Wedding planning can be a tricky business. As the wedding planner, you’re in charge of negotiating with contracted professionals, helping to design the wedding, and making sure it all goes off with out a hitch. As fun as event planning can be, it can also be stressful. If you’re looking for tips, you’re in the right place! Applying these tips to your business practice will take you from amateur status to professional in no time.
Make Use of Your Calendar and Personal Planner
A huge chunk of planning a wedding is staying organized. This means you have to plan your personal schedule and keep track of each task for each wedding you’re planning. Organizational tools should be your best friends.
Maintain Professionalism
Causing stress among the wedding party or family is the opposite of your job description. Create a professional code for yourself, explain it to you clients, and stick to it. Don’t gossip, cause tension, or do anything that would be considered inappropriate in a normal workplace.
Decide Who the True Client is and Stick To It
It’s a tricky business when the person paying for the service may not be the person getting married. Each family is different, but you have to decide whose decision matters most for your own business. Be prepared to deal with conflicts of interest.
Don’t Take Too Much Advantage of Work Flexibility
You may be able to go shopping midday, but that doesn’t mean you should be doing that every day. Keep yourself accountable for the work you’re getting paid to do.
Become an Effective Negotiator
Some clients may ask you to deal with the contracting of caterers, photographers, and venues. Learn to negotiate with these contractors so that you can get the best deal for your clients.
Expect Disaster and Have a Back-Up Plan
Every couple wants their wedding day to be perfect, but few turn out exactly as planned. Try to have a backup plan for reasonably foreseeable situations, and prepare yourself for having to deal with disaster and conflict on the day-of.
Remember That the Wedding You’re Planning is Not Your Own
Everyone has different tastes and preferences, so remember that the wedding you are planning may not look like what you would choose. It’s your job to create the perfect wedding for the client, even if you think it’s terrible.
Force Your Clients to Talk About A Budget with You Early-On
It’s never easy to talk about money, but money is certainly important. If you don’t talk about what your client expects to pay, you could end up suggesting venues that are way out of their price range, and that can make things awkward for the client.
Always Keep in Mind That One Client Leads to the Next
If you want to make your business sustainable, treat every wedding as if losing the client could mean ending your career. If one wedding goes well, the client’s recommendations will bring in more revenue for you.
