in becoming wedding and event coordinators to pursue their dream. Getting certified through Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute is a great way to get started, and it may even give you a leg up when it comes to being The Choice for brides in your area. Interested in a course? Check our listings to see if there is a class opening soon in your area, or give us a call if you’d like to take the course online. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by! Brides are SUPER ready for something bright and happy in their lives after the winter and economic doldrums!

Emily Meyer has always loved the idea of planning the most important day of peoples’ lives. She was the go-to person for friends and family when it came to planning social events and birthday parties. Each event was executed beautifully and flawlessly. It is when she began planning her own wedding that she knew this is what she was meant to do. With everyone around her getting engaged, she took it upon herself to offer them wedding-planning services by researching vendors within their budget and coordinating the processional for the ceremony. This is when Emily took a more serious approach to wedding planning and design.

She enrolled in the Wedding Planning Institute as her passion grew deeper for creating a fairytale ending.  After researching the best wedding vendors in Oklahoma City and completing the necessary training, the Wedding Planning Institute proudly recognized Emily as a certified wedding planner.

After six months of working closely with other wedding planners, Emily opened the doors to a whole new wedding experience. She started her own business in September of 2009. Her company, Chandelier Weddings, was a huge hit in the Oklahoma City area. After executing three weddings in her first month of opening, a high reputation and word of mouth from clients and vendors became her best marketing tools.

A unique aspect of Emily’s business is catering to not only high-end weddings, but also to weddings of couples who cannot afford an extravagant wedding. Emily says, “Every little girl dreams of that day where she will walk down the aisle to meet prince charming. For rich or for poor, I feel that every girl deserves to not only dream that wedding, but have that wedding.”

Emily was excited to find that the Wedding Planning Institute was looking for instructors in her area. She knew this was something she needed to pursue. With her ambitious attitude and strong passion for wedding planning, teaching what she loves would be an absolute joy. Emily was offered the position at the University of Tulsa and is eager to begin this endeavour as a new instructor with the Wedding Planning Institute. She looks forward to other teaching opportunities and sharing her knowledge and passion with other soon-to-be wedding planners.

“Becoming a certified wedding planner is one of the most rewarding jobs that could ever exist. Because you are certified, a bride and groom can trust you so much more. The best part of the job is when you see that bride walk down the aisle and the look on the groom’s face the first time he sees her. It is priceless. It is at that moment when you know that you have just turned a little girl’s dream into a reality and created a fairytale ending where this couple will begin a new chapter in their lives.”

The next Wedding Coordinator Certification courses taught by Emily Meyer at the University of Tulsa will be held from Feb. 8, 2010, to March 31, 2010, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuition is $795 and includes text book, online access in addition to classroom instruction, testing and national certification from the Wedding Planning Institute. To register, contact Frances Najera at the Office of Continuing Education at frances-najera@utulsa.edu or 918-631-2937.

Our apologies in advance to William Shakespeare, but this wedding news story brought out our romantic side.

Two households, both alike in history,
In fair Mesopotamia, where we lay our scene,
From recent grudge break to new unity,
Where civil blood turns civil hands clean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
Pairs of star-cross’d lovers pledge their life;
Whole governmental payouts overthrow
Do with their vows bury their parents’ strife.
The joyful blessings of their inter-sect love,
And the continuance of extremist rage,
Which, but the people’s will, nought could remove,
Is now returning to this war torn stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

“Oh Muhanad, Muhanad! Wherefore art thou Muhanad?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name;

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,

And I’ll no longer be a Shiite.”

Muhanad and Samma, among 1,700 Sunni/Shiite newlywed couples helping to heal Iraq's civil discord.

On the heels of news that the wedding industry is experiencing a unique version of the recession with the number of weddings increasing while the amount spent on each wedding is decreasing comes excellent news for the Certified Wedding Planner.

According to The Wedding Report, average fees for full service Certified Wedding Planners have increased over the past year from $1,940 in 2008 to over $2,300 through the second quarter of 2009. Today’s couples paying more for professional planners to help them realize their wedding day dreams without breaking their wedding budgets.

In other words, if you are not one already, now is the time to become a wedding planner. What other industry is getting a 20% raise this year?

By understanding current wedding trends, Certified Wedding Planners and those learning how to become a wedding planner can provide value and solutions to their clients during continued economic unease.

According to research compiled by The Wedding Report:

Areas of spending decline from 2007 to 2008

·         Wedding dress fell by 31%

·         Rehearsal dinner fell by 34%

·         Spending for a DJ fell by 6%

·         Bridesmaid bouquets fell by 36%

·         Gifts for attendants fell by 38%

·         Wedding invitations fell by 34%

·         Engagement ring fell by 30%

·         Photographer fell by 26%

·         Videographer fell by 24%

·         Wedding cake fell by 33%

·         Wedding favors fell by 9%

·         Reception food service fell by 53%

·         Limo rental fell by 24%

The current economic state is the primary factor for most spending declines, with smaller guest lists and lower-priced vendor options also contributing.

Areas of spending increase from 2007 to 2008

·         Tuxedo/suit increased by 47%

·         Ceremony location increased by 108%

·         Bride bouquet increased by 1%

·         Brides wedding band increased by 21%

·         Grooms wedding band increased by 38%

·         Reception bar service increased by 12%

·         Reception location increased by 15%

·         Reception rentals increased by 84%

Combined reception and ceremony events led to the increase in location costs while a de-emphasis on engagement rings led to higher-priced wedding band choices.