Think becoming an event planner requires years of schooling or big-budget branding? Think again!
The events industry is one of the most accessible industries to break into—if you know how to start smart. Whether you’re aiming to plan weddings, corporate functions, or private celebrations, you can get your foot in the door fast by following a clear, actionable path.
This guide walks you through exactly how to start an event planning career with zero experience, what to focus on first, and how to turn your first few gigs into a sustainable business. Plus, sign up to join our exclusive waitlist for upcoming tools and programs designed to cut your learning curve in half.
Why Event Planning Is Easier to Break Into Than You Think
Unlike many industries, event planning rewards hustle, organization, and relationship-building more than formal credentials. Clients care about results, reliability, and your ability to bring their vision to life—not taking one look at your diploma, degree, or expensive certification – trust me, I learnt this the expensive way. By taking the right approach, you can start landing work and building experience almost immediately.
Step 1: Get Real-World Exposure Through Supplier Networks
Start by getting involved with the industry from the inside:
- Volunteer or freelance with venues, florists, caterers, or rental companies.
- Assist established planners on the day of events to gain exposure.
- Build relationships with suppliers who can refer clients your way.
The key to events and weddings is to build up an operating system for yourself and learn how to navigate arrangements, emergencies, or pivoting moments.
Step 2: Set Up Your Basics (Email, Phone, Bank Account, Socials)
Professionalism matters more than perfection. You don’t need a website or big brand yet, but you do need:
- A professional email and phone line for clients. (*A well-monitored Gmail account is perfect!)
- A bank account to manage deposits and payments. We advise keeping this separate from your day-to-day or personal account!
- Really dig into social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) to showcase your services and growing portfolio. If you can tell people what you’re up to, they’ll know how to invite you into their world for more work!
Step 3: Build a Portfolio (Even Without Paid Events)
Your portfolio is your proof. Even if you haven’t managed a full wedding or corporate event yet, you can:
- Document smaller gatherings you help organize (birthdays, showers, company socials).
- Capture photos (even on your phone) of decor setups, timelines you’ve managed, and vendor collaborations.
- Collect testimonials from every person or business you’ve supported.
Never has a client asked me for my credentials – they’ve always asked me, “Can you show me your work?” To which you want to say – No problem, here’s my portfolio of services!
Step 4: Find Your Event Planning Niche (Weddings, Corporate, or Private Clients)
While you should stay flexible early on, exploring different niches helps you learn where you excel and what you enjoy most:
- Weddings: Romantic, creative, client-driven, sometimes a little more emotional, deeply personal, and seasonal. You’ll be super busy in summer with a quiet winter.
- Corporate Events: Steady, process-oriented, and often your repeat clients. You’ll be busy in business season – and potentially slow down when corporations close for annual holidays.
- Private Clients: Highly personal, word-of-mouth driven. Their requests can happen at any time of year, but might be a little more stretched out and on a whim!
Once you find your niche, you can begin to brand yourself more specifically and charge accordingly. Many planners build a diverse offering to try and balance out the year. Some are super busy in summer with a couple of events and an annual holiday during winter or slower months.
Step 5: Upskill and Prepare to Scale (Courses, Mentors, and Tools)
When you’re ready to grow beyond basic gigs:
- Invest in practical training that teaches real-world systems, not just theory. No event is the same, and no amount of theory will give you the answers on how to actually plan a great event. You have to develop a keen mindset to be able to tackle any challenge.
- Have strong systems to manage multiple events smoothly. You don’t need expensive systems to support you – create a workflow and apply time blocking methods to keep you on track and your working capacity in check.
- Learn pricing strategies and package building to maximize profitability.
Be the First to Know When Our Event Planner Program Launches
We’re building a hands-on program designed for new event planners, built on over 15 years of real-world experience. It’s not the generic certification program — it’s your Event Planner Operating System (eOS) that gives you the mindset, DNA, toolkits, and templates we use in our events today. Inside, you’ll:
- Gain the exact tools and templates to launch and run your business.
- Learn proven strategies and workflows we’ve refined over a decade and a half, so you skip years of trial and error.
- Learn the protocol to apply in any niche or field!
- Access the systems and mindset shifts to plan events confidently and profitably.
[Join the Waitlist Here]
