Professional Bridal Consultant

Here's how it works: Your first Instruction Set will be sent immediately after your enrollment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with. Here is an overview of what you'll learn and the order in which you'll receive your lessons:

• Instruction Set 1
  • Learning Strategies
    • The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our web site; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.
  • Doing It Right: The Proper Way to Act
    • The engagement period; wedding plans; costs; what to insert in a wedding invitation; what items should be monogrammed; what information to include in the newspaper; who should give showers; the supporting cast; remarriage.
  
  
• Instruction Set 2
  • The Wedding
    • Role of a consultant on the wedding day; organizing and conducting various types of ceremonies; including home and military weddings; religious ceremonies; civil weddings; formation of the receiving line; the reception.
  • The Many Parts of the Wedding
    • The individual, small parts of a wedding, including clothes, flowers, jewelry, music, gifts, and photography; advising on the selection of an engagement ring; advising on wedding picture selections; who should wear boutonnieres.
  • Basics of a Bridal Business
    • Starting a business; marketing; merchandising; charging clients; setting up bookkeeping and maintaining records; effective advertising strategies.
  • Independent Project 1: Researching Careers
  • Learning Aid: Three-month novice membership in the Association of Bridal Consultants
  
  
• Instruction Set 3
  • The Role of a Consultant
    • Becoming a professional bridal consultant and the importance of your image; who should make the appropriate decisions about a wedding; content of a wedding budget; importance of researching church rules; scheduling events leading to the wedding day; writing and executing a consulting agreement; setting your fee.
  • How to Set Your Fees and Get Them
    • Determining how much to charge; using formulas to calculate your fees; calculating the amount of time it will take to complete a job.
  • How to Participate in a Bridal Show
    • Initial planning considerations; choosing a show in which to participate; developing and designing a booth; marketing your participation; selling at a booth; following up on contacts.
  • Textbook: How to Set Your Fees and Get Them
  
  
• Instruction Set 4
  • How to Organize a Bridal Show
    • Initial planning; contracting a facility; developing a fashion show; developing an advertising campaign; developing cost estimates; contacting and securing exhibitors and determining door prizes.
  • Ethnic and Specialty Weddings
    • Determining the correct etiquette for ethnic weddings; identifying the protocol for military weddings; finding sources of information on Victorian and Renaissance weddings; understanding the background of ethnic and military customs.
  • Independent Project 2: Bridal Show Booth Collage
  
  
• Instruction Set 5
• Working from Home
  • Carving out a niche; avoiding marketing mistakes; promoting your business; important tax secrets.
• The Business of Weddings, Part 1
  • Getting started; developing a business plan; getting organized; recording progress and taxes.
• The Business of Weddings, Part 2
  • Image and advertising; how much to charge; developing a contract; marketing; understanding why brides buy; keeping clients; dealing with dissatisfied brides; vendors.
• Independent Project 3: Wedding Research
• Textbook: Working from Home
• Final Examination


• Graduation Set
  • CD: Bride's Guide to Wedding Music
  • Book: Collin Cowie, Weddings
  • Book: Martha Stewart, Weddings
  • Eligibility for Professional Bridal Consultant™ Status and consultant-level membership with ABC®
    
    

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

ABC is a trademark of the Association of Bridal Consultants registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

Professional Bridal Consultant is a trademark of the Association of Bridal Consultants.