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Graduate Success Story
My Journey With QC Event School
In this webinar, QC tutor and graduate Jordan Merlino discusses her experience with QC Event School, from enrolling as a new student to growing her business abroad! Discover how QC’s event certification courses helped refine her skills as a planner and build her current business, Seventh & Central Weddings and Events.
“The feeling of helping [clients] facilitate their dream wedding day is an incredible feeling that makes all the months of planning and stressful situations worthwhile. That feeling of joy and passion I found in weddings when I was ten years old has never died out, and I know this is my life’s work.”
—Jordan Merlino, IEWP, IEDP, Luxury Wedding Specialist
Getting Started
Even as a young girl, Jordan has always been passionate about the event and wedding industry. She gained experience working as a wedding planning assistant and was inspired to go out on her own. In 2015, Jordan decided to start her first business, Jordan Merlino Events.
When her husband was deployed to Japan shortly after opening her business, Jordan was uncertain about how she could plan weddings and events as a military spouse. While living in Japan, she decided to pursue her passion for event planning by earning her certifications through QC Event School. Since each course is self-paced and completed online, it was the perfect fit for Jordan’s lifestyle.
In about two years, Jordan graduated from her courses as an International Event and Wedding Planning Professional, an International Event Decorating Professional, and a Luxury Wedding Specialist. Her tutor, Athena DeVonne, helped to inspire Jordan and improve her work as an event planner.
Finding Clients
After graduating from QC Event School, Jordan’s first client was her best friend. She was hired to plan the wedding, but also had responsibilities as the Maid of Honor. On the day-of, Jordan realized how difficult it is to take on multiple roles during a wedding. Coming out of this experience, she stresses the importance of hiring a professional planner and decorator.
While in Japan, Jordan had the opportunity to plan a Sweet Sixteen party for a client, as well as a military ceremony for United States Navy leaders and commanders (the first of its kind in Japan!), which helped her broaden her skills to new types of events.
Since then, Jordan completed her event planner training with QC Event School and has planned gorgeous weddings and events in the Greater Seattle Area.
Advice For New Students
If you’re thinking about starting your own business, begin learning what your style is through mood boards and attending events. Find out what you like and what you don’t like. For example, one of Jordan’s signature planning techniques is incorporating family heirlooms into the event decor, specifically for weddings. She loves taking sentimental objects and finding a way for them to work within the event.
Once you know what your style is, you’ll be able to set yourself apart in the industry!
Starting Your Business
Here are some additional tips on starting out in the industry as a new planner!
- If you’re starting out with no prior experience, planning and participating in styled shoots is one of the best ways to build your portfolio.
- Learn from other professional vendors and planners in your area.
- Volunteer to help florists, caterers, and venues during events and weddings. This helps you understand how everything works together!
- Use social media to create engaging posts and build your brand presence.
- Pace yourself with realistic expectations.
- Complete the business training available in your course.
- Take your time to learn from your course materials and your tutor.
- Keep your course materials to refer back to them throughout your career.
Start Your Success Story
Are you ready to begin a rewarding career in event planning? Follow in Jordan’s footsteps and start doing what you love. Enroll online to get started!
