Which certification did you do as a wedding planner?

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Permalink Reply by Caren Jeanty on June 29, 2010 at 9:47am

I'm a member of ABC and they have numerous continuing education programs for certified wedding planners

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Permalink Reply by Danielle Pasternak on June 29, 2010 at 9:53am

Thanks Caren. Do you feel that's worth the yearly fee?

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Keating-Weeks on July 1, 2010 at 2:45pm

I am currently studying to become a wedding planner through an online course American Academy of Wedding Planners. www.aa-wp.com

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Permalink Reply by Danielle Pasternak on July 1, 2010 at 2:57pm

Thanks, Elizabeth. That is the company that I did my certification with at the beginning of the year. Hope it works out for you!

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Permalink Reply by Jenira's Event Planning on July 5, 2010 at 6:51am

I got my certification as a certified event professional with US Event Guide and then completed the professional bridal consultant program through Penn Foster which is part of ABC. ABC I feel is nice but unless you are in position to attend all the events which are never local for me which for the most part is a flight that I cannot afford so it does not really benefit me. Also, I thought there would be more mentoring and things of that nature my coordinator was not very helpful so I found I was really paying just to say I was a member so I did not renew. I can join any club I want to network and build relationships and it was cliquish just my two cents.

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Permalink Reply by Danielle Pasternak on July 5, 2010 at 8:42am

Jenira -

That's what I was sincerely afraid of. I didn't want to drop a bunch of cash to be "part of a club". Especially if said club doesn't offer valuable education in my area. Thank you for your input.

-d

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Walker on July 5, 2010 at 4:48pm

I went through US Career Institute. I really enjoyed the course. I'm looking into becoming a member of ABC as well, mostly because it looks good. I do not think I will get much more than that out of it.

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Permalink Reply by Danielle Pasternak on July 5, 2010 at 5:07pm

Jessica -

That's what I'm afraid of. I find that brides don't know ABC from any other organization. If my business and my clients benefit from it, then it's certainly worth it. But I don't want to be another name in a club.

Thanks for your input tho! Best of luck!

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Walker on July 5, 2010 at 5:14pm

I agree that most brides do not know the difference between organizations. ABC was mentioned in an article I read about choosing a good vendor in a wedding magazine a few years ago, when I was still just thinking about becoming a planner. I've since tried to find that article for the other associations it listed, but I cannot. ABC is very expensive but the other associations I've looked at appear to be just as expensive. I also rate them on how neat and professional looking their website is, something I imagine brides would be doing, and ABC is at the top so far.

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Permalink Reply by Danielle Pasternak on July 5, 2010 at 5:35pm

I know, right? It boggles my mind that some of the Bridal organizations out there have such terrible websites. If that's the main thing that is representing your business, clean it up! Ahh, just my frustrations. But I do agree, ABC has a decent website when compared to others.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Walker on July 5, 2010 at 6:09pm

You'd think for as much money as they're charging, they could afford to hire a web designer!

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