Diploma in Wedding Planning with Event Management via Online Distance Learning

Preliminary planning

Wedding Brief, Planning and Budgeting

Creating an Outline Plan covering availability of Main Guests; Timing of the Wedding; Choosing the correct Day of the Week on which to be Married;Setting out an Outline Budget from Wedding Jewellery to Catering; Upgrading your Wedding; Wedding Contingency Planning;

Location, Time Management and Wedding Legalities

Choosing the Right Location for the Wedding; Unique Reception Venues; Themed Weddings; Wedding Styles; Wedding Coordination Planning Setting out a Critical Path ; determining if the Outline Plan can be Achieved in the time and on Budget; Checking the Legalities; Wedding Risk Management Insurance; Legal Documentation; Prenuptial Agreements etc;

Wedding Guest Management

The Guest List and Cost Management

Drafting the Guest List; Inviting Children; Immediate Relatives; Relatives one step removed; Consulting Parents about the list; Endeavouring to Invite Equal Numbers between Bride and Groom; Inviting Parents to Contribute to Costs; Managing and Coordinating the Growing Guest List; Limiting Numbers; Agreeing Final Guest List with both sets of Parents; Managing Two Event Guest Lists: Full Day Guest List and Evening Guest List;

Managing Wedding Guest Special Requirements

Wedding Guest Etiquette- Guest bringing friends; Facilities for Special Needs Guests - High Chairs and Baby Facilities; Disabled Guests and Accessibility; Vegetarians and Vegan Guests; Seating Plans; Out-of-town Guests - Accommodation; Maps; Contact Details;

Wedding Guest Seating Plans

Types of Seating Arrangements; Coordination of Ceremony Seating Layout; Reception Seating Layout; Top Table Plan; Parents Table; Seating Layout by Family; Buffets;

Wedding Guest Invitations

Pre-Wedding Parties; Invitation Sent; Gift Received; Thank You Notes etc; Wedding Printing Invitations - Engraved; Hand Printed; Reply Paid Cards; Gift Lists; ; Order of Service Sheets; Menus; Wording; Press Announcements Style; Maps; Cake Boxes; Place Cards; Envelopes; Seating Plans; Costs;

Wedding Outfitting

What to Wear; Hiring versus Purchasing Clothing

Coordinating the Bride; Groom; Best Man; Ushers; Bridesmaids; Fathers; Mothers; Hiring a Designer; Difference between a Designer and a Dressmaker; Buying off the Shelf; Hiring Clothing Fittings; Hired Clothes Contracts; Retrieving and Returning Hired Items; Dealing with Clothing Disasters;

The Bride & Groom; The Groomsman; Bridesmaids and Ushers

Borrowed Wedding Dresses; Family Heirlooms; Types of Fabric to Choose; Beading and Detail; Veil Styles; When to Buy; Wedding Shoe Essentials; Going Away Outfit Purchase; Emergency Repair Kit; Suit versus Tuxedo; Hire versus Buying; Hire Checklist; Accessories; Colour Coordinating the Groomsman; Bridesmaid and Ushers Outfits; Hiring versus Buying; Bridesmaids Jewellery; Accessories and Headpieces; Coordinating Ushers Outfits; Collection and Return of Hired Outfits; Contingency Planning;

Wedding Catering

The Wedding Cake

Specially made versus Store Bought; Choosing the right Baker; Selecting the appropriate Cake for your Guests; Themed Cake Decoration; Number of Tiers; Cake Flavour Filling and Size; Cake Accessories; Number of Servings Required; Wedding Favours; Commercial Baker versus Caterer;

Menus and Catering

Planning Menu Options and Reception Styles; Liasing with Caterers; Menu Budgeting; Taste testing; Food Preparation and Handling Check; Ethnic Recipes; Guaranteed Numbers; Ratio of Servers to Guests; Dress Code; Tableware; Linens; cutlery and Glassware; Catering themes and Decorations; Licences; Special Occasions Licences; Health and Safety; Purchasing Alcohol; Catering Staff Costs;

Wedding Countdown Logistics

Hair, Makeup and Jewellery

Choosing Wedding Rings; Bridal Jewellery; Choosing the Right Make-Up Artist; Make-Up for Photographic Shoots; Coordinating Make-Up and Outfit; Skin Preparation; Trial Make-Up Tests; Essential Emergency Make-Up Kit; Choosing the Best Hairstyle ; Finding A Stylist; Presenting your Ideas; Stylist Portfolios; The Stylist Client Communication Process; Home Versus Salon Styling; Styling and Coordinating the Bridal Party;

The Gift List

Compiling the Gift List; Choosing Gift list Vendors; Returning unwanted Gifts; Displaying Gifts; Security of Gifts; Gifts for the Bride and Groom;

Entertainment

Hiring Musicians; Hiring DJs; Hiring Audio Visual Equipment; Selecting Ceremony Music; Choosing Play lists for Reception

Photographer and Videographer

Photographs and Video Recording - prints; copies of films etc Videoing the Wedding Ceremony; After Ceremony Photography; Reception Video; Group Shot Planning; Selecting Photographic Style; Choosing the Wedding Photo Album; Hiring a Good Photographer;

Flowers, Favours and Table Decorations

Planning the Florist; Brides Bouquet; Bridesmaids Bouquets; Ceremony Flowers; Centrepieces; Buttonholes; Headpieces; Throw away Bouquet; Aisle Runners; Corsages; Planning the Archways; Floral Themes; Seasonal Flowers;

Transport and Insurance

Transport to the ceremony; Limousine and Bus Hire; Designated Drivers List; Managing Parking at the Various Locations; Breakdown Contingency Planning;

Wedding Ceremony

Types of Ceremony

Words to be used; promises to be made - are they acceptable to both parties;

Church Wedding

Person giving bride away; Marriage preparation requirements; Order of service; Vows; Music; Signing the register; Choir and seating; Bell ringers; Confetti

Civil Weddings and Ethnic Weddings

Differences which may exist between Civil and Christian weddings and weddings involving people from different religious groups etc.;

Celebrity Weddings

Dealing with the special needs and requirements involved in planning and managing celebrity weddings;

Location of Ceremony

Approved Premises; Types of location; Special Settings; Obtaining permission; Listed Buildings; Stately Homes; Outdoor Ceremonies;

Wedding Ceremony Logistics

Wedding Rehearsal; Best men’s role; Roles of family members; Booking a time; punctuality; Documents; witnesses; Fees; Flowers; Music; Confetti; Timetable of ceremony; Planning the Seating; Legal requirements; Payments and collections; Rehearsals;

Reception

Types of Reception - Hotel; Home; Barns; Marquee; etc.; Food; Wine; Champagne; Sit-down or buffet; Confetti; Insurance; Car Parking; Changing Rooms; Security Plans; Cloakroom and Toilet Facilities; Heating; Drinks licence; Disabled Guests; Planning the Accommodation for Guests Overnight; Master of Ceremonies Duties; Drinks on Arrival; Top-table-relationships; Toasts; Teetotalers and drivers; Duties of Bride and Groom; Role of Best Man and Groomsman;

Speeches

Best Man; Groomsman; Bride; Brides Father; Brides Mother; Special Requirements for each Speaker - Toasts; Responses to Toasts; Planning a Speech; Delivering a Speech; Messages; Encouraging Practice; Practice Guidelines;

Honeymoon

Coordinating the Honeymoon; Documents; Hotels; Insurance; Choosing the Perfect Location; Night after Wedding; Arranging Work Leave; Passports; Cost;

Final Plan

Creating a Comprehensive Plan for all activities; for the Bride; Bridegroom; Bridesmaids; Flower Girl; Page Boy; Mothers and Fathers; Best Man; Duties of all participants to be listed at each location; Final Budget Decisions; Using a Software Planning Package; Databases and lists;

Running a Wedding Planning Consultancy

Forward Planning; Attention to Detail; Financing your Business; Telephone; e-mail; the Internet; Records; Counselling; Client Contact; Preparing Wedding Plans; Budgets; Time Management; Coordinating Databases and Lists;

Marketing a Wedding Planning Consultancy

The Internet - Websites and Search Engines; Exhibitions; Magazines; Networking; Brochures; Engagement Announcements; Media Advertising;

Royal Weddings

Overview: What is a Monarch? Types of Monarchy; Royal Families; Current Royal Families;

Types of Royal Events: Common Royal Events; Royal Events and Ceremonies in the UK; Garden Parties; State Opening of Parliament; Garter and Thistle Services; Swan Upping; The Chelsea Flower Show; General Synod; Gun Salutes; Holyrood Week; Trooping the Colour; Receptions; Remembrance Day; Royal Ascot; Royal Maundy Service; Services of Thanksgiving; The Royal Variety Performance; Royal Events and Ceremonies in Norway; The Opening of the Sorting; Consecration; County Visits; Formal Audiences; Royal Events and Ceremonies in Japan;

Venues for Royal Events: Suitable Venues for Royal Events; Official Royal Residences; Official Royal Residences Currently in Use; Windsor Castle – UK; The Grand Palace – Thailand; The Royal Palace of Belgium ; Prince’s Royal Palace of Monaco; The Royal Palace – Netherlands; The Imperial Palace - Japan ; The Royal Palace - Norway

Planning a Royal Event: Factors to Consider when Planning a Royal Event; Protocol and Etiquette; Contingency Plans

Royal Wedding vs; Normal Wedding: Differences Between; Royal Weddings and Normal Weddings; Size and Cost; State Occasion; Significance

Famous Royal Weddings

Organising Street Parties

Introduction to Street Parties: Street parties are an effective and fun way to meet new neighbours; Having a street party is easier than you may think and it will definitely be worth it; Trust that your neighbours will want one; because they will! By 'street party' we mean one that is organised by and for all residents in 1 or 2 small streets; without external publicity;

History of Street Parties: Street parties and fêtes are a traditional part of community life; they are a simple way for us to get to know our neighbours; Street parties as we know them started in 1919 and became popular resident events when they were held as 'Peace Teas' to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Versailles after the First World War; They centred round a special treat for children in times of hardship and were quite formal sit down events; Residents continued to organise them for many major national days of celebration;

Types of Street Parties: There are many different types of street parties: Street Party; Street Meet; Street Picnic; Street Welcome; Street Lounge; Street Play-Time

Organising Street Parties: Why Hold a Street Party? Planning your Event; Make Sure to Include Everyone; Activities and Fun; Decorations; Money and Raffles; Catering; Do's & Don'ts of Organising street parties;

Legalities: Road Closures; Insurance; Licenses and Permits

Event Management

Event Management Planning; Cordinating Events; Marketing Events; Event Risk Management; Corporate Event Management; Organising Conferences; Exhibition Management and Sporting Event Management;

Presentation Skills

Preparation and Research; Speech Content; Subject Matter and Objectives; Speech Delivery and Variety; Body Language; Eye Contact; Presentation Aids; Management of Locations and Audiences; Presentation Structure;