How to Become a Wedding and Event Planner in Delaware

Planning an event can quickly become overwhelming and stressful, even if it is small and intimate. for these reasons, many people opt out of the planning part and hire a professional planner. Event and wedding planners are trained to ensure that your function runs smoothly, leaving the hosts happy knowing they are in good hands.

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If the idea of being the unsung hero in the background of an event appeals to you, then event planning may be the right career for you. It would help if you were detail-oriented, able to communicate effectively and be exceptionally organized. Some of the duties you can expect to perform are as follows:

  • Communicating with clients to gather event details
  • Liaising with potential venues, caterers, and entertainers
  • Sales and marketing
  • Creating contracts and financial reconciliation
  • Supervising events and troubleshooting problems

In this industry, you may choose to work for an organization or decide to start your own business. Either way, it’s essential to consider that long hours and regular evening and weekend work is expected.

What is Required?

In Delaware, no state regulations require those interested in becoming event/wedding planners to obtain formal training. However, if you wish to begin your career by working for an organization, many will not hire you unless you have relevant experience. If you have decided that you would like to start your own business, proving that you’ve been adequately trained can go a long way to gain client trust. This is especially the case if you will manage a significant life event, such as a wedding.

There are several ways that you can approach training to enter the events industry. Event management is a great way to do it. Still, hospitality, communications, and event public relations programs can lead to a similar result and build your skillset. The following are examples of programs that can choose to pursue in Delaware:

  • University of Delaware, Newark, DE: This university offers a degree program with a Major in Hospitality and a minor in events management
  • Delaware Technical Community College, Dover, DE: This is an associate-level degree in Hospitality Management that allows you to transfer into a bachelor’s program as a junior.
  • Delaware State University, Dover, DE: This program offers a Bachelors in Hospitality and Tourism Management. 2 internships are included in your training.

Delaware’s County Community College offers an online training course in events management and design for those wishing to study online. You can complete the course at your own pace within six months.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

The U.S Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) expects the events planning industry to grow by a whopping 18 percent from 2020 – 2030. Much of this is assumed to be a resurgence of events as the nation recovers from the Covid-19 crisis. The average wage for someone working in events is $51,560 per year, which is $24.79 per hour.

In Delaware, the events industry is expected to grow by a lower rate of 5.9 percent. Yet, the average yearly salary is slightly higher than the national average at $52,190, or around $25.09 per hour.

Working in the Events Industry in Delaware

With the industry making a comeback after the pandemic, now would be the perfect time for those interested in events management to enter the workforce. Those interested in either weddings or general events will have luck finding work in urban or rural settings; however, larger urban centers will have a higher density of jobs available when starting out. The top 3 most prominent cities in Delaware are Wilmington, Dover, and Newark.

If your interests lie strictly in wedding planning, looking at event venues, convention centers, and hotels may be your best bet. As for event planners, you can add universities, sports teams, and large charities to that list.

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