Becoming a Wedding and Event Planner in Indiana
Planning a large event like a wedding or a corporate meeting can undoubtedly take its toll on a person. Due to the constant need for determined professionals who can manage and plan successful events, Wedding and Event Planning was established as a profession. These hard workers spend tedious days and long nights ensuring that all the moving parts of an event are arranged to the littlest detail and proceeding according to plan.
Event planners are not only meticulously detailed; they conceptualize their client’s vision and compile all the necessary components to bring it to life. a practical planner can genuinely make or break an event as they have an in-depth knowledge of everything from the suppliers to the flow of the program. If you are outgoing, dedicated, and enjoy bringing unique concepts to life, then being a wedding and event planner might be the perfect profession for you.
What You Need to Become a Wedding and Event Planner in Indiana
There are no official educational requirements needed to work as an event planner in the state of Indiana. However, obtaining relevant education and having first-hand experience in the field are two things that would be most helpful in your chosen career path. Additionally, several essential skills would help you achieve your goal of becoming a sought-after event planner, such as:
- A high level of creativity
- Excellent organization skills
- The ability to communicate effectively with other people
- Being meticulous and highly detailed
- Maintaining a calm demeanor even in stressful situations
- The capacity to make quick and effective decisions
Some universities and colleges offer courses such as Hospitality and Event Management, Public Relations, Marketing, Communications and Human Resources to help you develop these and other pertinent skills.
Universities That Offer Relevant Education in Indiana
There are multiple educational institutes in Indiana that offer the courses listed above in varying degree levels. Here are some of them and a brief description of each to get you started on your journey to becoming an event planner:
- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in Indianapolis, IN, offers degrees in Hospitality and Event Management, Marketing, Public Relations and Human Resources.
- Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, offers degrees in Hospitality Management, Communication, Marketing and Human Resources.
- Grace College in Winona Lake, IN, offers degrees in Communication, Marketing, and Public Relations.
Aside from these institutions, there are also numerous online courses you can take to learn how to be a planner. Online schools like The QC Event School offer classes directly related to wedding planning, while the Quincy College Event Planning Program provides an intensive 90-hour, six-course program that will teach you how to manage different types of events.
Salary and Career Growth of Wedding and Event Planners
Event planners in Indiana earn an average hourly wage of $22.86, which amounts to about $47,550 per year. This rate is a little lower than the national hourly pay of $24.79. Higher-earning event planners, however, can make up to $34.23 per hour.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are an estimated 1,540 convention and event planners in the state of Indiana as of this writing. This number is still expected to rise as 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 Indiana
Before you start your journey as a wedding and event planner, there are a couple of big decisions to be made first. You can either work as a planner for another establishment or create your own company, where you’ll have more control over your time and decisions. Aside from this, you can also choose to specialize in planning weddings, corporate meetings, sports events or even elaborate parties. Opportunities for convention and event planners in Indiana are most abundant in the cities of Indianapolis and Bloomington.