5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Event Planner
Becoming an event planner is exciting, creative, and rewarding, but it also comes with challenges that no one really talks about. When I started my journey, I quickly realized that successful event planning isn’t just about creativity, it’s about strategy, logistics, and mastering the unexpected.
If you’re thinking about launching an event planning business (or just want to know what it takes), here are 5 things I wish I knew before stepping into the world of events.
1 - Event Planning is 80% Logistics, 20% Creativity
I imagined event planning as endless mood boards, florals, and styling beautiful tablescapes, and while that’s part of it, the real work happens behind the scenes.
What I Wish I Knew:
• Most of your time is spent coordinating vendors, timelines, and problem-solving.
• Every event has unexpected challenges—a late vendor, last-minute guest count changes, or a weather shift.
• A strong logistics and planning system is more valuable than a great eye for design.
Pro Tip: Use tools like Notion, or Google Sheets to organize timelines, budgets, and vendor details so nothing falls through the cracks.
2 - Pricing Your Services is Harder Than You Think
At first, I underpriced my services just to book clients, not realizing how much time, labor, and expenses I was covering out of pocket.
What I Wish I Knew:
• Event planning requires way more hours than you expect. Factor in consultations, site visits, and last-minute troubleshooting.
• Clients don’t just pay for the event day, they pay for your expertise, problem-solving, and ability to execute their vision.
• Setting a tiered pricing model (full-service planning, partial planning, and day-of coordination) helps you serve different clients.
Pro Tip: Research industry pricing trends and factor in your time, labor, business expenses, and profit margin before setting your rates.
3 - Networking is More Important Than Advertising
I spent so much time worrying about Instagram aesthetics and ad budgets, but my biggest clients came from referrals and vendor partnerships.
What I Wish I Knew:
• Strong vendor relationships (venues, florists, caterers, DJs) will bring in repeat businessand high-quality referrals.
• Networking at wedding shows, industry events, and local business groups creates more opportunities than social media alone.
• Word-of-mouth and past client reviews are your biggest marketing tool.
Pro Tip: Instead of just posting on social media, engage in local business groups, wedding expos, and vendor communities to build valuable partnerships.
4 - Not Every Client is the Right Client
At first, I said yes to everyone—which led to stressful, mismatched experiences where clients didn’t value my time or expertise.
What I Wish I Knew:
• Your dream clients will pay for quality and trust your expertise.
• It’s okay to turn down clients who want high-end results on a budget that doesn’t match.
• Setting clear boundaries in contracts (response time, revisions, deadlines) protects your time and prevents burnout.
Pro Tip: Create a pre-screening questionnaire for potential clients to ensure they align with your event style, budget, and planning process before booking.
5 - Work-Life Balance is a Real Struggle
The event industry doesn’t run on a 9-to-5 schedule, weekends, late nights, and long days are the norm. I learned the hard way that burnout is real.
What I Wish I Knew:
• Set office hours so you’re not responding to emails at midnight.
• Block post-event recovery days in your schedule to recharge.
• Automate parts of your business (inquiries, contracts, and invoices) to free up your time.
Pro Tip: Use a CRM like HoneyBook or Dubsado to streamline inquiries, contracts, and follow-ups, so you spend less time on admin work and more time growing your business.
Final Thoughts: Would I Do It Again?
Absolutely! Event planning is challenging, fast-paced, and unpredictable, but it’s also one of the most rewarding careers. If you’re just starting out, remember that success comes from organization, pricing your services correctly, and setting boundaries.
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