What Does an Event Planner Do? A Complete Guide to Event Planning Careers
Planning an event, whether a high-end corporate function or an intimate wedding, can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where an event planner steps in, not just to organise the details but to ensure every element works seamlessly. From budgeting and logistics to managing vendors and designing the guest experience, event planners wear many hats. But what does an event planner really do, and how do they make such a huge difference to the outcome of your event?
This guide, brought to you by The Ann Savva Group, explores the core responsibilities, career pathways, required skills, and why hiring a professional event planner in London or anywhere else in the UK could be the smartest move for your next big occasion.
Understanding the Role of an Event Planner
What Is an Event Planner?
An event planner is a professional responsible for organising all aspects of events, from initial concept to completion. Whether it’s a corporate seminar, wedding, product launch, or charity gala, an event planner ensures that every detail aligns with the client’s objectives and guest expectations. Their work involves strategic thinking, budget management, logistics coordination, vendor negotiations, and customer service, all rolled into one.
The primary role of an event planner is to relieve stress for the host while elevating the event to a memorable experience. The Ann Savva Group, a leading event planning and staffing agency in London, has supported clients with event planning services that prioritise both creativity and efficiency. Event planners also ensure that events comply with health and safety regulations, contractual obligations, and insurance requirements, an area often overlooked by DIY organisers.
Their involvement is crucial in transforming a simple idea into a well-executed event, regardless of its scale. In many cases, the event planner acts as the glue that holds all stakeholders together, making real-time decisions and problem-solving as necessary.
Key Responsibilities of an Event Planner
An event planner’s responsibilities are diverse and extend well beyond scheduling and decoration. At the core of the role is project management, overseeing timelines, budgets, suppliers, and staffing needs. A professional planner begins by understanding the client’s objectives and crafting a proposal that meets those goals. This could involve scouting venues, liaising with suppliers, coordinating catering services, managing audio-visual setups, arranging travel logistics, and creating run sheets.
Other key duties include handling licensing and permits, ensuring event insurance coverage, developing emergency contingency plans, and aligning every element with the brand or theme. During the event itself, planners manage real-time logistics such as stage transitions, staff coordination, and guest flow.
For brands like The Ann Savva Group, these tasks are approached with meticulous attention to detail. Whether it’s a high-end product launch or a luxury private celebration, their planning experts ensure nothing is left to chance. The ability to multitask and maintain professionalism under pressure is what sets skilled planners apart from casual organisers.
Types of Events an Event Planner Can Manage
Event planners operate across a wide range of event types, each with its own unique demands. Corporate event planners typically handle seminars, trade shows, product launches, annual general meetings (AGMs), and internal company events like team-building exercises. These often involve strict timelines, measurable outcomes, and complex guest logistics.
Social event planners, on the other hand, deal with weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and private parties. These events focus heavily on personal touches, cultural nuances, and emotional impact. Theatrical planners manage concerts, festivals, and fashion shows that involve staging, performance coordination, and crowd control.
The Ann Savva Group has expertise across all of these areas. Their event planning team in London offers tailored services for both corporate and social functions, ensuring each occasion aligns with its intended goals and audience expectations.
Whether you're organising a charity fundraiser or a multi-day conference, an experienced event planner brings the expertise and network needed to pull it off smoothly and professionally.
Corporate vs Social Event Planning: How Roles Vary
Corporate Event Planners
Corporate event planners specialise in business-focused events. These include product launches, investor meetings, trade exhibitions, and networking functions. The success of these events is often measured by ROI, engagement, brand exposure, or lead generation. As such, planners in this space must be business-savvy and capable of aligning the event experience with broader marketing or sales objectives.
They are also responsible for ensuring professional-grade execution, from venue selection and AV requirements to managing keynote speakers and branded materials. At The Ann Savva Group, our team works closely with corporate clients in London to design events that leave a lasting impression while reflecting brand values and professionalism.
Unlike weddings or social events, corporate gatherings often involve formal schedules, B2B networking, and strict compliance with company policies or government regulations. Event planners here act as brand ambassadors just as much as they are organisers.
Wedding and Social Event Planners
Social event planners focus on creating unforgettable personal experiences. Weddings, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, engagement parties, and anniversary celebrations are emotionally driven, and planners in this space must be empathetic, creative, and highly detail-oriented. These events usually require managing a mix of family expectations, traditions, entertainment elements, and catering, all while staying within budget.
Wedding planners, in particular, must juggle multiple vendors, manage design aesthetics, arrange timelines, and handle high-stress situations like last-minute cancellations or wardrobe malfunctions. The Ann Savva Group has a portfolio of luxury weddings and social events that reflect deep cultural sensitivity, custom styling, and guest experience management.
Social planners often play a more intimate role in their client’s lives, which means trust and personal rapport are crucial. Their ability to coordinate while keeping the client emotionally grounded is a skill honed through experience and professionalism.
Theatrical, Sports & Entertainment Event Planners
This niche of event planning involves large-scale logistical operations. Planners working on festivals, concerts, sporting events, and stage performances must coordinate security, permits, emergency services, media rights, and large crowds. Their responsibilities include health and safety management, talent coordination, technical requirements, and crowd flow planning.
The Ann Savva Group’s experience in managing VIP and public entertainment events in London includes deploying trained event staff and ensuring all aspects of the production meet professional standards. The success of these events hinges on seamless timing, security coordination, and audience satisfaction, all of which must be planned in advance and managed in real time.
Planners in this category often collaborate with producers, sponsors, and local authorities, making it one of the most complex branches of event planning.
Event Planning Skills and Tools Needed for Success
Essential Skills of a Professional Event Planner
A professional event planner must master a broad set of skills to deliver high-quality results. First and foremost is communication, clear, concise, and timely communication with clients, vendors, venues, and staff is crucial. Planners must also be excellent at organisation and time management, juggling multiple tasks, timelines, and people while staying on top of every detail.
Strong budgeting and negotiation skills are key. Event planners need to allocate resources effectively, ensure return on investment, and negotiate contracts that benefit their clients’ interests. Leadership is another core competency; event planners often lead diverse teams under high-pressure circumstances. They also require problem-solving abilities to respond quickly and calmly to last-minute changes or emergencies.
At The Ann Savva Group, we only work with planners who demonstrate all these skills to the highest standard. Our team thrives in fast-paced environments and works diligently to deliver results that exceed expectations, no matter the size or scope of the event.
Software and Tools for Event Planners
Today’s event planners rely heavily on digital tools to streamline processes and manage logistics. Event diagramming software, such as Allseated or Social Tables, helps planners visualise venue layouts, seating arrangements, and flow of foot traffic, all of which are essential for large or complex events.
Project management tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com allow planners to assign tasks, manage deadlines, and collaborate with teams in real-time. For guest management, tools like Eventbrite, Cvent, and bespoke RSVP platforms help with ticketing, invitations, and attendance tracking. CRMs (Customer Relationship Management) tools such as HubSpot or Zoho keep client communications and follow-ups organised.
The Ann Savva Group uses a combination of these platforms to manage client events with precision and efficiency. By integrating technology with years of expertise, we ensure a seamless experience from first consultation to final guest departure.
Common Challenges Event Planners Face and How to Overcome Them
Event planners face numerous challenges that test their adaptability and expertise. Budget constraints are among the most common; clients often underestimate costs, which can impact the scope of the event. Skilled planners mitigate this by creating flexible budgets and setting realistic expectations early on.
Vendor cancellations, especially at the last minute, can jeopardise the entire schedule. To prevent chaos, planners build a network of reliable suppliers and maintain backup options. Changes to guest lists, like unexpected additions or VIP cancellations, also require planners to remain flexible and solutions-oriented.
Then there’s the challenge of real-time problem-solving during the event itself, weather issues, technical glitches, or no-shows. At The Ann Savva Group, we train our planners to remain calm, think creatively, and act quickly under pressure. Experience plays a huge role in managing these setbacks without the client ever knowing something went wrong.
Becoming an Event Planner: Career Path and Training
Do You Need Qualifications to Be an Event Planner?
While formal education isn’t always required, having qualifications in event management can give you a competitive edge. In the UK, aspiring planners can pursue event planning courses from institutions like the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), City & Guilds, or NCFE. These courses often include modules on event logistics, marketing, budgeting, and health and safety.
Many professionals also obtain short diplomas or certifications in hospitality or project management to bolster their credibility. Universities such as Leeds Beckett, Manchester Met, and Greenwich offer event management degrees with real-world placements. CIM-accredited qualifications especially boost your trust factor with employers and clients alike.
At The Ann Savva Group, we value both education and hands-on experience. While a qualification can help get your foot in the door, it's your attitude, attention to detail, and ability to work under pressure that determine long-term success in this industry.
How to Start a Career in Event Planning
For those wondering how to become an event planner with no experience, there are several entry points into the field. Internships and volunteering at weddings, festivals, charity events, or corporate functions provide practical exposure. Working as an event assistant, admin support, or event coordinator is a great way to learn the ropes.
Platforms like Indeed, Reed, and LinkedIn frequently post event planning jobs in London, and many companies offer part-time or freelance contracts. It’s also advisable to build a personal portfolio with testimonials and images from events you've contributed to, even if they were unpaid.
The Ann Savva Group often collaborates with new talent and provides opportunities for budding planners to work on real events under the guidance of seasoned professionals. We believe in nurturing talent and giving newcomers the experience they need to grow.
What’s the Difference Between Event Planners, Coordinators, and Managers?
Although the titles are sometimes used interchangeably, there are important distinctions between event planners, event coordinators, and event managers.
- Event planners handle the strategic side, designing, budgeting, and scheduling the event months in advance.
- Event coordinators step in closer to the date to oversee logistics like vendor setups, deliveries, and staff scheduling.
- Event managers are typically on-site leaders ensuring everything runs smoothly during the event itself.
Think of it this way: the planner designs the vision, the coordinator prepares the blueprint, and the manager builds and monitors the final structure. At The Ann Savva Group, our team is comprised of professionals with skills across all these roles, ensuring a full-spectrum event management service.
What Factors Affect an Event Planner’s Income?
Several variables can impact an event planner’s income in the UK. Experience is a major factor, planners with years in the industry and a solid portfolio can command higher rates. Location also matters; London-based planners often earn more due to the cost of living and the scale of events hosted in the city.
The type of events you plan can also affect your rate. Corporate events, weddings, and VIP parties often come with larger budgets. Freelancers and business owners who run their own event agencies also have higher earning potential, but they also bear business costs and risks.
Working with established brands like The Ann Savva Group not only offers job security but also provides access to premium clients and high-value events, both of which contribute to higher earning opportunities.
Why Work with The Ann Savva Group for Your London Events
With decades of experience in the event planning and staffing industry, The Ann Savva Group stands as one of London’s most trusted and reliable event solutions providers. Whether you’re organising a high-profile corporate event, a luxury wedding, or a bespoke private function, our expertise ensures every detail is executed with precision.
We provide more than just event planning. Our services include event staffing, hostess recruitment, front-of-house personnel, and on-site coordination, all designed to help you manage your event effortlessly. Our team is composed of seasoned professionals trained in hospitality, protocol, logistics, and brand representation.
Clients choose The Ann Savva Group because we combine strategic planning, exceptional customer service, and a deep understanding of the London event landscape. With us, you’re not just hiring an event planner, you’re partnering with a team that cares as much about your success as you do.
For tailored, full-service event solutions in London, there’s no better name to trust than The Ann Savva Group.
Final Thoughts: The Power of a Skilled Event Planner
A professional event planner brings far more to the table than simply managing logistics. They offer creativity, problem-solving, organisation, and an unwavering commitment to making your event not just successful, but unforgettable. From the initial consultation to the final guest departure, having a seasoned planner ensures that every detail is handled with precision and care.
Whether you’re a corporate executive planning a multi-day conference or a couple preparing for your big day, a good planner provides peace of mind, saves valuable time, and enhances your experience from start to finish. It’s not just about planning; it’s about crafting an event that leaves a lasting impression.
If you're ready to take your event to the next level, consult The Ann Savva Group. Our award-winning team of London event planners and event staffing specialists is here to help you bring your vision to life with elegance, efficiency, and excellence.
