Let's Think Positive!

I realize that all the information I have relayed to you over the past few weeks may not have scared you from your chosen career path of becoming a wedding planner, and that is good, I was not aiming to deter your ambitions, however I hope you received a better understanding of how this industry reacts to new event planners, as well as took away some food for thought. Just keep this mind as you blaze your trail in this wonderful industry, Glamourous moments are slim and the reality is that you are on your feet for 12-14 hours, your weekends are not your own, and you must have a very understanding support group, whether it is family, or friends. And last but not least be prepared to miss out on a lot of fun personal events.

I must say however after 17 years of being in this industry this has been the most challenging and rewarding careers I've ever been in and I have a background in Management, Sales, and Marketing) It's new and different with every client you meet and every vendor you build relationships with. How many careers have the ability to create beautiful, magical tear-jerking moments in someone's family and become a part of that family's memorable moments that will last a lifetime. It's so special and I and my team take this heart.

If you have your sights set on being a part of this business-then don't allow anyone to step on your dreams or stand in your way.

Thanks for the time.

Happy Planning

Lynn

photo courtesy of Preston Bailey Images

So what do i do now?

Alright ladies, sorry that i left you hanging there for a minute, but duty calls and blogging doesn't pay my bills..yet.. so now here we are coming to a close on the series of " So you want to be an event planner"? So let me start by saying since we last spoke on the 17th of September I received 12 (twelve) resumes and 6 emails regarding event planning so this topic is definitely on time. Let's recap a bit shall we, I hope you understand why you need to have experience first before you plan a client's event. I clearly outlined the pitfalls of learning on the job. I also covered a few ways to get some experience, it's really a insanely vicious circle . Like trying to get your first job but you have never worked a day in your life, so you have to rely on great communication skills via your application, constant nagging the interviewer to sit down in front of them, and praying all the assets your parents have raved about while growing up proves to be worth all the unwanted hugs and kisses from relatives.

Obviously the best experience would be to work for a professional event planner. However there are other ways to get experience, take me for example way back in dinosaur days.....when I started out as a planner this job wasn't even heard of in many circles so I had to be inventive and creative, not to mention frugal in the way I gained experience. I volunteered for charity organizations to work on their events (nothing major just set-up and break down). The key to that was being around people who knew how to put on the event and taking as many notes as possible, showing enthusiasm doesn't hurt either. I also worked as a hostess for an exclusive members only club for the above middle class socialites, here I learned invaluable etiquette skills that you just can't find in a book...from there I worked Bridal Salons, tuxedo shops, catering companies, floral shops, sometimes I worked for FREE just to get the experience. Then I read every book on weddings and special events I could find in any bookstore or library...this was before the internet.....needless it took a couple of years to get this experience,but I must say when I sat down with my first client I was well informed I answered all her questions without sweating and I booked her wedding~! OKay enough about me let's focus on working for event planners.

Here are some Do's and Don'ts when approaching us planners.

1. Do NOT email us through our web inquiry form on our website. That area is strictly for potential clients. Can you see our face when you answer the phone talking about a job. No interview for you.

2. Do call or email us directly to inquire about our available positions.

3. Do NOT say this has always been your dream job (especially if you have a full time job no where near the event planning industry). This is a huge STOP sign. If you have never used those words during any other interview, then please do not use them here. Because no one dreams of being a referee between a over the top nervous bride and her insatiable mother who is living her wedding dreams through her one and only daughter. I know you have never dreamt of keeping your bride from getting so drunk at her reception she loses her lovely bridal glow while sprawled across the dance floor.

4. Do tell the truth on your resume, be very detailed in your job description, what you may think we do not want to know will more than likely be the thing that gets you the job. Remember details are good in our industry.

5. Do NOT blow up the phone or the email checking on your status....(nuff said)

6. Do leave your DIVA attitude at the door and be prepared to start from the basement and work your way up to the dance floor. You must be willing to work long days with little to no pay.

7. Do NOT offer your side line services to us to get in good, or refer your friends/family that are getting married to get you in good with the boss...this doesn't work it only makes us leary of your motives...even if we book your FF you will still be in the basement....

8. Do Be sure to interview other event planners outside the area and ask pertinent questions about the job. Also see if they have an intern or someone in your aspiring position you can get feedback from.

9. Do NOT copy other event planners work and call it your own, this includes time lines, checklists, contracts and packages. Also Do not talk about other event planners you may know or have interviewed with to the interviewer, this is bad taste and it only shines a spotlight on you.

10. Do understand that if you weren't hired by one event planner it doesn't meant you aren't hireable, keep trying we all have to find what works for us, you should fit like puzzle pieces, without one the other can't become complete.

Okay that's enough for today, one more chapter tomorrow and the series will end....

ciao ladies
lynn

Why don't wedding vendors like me?

It is very important to create a professional image with education and experience before you tackle someone's event.
It is so embarassing to start your career on a bad note with wedding vendors. Vendors don't welcome wedding planners into the picture with open arms, generallay because they have been around long enough to know how some event planners have zero "real" experience and cannot handle the event in a way that puts everyone at ease.
Caterers , DJ's, and photographers that have been in the business for many years tend to have little patience with newcomers as they tend to be more of a nuisance, than a help. Can you blame them? If you have been planning events for years, then you know the thing you hate the most is when the couple have hired some "jack-leg" photgrapher or videographer or even DJ that has completely botched up your schedule, and have made you day longer and harder than it needed to be.

EXPERIENCE is very important if you plan to have longevity in this business, be good to vendors you are working with, they definitely have the power to "make" or "break" your reputation.

Till next time......Happy Planning

Lynn

SO YOU WANT TO BE A WEDDING PLANNER?

As a coach to wedding professionals, especially wedding planners, I often receive a plethora of questions from aspiring wedding planners. This industry has grown leaps and bounds since I first started in 1992. There are a series of wedding planning shows on cable that make this industry very enticing to aspiring planners.

These are a few questions I receive often.

1. How much are your services/packages?


2. Can you send me your contract?


3. Are you hiring?


4. Can I shadow for FREE?


5. How do you get found in search engines?


6. How do you get your clients?


7. What shows do you participate in?


8. How did you get started?


9. Which online course is best to take?


10. How do you market your services?

Now as I am always glad to help anyone become better, you have to draw the line somewhere.

If you are truly wanting to do this business you must first know that ALL education costs, even public (if you pay taxes), so please do not assume that you should get instant education from other planners for FREE.

I love that more people want to do this business. We need more professional planners out here to raise the bar and set the standards. Notice I specified professional planners? A professional is someone who has real experience in event planning. If you have planned your own wedding or your BFF's this does not make you a professional event planner. Just like printing up business cards does not make it a business.

I am going to take the time to give you some very good advice on becoming an event planner from my perspective. And as always I will be direct and keep it real giving you personal and professional insight.

1. GET EXPERIENCE. Your own wedding does not count, and I am going to go a little further and say any wedding you have done and did not receive pay for it, well let's say that doesn't count either. If you have not worked for a hospitality company, an established event planner or another wedding industry vendor then I will say you do not have the appropriate experience to call yourself an event planner. You have to go out and apply for whatever level of experience you can gather with someone within this industry. Hard work and real-life experience will beat out reading books or taking an online course anyday. I have come across many aspiring planners who want to work but wont start at the bottom, you may have to humble yourself and take an unpaid internship (at 30) or if that is beneath you be prepared to pay for your experience and educattion with job-shadowing, but be very aware, just because you shadow it doesn't mean a company will give you access to all their trade secrets and get you in with the who's who in the industry.


2. MAKE A PLAN. Before you contact vista-print for those gorgeous business cards you're dreaming about, Before you get on craigslist and place an ad to get clients, and definitely before you network with vendors, you must have two important things. SEED MONEY, and A BUSINESS STRATEGY. You need to get all your legalities in order, Business license, and attorney for contracts, a fully developed business plan, liability insurance, tax liabilities, and much more! Be ready to spend some money..YOU GOT TO SPEND IT TO MAKE IT.

PART TWO COMING SOON!

Welcome to the Bridal Network Inc.

The Bridal Network is a full service coaching firm teaching event planners and wedding professionals the techniques of owning and running a successful business. We are not here to tell you how to run your business, but to take what you have already started and bring it to the next level, no matter if you have been in business 6 mos or 16 years. Times are changing rapidly and so does business we are here to keep your finger on the pulse of the latest and greatest of successful business trends. Join us as we send you wonderful information on every day business practices.

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The Bridal Network Inc