5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started My Wedding Business
Hindsight is 20/20, but what about foresight?
Well here it is… that foresight delivered in a nice little bundle. We all wish there were things we could go back and change about our baby fledgling business. So why not take some advice from a seasoned pro and use their guidance as your future success? After all, foresight is the ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future. So, you’re welcome.
Client Experience should always be your number ONE priority. I don’t care what anyone tells you — if your clients aren’t happy with the whole experience of working with you, then it will leave a bitter taste in their mouth (no matter how good or polished the final product is). Yes, the technical skills are on par with this in terms of importance, but at the end of the day, clients will always remember the experience of working with you more than the product itself. And if they love both, then you’ve hit the jackpot… the jackpot of referrals that is. If you put your clients and their needs before your own on the wedding day, they will sing your praises all the way to their 10th friend getting engaged. And there’s nothing more satisfying than a client who loved you SO much, that they wanted to tell all their friends about you!
Be Proactive in managing client expectations and nurturing the client relationship. No wedding day is perfect and you WILL encounter issues, the key is how you respond to challenges and managing day-of interactions. And it’s not just with the couple. How you respond to a grumpy Maître ‘D or an upset mother of the bride, will set the tone for the rest of the day. So remember to be proactive about making sure everyone knows you’re there to be a team player and help manage or diffuse situations if you can. And the MOB will love you.
Communication is KEY to a successful wedding day and for everyone involved. I mentioned this in a previous post but communicating ahead of time with your clients will make your life easier. Plain and simple. And it will give your clients the confidence in knowing that you are anticipating their needs. It will also help manage expectations if the clients know how things are going to work on the day of the wedding. If you need 10 extra minutes with them after the ceremony for sunset portraits, speak up and let them know that it will help tell their story. They will appreciate that you communicated this ahead of time.
Ask Questions. This may go along with communication but the key difference is that instead of just communicating with the couple about how you do things and what you need, it’s important to ask questions. Asking about the wedding planner’s timeline or what the photographer has planned for the first look, will help set you up for success. The saying is “you don’t know what you don’t know” and truer words have never been spoken when it comes to the unpredictable nature of weddings. Just when you think you know how something is going to go, the couple may decide to do something completely non-traditional and unexpected. So ask as many questions as you can to get a clearer picture of their day.
Eat! Bring snacks and never count on catering staff to feed you (even if it’s included in your contract). I know this one will probably get some eye rolls from seasoned pros because we all know that even when “a hot meal” is expressly written in the contract, the reality is that we are at the mercy of the venue or catering company. For the most part, getting dinner is not an issue and many venues and caterers are incredibly wonderful about making sure we get something to eat. But after 15 years of shooting weddings, I don’t like to rely on them for my only food source in a 10 hour period (plus we often eat very very late in the evening). So my one piece of advice if you are prone to hangriness (like me!), do yourself a favor and pack some snacks or a lunchbox with an ice pack and food to get you through the day.