The Wedding Planning Institute - Become a Wedding Planner

Enrollment
The Wedding Planning Institute does its best to make the enrollment process as simple as possible. WPI offers four (4) distinct educational options for students: online, at local Colleges & Universities, one-day seminars and as a self-study, please review the enrollment process, based on your interest or needs.

Certification
Students who wish to enroll in WPI's Certification can enroll online here or call to speak directly with a career counselor for your area call 877-597-8166. The admissions office is open Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm pst.

The Wedding Planning Institute's Certification is recognized all over the world. With the on-line course and International Distance Learning Collegiate partnership, students around the world have discovered WPI's Certification is the best way to get started in the wedding planning business.

Students also have access to all other students around the world who are also on-line during the course and we have found our students enjoy learning from one another in addition to their studies.

Click Here to see what students around the world have to say about their experience with WPI.

Online Students have access to...
Streaming Video Lessons/Lectures
Watch and listen to professors as they deliver course materials ONLINE, allowing you to view and review as many times as desired.

Internet Message Boards
Interact with faculty and classmates on key topics, class assignments and more.

Chat Rooms
Instructors host virtual office hours. Collaborate real-time with faculty and classmates.

Email
As an online student, you will have direct contact with professors and classmates.

Post Graduation - Growth Track:
Students have 3 options to help launch their career or business after completing the Fast Track Certification Program.

Employment - If you are interested in employment as a certified wedding planner, WPI is partnered with many hotels, venues, and national wedding partners who recruit from our pool of certified graduates. WPI can assist you in finding employment in your area.
Partners in Business - Graduates who have started their own business during the course will be offered the opportunity to claim a territory based on your business location. WPI's parent company, Lovegevity, will send referrals and bridal client registrations to you from your area for one year.
Internship/Apprentice � For students who are starting their own business but would like more experience, we offer an internship with WPI graduates in your area. This usually last between 3 to 6 months and students work directly with a WPI Certified Wedding Planner when available. In most cases, you will help with pre, post and wedding day activities as well as observe how the planner runs her business.

We also have a Career Track for WPI graduates after they have been in the in the industry or have started their business for 12 months or longer. This opportunity is when WPI hires our own graduates as seminar instructors and other opportunities in addition to sending bridal referrals to help grow their business.

The Fast Track Certification is a prerequisite into our associate degree program. The courses for the degree program are taken over a 2 year period for degree students. Other students are welcome to take any of our courses a la carte'. The Fast Track Certification covers many of the areas students study in the Associates Degree program. For example, the Certification course touches on subjects such as Vendors & Contracts, Wedding Etiquette, Wedding Customs and Traditions from different cultures worldwide, Wedding Gown Styles & Veils including the seasons top designers and videos of the most recent Truck (Fashion) Shows, Wedding Event Planning, Writing your Business Plan, Signature Wedding Design, Invitations, Public Relations, Wedding Music Selections, Sales & Marketing, Pre and Post Wedding Parties, How to expand your business, Relationship Education and Production and Operations Management. This is why the Fast Track Certification is a pre-requisite for those students who elect to move forward into getting their Associates Degree, it is the foundation of information needed in the industry. The degree program builds on what is learned during Certification.

WPI's Certification is currently chosen and offered by many Universities and Community Colleges. Please check our calendar of seminars and courses to find a college course in your area.

For Certified Graduates ONLY
Once you receive your Certification in Wedding Planning, you may decide to continue with your studies and pursue a degree in Wedding Planning.

Degree Program 75 Credit Hours
For the student looking to enroll in the Wedding Planning Associates Degree program, please fill out the WPI Enrollment Application. Click here to download this .pdf file. There is a $25 application fee. Qualified students will be notified regarding acceptance into this competitive program.

Applications for the 2009 - 2010 school year will be accepted through Dec 31, 2008. After this date a late fee of $25 will apply.

Fill out the triplicate order form in full, both front and back sides of the form.

Once the application is completed, attach your resume, cover letter and three letters of reference to the white and yellow copies. Keep the pink copy of the application form for your records. (If you have downloaded the application form the website, please make a photo copy of your completed application and send the original to WPI.)

Payment.
The application fee is $25 and the cost of each class is based on $125 per credit hour and will be determined by the number of courses you are registering for.

Choose a tuition payment option and submit payment. We accept Visa, MC, Discover and AMEX.
*Personal checks and money orders are also accepted.
Registration process is complete when you receive an email notification that payment has been received from the admissions office. Save a copy of your application for your records.
Note: Applications must be received 30 days prior to the select course date. Late fees may be added if a student enrolls after the 30 day mark.
Individual Courses
WPI welcomes students to enroll in any class that is of interest to them. To take an individual class, the student must also fill out an WPI Enrollment Application. Click here to download this .pdf file. Students must be enrolled at least 30 days prior to the class start date. Application
Only degree students are required to submit an application to be considered for enrollment. Applications require a $25 non-refundable fee. Only one application fee is required per student, regardless of the number of courses taken. Students must submit the WPI application along with a cover letter, resume and three letters of reference.

Tuition.
The tuition for each class is based on $125 per credit hour.
The Degree program requires 75 credit hours. All fast track students receive 15 credits towards their degree program.

Degree Timeline

This example shows 5 courses per semester. The average student can finish their degree within 18 - 24 months depending on course work and transferred credits. Each semester is grouped into 5 or 6 phases allowing students to focus on 1 or 2 courses per phase.

Transferring Credits
The Wedding Planning Institute recognizes that students may have already taken a wedding planning certification program, but do not have their Degree in Wedding Planning. If you have completed other wedding related programs, please include this information along with your enrollment application. Once your paperwork has been processed, a WPI Career advisor will discuss the possible transfer of credits towards your degree.

Work Experience
The Wedding Planning Institute also recognizes that many students have built a successful career as a wedding planner but do not have CWP credentials or certification. Students may submit paperwork and documentation to transfer work credits towards a degree. Applicants will be required to provide references, portfolios and a resume of work related experience. Please include intentions to submit an additional application for transferring work credits along with the enrollment application. Once paperwork has been processed, a WPI Career advisor will discuss the possible transfer of credits towards a degree.

Course Format
All courses are offered as online classes.
The Fast Track Wedding Planning Certification program can also be taken as a self-study, at a college classroom session or at a one-day seminar.

Class Size
Class sizes are limited to 30 students per course. *All courses are non-refundable once a student accesses the online course program. No exceptions. It is the responsibility of each student to keep up with course work. The Wedding Planning Institute is not responsible if a student fails to complete and/or start a program.

Please contact our career center if you have additional questions or wish to enroll in any of our programs. We can help you better understand each of our programs and determine which will best fit you and your career goals.

Testimonials

Course Info

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