A Day in My Life as an Event Planner

What's a day like for an event planner or for someone involved in event management? In this episode of the Time We Discuss podcast, host Dan sits down with Tara Thistlethwaite, an experienced event planner and wedding planner, to reveal what it’s really like to run an event management business.Tara shares her journey from IT professional to full-time event organizer, the realities of long event days, and what it takes to successfully coordinate weddings, corporate events, and special celebrations. If you’ve ever wondered how to host events or want to know how to become an event planner step by step, this conversation is packed with valuable advice.What you’ll learn in this episode:A day in the life of an event plannerHow far in advance clients book weddings and eventsThe importance of building strong vendor relationshipsTips for stress management during high-pressure eventsThe steps to plan an event and break into the industryTara’s latest project, the Chester County Wedding ConnectionWhether you dream of becoming a wedding planner or simply want to understand the logistics behind professional event planning, Tara’s story offers practical insights and inspiration.Listen to more episodes of the Time We Discuss podcast for career journeys, insider perspectives, and real-world advice.=================================================================Timestamp:0:00 - Intro0:31 - Typical day in the life of an event planner1:51 - How far in advanced are you booked?2:49 - How has remote work impacted your event management business?3:45 - How to get started as an event planner6:00 - Sourcing other professionals for events7:14 - Best networking opportunities for aspiring event planners.10:01 - Education options for aspiring event planners11:12 - Types of events where you might need an event management business12:27 - Stress levels for an event planner14:34 - Different types of events and different types of stress15:23 - Controlling the intake of events and clients16:31 - In-house event planners for large organizations17:25 - Major obstacle for aspiring event planners18:43 - The event planner in the family19:52 - Getting paid from clients21:16 - Busy and quiet seasons for event managers22:54 - How important is covering a large geographic region?24:37 - Talent has the floor25:34 - Outro=================================================================Guest Information:Tara ThistlethwaiteEngaged WebsiteChester County Wedding Connection Networking GroupAlso Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:Become a Vegan Interior Designer | Cruelty Free Interior DesignBecome a Talent Manager or AgentBecoming a Sommelier with Nathan Bihm=================================================================Time We Discuss Links:Official Website: Time We Discuss WebsiteOriginal Music: Original Music furnished by Dan SwiftYouTube: Time We Discuss on YouTubeSpotify: Time We Discuss on SpotifyApple Podcasts: Time We Discuss on Apple PodcastsMore Podcast Platforms: Time We Discuss Podcast on Other PlatformsTwitter/X: Time We Discuss on Twitter/XBluesky: Time We Discuss on BlueskyInstagram: Time We Discuss on InstagramThreads: Time We Discuss on Threads