How to Become an Event Planner

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:

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. 

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!

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: 

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. 

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.