Senior Event Planner

The Senior Event Planner owns the day-to-day planning of substantial weddings and private events from an established scope through event week.

You will be the person who knows where the planning stands, what decision comes next, what the client needs from us, what we need from our partners, and what has to be resolved before the work moves into production.

Dave remains involved in the consequential creative and client decisions. Claire leads visual production. Arjun leads event operations. Your job is to connect those disciplines to an exceptionally well-run client planning experience.

This is not a coordinator position with a more senior title. We are looking for someone capable of independently leading complex planning work and earning the confidence of sophisticated clients and experienced event partners.

What you'll own.Day-to-day planning for assigned commissionsMaster planning calendars and decision schedulesClient meetings, agendas, notes, and follow-throughEvent budget administration and trackingVenue and vendor researchProposal and contract trackingTastings, walkthroughs, appointments, and planning meetingsGuest and hospitality logisticsVendor communication throughout planningIdentification of unresolved decisions and dependenciesInternal handoff from planning into productionFinal planning readiness before event weekClear, composed client communication when plans changeWhat you won't own alone.You will not be expected to be the company's creative director, production department, salesperson, bookkeeper, and event-day crew simultaneously.

The Fortunate is intentionally structured around complementary disciplines. Dave retains overall event direction and principal client leadership. Claire owns visual-production considerations. Arjun owns production architecture and operational execution.

You should know when to make a decision yourself, when to make a recommendation, and when another discipline needs to enter the conversation.

What we're looking for.We expect the strongest candidates will bring approximately 4–7+ years of substantive wedding, private-event, hospitality, or comparable planning experience. More important than a precise number of years is evidence that you have independently owned complicated work.

Experience with complex weddings, multi-event weekends, luxury hospitality, destination work, or high-touch private clients is particularly relevant.

Sophisticated organizationVendor and venue fluencySound judgment under pressureThe ability to recommend rather than merely present optionsStrong meeting leadershipExcellent follow-throughDiscretion with private client informationComfort working with demanding timelines and high expectationsThe person who will do well here.You like clients, but you don't confuse good service with saying yes to everything.

You can explain why something isn't working and offer a better alternative. You understand that being organized means more than maintaining a beautiful spreadsheet. You notice unresolved decisions before they become emergencies.

And when an event arrives, you want the hosts to experience it, not manage it.

Compensation.In addition: $200 additional compensation per qualifying event day; business mileage reimbursed at the current IRS business mileage rate; $65/day meal and incidental allowance for qualifying travel events; company-provided laptop and phone.

Final compensation within the published range will reflect experience, demonstrated independent ownership, and the scope of responsibility the selected candidate is prepared to assume.

Professional development may include relevant conferences, industry organizations, CMP education, WIPA programming, or other approved development.

Medical insurance with 80% of the employee premium covered by The FortunateDental and vision coverage available15 days paid time off8 paid company holidaysPaid company closure week after New Year'sOne paid recovery day following qualifying event weekends401(k) with 4% employer match after 90 daysDiscretionary annual performance bonusSchedule and travel.This is an events position. Some evenings and weekends are fundamental to the work. Regional travel throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, and surrounding markets should be expected, with additional travel as commissions require.

The planning calendar should be humane and predictable wherever the nature of live events allows it. Event weekends are followed by designated recovery time rather than treating Monday morning as though Saturday never happened.

Success after one year.Independently lead multiple complex commissionsEarn the trust of clients and experienced event partnersKnow the House's planning systems and regional vendor ecosystemRepresent The Fortunate confidently in meetings and walkthroughsMake planning easier for both clients and the HouseGrowth.The Senior Event Planner is intended to become an important planning leader inside The Fortunate as the commission portfolio grows.

Growth here should come from demonstrated ownership, judgment, client leadership, and the ability to develop others, not simply tenure.

Interested?