3 Tips for a Successful Consultation!

Wedding Planning means attending many consultations so you can find the perfect vendors for your Wedding Day to truly represent who you are as a couple. Consultations can be scary, fun & should always be informative. So to help you along the way here are 3 tips for a successful consultation! 

3 Tips for a Successful Consultation!

1. Research the company's you are interested in prior to setting up a consultation!
2. Know the consultation time allotted so you don't go over and get charged or cut off!
3. Have set questions ready so you don't forget nothing important! (This also allows you to know if the vendor you are interviewing is knowledgeable!)

Remember to be yourself and smile. Don't rush into anything because this is your Wedding Day and should be handled with time & care! 

Happy #WeddingWednesday! :-D

Add your own tip...

What has been a successful tip that you use when attending consultations? 

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Sincerely,

{Wednesday's Inspiration}::Wedding Etiquette Tip #2- Listen, We Care!

{Wednesday's Inspiration}::Wedding Etiquette Tip #2- Listen, We Care!

A wedding planner is hired by the couple to assure their day goes smoothly. We are there to be the eyes and ears for the Bride & Groom, but also for the bridal party and family members. Today's etiquette tip is for the bridal party. Although we are hired by the couple, we are also are here for you! 

Wedding Planners carry an emergency kit filled with items that are ready for any and every situation. If we suggest or give advice, "Listen because we care about your well being". I understand not taking the spotlight off of the couple, however we are only advising to make sure the unforeseen accidents don't occur. 

Wedding Etiquette Tip To Go:

(((Take advice given, as it is given to assure your well-being and we want to take care of you too.)))

<---- {Tuesday's Insight}::Wedding Etiquette Tip #1- Make No Assumptions

{Tuesday's Insight}:: 5 Characteristics That Make A Great Intern!

The UrDreamPlanner blog wants to provide you with a variety of posts throughout the week. Tuesday is dedicated to insightful facts, behind the scenes information, great tips for wedding/event industry pros and more!

{Tuesday's Insight}:: 5 Characteristics That Make A Great Intern!

• Honesty- When looking for an internship you want to find one that will allow to you gain a lot. Business owners who are successful like a good intern because they know that these younger inspired minds will one day take over the industry. As a prospective Intern being honest will get you far. If you know you are entering an internship (paid or non-paid) and you know that you one day want to start your own business share that information during the interview. Otherwise it will look like your trying to steal business. Honesty will get you far. 

• Commitment- A great intern will be committed to the company that he/she is apart of. Showing that you are committed means: arriving early, being knowledgeable outside of trainings, going the extra mile; just to name a few. Commitment means not calling out and signing up for all opportunities that may arise. Don't be a suck up, just be yourself and everything else will fall into place. A committed intern has a chance of moving up the industry ladder. 

• Passion- I love this characteristic because although some may say passion is not key, when your interning it is a great characteristic to have. A passionate intern goes above and beyond to impress those that make a difference. I tend to blog a lot about not worrying about others, but this is a good time to dress to impress and show what your truly made of! 

• Tough Skin- In this industry (the wedding/event industry) you have to be able to hold your own. This is a cut throat industry full a people that want to help you but do not want to spoon feed or baby you. The information to succeed is right at your fingers tips. Be the intern that finds it on your own and then applies it when a situation arises. Those that can handle the hustle and bustle of the wedding day frenzy and behind the scenes madness with a smile will go far! If you really can't handle it, (maybe your having a bad day, time of the month, bf/gf rubbed you the wrong way before you left the house, etc); take those aspects and use it as drive to succeed. If you must, go in the bathroom cry for 1 minute(that's all you get), wipe you face, put a smile on your face and get back out there. Only those that truly want this career actually succeed. No one is going to hand you your dream job, you have to show you want it, show that you can do it, and simply make it happen!

• Gratitude- Being an intern is an opportunity that not every one gets. When getting an internship be grateful for what ever experience you get. Whether you get to assist with actual weddings & events, learn how to do meaningful research, sit in on an initial consultation, etc. This time is valuable and priceless; something no book or class can teach you. Internships do not guarantee a hired position. If you actually get one, considered yourself lucky and your foot in the door. If you do not take what you learned and begin to network. Look into shadowing other wedding planners, event planners, anything related to the industry. Hands-on experience is something that can not be taught so be thankful to those that give you an opportunity. Make sure you get the most out of it! :-)

For more tips visit: www.internshiper.com
Also check out these 17 great tips to being a good intern.

Good luck! :-)

<----{Monday's Starter's}::How to Translate Your Wife!
{Wednesday's Inspiration}::Tradition's-"Jumping The Broom"---->

ABC's for Marketing Part 3

Two weeks ago I started blogging about the ABC's to Good Marketing and today will finish up the alphabet.  The following tips that have been shared and will be shared today can apply to any industry. To refresh your mind visit the topics below: ABC's for Marketing Part 1 ABC's for Marketing Part 2 ABC's: M-Z M. Meet & Greet: Set-up lunch meetings, dinner meetings, coffee meetings with other professionals in your area that are you considering working with. This allows you to get a vibe for their personality and to learn more about each others business. If you suggest the meeting, then offer to foot the bill too depending on the location.

N. Networking: Your net worth is your network! Networking is a great part of doing business. It helps circulate your name and if you've made a good impression you often find yourself getting and providing referrals. Always bring at least your business cards and a smile! :-) O. Operation Back-Up: Drive around your new area. You want to become familiar with all the main routes as well as good back roads in case you find yourself in need of an alternative route. I know from experience how bad it is getting lost when going to meet a client or maybe a traffic jam has occurred. Know your surroundings and have a good back-up plan for getting out of a jam. Purchase a good GPS, it will be your lifesaver!! P. Phone Etiquette: When a prospective client calls you or another industry professional be sure to answer the phone in a quite area. Answer professionally and sound awake! Speak clearly and listen. Don't make the other person feel rushed, try to answer all questions right away. Ask open-ended questions. When ending the call, allow the other person to hang up first just in case they may have another question. Q. Quality not Quantity: As a professional you want to deliver quality work. Having planned a hundred weddings, but none were of good quality then they will not help you book more. Quality is always better than quantity, because quality work will always leads to referrals and more business!  R. Register Your Business: Starting a business is easy and so is registering your business. Learn about our local costs and become registered. This tells prospective clients and other professionals that your a professional business and that this is not just a hobby but a career. S. Social Media Marketing: Social Media Marketing has advanced greatly in the past 5 years. Social Media consists of Blogging, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and many many more networking social outlets. It allows you to reach your target market instantly and communicate with them. It requires  some skill, motivation, and will be time consuming. As a business it allows that personal connection with your audience, however you can hire someone to do your social media marketing for you.  T. Tell Your Story: I believe that every business has a story as to how they started. When meeting a prospective client, tell your story. It allows for a real-life personal vibe to enter into the meeting and surprisingly you will learn about others goals, while sharing yours. Don't tell all your secrets, but sharing a little goes a long way. U. Utilize The Resources: Resources are readily available at your fingertips. Many professionals do not utilize their resources (I am even guilty of it myself sometimes) Learn about local resources, learn how they can benefit your business and utilize them. A large quantity of these resources are FREE, which is an even better reason to utilize them! V. Visit Forums: Visit forums that are related to your industry and actually be an active member. This allows for open communication, collaboration, venting, and learning. Being a part of a forum community is great for a small business because it creates a family environment and also circulates your business name. The key to really benefiting is to actually be active and most often and comment on others post, not just posting about yourself. W. What's Your Niche?: Marketing is a great way to promote your new or current business. When promoting your business you want your audience to be able to tell you apart from your competitors. Whether it's your logo, business name, tag line, product, etc you should have a niche! Something that makes you special and different. At the consultation is when you should share why your different. In a saturated market  having a niche will be a great way to book the client's your desire! X. Experience Counts: Once you know you want to begin a career, get real experience. Do an internship or shadow a company. When you begin marketing, you will want to show that you have hands-on experience. Prospective clients entrust their important occasion to someone who has experience under their belt versus someone who doesn't. Y. Your Not Alone: Remember that your not the only one marketing your business. If you have a question or are unsure about something don't be afraid to ask. Not asking holds you back from exceeding, no matter how simple the question may be. Z. Zeal:  Be zealous, having a passion for something is awesome! Once you find your career choice, really show who you are. It's nothing better than someone who has zeal, drive, a desire to succeed! Make your mark and do it well.   I hope the ABC's to Good Marketing has helped you in some way. Whether you have heard them all before or not, it is always nice to get a little reinforcement. Do share with your colleagues and apply them to life in general. :-) Thanks for reading!

:::Wedding Dress Shopping:::

Shopping for wedding dresses is a fun experience that many brides look forward too!! Here's a few tips to make your shopping experience a little smoother.

Wedding Dress Shopping Tips:

*If you know you want a new dress order it at least 6 months in advance. This allows for it to be made, gives time for any delays, and leaves time for needed alterations.

*When looking for your perfect dress, be sure to tell the consultant your max budget and stick to it as you will still have to pay for alterations & accessories. 

*Clipping a few of your favorite pictures may help your dress shopping experience to go a little smoother. 

*Limit the amount of friends you bring to the fitting as a lot of opinons tends to wear the bride out rather than help her make the best decision!

*Make actual appointments, so you get the quality time you deserve with the consultant and the party you brought along.

*Make a fun day out of it by scheduling 2 or 3 appointments and be sure to due a lunch break in between.

*Wear the appropriate garments: (half bra and full panties), and be sure to lotion up as you will be half naked in the room with another person. ;-)

*The most important tip is to "Have Fun"! Try not to become stressed or overwhelmed, this is an important step in the process and a big purchase; but remember to enjoy it no matter the outcome!!