How to Become a Wedding and Event Planner in New Mexico
Many people dream of a career in event planning, but it takes a particular type of person and a lot of hard work to make it happen! Whether you want to host fabulous parties, corporate meetings, or make fairytale wedding dreams come true, event planning is a demanding yet hugely rewarding career.
Requirements and Useful Skills
You don’t need any specific qualifications to work as an event or wedding planner in New Mexico. Still, you will need a robust skillset. Organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills are a must, and you’ll need to be happy working under lots of pressure, sometimes late at night. Remember, your clients are counting on you to make their event happen!
If you’ve successfully organized large events before, that’s a plus, as is experience working in communications, hospitality, or other customer-facing industries. Any kind of managerial experience will be helpful.
Education and Training Opportunities
Within ‘event planning’, there are several options. Wedding planning is the direction many people take; others go into live music events and festivals. Corporate events are often overlooked by newcomers to the industry but are well worth investigating. Whether you want to specialize in one type of event or try your hand at a variety, you’re going to need some education.
A degree in public relations or business or hospitality management will help you establish yourself as an event planner. If you’d like to study for a degree in New Mexico, Universities.com lists the following colleges offering the best degree courses in the state:
- Business Administration:
- University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
- New Mexico State University, Las Cruces
- Western New Mexico University, Silver City
- New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
- Hospitality Management:
- New Mexico State University, Las Cruces
If you prefer to study a shorter course online, there are plenty available, including:
- Certified Wedding and Event Planning (CWEP) offered by the University of New Mexico and other providers
- Corporate Event Planning online course from the University of New Mexico
- QC Event Planning courses including wedding and corporate event planning
- American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP) offer online or in-person training
If you’d like to quickly develop your skills, you could consider a short training course such as Mangates Event Planning Training, held regularly in Albuquerque.
A professional certification can help you stand out and take your career to the next level. These certifications are available to those who have several years of experience in the events, hospitality or public relations industries. They are often internationally recognized and are designed to showcase your skills in a standardized way.
- Event Planning Specialist Certification (CEPS)
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
- Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP)
- Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE)
Salary Expectations and Career Outlook in New Mexico
Meeting, Convention and Event planners in New Mexico earn an annual mean salary of $41,600, which is below the national average of $55,890. However, the cost of living in the area is also much lower than the national average in every city but Santa Fe. It’s also inexpensive to set up a business, with the state filing fee for an LLC only $50.
New Mexico is a laid-back yet vibrant state, with a unique culture and beautiful, varied landscapes. As the home of many startups and with a booming TV and film industry, New Mexico is considered by many to be up-and-coming and a great place to set up a business. With some effort and a strategy to set yourself apart from the crowd, you can turn your passion into a thriving and lucrative career.