Dear Preston,
My team and I do a lot of weddings and events, and they’ve all been amazing. Our brides and their guests love our work. But, for some reason, I feel like credit is not being given where it’s due. The venues seem to get a lot of compliments, but we don’t. Are there ways my team and I can get more recognition for our work?
Sincerely,
Unrecognized
Dear Unrecognized,
Every wedding and event requires collaboration among venue staff, florists, lighting designers, caterers, photographers, musicians, planners, and many more. And for every one of those vendors, the event is a crucial platform for securing future jobs. In a way, the guests become your captive audience for the evening. Naturally, you want those guests to recognize your part in bringing the event to life. However, you’ve got to be clever about getting that recognition. Very early on in my career, I began incorporating signature design elements into all of my work. That way, guests would immediately know that I had done the event. And that, folks, is why I started doing so many floral animals and sculptures.
Another example is my friend and wedding cake baker extraordinaire, Sylvia Weinstock. Sylvia always “signs” her cakes with a drawing of her iconic bold glasses. When guests see those black glasses, they know the cake is going to be especially delicious!
In other words, my dear “Unrecognized,” you need to create your own signature.
One thing that drives me crazy is when wedding and event planners use lots of different vendors and then don’t give their hardworking vendors proper credit with clients. Unfortunately, I know a few planners who do this, and it’s just plain wrong. Make sure that you are heralding your talented vendors just as much as you hope they’re heralding you!
It’s really quite simple: Spread the love, and I promise you’ll get love in return.
Dear Readers, do you have a signature style or design that lets guests know you’re behind an event? What is it? I’m dying to find out!
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
napkinwizard
July 19, 2011
“Spread the love, and I promise you’ll get love in return” ditto. Thank you.
Tere
July 19, 2011
I don’t have a signature now but will work on one asap. I have always (if given permission from bridal couple) to list the vendors on the back of the wedding programs or have the DJ make a brief introduction/shout outs during the receptions. Usually I leave my flyers or cards at the bar for guests to pick up.
LYN (Edralyn Chapman)
July 20, 2011
Thank you Preston for your wisdom. I find this so true in the industry. Creating a signature is the most effective advertisement to promote a business. But I find it rather insensitive when a vendor’s name is not recognized. Linens and candles, and chairs or napkins can be so beautiful in an Event, but it’s the flowers I think that completes the event. This year I had helped out an Event Planner and made her event successful. I had worked around her client’s budget, provided some free flowers (garlands), and extra hours of help. Then one day I came across her blog, there are several photos of my floral design and not even a hint of my business was mentioned. I was sad to know of her intention. But it was alright, the Bride and the Groom was happy of my work and wrote me the most beautiful thank you…
Marlan
July 20, 2011
thank you very much for the great advice Preston. we will definitely work on one.
YOUR NAME
July 21, 2011
I hate that some planners don’t give everyone credit! Until I learn to clone myself I could never take complete credit for any events I coordinate. I always give credit to vendors in any photos I post and I even have a vendor “book” so I can brag on great experiences with new clients.
Anna T
July 21, 2011
I don’t have a signature but I always make sure evry vendor/supplier is provided credit if I blog anything. I also even list items we may have purchased at stores or were handmade by our brides/grooms.We rely on professional photos from photographers and always make sure they are provided credit first. Without the pictures, how can we tell the story of the wedding day? I persoanlly find that photographers when doing blog posts of couples weddings, don’t always provide credit to all or even some of the vendors/suppliers. Recently we did a gorgeous wedding for a couple and allot of sweat,tears and energy went into making it beautiful for them. They were so happy. I did see the photographer blogged it and lsited approx 50 pictures. Not one credit to anyone.As a planner and designer it would have been great to be recognized since you wouldn’t have pictures of beautiful things if we weren’t involved.I would like to see this change and photographers work with planners on who the vendors were before doing a post. It would be nice to be recognized for our hard work and it’s a two way street. To get credit, you need to give credit.It’s that simple.
Angela
July 21, 2011
I love the signature… hmmh have to think of one. simply hate placing cards on the table.
Posh is Pink
July 21, 2011
What I hate to see more than anything is a wedding planner not give the designer or florist credit. I recently worked with a day of coordinator and I was the designer. Basically the day of coordinator showed up on the day of the wedding to make sure the vendors arrived on time and that all the bridal party logistics were taken care of. Perfect that was their job, however, they posted pictures to Twitter and Facebook about the wedding that “they just finished making beautiful”. Get out of here! They didn’t lift one rose or light one candle. Not cool!
Astrid Mueller
July 30, 2011
Wonderful advice, Preston – I agree, a unique signature is a fantastic way to enhance your brand, and to foster your brand recognition.
HiLLjO
August 1, 2011
Yes! I use my nickname HiLLjO on almost everything I create. Whether it is a sock monkey, a crochet blanket, a cake, a party, a wedding, I always label “HiLLjO” on it!