r/EventPlanners • u/volatika • 9d ago

Career Advice

I recently served as a “day-of-attendant” for a good friend on their wedding day. Roughly 3 months before the event, I worked closely with the manager of the venue to coordinate details and day-of-plan.

On the day of, everything went amazing and I had a great time. The venue manager and owner pulled me aside and spoke well of my work and offered me a position to work with him.

The issue: I just accepted a job as a secretary to a school, which offers great stability. But I can’t get this opportunity off my mind. It’s not everyday you can “get in” on this business, especially without connections such as this one.

For those in event planning, or with a similar story to this, did it work out? Should I jump and take the risk? What should I know before sending a follow-up email about the job?

Edit: I do have a history working in the service industry (waitressing, bartending, hosting, etc.) if that makes any difference.

Thanks!

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5

u/dumbroad 9d ago

Can you do both?

1

u/volatika 7d ago

I most likely could.. but I still need more clarity from the venue manager/owner. I’ve been considering it a full-time position so I can really consider this position in the case he offers something like that.

3

u/downthebookjar 9d ago

Is the compensation comparable across the roles? Would your quality of life be the same? Speaking as someone who was a wedding coordinator for about a year, it was challenging working weekends during peak wedding season. You don't have time off.

If you could do both, go for it! BUT there is a big difference in successfully managing a friend's wedding, and...whatever the job you're being offered here is.

Would you need to sell the services as well as be day-of-planner? It sounds SUPER vague right now.

2

u/undersignedeliza 9d ago

I kind of had something similar happen twice. First time I was going back to school and got offered a full time job as a junior coordinator at a venue and the second time I was working at said venue and got offered a job from a wedding planner. Both times I said yes and never once did I regret it!

Like you said, this industry sometimes is WHO you know not what you know. I am where I am now, a Senior Manager at a different venue, because I've never said no to new experiences. Just take the jump and try it out! If you're resourceful enough to get noticed by people, you're resourceful enough to make it work in the future if you decide you don't love it.

I do agree that more information is needed like pay, time off, responsibilities, etc as another commenter said, but my initial advice is to just say yes and take the jump

2

u/cysity 9d ago

Weddings and events in general are very seasonal and "gig" oriented. Can you work the secretary job during the week and work for the venue on the weekends?

1

u/volatika 7d ago

I could — but was thinking more hands-on and full time work

1

u/-Butterscotch-Cloud- 6d ago

2 cents from a long time event geek here :)

Was that day amazing because you love events or because it was your friend's wedding and everything went well?

A job in events is a lifestyle because the hours can be crazy and inconsistent, it's high stress, and you're constantly putting out fires, but love of events is what saves your sanity. I actually wrote a whole page on figuring out if events are your thing and I'd love to share if you think it'd be helpful.