Wedding & Event Network »

November 17, 2009 - 10:16 am Tony Laub - I totally agree with #1...and never really thought about it before! Yes...give them at least 10 minutes. They just took a huge step in their life. Let them digest and savor this huge emotional plunge!

November 25, 2009 - 12:41 pm Aleasha Shelton - A Day to Cherish - Cicily, I adore everything you have written in this series. If this message gets through to the industry, we will see massive change for the better in every element of every wedding. Next step: let's rent a billboard to put this on!

November 25, 2009 - 12:57 pm Curtis Whipple - Thanks for #8 too. It goes for the good DJs anyways. The untrained and unqualified hobbyists or other beginners really drag us all down. Sadly, there are brides who have resigned themselves to the thought that "Well, that's just the way DJs are..." No! Spend the time to select a good one and budget for a professional fee.

November 30, 2009 - 9:29 am Chris - Number 5 is soooo important! All the vendors need to be fed. Lately it seems like we are forgotten about more often. We might not be in the room with the reception but we are still there. Put some one in charge to make sure every vendor is included.

January 29, 2010 - 4:03 pm Mark Sanchez - I would personally like to meet this planner. This is a very good post, and she really seems to get it. I conquer with Curtis. #8 needs to be rephrased to good DJ's. Other than that I completely agree with everything.

March 31, 2010 - 9:17 pm Karin L. Crawford - Hear, hear! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE working with planners! You make it a wonderful, fabulous day for everyone, including all of the rest of us vendors. What a pleasure to partner! I promote planners to all my brides - they enjoy the day more, and so does their family. They are less stressed, and so it's better for EVERYONE!

September 30, 2009 - 9:57 am Wendy Robinson - Go Cicely! Well said and very much appreciated!

September 30, 2009 - 10:03 am Jacque Dearing - Cecily... I just have to say YOU GO GIRL !!! I cant tell you how many people call to be "added to this proverbial list". I loved how you put into words exactly how we feel here too. It is sooo much more than just handing someone a business card! I would love to do "A ROUND" sometime... Jacque Dearing, Owner Thee Wedding Warehouse

September 30, 2009 - 11:02 am Liene Stevens - Great points, Cic.

September 30, 2009 - 11:29 am Aleasha Shelton - A Day to Cherish - Spot on! Thank you on behalf of our industry for speaking so well on this subject. I wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts.

October 1, 2009 - 12:33 pm Angela Cook - Well put Cicely! People don't understand that you are representing your company at ALL times, in every aspect of your life. Your actions, your emails, and your conversations - speak loudly on your company's behalf. The ol "show up & throw up" approach of meeting somebody and pushing a business card on them is not how you gain referrals. You refer PEOPLE, not businesses. :)

October 1, 2009 - 1:48 pm Barbara Grace - Cicely, Well said! I especially love this line "To be frank, I don’t have a preferred vendors list, I have something even better; relationships." I see people join professional/networking associations, pass out a few business cards and sit back waiting for the group to hand feed them work and then leave the group after a year because they are "not getting any leads." It is only the people who get involved, build relationships, learn to improve their craft by relating with other industry professionals - and - stick around, that continue to get gigs. Just my 2cents. =)

October 1, 2009 - 3:39 pm Kelvin Leung - Very well said Cicely! You set the bar for vendors being professional. It's quite a list:) "kind, thoughtful, positive, problem solvers, a little flexible, creative, obtainable, trustworthy, respectful, understanding, charitable, amazingly gifted and professional"

October 1, 2009 - 11:03 pm Sherri Lucero - Nicely done, Cicely, Thank You!

October 23, 2009 - 2:11 pm Angie VanDaele - I couldn't agree more. I am a definite proponent of meeting with a Consultant as soon as possible in the wedding planning process. Well said.

September 23, 2010 - 10:46 pm Laura Sokol - I love what you had to say! It is so true. "Here's my business card... refer me." Um and you are??? I am a photographer and hear this all the time from florists, officiants, caterers and even other photographers but it isn't often that they offer to take my card first for referrals. If you want vendors to refer you please make an effort to build a relationship. There is nothing like giving a client a referral and finding out that the referred vendor fell through, flaked out, or just wasn't even close to what they expected. #2 makes such a huge difference. If the brides only knew that having a good wedding planner really does make a difference in how stress free their day would be they would all have them. I can't tell you how many times I had to put on the fix it hat and problem solve for a bride who can't find the ribbon for the corset, is wearing RED underwear and doesn't realize that they will show through her white dress, calm a bride who's parents are late, who's minister is missing, and on and on. If they only had a planner most of these things wouldn't have happened or would have been quickly and quietly handled while I took photos of the day. Thank you for writing an article that all people in the wedding industry should read and learn from.

January 27, 2011 - 11:53 am sedona bride {destination wedding photojournalism} - Cicely you rock! Nicely said. Having a great planner always helps us out a TON as well as the bride and the guests. Weddings with planners always run smoother and the brides and guests always seem like they have so much more fun than weddings without planners. I wish more vendors would stress the importance of having a planner. I think prioritizing and making vendors like planners and amazing photographers ;) a must is so much better than lets say inviting everyone you know and having a huge guest count with people you probably won't have a close relationship with in 5 years. It's all about the priorities with the budget and I say having an amazing time with your closest family and friends should be top priority and having a planner really makes that possible. xo Katrina