This post is very straight forward and completely my personal opinion. If you don't wish to know how about I feel about price negotiating, come back tomorrow for The City's Best premiere.
An email from a vendor in the local wedding industry sparked my thoughts regarding the act of negotiating prices during your planning process.
Many brides are planning a wedding on a budget and I totally respect (and suggest) that. However, constantly asking for a discount is inappropriate. You may not realize this, but when you ask for a discount you are decreasing the value of the service that a vendor is offering and you are flat out suggesting that their service isn't worth the money. The conversation can become awkward and also puts the vendor in an odd position. You are asking them to quickly decide between cheapening their value and making a sale or standing behind the quality of their service.
Now, since many vendors do offer an off-season or a non-Saturday discount, there is a proper way to discuss the matter. Simply ask the vendor for their different pricing structures and you can do the math yourself. If you do happen to find a vendor that does offer a discount don't continue to try and talk them down. It's just rude.
So, the next time you are considering approaching the topic of a discount, keep in mind the proper way to do so and remember that it may lead to an awkward conversation.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Don't Leave Us Hanging
Please.
Often times brides meet with many different vendors within an expertise and hire one but never contact those that they don't wish to hire. This can be really frustrating for vendors. There is a lot of time and creativity that goes into customizing a proposal and it would be nice to get some feedback and possibly an explanation from those potential clients that don't follow through.
I am not saying that you need to write a novel to every vendor that you don't hire throughout your planning process but a short email or phone call would be a nice gesture to those vendors who have shared with you thoughts and ideas about your wedding.
I don't have much personal experience with this issue but I know that it is something other vendors deal with frequently. Be courteous and let us know if we aren't the right fit. We want your wedding to be fabulous and will respect your decisions. Just let us know.
Wedding Planner and Guide Expo
This weekend, January 23 and 24, I will be assisting Miss Ruby Boutique at the Wedding Planner and Guide wedding show at the Midwest Airlines Center. The show includes over 120 exhibiting vendors, many prizes and giveaways, and of course, a chance to say hello to me. It doesn't get much better than this!
The Details:
Hours: 11 am to 5 pm both days
Fashion Show: Noon and 3:30 both days
Cost: $7 in advance or $10 at the door
I hope to see you at the show and don't forget to come say hi!
Friday, January 15, 2010
The City's Best | Introduction
Yep, it's my first video blog. I introduce to you a new blog series that is sure to be a big hit with local brides. Check it out!
What do you think, should I video blog more? Any topics you would like covered?
P.S. Just so we are all on the same page, I am not saying that the vendors featured in this series are the only great local vendors. These featured vendors are simply people that I have worked and interacted with and that I know will provide stellar service.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A Guide to Tipping Your Vendors
While you are in the beginning planning stages of your wedding you may not be incorporating the extra money into your budget for gratuities, so I want to ensure that it’s on your radar from the beginning.
Many vendors, such as caterers, include their gratuity within their contracts so be sure to read them carefully. If the gratuity is not included the general standard is 15-20%. The actual amount is your discretion based on the service that you receive. However, even if you have a below average experience you should tip something. Think of it like this, if you were at a restaurant you would never leave without giving a little something as a tip and the same applies here.
Now there is also another rule that you may be familiar with. If the vendor owns their own company it is not necessary to tip them because the fee that you are paying for their service is going directly to them. However, I don’t completely agree with this. The "rule" makes it seem like all of your fee is going directly into their pocket but in reality it's paying for expenses to keep their business up and running. Also, the owner of the business is doing more work for you than any employee would. Again, this concept is your discretion.
If you would like suggestions for actual amounts to tip vendors, read this article from Martha Stewart Weddings.
Many vendors, such as caterers, include their gratuity within their contracts so be sure to read them carefully. If the gratuity is not included the general standard is 15-20%. The actual amount is your discretion based on the service that you receive. However, even if you have a below average experience you should tip something. Think of it like this, if you were at a restaurant you would never leave without giving a little something as a tip and the same applies here.
Now there is also another rule that you may be familiar with. If the vendor owns their own company it is not necessary to tip them because the fee that you are paying for their service is going directly to them. However, I don’t completely agree with this. The "rule" makes it seem like all of your fee is going directly into their pocket but in reality it's paying for expenses to keep their business up and running. Also, the owner of the business is doing more work for you than any employee would. Again, this concept is your discretion.
If you would like suggestions for actual amounts to tip vendors, read this article from Martha Stewart Weddings.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Fab Wedding Reads
Even in the world of wedding blogs, every bride should own (or at least read) a few inspiring planning books. Here are a few of my favorites.
Simple Stunning Weddings: by Karen Bussen. If you’ve used the words simple and elegant to describe your wedding this is the book for you. The book is filled with practical design ideas and advice. Karen also authored a fabulous book filled with shower themes and ideas.
Emily Post’s Wedding Planner: 9 times out of 10 when a bride comes to a consultation she is armed with a big heavy binder filled with all her planning materials. If you are that organized bride, this is the planner for you. It guides you through the entire planning process including budget, attire, and ceremony and reception planning.
Colin Cowie Wedding Chic: This book is filled with gorgeous wedding inspiration. The book touches on the majority of wedding elements including bouquets, centerpieces, stationery, and food and drink. My advice for getting the most out of this book is to find a few elements that you love and incorporate them in your own way. The designs as a whole can be over whelming and unattainable with most budgets.
Happy reading!
Simple Stunning Weddings: by Karen Bussen. If you’ve used the words simple and elegant to describe your wedding this is the book for you. The book is filled with practical design ideas and advice. Karen also authored a fabulous book filled with shower themes and ideas.
Emily Post’s Wedding Planner: 9 times out of 10 when a bride comes to a consultation she is armed with a big heavy binder filled with all her planning materials. If you are that organized bride, this is the planner for you. It guides you through the entire planning process including budget, attire, and ceremony and reception planning.
Colin Cowie Wedding Chic: This book is filled with gorgeous wedding inspiration. The book touches on the majority of wedding elements including bouquets, centerpieces, stationery, and food and drink. My advice for getting the most out of this book is to find a few elements that you love and incorporate them in your own way. The designs as a whole can be over whelming and unattainable with most budgets.
Happy reading!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Setting the Style Record Straight
Meghan: “Tell me about the style of your wedding”
Bride: “Well, my colors are tiffany blue and white.”
Meghan: “Okay, tell me about how you want your event to feel.”
Bride: “My colors are tiffany blue and white.”
Meghan: “What type of experience do you want to create for your guests?”
Bride: “My colors are tiffany blue and white.”
Does this conversation sound at all familiar? Unfortunately, my guess is yes.
I know that I may be over exaggerating just a teeny tiny bit with this conversation but as I mentioned before, brides have a terrible time describing their style. So, I am setting the record straight once and for all.
Your wedding colors do not define your style.
Sure, your colors are a clue to your overall style but they are not the sole indicator. The style of your event is about the feeling that you create for your guests and what they experience throughout the day. My best advice for you is to forget the colors and think about your wedding with a more sophisticated approach.
Creating an event that reflects you as a couple will go much farther than tiffany blue and white. Trust me.
Bride: “Well, my colors are tiffany blue and white.”
Meghan: “Okay, tell me about how you want your event to feel.”
Bride: “My colors are tiffany blue and white.”
Meghan: “What type of experience do you want to create for your guests?”
Bride: “My colors are tiffany blue and white.”
Does this conversation sound at all familiar? Unfortunately, my guess is yes.
I know that I may be over exaggerating just a teeny tiny bit with this conversation but as I mentioned before, brides have a terrible time describing their style. So, I am setting the record straight once and for all.
Your wedding colors do not define your style.
Sure, your colors are a clue to your overall style but they are not the sole indicator. The style of your event is about the feeling that you create for your guests and what they experience throughout the day. My best advice for you is to forget the colors and think about your wedding with a more sophisticated approach.
Creating an event that reflects you as a couple will go much farther than tiffany blue and white. Trust me.
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