The wedding business is a $45 billion a year industry. With more than 2.4 million weddings taking place in the U.S. in 2004, there are more opportunities for wedding planners that ever before. Wedding planners have an exciting high-paying job that lets them use their creativity to organize the happiest day of people??s lives. No special education is necessary to succeed in this career. This book explains how to plan a wedding, including how to prepare a timeline schedule and budget, a step-by-step list of all tasks involved in planning a wedding, how to plan the ceremony and reception, how to select reputable vendors, and how to negotiate contracts and save money. The CD-ROM included with the book has many forms and checklists to use in wedding planning. This book also provides information on more than a dozen types of employers that hire wedding planners, how to find job openings, how to prepare a resume, and how to do well in an interview. Additionally, the book covers how to start a wedding planning business with little or no money and explains how to price services, find potential clients, create an impressive portfolio, and where to get creative ideas for weddings.