WEDDINGS PLANNERS, ARE YOU PREPPING YOUR CLIENTS BEFORE MEETINGS?

Dec 30

Weddings planners, some might say that your job is the MOST IMPORTANT one … which means, a lot of weight is on your shoulders. I have written LOTS of blog posts about the expectations of a wedding planner, how to be an amazing wedding planner, and hell, did you know that back in the day I actually was a wedding planner!!??

Here’s the thing … you have to keep a VERY IMPORTANT balance of:

HAVING THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR CLIENT AND HAVING THE BEST INTEREST OF THE VENDORS YOU WORK WITH

… at the SAME TIME all whilst planning an incredible event!! It can’t be all about your clients and only respecting them, because then nobody will want to work with you in the industry … and it can’t be all about making sure the vendors are taken care of and made to feel supported, because then your clients would start to feel ignored!

WHICH IS WHY, THE BEST WEDDING PLANNERS AMAZE ME BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO DO BOTH ^^ AND WELL.

One of the things about being ‘in command’ of the sailing ‘wedding ship’ is PREPPING YOUR CLIENTS before meetings with vendors so that they are aware that they also have an important job to do!

Their job is to not waste the time of the vendors they are meeting.

EXCUSE ME, WHAT???

Yeah. Not wasting the time of the vendors they are meeting. Here’s the thing, if a client (the person having the wedding or event) is WELL PREPPED before a meeting happens, it’s less likely that the meeting will be a waste of time for the other vendor who is taking their time to talk with your client about their services.

UHH, HEATHER - NOT SURE HOW LONG IT’S BEEN SINCE YOU’VE PLANNED WEDDINGS, BUT THAT IS WHAT THE MEETING IS FOR.

Sure! I realize that if the vendor f*cks the meeting up royally, that’s on them … but, setting up the meeting beforehand is on YOU and you should only set up meetings with vendors who you feel are an amazing fit both budget wise and personality / aesthetic wise.

SAY WHAT!??

Yeah. If you are telling your clients:

“Don’t even worry about these meetings … we can go to as many as you want and feel out everyone in the area … you are holding the cards and these vendors WANT you to hire them … so meet them all and then we’ll decide!!”

Then you just set up your clients to waste the time of a lot of hardworking business owners who are spending hours at a meeting.

What I think wedding planners should tell their clients is a variation of this:

“Here are two ‘florists’ I feel fit both your budget and your aesthetic … these 2 florists are both very talented and have worked at your venue before … I will happily set up a meeting with these two and we can figure out which one is the best fit for you.”

Then, additionally, I’d go to each florist privately BEFORE the meeting happens, and let them know that your clients are meeting with 2 florists, but that you picked them for a reason and feel it would be a great fit. That way, the florist knows their time isn’t being wasted and it’s their job to show what they can do … and that you, the wedding planner, chose PURPOSEFULLY when you set up the meeting.

^^ obviously that works for any type of vendor, I just used ‘florists’ as my example ;)

WHY DOES THIS MATTER SO MUCH??

Because of respect. It’s about setting up the CORRECT expectations and educating brides and grooms on the art of planning their wedding.

THERE IS SO MUCH BAD WEDDING PLANNING EDUCATION OUT THERE

… and typically wedding planners or the venue are the first ones to personally speak to a bride and groom about how it all works!

I totally get that not every meeting is going to end with a signed contract and retainer paid … done and done … but, meetings shouldn’t be a ‘for fun’ floofy experience either … if a meeting is set up, it should be done with the best MATCHMAKER skills you’ve got. And all parties should be aware of that.