These Wedding Jobs Could Be Your Perfect Match

From food to photographs, considering just how many wedding jobs are out there, odds are good that you'll find your match.

The U.S. wedding market includes more than 334,000 businesses, employs more than 1 million people, and generates billions and billions of dollars each year, according to IBISWorld. The average cost of a wedding (engagement ring included) is around $34,000.

Check out these careers that can benefit from wedding-season spending. While the happy couple hears wedding bells, you hear the sweet sounds of a cash register—cha-ching!

Wedding Planner

What you’d do: Consider this person the ringleader of all wedding jobs that follow. A wedding planner’s duties vary, from finding a venue for the ceremony to making sure the wedding party is dressed and ready on the big day. Typically, planners are responsible for creating a theme, decorating, dealing with vendors, finding a caterer, and planning the music. From major decisions and negotiations to tiny details, a planner can take some of the stress off of the couple’s shoulders.
What you’d need: A bachelor’s degree is typically required. Experience in the hospitality industry may be expected for some positions. View a sample resume for an event coordinator and learn more about how to become a wedding planner.
What you’d make: The median hourly pay for an event planner is $22.88.

Find event planner jobs on Monster.

Florist

What you’d do: Florists create the bridal bouquet, lapel flowers, centerpieces, and other floral decorations. They choose proper seasonal flowers, colors, and styles, and some deliver and set up flower arrangements on the big day.
What you’d need: A high-school degree or equivalency, and some on-the-job training.
What you’d make: The median hourly pay for a floral designer is $16.11.

Find florist jobs on Monster.

Hair Stylist

What you’d do: Hairstylists make sure the bridal party’s ’dos are wedding-ready. The planning starts well ahead of the ceremony, cutting and coloring hair and doing trial styles. It’s not just the bridal party that’s serviced; mothers of the bride and groom, the groom himself and his entourage may also be on the hairstylist’s list of clients.
What you’d need: Hairstylists and barbers require graduation from a state-approved barber program, followed by passing a licensure exam. View a sample resume for a hairstylist.
What you’d make: The median hourly pay for a hair stylist is $17.61.

Find hair stylist jobs on Monster.

DJ

What you’d do: The DJ is a driving force of the reception, introducing the wedding party, making announcements for food, and directing activities such as the first dance and the bouquet toss. DJs work with the couple ahead of time to choose the music and plan the timing of events, and they can entice a quiet crowd to get on their feet and boogie.
What you’d need: There are no formal education or training requirements, but this role emphasizes communication and interpersonal skills, and can require the ability to read the mood of a gathering. Comfort with technology and being a center of attention is likely to be an emphasis as well.
What you’d make: The median hourly pay for a DJ is around $26.65.

Find DJ jobs on Monster.

Caterer

What you’d do: Caterers plan and serve the multi-course menu with the couple, and provide the table settings and additional staff that hustle to get all the courses in front of the guests in a timely fashion. Many caterers also provide beverage and bar service, as well.
What you’d need: A high-school degree and experience in the food-service industry. Post-high-school education—such as college or culinary school—may be expected.
What you’d make: The median annual salary for a catering sales manager is $83,706.

Find catering jobs on Monster.

Cake Decorator

What you’d do: The days of a simple white cake with a plastic bride and groom on top are dwindling, as wedding cakes have become lavish productions that incorporate flowers, colors and themes to match the wedding decor. The sweetest of wedding jobs, the cake decorator is responsible for meeting the couple’s requirements, from flavors to appearance.
What you’d need: Formal education usually takes a backseat to on-the-job experience for bakers, but apprenticeship programs and technical or culinary school can help. View a baker resume sample for more information.
What you’d make: The median hourly pay for a baker is $13.45.

Find cake decorator jobs on Monster.

Dance Instructor

What you’d do: From ballroom dancing to choreographed routines, couples can find lessons that will help them impress the crowd for their first dance. Dance instructors recommend start lessons months ahead of time, but can also provide last-minute refreshers for those who don’t want to stumble.
What you’d need: There are generally no explicit education requirements, but years of training and practice are likely to be expected.
What you’d make: The median hourly pay for a dance teacher is $23.44.

Find dance instructor jobs on Monster.

Photographer and Videographer

What you’d do: As the photographer, you’re responsible for capturing the ceremony and party, both in posed shots of groups and individuals—as well as the happy couple, naturally—and candid moments. You’re responsible for scouting the perfect backgrounds at the locations where the ceremony and party will be held. Videographers record the ceremony and party, and edit the footage to help tell the story behind the best moments of the big day. View a sample resume for a photographer.
What you’d need: Photographers and videographers are expected to have a few years’ experience shooting and editing weddings. Learn more about how to become a photographer.
What you’d make: Photographer: $34,000 per year; videographer: $58,990 per year

Find wedding photographer jobs and videographer jobs on Monster.

Makeup Artist

What you’d do: Before the wedding party poses for all those pictures, they plant themselves in front of a makeup artist to get them camera-ready. Like hair stylists, makeup artists perform trial runs to ensure the bride and her crew are happy with the plans.
What you’d need: Professional makeup artists require graduation from a state-approved cosmetology program, followed by passing a licensure exam. View a sample resume for a makeup artist.
What you’d make: The median hourly pay for a makeup artist is around $14.8.

Find makeup artist jobs on Monster.

Limousine Driver

What you’d do: Chauffeur the bridal party to and from the ceremony and reception—usually in an ultra-luxe ride.
What you’d need: A special driver’s license, namely CDL, PPA and/or TLC, and clean driving record.
What you’d make: The median hourly pay for a driver is around $14.46.

Find limousine driver jobs on Monster.

Find the One—Job, That Is

All that work planning and pulling off a wedding involves a lot of people, as you can see. If you think you've found some wedding jobs that could lead you to your happily ever after, let hiring managers know you're available. Need help with the hook-up? Make a free profile on Monster today and let us introduce you to a job that will sweep you off your feet.