Best Event Planning Courses

by | Dec 4, 2019

Planning a good event is an art. There are tons of different elements that need to be taken care of. All of these, in the end, come together you give you an event that all attendees remember long after they have gone back home. The term event itself is very vast. A wedding can be an event but so can a meeting with a company’s shareholders. Similarly, a baby shower and an awards show are both events but two very different types of events. An event planner should be able to take on any of these events and turn them into a success.

While there are many people who believe that you don’t really need to get any training or education before getting into event planning and management, the job description of an event planner or manager is limitless. You have to get involved in everything, starting from building the basic structure of the event and sending out invites to scouting venues, handling caterers and other vendors and more. Some amount of knowledge from people who have years of experience in the realm can go a long way in helping you plan your events in the best possible manner. Here, we will be looking at some of the best event planning courses that can get you ready for any challenge that comes your way!

Successful Events: Event Planning, Marketing & Management (Udemy)

Successful Events - Udemy

You may already be familiar with platforms like Udemy, edX and others, which bring you a range of online learning resources at very affordable prices. The “Successful Events: Event Planning, Marketing & Management” course offered by Alex Genadinik on the Udemy platform is a great place to kickstart your learning about event planning. The course, which includes five hours of video content, multiple articles and downloadable resources, is designed to help you set you an event — or a series of events — by putting together aspects of event planning, promotion, management and monetization.

Successful Events: Event Planning, Marketing & Management Price: Available at a price as low as $5, depending on the deals currently live on Udemy. Sign up for the Course

Event Planning Certificate (Emory University)

Event Planning Certificate - Emory University

While this isn’t strictly an online course — more of a hybrid — a majority of your time will be spent studying online, with some in-person training as well. This means that you need to be in the vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia in order to enroll yourself in this course and fully benefit from it. Modules being taught include event budgeting, logistics, “green” events, marketing, terminology and maintaining relations with your clients, vendors and volunteers. Keep in mind that almost the entire course is offered online, but in the sixth week, you have to come in for a full-day session on campus.

Event Planning Certificate Price: Overall program costs $2,000. Sign up for the Course

Event Planning 101 (Universal Class)

Event Planning 101 - Universal Class

If you are looking for a relatively simple introduction to the field of event planning, the Event Planning 101 course by Universal Class is an effective, yet simple, course to consider. Designed for students who don’t have too much time and want to fit their learning into any part of the day that they get time, all the material is available online and can be accessed at any time and place. This also means that you can set your own pace without feeling rushed. There is a range of lessons covering many different topics, including wedding planning, networking and corporate events, starting your own event planning enterprise and whether or not it is right for you.

Event Planning 101 Price: Available for $70 with no certificate or $95 with a verified certificate. Sign up for the Course

Event Planning: Where to Start by Hanna Ashcraft (Skillshare)

Event Planning Where to Start - Skillshare

Skillshare has a number of different short courses and lectures on event planning, which makes it a fantastic tool for the times when you are looking to expand your horizons without digging too deep in your pockets. “Event Planning: Where to Start” is an interesting course developed by Hanna Ashcraft that helps you gauge what is a good place to start when you have to plan an event. Different lectures are aimed at covering different aspects like budgeting, venues, catering, audiovisuals, rentals and more. There is also a class project that is included in this course.  

Event Planning: Where to Start by Hanna Ashcraft Price: Premium membership is required to go beyond the first lesson. It is available for $63 (billed annually) or $8.73 per month. Sign up for the Course

Certificate Programs in Event Management (International Institute of Event Management)

Certificate Programs in Event Management

There are three different certificate programs offered by the International Institute of Event Management (IIEM) that you can turn to when you are looking to improve your grasp over the art of event planning. The first of these is a certificate in wedding planning, which includes modules on budgeting, planning the strategy, selecting venues and aesthetics and figuring out the logistics. The second is a certificate in event management, which involves a study of corporate events, social events, contracts, logistics, etc. The final option is a master’s certificate in event management — a more wholesome option — where you are taught everything that is included in the other two courses and more, for example, marketing, social media and business strategy.

Certificate Programs in Event Management Price: Certificate in Wedding Planning for $345, Masters Certificate in Event Management for $875 and a Certificate in Event Management for $445. Sign up for the Course

Online Event Planning Courses (QC Event School)

Online Event Planning Courses - QC Event School

Another option like the last set of courses by IIEM is the range of event planning courses by QC Event School. There are four main courses offered by this school — event and wedding planning, corporate event planning, private event planning and wedding planning. While the corporate event, private event and wedding planning courses individually work towards preparing you for one field in particular, you can opt for the event and wedding planning course for a more inclusive course structure that covers most of the material that the other courses would lay emphasis on.

Online Event Planning Courses Price: Event & Wedding Planning Course for $894, Corporate Event Planning Course for $998, Private Event Planning Course for $647 and Wedding Planning Course for $647. Sign up for the Course

Five-Course Certificate Program (Bryant University)

Five-Course Certificate Program - Bryant University

If you are looking for a comprehensive set of courses that will give you the edge that you need in the event planning industry, Bryant University’s five-course certificate program is one of the most terrific options. This extensive program is a little expensive when compared to a lot of others in the field, but you surely get a fantastic return on the investment with this. The courses covered include foundations of event planning, event marketing, event design and decor, event production and logistics and finally event management and leadership. While it is recommended that you complete the entire program, you can also pick and choose the courses you want to concentrate on.

Five-Course Certificate Program Price: $499 for each course or $1,995 for all five. Sign up for the Course

Basics Bootcamp: Meeting Fundamentals (Meeting Professionals International)

Basics Bootcamp Meeting Fundamentals - MPI

The Meeting Professionals International platform offers a range of certificate programs that can be extremely beneficial for people looking to make a career for themselves in the corporate events and planning meetings. One of these courses, the Basics Bootcamp: Meeting Fundamentals, is a good place to get started when you are looking to acquaint yourself with the basics of how to go about planning events and meetings. It goes into detail about defining a meeting, budgeting for it, dealing with vendors and more.

Basics Bootcamp: Meeting Fundamentals Price: Available for $499 if you are a member and $699 if you are not a member of the association. Sign up for the Course

Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Industry by University of Maryland Eastern Shore (edX)

Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Industry - edX

While this isn’t exactly a course with an emphasis on event planning, University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Industry on the edX platform is worth trying if you are looking to make a career for yourself in the realm of hospitality or tourism. Spread across six weeks, you only need to dedicate between one to two hours of your time each week to complete this course. In addition to event planning, you touch upon aspects like human resources, food service, operations and tourism management.

Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Industry by University of Maryland Eastern Shore Price: The entire course is accessible free of cost but you will be required to pay extra — up to $99 — if you want a verified certificate to go with it. Sign up for the Course

The courses mentioned on this list can all be taken online, with the exception of one, where you will be required to go down to the university at some point or the other. This may not suit everyone, which is why we have offered a great range of courses for you to choose from. Pick the one that fits best with your routine and requirements — for example, if you are just looking for a short introduction, the Skillshare ones may be helpful, or the five-course certificate program if you are looking to delve into great detail. Once you complete the course that you have chosen, you will find yourself better equipped to take on a number of different event-based challenges that come your way!

Andrew Green

Andrew is a successful entrepreneur and lifelong learner. Throughout his career, he has watched hundreds of online courses that have allowed him to achieve success in highly competitive fields such as online marketing, investing, and sales. Andrew is committed to expanding his knowledge and expertise and he reviews the premium courses he watches on his online blog.
Posted in: Best Courses

Related Content

Best Speed-Reading Courses

Best Speed-Reading Courses

Want to be the fastest reader around? Yes, you do! Read our article on the Best Speed-Reading Courses and find the course that fits your needs.

Best Online Italian Courses

Best Online Italian Courses

Do you want to learn Italian? If so, read our article on the best online Italian courses to learn how to speak the language like a pro.