To be honest, my career in event planning wasn't exactly planned. I guess, like many other planners I have met, it is a job that just happens because you excel at it. With a family involved in professions such as the law, business and medicine, careers in event planning didn't top my parent's list of career choices for me.
Actually, if it wasn't for a close friend of mine, I wouldn't have even realised that there were careers in event planning. My friend Julie, knowing how organized I was, asked me if I could help plan her wedding. Her budget was so tight that she couldn't afford a wedding consultant to put together her event.
After telling me that she was looking for a small-scale and low-key event, I have to admit I was filled with nerves. I mean, you can't exactly have another wedding day if the first one goes wrong. She assured me I do a great job, so I agreed. Seems her faith was well-placed in me. It all seemed to work out well.
I managed to put together a unique, once-in-a-lifetime wedding day which didn't cost the earth. By using some creative thinking, I was able to add finishing touches which looked much more expensive than they were. Perhaps the most challenging part of the job was helping all of the wedding party come to agreements and compromises. Before I grabbed the wedding reins, no one was able to accomplish anything as they were constantly bickering to get what they wanted. By negotiating compromises for them, we were able to get ahead successfully with the wedding planning without disagreements.
On the day of the big event, they expressed their never-ending thanks. In fact, five years later they are still thanking me! They were impressed by what I accomplished for them and suggested I consider entering careers in event planning.
To be honest, I was sure it was just flattery. However, their words stuck and just a few months later I began working for a wedding planning consultancy. Beginning at the lowest rung, it was anything but glamorous. I printed wedding invites and assisted in serving meals on the big day.
By expressing some well-received ideas, within a short-time I had progressed. My boss suggested attending an event planning course at the local vocational college. I had never realised that courses were necessary for careers in event planning. It helps your quick advancement through the ranks and also helps to secure employment.
He admitted my creativity was wasted serving meals and doing tedious tasks. He told me that eventually I would be able to set up on my own, which has to be among the best careers in event planning.
