Event Planning Professional

Hours: 680 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Open, Mentor Supported
Retail Price: $3,695.00

Course Overview:

Event planners need professional caliber information that explains everything from how to decorate, to the use of technology, and everything in between. In this course you will learn that information and much more. It is through planned events that we remember our shared history, our friends, family, and community.

We include information on greener events, corporate social responsibility, international best practices, and the expanding event field. You will also learn how technology, including the use of social media, may be harnessed to improve the financial, environmental, and other strategic outcomes of a special event.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Define the principles of event leadership
• Identify the steps for planning an event budget, solving problems, and making critical decisions
• Identify the requirements for working with vendors, securing a space, and marketing the event
• Identify legal considerations and guidelines for writing event contracts
• Identify the steps for starting your own event planning business

It's the most important day in many couples’ lives and everything needs to be perfect. With weddings becoming larger, costlier and more complex, more than two thirds of engaged couples are turning to professional wedding consultants for help. Learn how to combine your creative vision with their individual preferences to create the wedding of their dreams. Discover the newest wedding trends and find out how to be the first to adopt these new trends.

Drawing on wedding traditions and customs from around the world, this course includes real-world information on:

• Vows, from the traditional to the creative
• Rituals, former variety of traditions
• Toasts, from the classic to advice on writing your own
• Readings, spanning various customs and heritages
• Music, from classical to popular

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Identify techniques for planning a wedding ceremony
• Comprehend the role of wedding vows and traditions
• Identify the elements involved in the wedding consulting business
• Identify techniques for marketing and determining fees and services
• Define basic wedding elements the wedding consult must consider

Have you ever eaten a Mrs. Fields cookie? Used an Apple computer? Listened to a hip-hop CD? Entrepreneurs brought these products to your world. People that start their own businesses and work for themselves are called entrepreneurs. For an entrepreneur the sky is the limit as far as earnings are concerned. An entrepreneur is someone who's recognized an opportunity to start a business that other people may not have noticed -- and jumps at it skillfully. Entrepreneurs can shape and create an opportunity where others see little or nothing -- or see it too early or too late.

This “Start Your Own Business” class will help you create the business you want. Throughout this course you will be working on your business plan and creating a quick comprehensive overview of the elements you want in your new business.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Comprehend entrepreneurship and opportunity
• Identify the steps for developing a business plan and marketing strategy
• Identify methods for managing costs and forming a financing strategy
• Comprehend commercial law and the importance of contracts
• Identify strategies for growing your business and eventually selling it

The Event Planning Professional program includes 3 courses:

• Event Planning & Management
• Wedding Consultant
• Start Your Own Business

Course Outline:

Event Planning & Management Module 1
Event Leadership

• Anthropological & Sociological Origins
• Global Business
• The Event Leadership Profession
• Demographic Changes
• Career Opportunities
• The 5 Phases of Event Leadership
• A Blueprint for Your Event
• Comprehensive Needs Assessment
• Good Communication
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS)
• Developing & Implementing the Event
• Research the Event
• Design a Program
• Develop a Theme
• Manage the Timeline

Event Planning & Management Module 2
Event Administration

• Identify Leadership Characteristics
• Make Critical Decisions
• Solve Problems
• Human Resource Management
• Recruiting Staff & Volunteers
• Effective Organizational Charts
• Financial Administration
• Maintain Event Records
• Forecast Projected Revenues
• Identify Sustainable Funding
• Plan an Event Budget
• Greener Events
• Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
• Minimize Waste
• Implement Energy Efficiency
• Market Your Greener Event

Event Planning & Management Module 3
Event Coordination & Marketing 

• Managing Vendor Contracts
• Coordinate Catering Operations
• Conduct & Analyze Site Inspections
• On-Site Event Production
• Integrate New Technologies
• Event Contingency Plans
• Registration Operations
• Lighting, Sound, and Video
• Event Leader as Producer
• Advertising & Public Relations
• Promotions & Sponsorships
• The 5 Ps of Event Marketing
• Promote Fairs & Festivals
• Online Marketing
• Using Social Media

Event Planning & Management Module 4
Legal, Ethical, Risk Management & Technology

• Legal Event Documents
• Control Liabilities
• Risk Management Procedures
• Inclusiveness, Morality & Ethics
• Comply with ADA
• Avoid Ethical Problems
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Measure the Social Responsibility Index
• Technology & Event Planning
• Using Mobile Technology
• 360-degree Event Experience
• Building Your Resume
• Career Advancement
• The New Best Practices
• New Frontiers in Planning Events

Event Planning & Management Module 5
Corporate Events

• What is a Corporate Event?
• The Future of Corporate Events
• Types of Venues
• Anatomy of a Venue
• Types of Staging
• Choosing the Best Stage for Your Event
• Types of Seating
• Choosing the Best Seating for Your Event
• Introduction to Rigging
• Rigging Equipment
• Introduction to Lighting
• Elements of Lighting

Event Planning & Management Module 6
Audio, Video & Design

• Video Basics
• Video Cameras & Controls
• Introduction to Audio
• Understanding the Sound System
• Types of Speakers & Presenters
• Presentation Management
• The Value of Rehearsals
• Design Teams & Processes
• The Proposal Response Process
• Designing from the Ground Up
• Drafting Software
• Venue Floor Plans
• The Fire Marshal’s Approval

Event Planning & Management Module 7
Developing & Presenting the Design

• The Fundamentals of Design
• Developing a Design Palette
• Scenic Design
• Design Approaches
• Environment Design
• Providing Atmosphere
• Scenic Materials & Construction
• Scenic Specialty Items
• Dealing with Transportation
• Presenting Your Design
• Effective Presentation Methods
• Ordering Your Presentation

Event Planning & Management Module 8
Start Your Own Event Planning Business

• The Event Planning Industry
• Who Hires Event Planners
• Conducting Market Research
• Building Your Business Foundation
• Finding Your Niche
• Creating a Map for Success
• A Day in the Life
• Developing Design Ideas
• Getting Started
• Choosing a Business Location
• Financing Your Business
• Buying Equipment & Inventory
• Fundamentals of Hiring Employees
• Paying Employees
• Marketing Your Business
• Managing Your Finances
• Keeping Your Business Healthy

Wedding Consultant Module 1
The Ceremony Planner

• Setting the Tone for the Wedding
• Taking Charge of the Wedding
• Choosing an Officiant
• Deciding Who will Participate
• Planning the Ceremony Location
• The Wedding Program
• The Wedding Rehearsal
• The Ceremony Text
• Incorporating Personal Beliefs
• Checklists and Worksheets

Wedding Consultant Module 2
Wedding Vows and Traditions

• Traditional Religious Vows
• Interfaith and Nondenominational Vows
• Civil Vows
• Writing Your Own Vows
• Traditional & Nontraditional Readings
• Exchanging Ring Ceremonies
• Unifying Rituals
• Programs and Quotes
• Selecting the Music
• Speeches and Toasts

Wedding Consultant Module 3
The Wedding Consultant Business

• Characteristics of a Successful Bridal Consultant
• The Role of the Consultant
• Wedding Day Duties
• Consulting Services and Fees
• Developing Your Market
• Writing a Mission Statement
• Building the Foundations of Your Business
• Writing a Business Plan
• Legal Issues
• The Cost of Doing Business
• Developing a Vendor Network
• Marketing Your Business
• Using the Internet
• Tracking Your Finances

Wedding Consultant Module 4
The Portable Wedding Consultant

• Accessories, Attendants, Attire
• The Ceremony Itself
• Divorced parents
• Finances, Flowers, Guest Lists
• Invitations, Honeymoon
• Kids at Weddings
• Music and Photography
• Hair and Makeup
• Rehearsals, Gifts, the Reception
• Showers, Rings, Thank You Notes
• Traditions, Transportation
• Tuxedos, Wedding Gowns
• Videography
• Wedding Cakes

Start Your Own Business Module 1     
Entrepreneurial Pathways

• Defining Entrepreneurship
• What Entrepreneurs Do
• Free Enterprise Economies
• Finding & Evaluating Opportunity
• Examining Profits
• Creating Business from Opportunity
• Creating a Feasibility Analysis
• Developing a Business Plan
• Defining Your Business
• Analyzing Your Competitive Advantage
• Viability Testing
• Valuing a Business

Start Your Own Business Module 2  
Integrated Marketing

• Exploring Your Market
• Marketing vs. Selling
• Market Research
• Market Segments
• Positioning Your Product or Service
• Developing Your Marketing Plan
• Marketing Mix
• Pricing Your Products
• Breakeven Analysis
• Smart Selling
• Effective Customer Service
• Principles of Selling
• Successful Sales Calls
• Customer Relationship Management

Start Your Own Business Module 3      
Cost Analysis

• Understanding & Managing Costs
• Identify Required Investment
• Analyze Fixed Operating Costs
• Calculate Gross Profit
• Financial Record Keeping
• Financial Statements
• Income Statements
• Examining a Balance Sheet
• Financial Ratio Analysis
• Calculating Return on Investment
• Same-Size Analysis
• Quick, Current & Debt Ratios

Start Your Own Business Module 4    
Financing Strategy

• Cash Flow Management
• Cash vs. Profits
• Cash Flow Statement
• Cash Budget
• Taxes
• Filing Tax Returns
• Financing Preferences
• Types of Business Financing
• Debt vs. Equity Financing
• Identifying Sources of Capital
• Stocks & Bonds as Investments

Start Your Own Business Module 5   
Operating For Success

• Addressing Legal Issues
• Managing Risk
• Business Legal Structures
• Contracts
• Commercial Law
• Intellectual Property
• Protecting Tangible Assets
• Operations in a Business
• Production-Distribution Chain
• Supply Chain Management
• Managing Suppliers
• Managing Inventory
• Facilities Location & Design

Start Your Own Business Module 6
Growing Your Business

• Management
• 10 Basic Tasks Handled by Managers
• Leadership Styles
• Organizational Cultures
• Organizational Structure
• Human Resources Management
• Ethical Leadership
• Incorporating Social Responsibility
• Ethical Practices
• Growing Your Business
• Franchising
• Licensing
• Cashing in Your Brand
• Methods for Valuing a Business

All necessary materials are included.

System Requirements:

• Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)

• Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.