Couples: Investing in a Wedding Planner

I am eternally honest, so I am just going to say it - a wedding planner is an extra, a treat to yourself, something many believe they can do without… And i suppose they can. It is fairly obvious that a wedding can proceed without a planner, much like a wedding can proceed without a photographer, a band or DJ, or a florist, do you see where I am going with this? A wedding needs two people, desperately (we hope) in love and someone to marry them. Everything else is extra. The reason you have all the extras is to make your day exceptional. You have them to build sensational memories and use them to realise your vision and show the world who you are as a couple. Your wedding day is a testament to the life you are building together and potentially the largest party you will ever throw.

Having the experience and dedication of a wedding planner takes things to a whole new level. Sure, your venue has a set way of doing things, they’ve seen hundreds of weddings and know what works in that space, but sometimes that is all they see. Some venues are so set in their ways they miss obvious tweaks that could be made to change a standard wedding day into something more elegant, streamlined and frankly wowy! (Technical word there!) Your florist has done hundreds of marquees, and your marquee company only provides hoops for roof installations, so that all falls into place rather nicely, but what if you have someone to push for something else? Something that takes initiative, imagination and planning. Your band have a set time they want to set up, but this may be as you are in the middle of your wedding breakfast. A band lugging in the kit will interrupt everything, and kill the mood. So what if you have someone to manage the set-up, and go back and forth with the band to find a more logistically appropriate solution? Your wedding planner will, should, have worked with a huge number of different suppliers. The benefit of this is that they will ensure everything works for you and your suppliers. Happy suppliers mean a happy service, ensures happy guests, a happier couple and generally a smooth and more enjoyable day.

Now, I know budgets are tight, those purse strings are being pulled in all directions in life, let alone for your wedding. When this happens it is the extras that get cut, but, while hiring a professional could be considered expensive, imagine what an amateur supplier will cost you and what the result of that could be. One of my main jobs as your wedding planner is to manage the budget, not as a target but as an indication of expectation. 90% of the couples I work with have a budget, sure they vary, but that doesn’t mean the larger budgets can be ignored any more than the small budgets need to be managed.

Your wedding planner should know what is most important to you, what areas to focus that budget on and what areas need a little more or less. Investing in a wedding planner protects your money, your vision and frankly, your sanity.

Business: Consultancy for Our Generation

I am fully aware that “Business Consultancy” is almost considered outdated these days. The thought of some stuffy know-it-all with a briefcase coming in to tell you how to run your business is a little old hand and, I imagine, not what you’re after. I am also guessing, as you are here, that you are not interested in the latest online workbooks or “How to Improve your Business: A 999 Step Online Guide.” Well, I certainly don’t own a briefcase and have no interest in a “how to” for my business, muffins, yes, but not my business. As The Planner I am fully aware what needs to be done, but have a particular way of doing it that suits our generation of businesses and the world we now live in.

Firstly, it is worth noting that you simply will not find me talking about what people “normally” do. “Normal” is not what The Planner is and “normal” is not what your business needs.

As you will have gathered from The Planner’s business pages, our service “can provide, but is not limited to…” various elements which may, or may not, be relevant to your business. We have this to highlight those all important areas but to also remind you that we are here to work to your needs rather than make you work to our template. In a world of generic online guides and how to templates, I’m here to remind you business consultancy, specifically our brand of consultancy, is the most productive decision for your business. While online guides may be tangible, it doesn’t mean the results will follow as they simply don’t analyse your business and don’t offer particular and specific advice. You’re not just another…(fill in the blank) so don’t settle for generic.

consultancy /kənˈsʌlt(ə)nsi/

- noun -

1. a professional practice that gives expert advice within a particular field.

Consultancy is communication.

A good conversation (over tea, or wine…) will allow me to determine how you like to work and what processes we should implement. Through our consultancy process we will talk to you, a lot, we will interact with you personally and professionally, we will implement the elements that will benefit you and won’t waste time making you change things that you are already nailing!

You hire The Planner to have access to our extensive knowledge of the wedding industry, our intuition and trend awareness and our up to date policies on marketing and sales processes that resonate with those all important couples. We know the results will be lasting because you have chosen the right tools to develop your business. The tools that will directly relate to your business while also considering the greater industry.

In this day and age it is easy to take the quickest or simplest route but as we have all seen, patching a hole doesn’t fix it. I totally understand that you want to solve your problems yourself, we all do, so as the background support to your greatness, we will provide professional advice to allow you to shine in the glory of your results.

Em.xx

Venue Consultancy New Business Supplier Consultancy

A note to the happy couple…

Dear You Two,

It is with excited anticipation I wait to meet you, to hear all about your dream, your ideas, inspiration, and your style that will make your special day exactly that, YOUR special day.

Your wedding day will be the happiest day of your life so far. It is one of the very rare, happy, occasions that all of your nearest and dearest are in one room and this will have a euphoric effect on you both. I understand how important it is to not only get it right, but to do it your way.

Planning a wedding is a minefield and with so many amazing options out there, it’s all about finding what suits you and your partner. From venue to the logistics of the day itself, it’s not just about finding the outfit and throwing some flowers around – it can be, but there are other elements you need to remember.

I’m here to help. In whatever form that may be.

Get in contact to find out what is right for you. I can’t wait to start this amazing adventure with you.

E.xx

A note to the wedding supplier…

Dear Supplier, whoever you are and whatever you do,

I see you. I understand you.

Some people think it’s sooooo straightforward. You rock up to a wedding, do the same thing each time, well, HA! I know this not to be true.

Working as a supplier means competing with a whole load of other suppliers doing the same thing. The value of a service isn’t based upon what you do, but what is offered and how. Any Tom, Dick or Harry (no offence guys) can do it, but it’s how that makes the difference. You stand out for a reason, people book you for a reason, and we’re not talking “because you’re the cheapest,” I certainly hope you are not! There is a reason one photographer costs £800 while another costs £2,500, why a DJ can be £700 and another £4,000.

If you’re just starting out or need a push in the right direction I’ve got your back.
You may want to find a particular type of client, someone you want to work with rather than have to. Maybe you just want to charge more or your branding needs an update. Perhaps you’ve lost your voice, your message and you need a boost and some encouragement with a gentle helping of accountability.

I will be your sidekick, as a professional but also as a bride, a venue and a supplier!

Let’s get to work!

E.xx

A note to the venue…

Dear Venue,

You do realise no matter who they are or why they are there, you are the Host to every guest that walks through your door (or gate). Even if it is dry hire or the couple bring in a wedding planner (Hi!), you are responsible for turning on the lights and making sure they don’t go out. You are responsible for ensuring the temperature is comfortable despite everyone running at different temperatures.

Managing a venue is a minefield. You have hundreds of things to consider, possibly more than any other supplier within the industry. It’s not just about first impressions, it’s about making it last.

I’ve helped many venues. From set up to operational management, marketing to accounts and that all important bottom line, building renovations to staffing, you name it, I’ve been through it. I’ve made the mistakes, learnt the lessons and I want to share.

This isn’t an online workbook you can eventually ignore and I don’t limit the number of calls you can make. This is old school consultancy and this is personal. If you really want to make improvements we need to get going.

Call, email or messenger pigeon to get in touch and let’s get started.

E.xx