Education
Fact-checked

At PracticalAdultInsights, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is a Bridal Consultant?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

A bridal consultant may also be called a wedding planner or wedding consultant. Typically, though many people may offer consultant services, most professional consultants would agree that a true bridal consultant is the bride’s best friend in all the planning stages and on the day of the wedding. They have established relationships with a number of people in the community who would assist in the wedding, such as caterers, musicians, florists, clothing shops, chauffeur companies, travel agencies, and those who own or run halls, restaurants, churches, etcetera, where a wedding could take place. The bridal consultant has, as his or her main job, the goal of making a wedding and all the events beforehand, as close to ideal as possible for bride and groom, in consideration of their budget.

Though there aren’t bridal consultant schools, many people who choose this profession are highly educated. Some are experienced in event planning and others even have college degrees in business or related professions. It’s wise to look for consultants who are either experienced or well educated. Always check with the Better Business Bureau too, to make sure there are no complaints regarding the bridal consultant you plan to hire.

A bridal consultant helps plan a wedding.
A bridal consultant helps plan a wedding.

Many consultants work on a percentage basis, though some may charge an hourly rate, especially if the cost of the wedding is fairly low. Usually you can expect to pay a bridal consultant between 10-20% of the total cost for the wedding. Thus if you have a $20,000 US Dollar (USD) wedding, the consultancy fee would be anywhere from $2000-4000 USD. In demand consultants with high profiles may charge even more, and may especially charge more if the planned wedding requires travel.

A bridal consultant can suggest options for everything from venue and invitations to bridal gowns and the wedding cake.
A bridal consultant can suggest options for everything from venue and invitations to bridal gowns and the wedding cake.

Initially, a consultant may meet with the bride and groom, the bride alone, or the bride and her parents. She gets a sense of allowable budget, the bride’s needs and desires for the wedding, (and possibly the family’s or groom’s desires), and then helps the bride by presenting her with choices which are exactly what she wants, or as close as budget allows. She may accompany the bride to meet all professionals involved in the wedding and help her make choices that will keep her in her budget framework. The goal in planning stages is to present the bride with options conforming to her wishes, and to do this in a short period of time so that the bride can maintain her busy lifestyle and not be concerned about having to do all the legwork.

A bridal consultant may help plan bridal showers.
A bridal consultant may help plan bridal showers.

The bridal consultant may also plan pre-wedding events like showers, family gatherings, and rehearsal dinners, or she may work with family or friends to help these events go smoothly. She may arrange travel for families that live out of the area, handle the sending of invitations and figure out total number of attendees. Some consultants even help a couple plan their honeymoon. On the wedding day, the consultant is on hand to make sure everyone and every business involved is where they need to be at the appropriate time, and she or he may also handle any last minute problems that arise like a sudden storm at an outdoor reception.

A bridal consultant can help the bride-to-be choose her registry gifts.
A bridal consultant can help the bride-to-be choose her registry gifts.

Depending upon the price of weddings and the number of weddings a bridal consultant plans each year, consultants can make a good living with their work. Consultants that plan two $20,000 USD weddings a month could make between $48,000-96,000 a year. Handling this many weddings can be challenging and time consuming, especially if the weddings are complex and require frequent meetings with members of the wedding party or travel. However, many consultants enjoy the flexibility of conducting some if not all of their work from home, and those with many contacts in the bridal industry may be able to quickly plan even elaborate weddings.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent PracticalAdultInsights contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent PracticalAdultInsights contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Pippinwhite

Just my opinion, but unless someone is having a fairly elaborate wedding, a bridal consultant probably isn't necessary. However, I can see where a bride would want one if she's planning a blowout.

For DIY weddings, or small church weddings, where the reception is at the church, and no vendors, bands DJs. bartenders, etc., are involved, just having a very organized person helping with the details is probably all the bride needs.

But if she's having a buffet, sit down dinner, live music, a bar and is renting the venue, then definitely, a bridal consultant is indispensable.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • A bridal consultant helps plan a wedding.
      By: naka
      A bridal consultant helps plan a wedding.
    • A bridal consultant can suggest options for everything from venue and invitations to bridal gowns and the wedding cake.
      By: gzorgz
      A bridal consultant can suggest options for everything from venue and invitations to bridal gowns and the wedding cake.
    • A bridal consultant may help plan bridal showers.
      By: Timothy Marsee
      A bridal consultant may help plan bridal showers.
    • A bridal consultant can help the bride-to-be choose her registry gifts.
      By: Hadi Yuswanto Djunae
      A bridal consultant can help the bride-to-be choose her registry gifts.
    • Bridal consultants often have existing relationships with chauffeur companies and other service providers.
      By: Konstantin Sutyagin
      Bridal consultants often have existing relationships with chauffeur companies and other service providers.
    • On the actual wedding day, a bridal consultant is on hand to make sure everything goes smoothly.
      By: Michael Ireland
      On the actual wedding day, a bridal consultant is on hand to make sure everything goes smoothly.
    • Bridal consultants may come up with decoration ideas to go with a bride's chosen theme.
      By: John Casey
      Bridal consultants may come up with decoration ideas to go with a bride's chosen theme.
    • Some bridal consultants help couples plan their honeymoon.
      By: Patryk Kosmider
      Some bridal consultants help couples plan their honeymoon.
    • Bridal consultants can help with wedding planning issues such as venue selection.
      By: Kzenon
      Bridal consultants can help with wedding planning issues such as venue selection.
    • A bridal consultant helps a bride design her look for the wedding.
      By: fotoatelie
      A bridal consultant helps a bride design her look for the wedding.
    • A good bridal consultant can help the bride relax and enjoy her special day.
      By: tayindigo
      A good bridal consultant can help the bride relax and enjoy her special day.