The best wedding planner programs near Smithfield, Virginia pair focused training with a state median wage of about $60,930 a year for meeting, convention, and event planners (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most students finish a 3-to-9-month wedding and event planning certificate, then build a portfolio by assisting established planners and coordinating their first events.
Wedding planners design, budget, and coordinate weddings - managing vendors, timelines, and day-of logistics. Training typically covers budgeting, vendor contracts, event design, and the business side of planning.
Key Facts
Virginia median wage: $60,930/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Virginia employment: 4,230 meeting, convention, and event planners (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Virginia location quotient: 1.12 (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Typical program length: 6-12 months (certificate) to 2 years (associate) (Source: IPEDS, 2024)
Wedding Planner Schools near Smithfield
Compare wedding planner schools near Smithfield
BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from
federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings
are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single
trade. Distance is measured from Smithfield, Virginia.
Schools closest to Smithfield, Virginia are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from Smithfield, Virginia is shown for reference.
The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation,
earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within
each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it.
*Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is
completed in person. Read the full methodology.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 8 schools
within 222 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
8 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Wedding Planner Programs in Smithfield, Virginia (2026)Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Wedding Planner Programs in Smithfield, Virginia (2026)
School
Median graduate earnings
Howard Community College
$57,920
Allegany College of Maryland
$47,031
Wedding Planner Pay and Job Outlook
Annual Wage by Percentile, United States - Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersSource: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners annual wage percentiles
Percentile
Annual wage
10th
$36,830
25th
$46,970
50th (median)
$61,160
75th
$78,790
90th
$101,700
Projected employment growth, United States, Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners, 2024-2034Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year
Employment
2024
155,800
2034 projected
163,300
Percent change
+4.8%
Virginia Wedding Planner Quick Facts
Wedding-Planner Salary in U.S.
Median Salary$61,160$29.41/hr
Average Salary$66,520$31.98/hr
Salary Range
$36,83010th pctl
$61,160Median
$101,70090th pctl
10th Percentile$36,830 $17.71/hr
25th Percentile$46,970 $22.58/hr
75th Percentile$78,790 $37.88/hr
90th Percentile$101,700 $48.90/hr
Employment & Outlook
Total Employed142,860
Growth (2024-2034)4.8%
Annual Openings15,500
Jobs per 1,0000.9
How to Start a Wedding Planner Career in Virginia
Finish high school or earn a GED. Hospitality, business, and design coursework are helpful; BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as typical for the broader event-planning occupation.
Complete wedding or event planning training. Certificate programs typically cover budgeting, contracts, design, and business practices.
Get real event experience. Assist established planners, work venue or catering events, or coordinate community functions.
Build a portfolio and vendor network. Styled shoots, assisted weddings, and vendor relationships win the first paying clients.
Grow into full-service planning. Many planners start with day-of coordination and expand to partial and full-service planning as referrals grow.
No. No state licenses wedding planners. Industry associations offer voluntary certificate and designation programs, and portfolios, reviews, and vendor relationships carry the most weight with couples.
Pathways into the Field
Common entry paths are an event planning certificate, hospitality coursework, or hands-on work with venues, caterers, and established planners. Day-of coordination is the typical first paid service.
What You Study
Budgeting and vendor contracts
Event design and styling
Timeline and logistics management
Client consultation and communication
Marketing and business practices
Tips for Choosing a Wedding Planner Program
Confirm accreditation and how recognized the credential is with employers.
Look for hands-on training in portfolio projects, internship events, and business coursework.
Compare flexible schedules (day/evening/online) that match your availability.
Ask about job-search support with local employers.
Review certification-prep resources and post-completion support.
Popular Online Programs In Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does wedding planner training take near Smithfield?
Wedding and event planning certificate programs typically run 3 to 9 months. Practical experience assisting established planners matters as much as coursework, and many planners book their first day-of coordination clients within a year or two.
How much do meeting, convention, and event planners earn in Virginia?
According to BLS OEWS (May 2025), meeting, convention, and event planners in Virginia earned a median annual wage of about $60,930. Pay varies with experience, employer, and specialization. The 10th-to-90th percentile range was about $40,140 to $102,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many wedding planner schools are near Smithfield?
The schools listed above are within driving distance of Smithfield. Compare them by tuition, program length, BOC Score, and the credential each one awards.
Do wedding planners need a license?
No. No state licenses wedding planners. Industry associations offer voluntary certificate and designation programs, and portfolios, reviews, and vendor relationships carry the most weight with couples.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
