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 Steps 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 steps 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.
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.
Results
Congratulations!
Based on your responses, it seems like a career as an Event Planner would be an excellent fit for you. Your skills and preferences align well with the demands of the profession.
Embrace this opportunity, and consider exploring further training or gaining hands-on experience to enhance your craft. Check out our Event Planner Interview Questions to prepare for your next interview.
Cheers to a promising future in the event industry!
There’s great potential!
While your results indicate that an Event Planner role may not be an immediate perfect match, there’s great potential for you to excel with dedication and focused effort.
Consider investing some time in honing your skills, perhaps by attending event planning courses and workshops or gaining practical experience through internships.
You can also visit our Event Planner job description to learn more about what the job entails and how you can improve your chances.
#1. How do you feel about multitasking?
#2. Do you enjoy being creative?
#3. Are you detail-oriented and organized?
#4. How do you feel about the possibility of working in a fast-paced environment?
#5. Are you comfortable with negotiating contracts and agreements with vendors?
#6. When planning an event, do you pay attention to budget constraints?
#7. How do you feel about communicating with clients and vendors regularly?
#8. How do you handle unexpected challenges or changes during a project?
#9. Are you comfortable with working irregular hours, including weekends and evenings?
#10. When organizing an event, do you prefer:
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]
Experienced Event Planners may advance into roles with greater responsibilities or specialize in certain types of events.
Event Planner Career FAQ
A bachelor’s degree in event management, business, marketing or any related discipline can help prepare you to work as an Event Planner.
The highest event planning role is Chief Event Officer, Head of Events or Director of Events.
Yes, there are plenty of event planning career opportunities that do not require work experience. Just make sure you check the requirements of each Event Planner job description before applying.
Entry-level event planning positions often involve supporting senior team members and serve as great venues to build hands-on experience, especially in logistical preparations.
No, an Event Planner is someone who leads the entire event planning process, while an Event Coordinator typically supports the Event Planner, especially in logistical preparations.
Yes, an Event Planner is mainly in charge of the planning stages while an Event Manager supervises all aspects of the event.
