Online Class: Special Events Planning

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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13Lessons
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29Exams &
Assignments -
1,453Students
have taken this course -
8Hours
average time -
0.8CEUs
Course Description
Course Motivation
What Is Event Planning?
As we set out to discuss the job of event planning, it may be helpful to break down the components. Consider the following:
A) An occurrence, something that takes place.
B) A significant happening or occurrence.
C) A social gathering or activity.
No, this is not a multiple choice question.
Therefore, one who plans events is the individual who puts together everything for a gathering or activity of some significance. This can be anything from a first birthday party to a worldwide convention for a huge product launch. Two such events are actually more similar than one might suspect.
Corporate:
- Meetings
- Trainings
- Fundraising
- Conventions
Social:
- Celebrations
- Rites of passage
- Family events
Regardless of the type of event, an event planner does very similar work for all events.
The Job of an Event Planner
The facts, however, cast a very different light on the occupation. Most of an event planner's duties are done behind the scenes: talking to clients on the phone, checking out potential vendors, creating and reviewing contracts, preparing timelines for upcoming events, marketing for and contracting with new businesses, investigating new venues, or shopping for deals on items such as vases, candlestick holders, and other various items.
Event or meeting planners coordinate everything necessary to put together an event that will be memorable, meet the criteria of purpose, be well organized, and achieve everything within a budget. Some event planners work on smaller events, while others work with a team of people putting on very large events, ongoing events, or annual events.
My mother-in-law would have made a good event planner. Every family holiday, she would scour magazines for months ahead, looking for menu and decorating ideas. She would clip the pictures and recipes and put them in a three-ring binder. As the date approached, she would narrow everything down, creating an elaborate menu and decorating scheme. With those decisions made, she would then make lists: lists for food, lists for flowers, lists for decorations, and then lists for when everything needs to be done, creating what is known in the business as a "timeline."
In the special event business, timelines are the lifeblood of the business. Without them, nothing would be done on time or in the proper order. Each event would have various timelines, the first one well ahead of the event.
As the event draws nearer, the timelines become more and more specific. The final timeline occurs on the day of the event itself, with everything scheduled down to the hour and minute. All of this is done with the greatest attention to detail.
Not everyone has the same skills as my mother-in-law. The people who do not would need an event planner. Perhaps you have a similar set of skills and are interested in becoming an event planner. As we continue through this course, you will learn what it takes to become a successful event planner.
Duties of an Event Planner:
- Consult with clients.
- Set budgets.
- Select dates.
- Choose and inspect venues or locations.
- Negotiate with and select vendors and suppliers.
- Arrange transportation.
- Arrange for food and beverage service or catering.
- Book blocks of rooms.
- Book speakers and entertainers.
- Write publicity pieces.
- Put together participant packets.
- Ship boxes.
- Solicit help from and direct volunteers.
- Prepare invitations, select printers, compile invitations, and send them.
- Create agendas.
- Negotiate room rates.
- Write brochure copy.
- Enter information into a database.
- Interact with chief executive officers, general managers, wait staff, caterers, vendors, housekeepers, and everyone in between.
- Perform any task necessary to make the event a success..
- people skills;
- organizational skills;
- networking skills;
- knowledge of and training in the field;
- versatility;
- leadership;
- team-building capabilities;
- calm demeanor under stress;
- sociability;
- friendliness;
- efficiency;
- creativity.
Most of the time, event planners are created. You may have a great desire to plan things. Perhaps you planned your own wedding or the wedding of a friend. Still others got into event planning by working for a nonprofit organization or by catering banquet events. As you work in this manner, you get to know the people you need to know, you begin to network, finding suppliers and vendors. The vast majority of event planners have experience in catering or banquet functions because food almost always is the backbone of an event. Understanding the flow of food, how it is prepared, presented, and planned for, will help you to prepare for such a career. It actually is a good idea to work in a field very close to event planning, or even enter a mentoring program in which you will work with an experienced event planner, until you understand the job.
If you are the one who rushes to take over organizing anything, from the bake sale at church to the annual summer office picnic at the zoo, you may very well be suited for this job. Evaluate your skills by answering the following questions as honestly and thoughtfully as you can:
- Are you willing to give up evenings and weekends to run and promote your business?
- How much time are you willing or able to give to your business?
- How much support do you have from your family?
- Are you organized? Can you keep the smallest details straight?
- How much of a people person are you? Can you listen to someone, really hear what they want or need, without interjecting your personal opinion?
- How are you with stress?
- How do you handle a crisis?
- Are you creative?
- Can you listen to someone who is just venting without giving advice?
- How well do you work with other people?
- Are you a good leader? Can you create a good and cooperative team?
- Do you want this job for the glamour? If so, stop here. This job is anything but glamorous.
The following two questions are pertinent if you intend to go solo immediately:
- Where will you get the money to finance a new business?
- Are you willing and able to work for almost nothing until your business is established?
An event planner is someone who designs, coordinates, and organizes private parties, conventions, conferences, meetings, seminars, or trade shows. Responsibilities include handling accommodations, transportation, venues, food and beverage, signs, displays, decorations, audio-visual equipment, insurance, security, and budgets.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: Today's Special Event Planner
Lesson 1 Video
Lesson discussions: Event Planning Interest; Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment: Career Evaluation
Complete Assignment: An Introduction
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 1 : Today's Special Event Planner
Lesson 2: Why Clients Use Event Planners
Lesson 2 Video
Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment: Determining What is Needed
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 2 : Why Clients Use Event Planners
Lesson 3: Your Job as an Event Planner
Lesson 3 Video
Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment: Being Tactful Under Pressure
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 3 : Your Job as an Event Planner
Lesson 4: Going into Business
Lesson 4 Video
Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment: Researching Competition
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 4 : Going Into Business
Lesson 5: Vendors
Lesson 5 Video
Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment: Locating Vendors
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 5 : Vendors
Lesson 6: Money, Contracts, and Insurance
Lesson 6 Video
Lesson discussions: Event Planning Experience
Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment: Insurance
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 6 : Money, Contracts, and Insurance
Lesson 7: Preliminary Work for the Event
Lesson 7 Video
Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment: Gathering the Facts
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 7 : Preliminary Work for the Event
Lesson 8: The Event: Showtime
Lesson 8 Video
Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment: Creating a Checklist
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 8 : The Event - Showtime
Lesson 9: Types of Events: Corporate
Lesson 9 Video
Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment: Corporate Planners
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 9 : Types of Events - Corporate
Lesson 10: Types of Events: Social
Lesson 10 Video
Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment: Social Event Planning
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 10 : Types of Events - Social
Lesson 11: Relationships
Lesson 11 Video
Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment: Working on Personal Development
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 11 : Relationships
Lesson 12: Networking
Lesson 12 Video
Complete: Lesson12 B Assignment: Making Contact and Offering Your Services
Complete: Lesson 12 A: Assignment: Networking Goals
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 12 : Networking
Lesson 13: Keeping Your Business in the Public Eye
Lesson 13 Video
Lesson discussions: Starting a Business; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
Complete: Lesson 13 Assignment: Event Planning Business Expectations
Assessment: Quiz for Lesson 13 : Keeping Your Business in the Public Eye
Assessment: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Define the role of a special events planner.
- Describe why clients use event planners.
- Describe your job as an event planner.
- Summarize going into business.
- Describe dealing with vendors.
- Describe managing money, contracts, and obtaining the correct insurance.
- Define the preliminary work for the event.
- Describe the event.
- Define types of corporate events.
- Define types of social events.
- Describe how to build and maintain client relationships.
- Summarize how to network to expand your client base.
- Describe how to keep your business in the public eye.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

Choose Your Subscription Plan
No Certificate / No CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate | X |
Includes CEUs | X |
Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificate & CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate |
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Includes CEUs |
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Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate |
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Includes CEUs |
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Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate |
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Includes CEUs |
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Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Student Testimonials
- "The instructors are wonderful, and they are compassionate. I love that." -- Yvonne W.
- "I found it all helpful, especially when wanting to go into this business. I knew very little about it, now I feel a lot more confident." -- Barbara D.
- "Course was great and the instructor was great. I liked the whole experience of this course." -- Alla V.
- "All of the course was helpful." -- Charity P.
- "All of it was helpful." -- Trina S.
- "I found the writing part of the course to be very helpful as it made you research the field and your competition." -- Babette H.
- "The instructor was very good." -- Jody S.
- "The assignments were extremely helpful!" -- LaTasha B.
- "The assignments were most helpful. I never would have thought to plan an all vegan event and this course put me up to the challenge for the very first assignment." -- Suzie M.
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