Student FAQs

“I enrolled 9 months ago following a recommendation…The syllabus is extensive and extremely detailed, the training is very practical and useful and my tutor has been fantastic!” Jenny, Student 

Questions?

You’ll find answers to all the most common student FAQs that arise. But if anything is still unclear or you have not been able to find what you were looking for, please call, or email.

NEWS

UK’s Most Up-To-Date & In-Depth Wedding Planning Courses Launch 02/06/2026!

Following a 5 month review, our entire training program has been updated, refined and expanded as we continue to deliver the best wedding planning courses in the country!

Version 13 is a truly remarkable wedding planning, design & management resource, comprising 565 A4 pages and more than 1 quarter of a million words!

EARLY BIRD OFFER: Enrol by 15 June 2026 and receive £100.00 cashback. Promo code CB100

Fast-Track First-Class Level 4 Course Out Now!

You can now get full, unrestricted access our First Class Advanced training program AND save a whopping £450.00 in the process! This new Level 4 course includes a copy of the entire First Class Advanced course materials plus all the upgrades and benefits you would expect to receive. The difference is, the amount of coursework in the new course has been drastically reduced so it’s much quicker to complete. Moreover, it’s enabled us to slash tutorial fees and pass the savings onto you! 

Enrolment is now open for the new First Class Certification in Wedding Planning, Design & Management course. Please email for application form. Fees £949.99 via BACS, £982.28 via card. 6 Month Instalment Plan also available. The website is currently in the process of being updated to reflect full details of the new course and should be completed very shortly.

Holkham Hall Wedding Venue
Introduction

AP are a leading wedding planning course provider in the UK, training students and brides-to-be in the art since 2007!

We pride ourselves on delivering what many in the industry consider the most extensive and up-to-date wedding planning training courses available, with our First Class courses covering practically every conceivable aspect of designing, planning and managing a client’s (or your own!) wedding from scratch. Not only do we teach you how to become successful wedding designers and planners but we also teach you how to set up and run your own wedding and special event business.

Although we focus on weddings, the training equips you with the knowledge, confidence and skills to plan a variety of special events such as children’s parties, birthdays, anniversaries, bar/bat mitzvahs and even conferences and corporate events because let’s face it, if you can plan an event as complex and intense as a wedding you can plan practically any other event imaginable!

We have trained and mentored many first class wedding & special event planners, a selection of whom are featured below. If you wish to speak with any of them, let us know and we will formally introduce you. Please do not inconvenience them by cold-calling. Thank you for your understanding!

Melanie, Cranberry Blue – www.cranberryblueweddings.co.uk

Rachel, Harper Venues – www.harperweddingvenues.co.uk

Rianna, The Planner Suite – www.theplanningsuite.com

Inma, Paris Berlin Weddings – www.parisberlinbodas.com

Lisa, Planning Redefined – www.planningredefined.co.uk & www.lisajohnson.com 

Kate, Foil Events – www.foil-events.co.uk

Pauline, Clerkenwell Green – www.clerkenwellgreen.com

Ciara, Mosimanns – www.mosimann.com

Lisa, Carmela Weddings – www.carmelaweddings.co.uk

Steph, Monet Events – www.monetevents.co.uk 

Jen, Planned2Perfection – www.planned2perfection.co.uk

Pauline, Love Events – www.loveevents.com

Marketa, Wedding Design – www.weddingdesign.cz

Kerry, Teokath London – www.teokath.co.uk

Nadine, Bovingdons – www.bovingdons.co.uk

Candy, RH – www.rhchospitality.com 

Kelly, National Trust Morden Hall – www.mordenhall.com 

Kelly, Warren House – www.warrenhouse.com

Helena, Hotel Du Vin – www.hotelduvin.com/locations/wimbledon

Ben, Peyton and Byrne – www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk

Yvonne, Ambience Venue Styling – www.ambiencevenuestyling.com

Olga, Flower Station – www.flowerstation.co.uk

Nikki, Bermuda Bride – www.bermudabride.com

Maria, Kensington Roof Gardens – www.virginlimitededition.com/en/the-roof-gardens

Katie, Upper Street Events – www.immediatelive.com

Victoria, Event Travel Mgmt – www.traveletm.com

Emma, Doris Loves – www.dorisloves.co.uk

Hector, Boda Tip – www.bodas.com.mx

Nic, Helms Briscoe – www.helmsbriscoe.com

Lynda, Hia Magazine – www.hiamag.com

Emma, Grovesnor House Hotel – www.marriott.com

Sylvia, Levy/Compass Group – www.levyrestaurants.co.uk

Elvira, Garden Museum – www.gardenmuseum.org.uk

All our courses are recognised throughout the wedding planning industry and by relevant employers, both here in the UK and overseas.

Absolute Perfection is registered with the UK Government Department of Education’s Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP) – our UKPRN is 10019838.

Our training was also among a select few approved by The UK Alliance of Wedding Planners. The UKAWP was the UK’s premier wedding planning association that worked towards raising standards and promoting professionalism within the wedding industry. In 2023 it closed it’s doors. It is the end of an era but no doubt the start of a new chapter!

Our First Class Advanced Course benchmark exceeds Level 4 on the UK Government’s Ofqual Qualification Framework.

Our Fast Track First Class Advanced Course is benchmarked Level 4 on the UK Government’s Ofqual Qualification Framework.

Whilst the Advanced Course is benchmarked Level 3 on the UK Government’s Ofqual Qualification Framework.

And our Short-Course is benchmarked Level 2 on the UK Government’s Ofqual Qualification Framework.

Click Syllabus tab at the top of the page to view the topics in depth.

TIP: We suggest that you carefully compare our syllabus with any others you find. Unfortunately some course providers indicate that a topic is covered but then simply scratch the surface rather than provide any in-depth analysis or commentary. This view is borne from the fact that we receive a steady flow of disappointed students who come to us after enrolling elsewhere.

To date (May 2026) as far as we are aware, no other course providers offer any clarification regarding the depth of their courses. Our latest First Class Advanced Course is more than 257,500 words and 565 pages of A4. It’s a truly mammoth resource, developed over 21 years. In our professional opinion, no other wedding course in the UK or even Europe comes close!

It is a little known fact that you will learn considerably more from a Tutor-led, home study wedding planning course such as ours than you would in a classroom where you are expected to vie for attention with a dozen other students of random, abilities, aptitudes and skill sets! It’s common sense really since they do take longer to complete.

Hence, designed to offer you maximum flexibility, all our courses are tutor-led, distance learning programs. This means you can STUDY FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL TUTOR OR MENTOR! You can also fit your studies around your individual lifestyle.

Our elite First Class Advanced Course & our new Fast Track First Class Course are spread over 32 Units and each topic is examined in depth and clearly explained in lay-mans terms. At the end of each unit there are one or two questions and an assignment to complete. Should you find that you require assistance from your Tutor or Mentor at any stage, he or she is always available to promptly answer your questions and deal with your enquiries. It is a similar format for the Advanced and Short courses.

All courses are supplied electronically and the materials are yours to keep. This format provides us with the unique ability to update, develop, revise and refine the courses on a regular basis. It also enables us to provide enrolled students with free updates and upgrades. To date there have been 10 major upgrades since April 2008 and 3 minor ones. The most recent major update to the entire program – Version 13 – launched 2-6-26. It’s easily our biggest and best yet! Whilst our Fast Track First Class course was launched in September 2023!

For your convenience and our swift processing your work is expected to be completed submitted for review and assessment via email.

Upon completion of your training you will have graduated from the Absolute Perfection Wedding Academy having attained a Certification, Advanced Certification, First Class Certification or a First Class Advanced Certification in Wedding Planning, Design & Management, obviously depending on which course you enrolled on. You will be graded PASS, MERIT or DISTINCTION in your appropriate class and receive 2 certificates: one for your office and one for your website.

We suggest all students enrol on our elite program – the First Class Advanced course. It’s the best we offer. But you do have a choice. Choose from:

  • First Class Advanced Certification – arguably the finest in the UK!
  • Fast Track First Class Certification – this is exactly the same as as the First Class Advanced course, only less coursework so it’s far quicker to complete!
  • Advanced Certification – similar to other reputable, easily found Level 3 wedding planning courses.
  • Short Course Certification – perfect for those in a rush or if you are not sure wedding planning is for you!

For a side-by-side comparison of the courses, see our main Academy page.

The vast majority of students hold down permanent jobs and study in their free time. The First Class Advanced Course is designed to be completed in 9 months, but you can take up to 18 months if you wish. And if you need an extension, the option is there at no extra charge if you are close to completing the course.

You could complete the course in as little as 75 hours if aiming for a Pass or Merit grade, or 100 hours for a Distinction. Distinction grade students often take longer, usually between 100-150 hours depending on how much extended research they have chosen to undertake.

Study for 3-3.5 hours per week and you should graduate in 9 months with a Merit or Distinction.

Study for 5 hours per week and you should graduate in 6 months with a Merit or Distinction.

The Fast Track First Class course has considerably less coursework and can be completed in 1-2 months, but you have up to 3 months if you prefer. Again, if you need more time the option is available.

The Advanced course has fewer units that the First Class courses but with extended coursework it will take up to 6 months to complete. You have up to 12 months if you wish and again if you need more time the option is available.

Whereas the Short-Course is assessed by a short Q&A test and can be completed in a few weeks. It is aimed at students in a rush to complete the training, those unsure if wedding planning is for them or brides looking for some low cost professional guidance and advice when planning their own wedding. Naturally the level and grade of certificate will vary depending on your chosen course.

For an accurate breakdown of how long each unit and each course takes, please email us for a copy of the spreadsheet.

First Class Advanced Certification In Wedding Planning, Design & Management: £1399.99 by bank transfer | £1447.59 by card.

Fast Track First Class Certification In Wedding Planning, Design & Management: £949.99 by bank transfer | £982.28 by card.

Advanced Certification In Wedding Planning, Design & Management: £649.99 by bank transfer | £672.08 by card.

Short-Course Certification In Wedding Planning, Design & Management: £449.99 by bank transfer | £464.99 by card.

Contact us for bank details. Cards incur 3.4% paypal handling fees.

Instalment plans also available, see below for details.

Card Payments: Just click ENROL at the top of the page and follow the steps. Paypal will take your details and payment for the course fees and notify us immediately. We will email you an enrolment form to complete and return. Or you can download the form below. Upon receipt of payment and completed application a tutor will be allocated to you and the materials dispatched. You can then start the course!

Bank Transfers: Contact us for bank details.

Instalment Plans: See Instalment FAQ below.

Student work placements arise throughout the year and include on-site assistant coordinator roles and assisting us during busy periods as required, for example with venue and supplier searches).

Positions also arise via our Student & Graduate Coordinator scheme, whereby we match a student or graduate with a suitable couple requiring assistance with their wedding/civil partnership – from Full Coordination to On The Day Design &/or Coordination, Partial Coordination, 1-3 Months To Go to Venue and Supplier Searches.

You can now pay for the First Class courses in up to 2, 3, 6 or 9 monthly instalments. There is a small administration charge applicable to instalment plan enrolments to cover the extra time it takes for us to provide and manage this additional service. 

FIRST CLASS ADVANCED (via bank transfer/standing order)

3 Month Plan = deposit of £526.66 then 2 monthly instalments of £426.66. Total cost: £1459.99 (includes 4.1% admin fee, total £60.00)

6 Month Plan = deposit of £333.33 then 5 monthly instalments of £233.33. Total cost: £1499.99 (includes 6.7% admin fee, total £100.00)

9 Month Plan = deposit of £305 then 8 monthly instalments of £155.55. Total cost: £1549.99 (includes 9.7% admin fee, total £150.00)

FIRST CLASS FAST-TRACK (via bank transfer/standing order)

2 Month Plan = deposit of £515.00 then 1 monthly instalment of £475.00. Total cost: £989.99 (includes 4% admin fee, total £40.00)

3 Month Plan = deposit of £381.66 then 2 monthly instalments of £316.66. Total cost: £1014.99 (includes 6.4% admin fee, total £65.00)

Card Payments are processed online on the ENROL page and are subject to Paypal handling fees of +3.4%.  

Reviews

We have lots of past and present students happy to provide personal references upon request.

Online, we had numerous reviews on the HotCourses website until we stopped advertising with them… But we do have the screenshots in a rather ugly pdf format – contact us for a copy.

In a student survey, 100% would recommend our courses to others and 91% said tutorial feedback was excellent. And many of our students tell us they choose our course after evaluating all the other courses out there. We suggest you do the same!

Typical Student Comment: “ …I googled wedding planning courses, researched via forums, social media and websites. I also reviewed countless courses before considering your course to be the best by far!” Philippa

Unlike some other course providers, we don’t bundle inferior, cheap wedding planning software with our course materials, despite being offered financial incentives to do so! 

Instead, we regularly review the latest available wedding and event planning software and can usually attain sizeable discounts for our students.

However, there is absolutely no need to splash out on any software if you don’t want to because we will provide you with an extensive range of useful Office files and templates that enable you to set up and run your wedding planning business. Files include: client presentation files, client management file, venue databases, supplier spread sheets, timetables, schedules, RSVP management files, seating plans, floor plans and marquee planning spreadsheets

UPDATE 31/05/26 – we expect to announce some new software deals in the autumn. Watch this space!

Our aims and objectives are to introduce you to the complex role of the wedding planner and provide you with the necessary knowledge, understanding, skills, tools and insight to help you to develop and ultimately succeed as a successful wedding planner, consultant or coordinator.

No previous experience required other than a keen interest in the industry. The type of people who enrol with us include:

People who are methodical, creative and possess an eye for detail
People who are ready to run their own business
People who have planned their own weddings and now wish to build a career within the wedding industry
Professionals such as venue managers wishing to offer an in-house wedding planning service
In-house event planning staff looking to develop their own knowledge, skills and services
Wedding services such as florists who wish to offer additional aspects to their service
Brides-to-be who want some low cost professional guidance on how to organise their own wedding

As previously indicated, you will learn considerably more about about wedding design and planning in an advanced home study course such as ours than you would in any classroom based course. It comes down to depth, detail, time and money.

If we were to deliver our First Class Advanced Certification in a classroom environment, you would likely spend approximately 16 full days in the classroom over a 12 month period (not including coursework, completed in your own time). Accounting for additional classroom hire and tutorial fees, the course fees would soar to iro £6,500.00! Moreover, Tutors would have to commit to a timetable of fixed weekend dates over a 12 month period and that’s just not feasible!

Aside from the fact it’s a natural progression for established businesses in any industry to offer training courses – it’s also down to the basic principles of supply and demand.

In the years before we set up our first course back in 2007, we were inundated with enquiries from people wanting to know the best and/or easiest route into wedding planning. Most had no experience so we simply advised them to undertake a course that was run by a competitor at the time.

If the truth be known, we thought they were mad training potential competitors. However, we soon realised that there were lots of people determined to break into the industry. And that there was a market for wedding planning courses. So if they were going to do a course, they might as well do ours! It’s pure and simple business sense.

Popular reasons that students choose to enrol with us include:
Personal recommendations from friends or from members of the industry

  • Widest range of topics covered
  • Most up to date training
  • 1-to-1 tutors and mentors 
  • Free upgrades and bonus packages
  • Overall value for money

When choosing a course start by comparing syllabus, content and structure.

Next, find out how up-to-date it is. Some are 4 or more years out of date – that’s a long time in this fast moving industry.

Then decide which format to opt for – class room or home study? Classroom based courses are certainly beneficial for some students but home study courses cover a wider variety of topics in greater depth.

We also suggest you ask about the tutors. Are they full time tutors? If so, why have they stopped planning weddings?

Finally, ask the provider whether the course was written for the American, Australian or the UK market. Many distance learning courses were written for the American or Australian markets and imported here to be resold. They do not compare to courses written specifically for the UK market, despite what you might otherwise be told.

The UK’s Most Up-To-Date & In-Depth Wedding Planning Courses Launch 02/06/2026!

Following a 5 month review, our entire training program has been updated, refined and expanded as we continue to deliver the best wedding planning courses in the country!
Version 13 is a truly remarkable wedding planning, design & management resource, comprising 565 A4 pages and more than 1 quarter of a million words!

Fast Track Level 4 Course is now live!

Fast Track Level 4 Course Out Now! You can now get full access our entire First Class Advanced training program AND SAVE £450.00 in the process! It’s a Fast Track version of our premier training course and because there’s less coursework, it’s far quicker to complete. This has enabled us to slash tutorial fees and pass the savings onto you! See FAQ page for details.

12th Sept 2025: Wedding & Events Business Plan Template Now Available – Level 2 & 3 & 4 add-on; also for external applicants. 

For your convenience, we have put together a 12 page, 3,500 word wedding & special events business plan template that is ready to submit to any UK bank or even a potential investor for approval. Simply insert / copy and paste your personal details and research you have already conducted as part of your coursework into the relevant sections and the job is done!

Most business plans take between 7-14 days to draw up and finalise. Our ready-to-go Wedding Planning Business Plan could take you as little as 2 hours to complete!  It outlines the nature of your business, reviews the modern wedding market and explains how you intend to turn a profit and succeed in this industry. Topics include:

Company Summary; Background Information; Company Aims & Objectives; Start-Up Assessment; Services & Fees; Market Need; Target Clients; Reasons Why A Client Might Hire A Planner; Market Analysis; Competition Assessment; USP’s; Financial Forecasts, Fees & Costs; Marketing Plan 

Price: £349.99 for Level 2,3&4  students, £749.99 external applicants

Take a look at the following article on our blog: 

HOW TO BECOME A WEDDING PLANNER 

It offers a wealth of useful information and guidance for anyone aspiring to become a wedding planner.

We have a selection of discounted upgrades and add-ons now available to Level 2 & 3 students who wish to access additional services and content that were previously only available to our Level 4 students. These add-ons are also available to external applicants.

Wedding & Events Business Plan Template – Level 2 & 3 & 4 add-on; also for external applicants. 

You can now get your hands on a 12 page, 3,500 word wedding & special events business plan template that is ready to submit to any UK bank or even a potential investor for approval. Simply insert / copy and paste your personal details and research you have already conducted as part of your coursework into the relevant sections and the job is done!

Most business plans take between 7-14 days to draw up and finalise. Our ready-to-go Wedding Planning Business Plan could take you as little as 2 hours to complete!  It outlines the nature of your business, reviews the modern wedding market and explains how you intend to turn a profit and succeed in this industry. Topics include:

Company Summary; Background Information; Company Aims & Objectives; Start-Up Assessment; Services & Fees; Market Need; Target Clients; Reasons Why A Client Might Hire A Planner; Market Analysis; Competition Assessment; USP’s; Financial Forecasts, Fees & Costs; Marketing Plan 

Introductory Price: £349.99 for students, £749.99 external applicants

6 or 9 Month’s Graduate Mentoring – Level 2 & 3 add-on; also for external applicants

Level 2/3 students can now gain access to a Tutor or Mentor for 6-9 months after graduating, to help guide, advise and assist you on any wedding related matter, including setting up and running your own business. Includes 6 or 9 hours access time within 6 or 9 month time-frame, by phone or video messaging.

6 Month Price: £600.00 for students, £900.00 external applicants

9 Month Price: £900.00 for students, £1,350.00 external applicants

Wedding Planner’s Client Contract with Terms & Conditions – Level 2 add-on; also for external applicants

This is the business contractual agreement you will use when you sign and book a client. It will outline your services, fees and obligations to the client and makes clear your own booking terms and conditions. It also outlines the client’s needs and requirements and their expectations from you.

Price: £350.00 for students, £499.99 external applicants

Extensive Database of First Class Venues, Services, Suppliers & Resources – Level 2 & 3 add-on; also for external applicants

Provides details of more than 10,000 UK wedding venues, plus our hand-picked selection of hundreds of first-class UK vendors, services and suppliers, plus all the best wedding resources for tracking down thousands more of the finest, most suitable suppliers for your clients.

Price: £199.99 for students, £499.99 external applicants

Version 13, Due Out Mid 2026.

Students enrolled at the time of launch of V13 will automatically get a free copy of the latest course! Past graduates can only apply for a version of the course you enrolled.

First-Class: £350.00
Advanced: £250.00
Short-Course: £150.00

To purchase an upgrade, please email Administration.