DreamGroup Academy

SETTING NEW STANDARDS FOR WEDDING PLANNING
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Calling all Future Wedding Planners ~ DreamGroup Wedding Planning 101

DreamGroup Academy

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Become a Wedding Planner with the confidence to lead your clients through an efficient and informative planning journey. 

This course is unlike any Vancouver Course currently being offered!

DreamGroup has created a truly unique wedding planning program giving students the opportunity to learn from one of Vancouver’s busiest and most reputable wedding planning companies.  This course is unlike any of the typical informational college programs being offered in Vancouver.  Its purpose is not to educate Vancouver’s hopefuls by the hundreds, but rather to enlighten and inspire the career minded individual who has already acquired enough life experience to know that wedding planning is the direction they are meant to take.

This course is made up of 12 in class 3 Hour Sessions and One Field Trip so you can meet some of Vancouver’s most revered industry professionals one on one.  You will also get to meet and speak with some of Vancouver's most esteemed wedding vendors during in-class presentations. Upon completion of the 12 sessions students will receive a formal Letter of Completion from DreamGroup Productions Inc.

If your desire is to become, not just a planner, but a GREAT wedding planner, then this is the course for you.  Not only learn “the basics” as taught in most planning courses, but be privy to a wealth of detailed advice, insight, and feedback from Vancouver’s leading wedding planning company, DreamGroup Productions.  Learn from the inside out what it takes to succeed as a planner in Vancouver.

Industry professionals choose the DreamGroup Academy to enhance their skill set and give their employees the opportunity to become well rounded where wedding services are concerned.

 

Dear Sarah and Geneve,

Now that the class is officially finished, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you both for the last 12 weeks.     
I had first entered DreamGroup's Wedding 101 Class quite nervous as I didn't know what to expect.  I guess I wondered why a successful wedding planning company would willingly and openly discuss and teach a class of eager to-be planners.  I really wondered if I would get anything out of the class at all. 

As the weeks progressed, I come to see why DreamGroup Productions has grown in leaps and bounds over the past years.  You both truly have a passion for what you do.  Geneve, besides the astounding way you can talk wedding for three hours straight, I especially enjoyed the way you just had to get up to animate your stories, you really paint the picture and make the class fun.  Sarah, you really helped make the "home wedding" less of a daunting task and your memory of names and dates is something else.  Most of all, I was impressed that you both didn't just say that building relationships with clients and vendors was important, you actually proved it.  The close relationships you share with each one of the vendors we visited on the field trip was inspiring to see.  They loved you guys! 

After taking this class, I am now, more than ever, confident that this is the profession for me.  Your class inspired and informed and really helped me understand what wedding planning is all about. 

Thanks for everything!  Best of luck with all your upcoming weddings!   

~ Sincerely,
Krystal Souza

 

WEDDING PLANNING 101

12 weeks: one evening per week from 7:00pm-9:00pm (see below for dates); plus Field Trip date (Often held on a Wednesday with date TBD pending current student schedules)

FALL TERM BEGINS: September 10, 2012. Registration is Open. Click here to register

Fall 2012 Class Dates are as follows:

2012-11-26

2012-11-19

2012-11-14

2012-11-05

2012-10-29

2012-10-22

2012-10-15

2012-10-10

2012-10-01

2012-09-24

2012-09-17

2012-09-10

 

SPRING TERM BEGINS: Dates TBA

Instructor: Geneve McNally, Principal Planner & Founding Partner of DreamGroup Productions
Location: Vancouver Club, 915 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Venue Dress Code: Business Attire (no jeans or sneakers)

FEE: The course fee is $1595.00 plus 12%HST and includes a Workbook created by DreamGroup including detailed notes on various subjects, useful tips, and sample spreadsheets.  The Fee also includes a light lunch provided on the Field Trip date. Please see registration form for details.

For Hands on Experience see Experience a Wedding through the Eyes of a Planner following the Course Outline.

Course Outline:

Week 1: Wedding Planning Introduction

  1. What is a Wedding Planner?
  2. Types of Wedding Planning Services
  3. Planning & Coordination Responsibilities
  4. How to define a Client’s Wedding Vision

Week 2: Wedding Budgets Big & Small

  1. Budget Allocation by %
  2. Understanding Expectations
  3. Creating a Budget; in class work practicum and Q&A opportunity

Week 3: Getting Started

  1. Conducting a Winning Consultation
  2. Consultation in Action
  3. Weddings by Culture
  4. Planning the Ceremony

Week 4: Working with the Professionals

  1. DreamGroup Vendor Suggestions
  2. Meeting & Learning; Vendors & Venues
  3. Identifying & Short listing Venues
  4. Contracts & The Art of Negotiating

Week 5: Industry Part 1

  1. Invitations & Favors
  2. Flowers & Decor
  3. Wedding Cakes

Week 6: Industry Part 2

  1. Makeup & Hair
  2. Wedding Attire
  3. Transportation

Week 7: Industry Part 3

  1. Photography
  2. Cinematography
  3. Music; Ceremony & Reception

Week 8:  Industry Part 4

  1. Home Weddings
  2. Working with a Caterer
  3. Party Rentals & Tenting
  4. City Bylaws, Licenses, & Permits

Week 9: Wedding Day Tools

  1. Creating a Wedding Day Timeline; in class work practicum and Q&A opportunity
  2. Understanding Floor Plans

Week 10 & 11: Knowledge Implementation

  1. Consultation Practicum: Students given class time to conduct a consultation with a fellow student giving them an opportunity to experience the consultation process. Instructor will offer advice, feedback and be available for questions
  2. Using the information from your Consultation
    • Define your Client’s Vision
    • Assemble a Budget
    • Assign a Suitable Vendor Team

Week 12: Starting your Own Business

  1. Developing your Skills & Getting Experience
  2. Creating a Business Plan
  3. Defining Your Services
  4. Marketing Yourself
  5. Setting Up Shop
  6. Working with Clients
  7. Professional Associations & Certifications
  8. Not an Entrepreneur?

Field Trip: Meeting the Pros
Visit & Tour the facilities of a:

  1. Wedding Venue x 2
  2. Caterer
  3. Party Rental Company
  4. FloristDecorator

**Students must make arrangements to car pool independently to each venue.

*Course outline may be modified in order to enhance the learning experience.

Experience a Wedding Day through the eyes of a Wedding Planner

Have you been throwing yourself at Vancouver’s Wedding Planners looking for ways to gain experience, even finding that the offer to volunteer your time won’t get your foot in the door?  Take this opportunity to shadow a DreamGroup Planner on one of their weddings from morning till night.  Receive a timeline and floor plan and witness firsthand how a successful wedding planner executes and troubleshoots a typical DreamGroup wedding.  Rarely will you find an opportunity like this to see how a wedding day unfolds.

SHADOW A WEDDING PLANNER-Limited opportunities so Register early.

Pre-Requisites: Students must have completed the Wedding Planning 101 course. Those that are interested can apply to SHADOW A PLANNER.
Date: Determined once the Student has successfully completed the Wedding Planning 101 course and will be based on the Planner’s schedule of events.
Dress Code: Professional attire

FEE: The fee is $795.00 plus 12% HST.  The Student will receive any of the tools that the Planner requires in order to successfully carry out the day’s events, including a detailed timeline and layout.

To secure your spot in this program, please fill out and return the registration form at your earliest convenience.  If you have any questions please contact us by e-mail or phone Monday through Friday 9:00am-5:00pm.  Thank you.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN. REGISTER NOW!


If you have not found an answer to your question on our FAQ, please click here to email us

LOOKING FOR SOME INFORMATION ON THE WEDDING INDUSTRY?

Sit down with one of the Principal Planners of DreamGroup and ask all of the qusetions that you have been dying to get answers to. Bring your notebook, pen and get ready to be Informed!

Information Session $250.00 plus 12%HST. Session is approximately 2 hours.

Please inquire for more information.

 

DreamGroup Productions |www.dreamgroup.ca