According to Salary.com, the median expected salary for a typical Meeting/Event Planner in the United States is $51,262. SalaryList.com reports a similar amount. These are average figures that factor in new planners who earn relatively little, to experienced planners who achieve a premium for their services.

Independent wedding planners are self-employed business people who work for a flat service fee or for a percentage of the total wedding cost.

Budget-conscious brides could find a planner for as little as $500 if they hunt high and low, but like anything, they’ll get what they pay for. More elaborate, high society weddings attract higher-charging planners who are generally worth every penny or they wouldn’t be pitching at that level.

If you, as the planner, know you can get by on an annual earning of $50,000, that’s great. Congratulations. But if you’re like 90 percent of the population that would love to earn some icing on the cake for very little effort, the “The Wedding Professional’s Guide: Make More Money (For No Extra Effort)” is the guide for you.

I wrote it in response to hundreds of brides wanting advice on how much they could expect to pay for a wedding planner. Brides are becoming more and more savvy in this economy, so it’s important that you, the planner and professional, stay ahead of their needs. By all means pitch your services at a rate they can afford, but don’t lose out on income opportunities in other areas. If you are looking for easy and new ways to improve your income, this guide is exactly for you.

That’s no way to make a living! In fact, they’re ways to go bust! So, speaking of bust, here are three lies BUSTED to give you confidence to move onwards.

LIE: No one hires wedding planners when times are tough.

TRUTH: No matter what the economy is doing, couples still need wedding planners. Moreso than ever, in fact, because a good wedding planner will keep the budget under control and hunky dory. You, as their wedding planner, can help them get the best venues, catering, and other professional services within their budget, and therefore the best bang for their buck. In turn they will refer you to their friends and family as someone who is reliable no matter how challenging the budget.

LIE: Wedding planners need a degree or certification

TRUTH: Mostly you just need common sense, patience, great people skills, a good head for balancing the books, and a phenomenal skill in keeping a million balls in the air at once. Having said that, the best investment you can make in your career (therefore “you” and your future) is to study whatever course you can get your hands on. Bookkeeping, marketing, negotiation skills… online, in person, through a mentor, on the job… don’t do it all at once, just step by step and you’re golden.

LIE: Wedding planners are tall, glamorous and straight from a magazine

TRUTH: My hairdresser is male and bald, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to do great hair for others. Same goes for wedding planners – short, tall, fat, slim, old or young, it doesn’t matter what your profile is, only that you have a passion for helping couples enjoy their dream day together.

If you’re going to be the sort of planner who makes more than their service fee though, you’ll also need a desire to create new income streams…

Nowadays simply relying on your service fee is not going to bring your wealth or kudos. You must be smarter than that and find other ways to earn money for less effort. In my eBook, housed at WeddingPlannersKit.com (coming soon), I take you step-by-step through many ideas on how you can achieve this.

~ Maggie Magee

With a bit of careful scheduling the planning can be tackled with poise. Bit by bit, piece by piece, the wedding day can be planned without getting panicky or frazzled.

Here is the proposed calendar for successful wedding planning, as outlined in my eBook, DIY Wedding Bible, How to Plan Your Own Wedding Saving Time, Money and Your Sanity

90+ days out

Decide and book the “Ws” – where, when, what to wear, who.
Send “save the date” cards
Choose wedding rings
Register with gift registries
Investigate bands/DJ
Book honeymoon

30 – 60 days out

First fitting of the wedding party attire
Send invitations, ask for RVSP 21 days out
Finalize menu and drinks based on RSVP
Organize decorations
Make wedding favors
Order the cake
Lock-in transport

Week of

Final fittings
Ceremony rehearsal
Rehearsal dinner
Practice make-up, hair
Finalize all outstanding invoices
Do the “7-Day Bootcamp for Brides”

Following this wedding planning timeline will make things easier for you. There is so much to do and the time to do it all in seems to fly right by. Having a plan that is written out should make things easier. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s only so much you can do on your own without making yourself nutty.

Planning a wedding reception involves details such as the flowers, lighting and entertainment. Plan a wedding reception with tips from two event coordinators in this free video on wedding planning.

Chances are, even if you were able to do so, getting a private part of an oceanic beach may cost a little for exclusivity. Then there is the matter of the tides, and the weather, and unpredictable winds. Not to fret though, there are scores of things you can do to recreate that sandy setting.

Many public lakes often have sandy beaches, particularly at camping sites so if you are adamant about the water and sand as physical things, then this would be your way to go.

Planning a beach themed wedding doesn’t actually have to involve the ocean, you could rent a gazebo or even us a large yard and use some simulation techniques.

The sound is the easiest to simulate. The waves rolling on the sandy shore, seagulls in the air, and a nice cool breeze can be easily remade with some decent rented speakers and an atmosphere cd you can find at Wal-Mart or other such stores for around 6 dollars or so. Perhaps a large fan as well.

The smell of course is harder. Try a local new age shop or cd store. They often have scented candle, incense, and oils that will do the trick.

The sand is easy. A funny approach would be a sand box, or you can by sand by the bag at a Menards or a general retailer.

Then all you need are some seashells, perhaps some fake starfish, all are easy to get. Just do not forget the beach balls!

To top it all off, make sure you do a proper search for the perfect wedding dress – it should be flowy, casual and appropriate to a beach wedding… go barefoot and you’ll nail the perfect look and feel of a beach wedding.

As you can see, planning a beach themed wedding even if you can’t actually be at the ocean is easy.   You may not have an oceanic beach, but wait until sunset and follow the tips above, and can create a memorable day.

The first thing that you should think of as you plan your wedding reception is what you want your guests to do all night. Do you want them to dance or would you rather keep things more low key? What you do for music is key to answering that question.

A live band is a great option if you want dancing. A good band will know a variety of songs and be able to take requests. However, they are more expensive. That is why more people opt for a DJ to keep the tunes rolling. Really budget conscious weddings are now even going with a computer, some speakers, and a playlist.

You should also think about the food when you are doing your wedding reception planning. You can have a formal dinner with wait staff, a buffet style sit down dinner, or just hors d’oeuvres. The price goes down with each option, but so does the formality. Some guests like to have a set table at which to sit, merely because they don’t know many other guests at the wedding. However, if your wedding is small and most people know each other, being able to mingle all night is a great option.

Wedding reception planning is not only about the way you want to celebrate your special day, but also how you can make your guests feel comfortable and have a good time.

Unless you are able to plan for an outdoor wedding in a place where it is guaranteed to be absolutely gorgeous weather on the day of your wedding, it might be a wise decision to chose an indoor/outdoor location. It would be very disheartening to make huge plans for an extravagant wedding and have the weather ruin it. There are parks that have covered eating areas that are perfect at keeping that little bit of sprinkle from messing up the menu. Another aspect to the out of doors that needs to be kept in mind are bugs. If you’re in an area where biting bugs are present, it might be a good idea to plan for a month when their numbers are less.

Decorations

When it comes to decorations and outdoor wedding planning, nature can provide some of the beauty for you. If you do end up adding your own decorations, remember that the out of doors can be harsh on some things. For instance, some flowers are more susceptible to damage by the sun. This needs to be taken into consideration when making up bouquets to carry and table arrangements, if these are positioned in a sunny location.

Guests

Make sure your guests all know that this is to be an outdoor wedding. You wouldn’t want someone to be miserable because they didn’t wear proper clothing for sitting in the sun. Be sure to let them know what type of weather to expect, if they are from out of town.

The Wedding Party

Keep in mind when dressing the wedding party. If it’s going to be a very warm day, you wouldn’t want the bridesmaids all in long sleeved, full length dresses. Plus, the groomsmen will be cooler without their jackets. One way around this jacket situation is to have them wear full vests, this way they can still look dressy with their jackets off.

Food

When working with caterers, make sure they know the wedding is outdoors. They will then be able to better prepare and have food that won’t be ruined by sitting in warm weather. Be sure to have plenty to drink in the warm weather also. Keep in mind that alcohol is dehydrating and it might be better to have refreshing fruit drinks and sparkling water for the most part.

Starting your outdoor wedding planning should take place well before the wedding is due to happen. There is a lot of preparation involved, but it can be an exhilarating experience.

Prices vary across the country, but expect a wedding photographer to cost you anywhere between two and ten thousand depending on how many pictures you want and how long you want the photographer to be there at your wedding and reception. Finding an affordable wedding photographer is great, but you don’t want the quality of your pictures to suffer either.

You might be able to bring the cost of a well-known (and therefore expensive) photographer down if you only want him or her at the ceremony and maybe for an hour afterward.

Another way to bring down the cost is to take advantage of digital printing and online photo albums. If you don’t make your prints directly from the photographer you should be able to bring down the initial fee. However, there will be more money spent later on if and when you decide to make hard copies. It might be less in the long run though.

Another way to get an affordable wedding photographer is to try a young or student photographer. There are a lot of great photography students at your local college who are just dying to build their portfolios. You’ll still get good quality, but at a cheaper rate. Just make sure you look at their work before you decide to hire them. These are just a few tips on how to find an affordable wedding photographer.

If both of your parents have passed away you could have your husband to be walk you down the aisle. There are no rules that say you have to do things a certain way and coming up with your own wedding ceremony ideas will make your wedding unique and memorable. If your husband to be wants three grooms men and you only want one brides maid then have it that way. You do not have to have the same number of attendants in the wedding.

Do things the way you want them done. You do not have to do things the way everyone else wants them done. You could also choose a song to walk down the aisle to other than the traditional wedding march. Choose a song that means something to you and the groom.

Another great idea for a unique ceremony is to create a program for your guest that introduce them to the wedding party. You should include how you met them and how long you have known them.

These unique wedding ceremony ideas will give your guest a better idea of what the wedding party means to you and your groom. If you have a best friend that happens to be a guy let him stand by your side. Who says he has to stand on the grooms side just because he is a man. Plan your wedding to suit you and your groom not to suit what everyone thinks a wedding should be.

When deciding on your bridal bouquet you do not have to go with a simple and elegant look. If you prefer something a little different then go for it. It is your wedding after all. Some brides like to personalize their bouquet by adding flowers that are special to their loved ones that have passed on. If you have a parent or grandparent that has passed away you can add their favorite flower to the center of your bouquet.

Try adding bold and bright flowers to your centerpieces. These unique wedding flowers will be a beautiful eye catcher and conversation piece all in one. Using plants in the place of flowers for your centerpieces can also be very beautiful. To have unique flowers for your wedding is really all about you and your fiance.

This is your day and the flowers should show that. If you have a particular flower that you just adore but would not typically be seen at a wedding use it anyway. When you use flowers in your wedding that are special to you it will only help to add to the happiness of this wonderful day. You may get a few questions about your choice of flowers but everyone will enjoy them.

Tropical flowers are a great idea for centerpieces and are very unique wedding flowers. They are exotic and beautiful and will no doubt have your guest talking in no time. Guest at a wedding love to see all of the different things the couple has done to make their wedding more personal. When you are at a wedding that is the same as all the others you have ever attended it starts to feel a little impersonal. Make your wedding personal by adding your own touches to it.