I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “it’s all in the details.” Well, that statement holds especially true in the wedding industry. Making sure you cross your t’s and dot your i’s will help the day run as smoothly as possible for the couple and will leave your clients with an overall positive sentiment. Here are 5 commonly overlooked details that will surely impress your couples and help your business stand out from the competition.
Tip #1 Appearance is Important – One of the most commonly overlooked elements, especially those “behind the scenes” (photographers, videographers, florists, caterers, and bakers), is what you are wearing. It is easy to justify “I don’t need to be wearing that” or “no one will even see me,” but it’s important to remember that you still will be seen. You will be seen by other vendors, guests or those in the wedding party that arrive early. It is important that you are still attempting to look your best. I’m not saying you need to break out the three piece suit or ballroom dress, but business casual will go a long way. I can make the argument that photographers and videographers should be wearing semi formal attire, as you will find yourself in front of the wedding party numerous times throughout the day. Caterers and bakers will often wear chef jackets which I believe to be acceptable, but I really see that being the only exception to the rule. Bottom line, dressing up rather than down makes a good impression. Whether you want it to admit it or not, studies show people begin to form opinions about you the moment they see you. Dress to impress.
Tip #2 Arrive Early – The worst thing you can do to yourself as a new business is to arrive late to the event and for a planner or couple to have to wonder where you are. This is simply unacceptable and you will be blacklisted before you even begin. I strongly recommend (depending on your role) to arrive at least an hour early before the event. Some businesses may need way longer than that. Others may not need as much time. I typically arrive two hours before my event to get an idea of the conditions for the day and to make sure I am set up well in advance. I can also make sure my equipment is operating correctly and I can offer my help to other vendors (This goes a long way, even if they decline).
Tip #3 Mind your P’s – One of my greatest coaches once told me to mind my P’s. At first I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. When I asked him what he meant, he replied, “proper, preparation, prevents, poor performance.” 10 years later, this is still one of the most pertinent and useful tips I have ever been given. It can be used in any facet of life, be it school, work, your business, athletics, traveling, you name it. When you prepare accordingly, you are more likely to perform at your best. Make sure you are planning months and weeks in advance of your wedding. I always recommend a checklist for the various stages of the wedding process. I personally keep checklists for 6 months out, 3 months out, 1 month out, 1 week out. This ensures I have done everything I need to do to perform at my absolute best and give my clients the service they deserve.
Tip #4 Envision – This tip coincides with minding your P’s, but envisioning how you see the day going once you have a plan can help ensure you have everything you need to be successful. Creating a mental roadmap can help you make sure you have all the gear you need and you don’t forget the vital details. To share a quick story, I was once working at an event where the lighting was absolutely terrible. Since I had planned ahead and envisioned the shots I wanted to get, I was able to draw the conclusion that I would probably need to bring a light. Keep in mind, I had never worked at this venue before, but by planning and envisioning how you see the event going can help avoid pitfalls and help your day run smoother. There is a reason so many athletes have adopted the practice of envisioning their race or event before they ever compete.
Tip #5 – Smile – We often don’t think about this one because we are so caught up with our job or the task at hand, but it is so important to smile! 🙂 There is a tremendous amount of research that shows smiling actually reduces your own stress and also lowers your blood pressure, literally. Not only that, but smiling is incredibly inviting, leaving others with a better impression of you, even if they have never interacted with you before. Remember, people will be watching you during an event and when you are genuinely smiling and radiating positive energy, people will take notice.
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