Becoming a Wedding and Event Planner in Georgia
Weddings and other significant events are fun yet challenging occasions to plan for, especially if they involve many people. Those planning must search for the best suppliers, possess effective management and communication skills, and fix situations that don’t go according to plan.
In many cases, these issues are delegated to professional wedding and event planners with an arsenal of skills and people to execute a successful event.
Highly effective and successful event planners juggle multiple components at once; they are outgoing, communicate effectively, and think on their feet. It is essential for people in this industry to handle situations that come up unexpectedly and make quick decisions, adjusting the details without disrupting the rest of the event. If you possess these characteristics and want to help people achieve their dream events, being a wedding and event planner may be the perfect job for you.
What You Need to Become a Wedding and Event Planner in Georgia
As of this writing, there are no official educational requirements needed to work as an event planner in the state of Georgia. However, there are a few universal skills that wedding and event planners should all possess, regardless of their experience. The most important include:
- Knowing how to work and communicate with people
- A high sense of creativity
- The ability to multitask
- Painstaking attention to detail
- Good organization
- Maintaining a calm and collected composure
Some universities offer courses that can help you develop these skills, such as Hospitality and Event Management, Public Relations, Marketing, Communications and Human Resources.
Universities That Offer Relevant Education in Georgia
Multiple colleges and universities in Georgia offer practical and functional courses at varying degree levels. Here are some institutes and a brief description of each to get you started on your journey:
- Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA, offers degrees in Hospitality and Event Management, Communication and Marketing.
- Atlanta Technical College in Atlanta, GA, offers degrees in Hospitality Management, Marketing, and Event Coordinator Certificates.
- Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville, GA, offers degrees in Hospitality Management, Marketing, and Event Coordinator Certificates.
- Albany Technical College in Albany, GA, offers degrees in Hospitality Management and Marketing.
- College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick, GA, offers degrees in Hospitality Management, Marketing, Communications and Public Management.
Aside from these colleges and universities, you can also take several online courses to learn how to be an exemplary event planner. Online schools like The QC Event School specialize in teaching courses directly related to wedding and event planning.
Applying for an internship in a well-established wedding or event planning company can also be an excellent way to earn valuable experience. You can gauge whether or not this career is right for you during your training based on real-time observation.
Salary and Career Growth of Wedding and Event Planners
Event planners in Georgia earn an average hourly wage of $21.97, which is a little lower than the national wage of $24.79. Higher-earning professionals, however, can make up to $35.54 per hour.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are an estimated 3,320 convention and event planners in the state of Georgia as of this writing. The average long-term growth rate for convention and event planners for 2019 to 2029 is at a high of 8 percent.
Job Opportunities as an Event Planner in Georgia
A couple of important career choices have to be made as a wedding and event planner. You can decide to establish your own business providing services to clients, or you can work for another company. There are also several avenues to consider in this field. You can specialize in planning weddings, corporate meetings, sports events or even elaborate parties. Opportunities for convention and event planners in Georgia are abundant in cities such as Atlanta and Macon.