Sticking To The Timeline

Aug 08, 2022

How strict are you about following the timeline?  I know some planners who are so strict, it basically doesn't matter what is going on if the timeline says to do it, it is happening.  I have found that taking a different approach works really well for the guests, vendors, and overall feeling of the event.  

I do create a timeline for myself to know how long and in what order things should happen.  I also have that timeline down to the minute.  Then for the couple and some of the vendors I provide them with what I call the order of events with only the times that they need to know about.

So it may look something like this:

What I have found is I don't want many people to know when things should be happening because I like to work with the vendors, watch the guests, and have what looks like a go-with-the-flow timeline. What really is happening is if the photographer wants 10 more minutes, or the guests are board I can move something along, or if the...

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Emotional Purchases-Selling the right service

Aug 01, 2022
 

It would be almost impossible for me to list every service we offer.  We provide a plethora of services because every client is so different.  Couple that with the family dynamics, guests, budget, cultural background, so on and so on...  How can I communicate that to each and every client that comes in?  They would quickly become disinterested.

Why are they hiring me or you?  What do they want?  Do they love the photos of my work, large support staff, my brick and mortar building? Do they want to brag about having a planner, the awards I received, or did I sell them with my compassion?

Here is my very point, if I showcase my awards, but they wanted my compassion, I missed it.  If I sell them on my large staff, but they wanted a personal connection with me, well, then I missed the opportunity to provide something for them that I was easily able to give them.

With that in mind, let me tell you a simple process that I developed to help me discuss with...

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Should you do an internship?

Jul 25, 2022

Signing up to intern from someone is one of the best ways you can gain experience and learn from other people's experience as well as watch for ways that you can improve your own service without the negative effects on your own business. 

Internships are one of the greatest ways for anyone to really get an inside view of the behind-the-scenes.  What really happens behind what looks like a glamourous lifestyle.  

If you look on Social Media, you can easily see all the benefits.  There are many opportunities for travel, constant parties, hearing praise, and receiving gifts from clients. The list goes on and on, but we all know there are negatives to everything. 

If you work at an internship or two, you will be able to learn what works and what doesn't then use that information to perfect your own service and systems. It also allows you to see what other people are offering and what holes may be in your area that you can fill.  

You may...

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Getting more sales

Jul 18, 2022

Everyone wants more sales right? How do you get more sales?  Well, this is actually of course a very complex answer. I know you reading this because you want a solid answer that will bring you sales. Well, hang in there with me and I promise, if you follow these few steps, you will definitely get more opportunities for sales.

To sell more people, you have to ask and answer a few questions that will help you develop a solid sales process. 

You first have to ask yourself why don't you have more sales. Are you getting leads and not as many bookings or do you not have enough leads? If you don't have enough leads, you need to look into ways of getting them.  There are many options to seek out. You can book a booth at a bridal show, subscribe to wedding resource websites, you can strike a deal with a few local venues and vendors.  Some local services offer t small bridal shows or other means of advertising. If your answer was you have plenty of leads but not enough...

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Perfecting Customer Service

Jul 11, 2022

Have you ever tried to return something to the store for a refund and didn't have a receipt and they denied you?  If you are like most people, you most likely got irritated about it. If you stop to think about it, why did you get mad? Isn't it your fault that you didn't save the receipt in a place you could find it? Is their policy clearly posted?  Sometimes we get mad about things because of our perspective of what should be not what actually is. 

With this in mind, it is important that you understand that your clients may not have read the fine or even bold print. They may be assuming many things about what they should expect. Good customer service begins with clarity of expectation.

After years of trying to ensure we had everything in writing and people still not reading or remembering what they read, we have developed what I will call over communication. 

We do this with several steps throughout the process:

1st we explain our services and our processes not 1...

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TGIF?

Jul 04, 2022

In our business, you really can't often say TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) as it typically means it is the beginning of the weekend also referring to time off. 

If you are newer to the industry or if you have been in it for a while and got in a rut or routine, you may need to take a minute to rethink what you thought of a weekend and what it means.

We are fortunate enough to live in a society or culture where not everyone works now 9-5 Monday- Friday. So, it may be a little easier for you to wrap your head around your weekends being a workday. 

However, you can get burn out if you don't take time to rest, restore and rejuvenate your energy.  

I have to admit, I am preaching to the choir right now. For years, I have tried to take off Sunday and Monday. 

Taking time off is a challenge.  I love my business and I really want to get to work on Monday and get business done, during the week I have to tend to my tasks, the weekend is full of events, and often on...

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Getting a 5-Star Review

Jun 27, 2022

It sounds easy enough.  You are sure you did a great job, you bonded so well with your client, seems like a slam dunk.  You reach out to them and ask for a review, they tell you they would love to do it. So, you wait and nothing.  Maybe you send them a little reminder and they say, oh shoot, I forgot, I will do it tonight when I get off work.  You get excited again and still nothing.

What do you do? Do you press them to get it? Do you risk irritating them and now that potential 5-star review could turn to 4 or 4.5? What do you do?  Here are a few ideas that could help you get your 5-star review.

1st- you could increase your odds by asking anyone you know who liked the wedding and the job you did.  You could consider asking the dads, moms, bride(s), and/or groom(s), the photographers, caterers, DJ, Venue the list goes on and on. This will defiantly increase your chances of getting a good review. 

Out of every 10 requests, we get we typically only...

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Perfecting listening skills

Jun 20, 2022

Have you ever thought about how you listen to someone?  I know we all have been disappointed from time to time regarding other people's listening or not listening to us. Did you ever stop to think of listening as a skill? It isn't just as simple as not being distracted.  Listening is actually a talent you can improve on that will help you do a better job in your business with the added benefits of improving your personal relationships.

This exercise will show you how to improve your skills of listening to help you thrive in your career as well as your life. As we are speaking about business, by improving this skill you will be able to maximize your desired results in marketing, sales, customer service, supervision, and management of staff. In event planning specifically, you must be able to achieve a high level of listening. Clients want you to carry out their wishes and without listening properly you will be setting yourself up for mistakes and...

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Should you be a Wedding/Event Planner?

Jun 13, 2022

One of the fastest going careers in the Wedding Industry is becoming a Day of Wedding Coordinator.  Unfortunately, it also has one of the fastest dropout rates, and for good reason. 

It is a relatively easy business to start.  Print out a business card and you can start telling people you are a planner.  Just about anyone that wants to be a Wedding Planner or Coordinator starts out by thinking, "I helped my sister plan her wedding, or I planned my own wedding, I think it will be pretty easy." The problem is, it is most likely much easier helping someone plan that wedding that you know, you are familiar with the family, budget, customs, etc... When you plan someone else's wedding, things will be totally different.  They may have a culture, religion, or traditions you are not familiar with,  they may have a different value system than you, they may have a different style than you do. 

Although you may be able to get mad at your sister and not talk...

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Creating Your Own Planning System

Jun 06, 2022

Most "planner" types love organization, office supplies, and all office related things.  So, obviously I am in this group too.  Sitting at my desk and looking at my paper clips, hole punch, pens, and binders actually can bring joy to my spirit.  I love having my office "look" to be consistent.  In my mind when everything matches, I feel like I can think better, work better and even plan better. 

It is important to find out what works for you.  There are may types of organization that you can research to see what works best for you. There are tons of Social Medial sites and of course and internet search to ideas.  

Often we need to just jump in and try something and adjust as you need to.  To use my own system as an example is that for a few years I was frustrated with using staples. There are so many times that I need to make copies or scan items that when they are stapled together, I need to tear out the staple and then I don't like...

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