In Depth Guide to Working in Event Planning

Which Types of Jobs are Available in Event Planning

"Event planning" serves as an umbrella term for a variety of professions, including party planning, wedding planning, and corporate events. Each of these event-oriented jobs require a unique set of skills, but these careers also overlap to such an extent that some people handle all three.

Meeting and convention planners tend to cover corporate events, arranging every detail from speakers to locations, audio-visual equipment, entertainment, and exhibitions. These days, you may even be asked to coordinate a virtual conference that takes place entirely online.

Wedding planning is an industry in itself, with the average wedding costing around $27,000. The first step, however, is often determining the couple's exact budget so you can work within those constraints. As the event planner, you need to coordinate the music, videographers, florists, caterers, guest accommodations, transportation, and possibly even help the bride pick out her dress. Some wedding planners offer three types of service depending on whether the bride wants the planner to arrange nearly everything, some of the things, or simply coordinate the day-of services.

Party planning covers the miscellaneous parts of event management, such as large birthday parties, anniversaries, and Bar Mitzvahs. Funeral planners are also part of this industry, but they have stricter training requirements and more laws governing their profession.

Formal Training Required to Work in Event Planning

You can enter the world of corporate events in a variety of ways. Some workers start as an administrative assistant planning small meetings or events, while others begin in hotel sales or as catering coordinators.

Most meeting and convention players do have a bachelor's degree. Hospitality management is one of the most useful degrees, but you could also major in:

• Business
• Communications
• Marketing
• Public relations

If possible, you should also get experience in events management through a university organization, sorority/fraternity, or other club.

Wedding planning and party planning don't have any specific formal training requirements, but again a degree and experience in event jobs can help improve your employment prospects. You can also get certified by enrolling in professional-development courses or through professional organizations.

Above all, an event coordinator requires excellent organization, attention to detail, and people skills. Writing courses can help you communicate with both clients and vendors and create documents like brochures, invitations, and marriage announcements. Since many people in this industry are self-employed, you may also find business, marketing, and accounting courses useful.

The Typical Career Path of Someone Working in Event Planning

The event planning industry splits into two directions when it comes to career paths. According to tho Bureau of Labor Statistics, 27 percent of meeting and convention planners work for religious, civic, professional, or other established organizations, and 14 percent work for accommodation like hotels or motels. Only 6 percent are self-employed.

In wedding planning, by contrast, an estimated 80 percent of the workers were self-employed as of 2006 according to the Association for Wedding Professionals International. That means you may have to manage staff and handle bookkeeping and marketing along with the event planning aspects of the profession, which can make your job more difficult in the beginning. You also have the option to start out assisting a full-time event planner and then branch off on your own when you're ready.

Finally, some people start out as a part-time event coordinator while holding down another job. Then, once they develop a bigger client roster, they move into the business full-time.

Job Outlook and Salary Information for Those Working in Event Planning

Earnings for wedding planning and party planning can vary tremendously, with some people making less than $5,000 annually and others making more than $250,000 each year. Experience, reputation, and the number of event jobs you coordinate each year all affect your potential salary, as does your ability to promote yourself and your services. Approximately 10 percent of brides choose to hire a wedding planner, giving you plenty of opportunities.

Employment for meeting and convention events management, along with corporate events, should grow by 16 percent from 2008-2018. Having a bachelor's degree and/or the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential offered by the Convention Industry Council can help improve your job prospects. The median annual wage for a meeting and convention planner was $44,780, in 2008 but certain industries like software publishers often pay significantly more.