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How to Become an Event Planner

How to Become an Event Planner

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  4. How to Become an Event Planner


How To Become An Event Planner



Are you an all-around people person who thrives in a fast-paced environment? Event planning is a fun and challenging career that might just suit you. If you’ve got an eye for detail and know-how to throw a killer event, you may be ready to go ahead and dip your toes into the water. Fancy starting your event planning career? The first step is learning what you can expect down the road. 

What does an event planner do?

The role of an event planner is highly varied. If you’re looking for a fast-paced job in which you can show off your creativity, this could be the position for you. First things first, you should know that there are many different types of event planners. From wedding planners to corporate events, this career field can be highly varied. For that reason, you should take the time to consider which area suits your skills. 

Regardless of the sector in which you work, the main duties of an event planner will be the same. When you enter this type of career, you will need to plan and execute events from start to finish. That’s a tall order. It takes a high level of organisation and forward thinking. Here are some of the key responsibilities you may have:


  • Generating interesting ideas for events
  • Creating a plan for events
  • Managing the budget for events
  • Finding appropriate locations for events
  • Researching suppliers and vendors (e.g. florists, bar staff and food stalls)
  • Attending food and wine tastings
  • Marketing events (via social media and local press)
  • Reaching out to people of interest to attend
  • Hiring temporary staff to work at events
  • Carrying out risk assessments
  • Fundraising for charity-based events
  • Maintaining a strong social network
  • Attending and running events
  • Working with PR teams
  • Taking photos at the events
  • Adhering to a business plan or guide
  • Managing clients and following up

Of course, it’s worth noting that your duties may differ depending on the type of event you’re managing. For example, planning a wedding will be different from planning a large-scale corporate trade show. Finding the right fit for you is an essential step here. As you start to research the role, consider what your ideal position would be. 

How much does an event planner earn?

Next up, let’s talk about your salary. The average annual pay for a full-time event planner starting out in the United Kingdom is £21,000. However, it’s worth noting that this amount can rise up to as much as £50,000 at the top end of the scale. Organising high-profile individuals and companies can be one way to generate a higher yearly salary.

Should you wish to go self-employed and run your own business as an event planner, you’ll likely charge clients per event. That means that the amount you make each year will depend on how many clients you manage to book. Alternatively, you may decide to charge an hourly rate for your consultancy services. The choice is yours!

£0,000
Average Salary for a Event Planner

What skills are needed to become an event planner?

Now that you know what to expect from the role of an event planner let’s talk about whether you’re the right fit. Put simply, do you have what it takes to plan and manage events that will wow clients? As you might imagine, this is a highly creative role. To succeed in this business, you will need the following baseline skills: 


  • High levels of organisation

  • Creative flair

  • The ability to multitask

  • Eye for detail

  • Understanding of social media

  • Public relations

  • Flexibility

  • Intrapersonal skills

  • Strong motivation

  • Communication skills

  • Multitasking

  • Excellent networking skills

What work experience do event planners need?

While you don’t necessarily need qualifications to have a successful career in event planning, you may find that a business-related degree will be advantageous. Additionally, you can undertake an event management course to give you a knowledge base before you get started. If you’d like to focus on one particular area, such as weddings, you can take on a wedding planning diploma, completed entirely online.

When you’re new to the game, landing your first clients is always a challenge for a small business owner. For that reason, you may want to attend networking events or reach out to your professional connections. Chances are, you may have to start small. You could begin by planning children’s birthday parties, for example, and work your way up to managing special events of any type. 

No matter the kinds of events you start working on, make sure that you show off your experience. When you have hosted those special events, ask former clients to give you testimonials. You can use these reviews on your professional website or showcase them on LinkedIn. The more you can prove your worth early on, the better! 

Look out for specialist certification programs. Becoming a Certified Professional could help you land clients or even get the salaried position of your dreams. 

Career prospects for event planners

When you start your career as a professional event planner, there will be plenty of job opportunities further down the line. For example, you may find that you want to become an event coordinator or start your own small business. The sky’s the limit. Whether you decide to start by applying to work at an event planning company or fly solo from the offset, there are plenty of ways to drive your career forward. 

Working as a professional event planner is sure to be an exciting lifestyle. If you’re considering this career path, it may be worth learning more about the events industry. Doing some initial research will help you understand whether this role will work for you. Get started today and learn more about the world of event planning.


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