YOU however are NOT the bride! You have a job to do. At first it may seem like your job is to give the bride what she wants, but take my advice, the bride only knows what she thinks she wants…it’s your job to KNOW what she really NEEDS!
I’m even going to make this easier for you by telling you exactly what EVERY BRIDE wants:
They want a memorable, smooth flowing day enjoyed by everyone, and dare I say, “the best wedding anyone has ever been to”.
You will not achieve this task by having an outdoor, open air wedding in Florida at 1pm in August because that’s when she thinks the sea will look most beautiful as her ceremony backdrop. So no matter how many violinists play like angels, and glasses of champagne you feed those guests, they are going to be miserable in the heat. They will hate you and the bride, regardless of how beautiful the décor is or how romantic the ceremony is, they will still hate you!
The key to a successful wedding is to think like a guest!
The most successful weddings are when the guests feel like they are a part of an experience, a story and not just a spectator. From they arrive at the wedding, the venue helps to set the stage for the type of experience you want everyone to have. Beach relaxed, courtyard romantic, hill top hideaway or garden cheerful – that is what starts the event off right.
While they wait for the bridal party and bride to arrive, what will they be doing?
During cocktail hour, will they just be sitting there restless, knowing maybe a handful of people, or will there be activities that force them to intermingle, or be entertained?
It’s your job to guide the bride to think of these things. At the end of the day, this is a one day experience for the bride, and if it doesn’t go well, she’ll cry about it and have to move on. You on the other hand, may be out of a job. You are only as good as your last wedding. The idea is to impress as many people as possible because you’re not getting repeat clientele… well these days who knows… but generally, the idea is that you get one pop to make each client happy, no second chances, and no free rides. You have to work at this!
Pull out those comfortable shoes and work for ratings. Making guests happy means sometimes holding their baby for an hour so mom can get a chance on the dance floor, or it may mean being the one to jump on the dance floor and start the dance train to get the energy flowing!
Whatever it is, it’s your job to inspire your bride with creative ideas that will make her big day memorable and keep your name at the top of the Wedding Planning Game!
Go be awesome!