Event Planner Career Guide

We’ve prepared this guide to help you understand what it takes to be an Event Planner and answer the question, “What does an Event Planner do?” This guide also covers the skills, qualifications and potential earnings for this career.

Lastly, we’ve added some tips on how to become a good Event Planner and grow in this potentially high-paying hospitality profession.

What Is an Event Planner?

Event Planners are responsible for organizing events of all sizes and types. They select appropriate event venues, coordinate with team members and vendors and manage budgets.

Most importantly, Event Planners work closely with clients to discuss their vision, requirements and goals to keep them happy and satisfied.

An Event Planner may also be called a Wedding Planner, Conference Planner, Meeting Planner, Conference Planning Manager, Convention Services Director, Conference Services Director or Conference Services Planner.

What Does an Event Planner Do?

Although an Event Planner’s responsibilities can differ depending on the type or scale of the event, their responsibilities revolve around the following:

• Consult with clients to understand their vision, preferences and goals
• Purchase and manage inventory of all event supplies
• Develop event proposals, including objectives, timelines, budgets and theme
• Research and select an appropriate event venue, together with vendors and suppliers
• Negotiate contracts, pricing and terms with vendors
• Collaborate with clients and stakeholders to refine event plans and address any concerns or adjustments
• Schedule meetings as needed to track progress and coordinate logistics
• Provide guidance and recommendations to clients on event-related decisions
• Oversee event setup, decor and visual elements to ensure consistency with the established theme and vision
• Report progress, challenges, etc. to the Event Manager as needed
• Conduct post-event evaluations and debriefings to assess event success, gather feedback and identify areas for improvement

See a more detailed breakdown in our Event Planner job description.

5 Tips to Become an Event Planner

After learning what an Event Planner does, it’s now time to pin down what it takes to be in the event planning business.

Here are some tips to take to secure an Event Planner job more easily.

1. Get a bachelor’s degree

A total of 52% of current Event Planners reported having a bachelor’s degree when they got their job. In fact, most people starting this career have a bachelor’s degree and no work experience, as reported by CareerOneStop.

Consider getting a degree in marketing, business, event management or any related discipline so you can learn about subjects you can eventually turn into event planning skills. This includes logistical preparations, contract negotiations, marketing strategies and more.

2. Develop your creativity

Event planning comes with its subtasks — marketing, branding, a little bit of design and more.

Gather inspiration and ideas from online boards and bring these ideas to life with tools like Canva. By being able to create designs yourself, you can create your own marketing materials, event invites and more.

This will also allow you to provide clients with pegs to truly understand and capture their vision.

The image above, for example, is a template you can customize for your event.

3. Pick a specialization

Do you want to be a Wedding Planner? Are you more interested in becoming a corporate Event Planner behind corporate retreats or business meetings?

Event Planners typically plan, organize and execute many types of events. See the list below for a mix of corporate and non-corporate events you can specialize in.

• Conferences
• Trade shows
• Product launches
• Seminars
• Sports fests, fun runs or marathons
• Fundraisers
• Weddings and parties
• Music festivals

When applying for Event Planner jobs, always check whether the events you’re expected to handle fit your desired specialization before sending your resume or CV.

4. Know the best venues

With a list of top venues, you can more easily determine which locations are perfect for your next event. To find the best venues, consider the following:

• Location
• Client’s budget
• Amenities
• Capacity
• Contract flexibility
• Layout

To confirm whether the venue is a good fit for your event, we recommend contacting the venue directly and asking for an ocular inspection.

5. Put yourself out there

Networking is crucial for someone starting out as an Event Planner. The thing is, you’d need a lot of contacts, as they can be potential vendors, suppliers and even clients.

Don’t be afraid to hit people up at conferences, trade shows, product launches or just about anywhere you find yourself in. You don’t know what your next event has in store for you.

Top 5 Skills for Event Planners

The best Event Planners are prepared for whatever comes their way, from event preparation to execution. Event planning, therefore, requires a combination of the following soft and hard skills.

1. Communication

Knowing how to communicate effectively allows you to clearly outline the tasks of everyone involved in the event. This allows for less confusion and better collaboration throughout the event planning process.

2. Interpersonal skills

Being able to interact and empathize with others helps Event Planners build strong relationships with clients, vendors and team members, which you’d need to thrive in this industry.

3. Critical thinking

Anything can happen in your event. From faulty equipment to not enough food, you need to be quick on your toes and able to come up with solutions.

Having critical thinking allows you to assess what solutions would be reasonable, possible and optimal.

4. Contract negotiation

Knowing how to negotiate with vendors can often get you better deals, which can help increase your profit margins without compromising on quality or shortchanging.

Flexible agreements with vendors also allow room for adjustments. This can be helpful in case of last-minute changes to your event.

5. Project management

Project management skills allow you to create detailed timeframes, manage your resources and monitor the overall progress of your event with your systematic organizational skills.

Project management is also about defining the scope of work and setting boundaries and objectives. This is the same for Event Planners who set the theme and venue, manage budgets and coordinate tasks for a successful event.

Types of Event Planners

Event Planners can work in different locations and for different events. Their line of work normally depends on what type of work setting they have — whether you’re a freelancer or self-employed, or employed by a company.

Freelance or Self-Employed Event Planners

Under a freelance or self-employed status, you can offer services to clients on a project-by-project basis with the flexibility to choose your clients and set rates.

You can also specialize in certain types of events, such as weddings or corporate events. By having more freedom in this role, you can shape your services according to your strengths and interests.

Company-Employed Event Planners

Here are some common types of companies that hire Event Planners:

1. Corporate companies and agencies

If you’re employed by a company or agency, you organize internal events such as meetings, conferences or team-building activities. You make sure that each event aligns with the company’s brand and goals. Your role often involves coordinating logistics, managing budgets and working with different departments.

2. Hotels and resorts

Hotels and resorts often have dedicated event planning teams to manage a range of events. You work closely with the establishment’s clients to customize events according to their needs. You also handle venue logistics, catering and accommodations.

3. Nonprofit organizations

Nonprofit organizations hire Event Planners to organize fundraising events, charity galas and awareness campaigns. You play a key role in helping nonprofits achieve their mission and create engaging events that attract donors and increase community involvement.

By choosing to be a freelancer, self-employed or company-employed, you can find a career path that suits your skills, interests and lifestyle.

Is Event Planning the Job for You?

Know if you have what it takes to be an Event Planner by taking our short quiz below.

Event Planner Salary in the United States

As an Event Planner in the United States (U.S.), expect to earn an average base salary of $62,280 per year, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Wages for Event Planners have been on an increasing trend since 2019, as seen in the chart below.

[Source: BLS]

Check out our Event Planner salary overview for a more in-depth salary breakdown.

Event Planner Industry Trends in 2024

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics expects 15,200 new Event Planner jobs in the U.S. every year until 2032, with an 8% job growth for the role.

Altogether, the number of Event Planner jobs in the U.S. has been on the rise since 2021.

[Source: BLS]

Event Planner Career Progression

Experienced Event Planners may advance into roles with greater responsibilities or specialize in certain types of events.