• Take training courses, such as those offered through bridal associations (see resources below).
• Offer to work for free for another consultant or wedding vendor to gain industry experience and see if the field is right for you, suggests Sandrell Bentley, co-leader of the iVillage WFH: Wedding Professionals board and owner of Events of Elegance in New Orleans. You can also offer to plan the weddings of families and friends for free -- for experience and word-of-mouth exposure -- adds Carla Tyrell of Dearly Beloved in Lithonia, Georgia.
• Join professional associations in the field and network at their meetings (see resources below).
• Attend bridal fairs to meet brides-to-be and wedding vendors. Follow up with prospects through postcard mailings, phone calls and emails.
  
  Resources:
  
• iVillage Work-from-Home Wedding Pros message board
• Association of Bridal Consultants
• Association for Wedding Professionals International
• National Bridal Service -- member organization of consultants and stores
• Weddings Beautiful Worldwide -- certification for wedding planners
• The Knot -- wedding site
• Wedding Channel.com -- wedding site
• The Perfect Wedding Guide -- wedding site
• Event Solutions magazine -- for event-planning professionals
• African Wedding Guide -- for planners
• Events of Elegance -- example of planner's site
• From This Day -- example of planner's site

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