How to Become a Wedding and Event Planner in Minnesota
Planning a wedding or any large, significant event takes hard work and intense planning. It’s not just making a list of everything you need then calling it a day-to successfully organize a large-scale event requires creativity, excellent communication skills, quick-thinking and attention to detail. Due to the constant flow of meetings and celebrations, professional wedding and event planners have been steadily getting more and more in demand.
Working as an event planner means late nights and tedious days, but it is a fulfilling and rewarding career. If you find yourself enjoying the process of bringing together several different components into one cohesive event, then this career path might be perfect for you.
Requirements and Certifications for Becoming an Event Planner in Minnesota
There are currently no specific educational requirements to become an event planner in the state of Minnesota, but going to school and learning about the trade would be helpful in your journey to becoming a professional planner. a degree in one or more of these courses can be a valuable asset for honing the necessary skills to become a successful planner:
- Hospitality Management
- Event Management
- Communications
- Public Relations
- Human Resources
Event planner certifications are another way to earn credentials and valuable insight to continue working as a planner. Although not a requirement to practice in this profession, becoming certified will undoubtedly help you learn more about the field and set you apart from others. Here are a few event planning certifications and a brief description of each to get you started:
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP): a certification administered by the Events Industry Council (EIC). It is a globally recognized certification that shows you have the relevant knowledge and experience to successfully conduct meetings that are up to par with their high-quality standards.
- Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP): a certification administered by the International Live Events Association (ILEA). It is awarded to professionals who have the necessary skills and abilities to design and bring together outstanding special events.
- Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM): a certification administered by the Meeting Professionals International (MPI). It was designed to reinforce essential leadership and meeting management skills for professionals to excel in their careers.
Where to Get Relevant Education in Minnesota
There are quite a number of colleges and universities in Minnesota offering some of the courses listed above in various degree levels. Here are some educational institutes around the area:
- Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN, offers degrees in Hospitality Management, Sales and Convention Management, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations and Human Resources.
- Saint Paul College in Saint Paul, MN, offers degrees in Hospitality Management, Event and Meeting Management, Marketing and Human Resources.
- Normandale Community College in Bloomington, MN, offers degrees in Hospitality Management, Marketing, Public Relations and Human Resources.
Aside from these degrees, there are also online courses you can take to learn how to be a planner. Online schools like The QC Event School or the Quincy College Event Planning Program specialize in teaching courses directly related to planning special events like weddings and corporate meetings.
Salary and Career Growth
An event planner in Minnesota earns an average annual pay of $53,210, which is higher than the national average of $51,560 per year. The highest-earning planners in this state have reported annual wages amounting up to $81,590.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are currently about 2,250 convention and event planners in Minnesota, which can be subject to change as the average growth rate for this occupation is at a high national average of 8 percent.
Working as a Wedding and Event Planner in Minnesota
There are a couple of divergent paths you can take as a wedding and event planner. You can decide to create your own business providing event planning services to clients or work for another company. Multiple establishments are now looking to hire competent event coordinators and planners, especially in the cities of Minneapolis, Rochester and Lakeville.