Are you saying that if an event’s total cost is $100,000 that $50,000 goes for all supplies and labor, and $50,000 should be our “take-home” pay?

Pricing is my biggest challenge as an event designer. I’m getting bigger budgets, but I’m not so adept at pricing things to where I actually make money. Can you give some guidelines for pricing a wedding/event?

Thank you!

I’m a wedding planner in California, and I love your blog. This is such a great idea! A few months ago, a prospective client, a father whose daughter is getting married, said something to me. But, I didn’t have a proper response. He said, “For the price of this wedding, I could make a down payment on a house for my daughter. And I have half a mind to do just that.” What should I have said to him? Why are wedding worth the money? I mean other than allowing all of us wedding planners to earn a living…

Thank you!

Margaret Leeds

First I would like to that you for all of the great information and inspirations that you share with us every day. You truly are an amazing wealth of knowledge and talent!

I have been a florist for most of my life, but have recently moved to another state to be an event coordinator at a fantastic vineyard venue. My question is this …. what is the best way to find event planners/designers in the NY/CT/MA areas and what would be the best approach to let them know about our new and exciting venue?

Thank you!
Lorraine

First- I’d love to hear your response from Kathy re: new trends for flower girls and ring bearers. In my blogging for The French Bouquet I like to do random posts about little floral details, often including ring bearer and flower girl florals. I love sharing different designs– have been seeing a lot of the rustic look with the use of twine and moss…flower girl pomanders….anything you’ve been seeing or have some tips on? Would love to let brides know there are new and fresh things to always be done with little floral details!!

Lastly: turning down a potential client. If you feel the client isn’t a fit for you, how do you manage that? If the job is going to be more pain than pleasure or you can sense that drama’s straight ahead with a certain client, how do you handle that? I’m just curious as to what fabulous and super-busy Preston does when he’s already got a full plate, and he’s got a potential client wanting the world, but bringing a lot of hassle along.

Thanks so much and I can’t wait to see all of the answers and future questions with Dear Preston:

Cheers,
Savannah

1st, thank you for choosing to share your experiences and knowledge with us. Where I am from, “newbies” in the industry, such as myself find it difficult to obtain assistance from more experienced planners. I’m just fortunate that I am the daughter of a caterer and learned a lot at an early age. My event planning business is a little over a year old; however, I am finding that many of my clients want my decorating services as well as my planning services. How do you suggest I manage the two and how to charge for my event design/decor?

I take what I do seriously and my ultimate goal is to run my business fulltime. I graduate this fall w/ my MBA in hospitality management & I want to become certified as a planner. I would also like to find out more about your courses and what schools in the Mid-Atlantic region offer your program.

Dear Preston,

Here is my question, although I really am not sure whether it is appropriate for you to answer it here on your blog. I remember your advice about the ideal profit ratio being 50% and the costs include you and/or your floral designers’ hourly rate or labour costs.. I have been wondering abut this for quite a while, how do you go about setting the hourly rate. I know it is New York specific, but if I may, can I ask what is your hourly rate? Also, do you have different rates for different employees who have various levels of experience?

Very belated Happy Bday btw!! I wish this year will be full of joy, love, work, holidays and all things nice and wonderful for you.

Yvonne

I’m loving this!

Can you share some of your tricks in securing the flowers onto the bonnet of a swanking Jaguar and not damaging the paintwork. The bride is worried about scratching the car, she rather do without when I have a great idea of placing the arrangement across diagonally.

Thank you!!