9 Ways to Kickstart Your Career as a Special Event Planner
Photo Credit: Unsplash / Jason Dent
Skift Take
There’s no straight path to becoming a special event planner. But there are many resources to help you learn more about the field and create the connections that will lead to your first job.
Special event planners are different from meeting planners. They’re usually independent contractors, or they work for agencies that are hired by corporations or associations to orchestrate events such as gala dinners and awards ceremonies. Many also plan weddings and social gatherings such as reunions. Their clients count on them to be up to date on the latest trends in everything from tabletops to florals to F&B, to know all the latest venues, and to be expert at customer service.
The paths to an event planning career are as varied as events themselves.
Many of the most iconic event planners in the industry come from the hotel/catering side of the business, like David Tutera, who was a room service waiter. Others, like Steve Kemble, started in the field right out of college (he worked on the event staff for U.S. Congressman Jim Collins). Celebrity event planner Mindy Weiss worked in a stationery shop after college, designing stationery and wedding invitations, then opened her own custom invitation business until clients started asking her to plan their parties.
Here are 9 tips for starting a career in special events:
1. Consider College
A number of colleges offer classes and certifications in event planning. One of the most well-known programs is New York University’s School of Professional Studies, which offers a specialized certification program in Events and Convention Management, available online. There are no admissions requirements.
Other schools offering special event planner certifications include:
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
2. Join An Industry Association
There are two main associations focused on event planning (vs. meeting planning or event marketing).
The International Live Events Association (ILEA) is a community of creative event professionals, with more than 2,000 members in 35 countries. The organization's training, research, and meetings cover all aspects of live event production and management, and its members are primarily event planners.
The National Association For Catering And Events (NACE) has more than 4,000 members in 40 chapters across North America, including event planners.
3. Apply for Industry Certification
The gold standard certification is the Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) from ILEA. It focuses on all aspects of special event management. Candidates must meet experience requirements, pass a written exam, and commit to ongoing professional development.
Another nationally recognized special event planner course is the Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) from NACE.
4. Attend Industry Events
With members around the globe, ILEA has 30 local chapters. Joining a chapter offers the chance to make local connections, as well as participate in professional development programs and events. There’s also the annual ILEA conference, which will take place August 10-13 in Boston.
The annual Catersource + The Special Event show features trends in everything from F&B to tabletops. The 2026 show will be held March 2-5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Another major industry event is the Event Planner Expo, which will take place in New York City October 14-16. It features a trade show with 150 exhibitors, as well as education sessions.
All of these are opportunities to meet career special event planners and make contacts in the industry.
5. Network Online
You don’t have to wait for a live event to network. One of the best ways to meet people and learn more about the industry is to join the various online event planner groups. Among them is the Event Planners Gather Facebook group. Reddit also has ongoing discussions about event planning careers.
6. Build a LinkedIn Page
Make sure the image(s) you use on your LinkedIn header reflect the creativity you would bring to event planning. Use LinkedIn to search for hiring managers from event planning businesses in your area. Also, review your profile periodically and check the types of people who are looking at it. Are they people in the industry? If not, you may want to rework some of the keywords you use.
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7. Create a Web Site
Even before you start working in the profession, a web site is essential. Include your CV and a portfolio of everything event-related that you have been involved in and the role you played. From volunteering and temp work to minor roles such as catering waitstaff, you’d be surprised how much experience you already have to show off.
Include a brief video with an elevator pitch about why you’re excited to start a career in event planning, and link to your web site from your LinkedIn page.
8. Consider an Internship
Use LinkedIn and online job sites such as Indeed to search for open positions, then reach out to the human resources directors at these event planning agencies to see if they would be interested in offering a paid or unpaid internship.
9. Network in Your Neighborhood
Get out and meet new people in your community through local business networking groups that advertise events on sites like Eventbrite. Other groups that organize networking events include chambers of commerce, women’s business leagues, and BNI, a business referral organization with chapters across the country.
