Venting: Finding a Balance

Venting: Finding a Balance in Budgeting

September 10, 2012

Dear Readers,

Not too long ago, I met with a potential client who insisted that she could provide all of the flowers I needed to create her dream wedding for free. A “friend of a friend” would give them to her and she wanted me to do the rest. My initial response was, “OK, that’s great, but I will still need to charge you my usual mark-up for the flowers.” She was less than understanding. Needless to say, we did not work together.

I have never quite understood clients who want to provide elements of their wedding themselves in order not to spend money. I understand that times are tough but these few clients forget that we are also in these times with them and we need to make a living as well.

Do not get me wrong, I respect that most everyone is on a budget. I also understand the DIY bride who thoroughly enjoys doing her own wedding. My confusion comes in when a client approaches a vendor without the clear understanding that we need to make a profit and the only way to do this is by selling them a service or a tangible item we can charge them for.

This happens in most businesses.

Florists might find that clients want to provide their own flowers or containers.

Professional invitation providers might have clients who want to do their own calligraphy.

Caterers might be asked to oversee servers brought onto the team by clients.

It goes on and on.

I’d like to send a gentle message to the clients reading this blog. We truly love your business and working for you, please keep coming to us, but do understand that we make our living working for you. The more you provide, the less ability we have to earn a living.

What is your opinion? How have you made less of a profit in your business as a result of a client providing too much?

Please also tell us what that “something” they provided was.

Blessings,

Preston

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http://www.bitchlessbride.com Bitchless Bride

Hey Preston,

I couldn’t agree more! It’s quite frustrating when the client “offers” to either provide a service (that we will ultimately be responsible for fixing later) or chooses to go with a vendor that we don’t know or haven’t worked with. More than just earning a living, which is why we do all of this in the first place, how can we guarantee that the evening will run smoothly if we aren’t in complete control of all of the pieces?

Right?

XO,
BB
http://www.fatchett.com Casey Fatchett

Preston,

I agree wholeheartedly! If you are going to hire a professional to do something – then hire them to do it. I’m sure it does not happen as much to me as (a photographer) as it does to other vendors (like florists, stationers, etc.) but it does happen. A few examples:

1. The Photo-Booth.

“We want to set up our own photo-booth. Can you bring a tripod/light/backdrop or set it up or edit the pictures for us?” No, because then they’re not really setting it up themselves. When couples hire me to do my photo-booth, I have a team member to set it up, make sure it is working, I edit the photos and I know what equipment to bring and how it works. If you want to set it up yourself, that’s fine. But I won’t take responsibility for it or spend hours working on the pictures afterwards for free.

2. The album

“Can you just design the album and we will print it ourselves on (enter name of online printing service) so we don’t have to pay for the album?” Well, are you going to pay me for the time I spend designing it? Also, I don’t speak for the quality of those albums.

3. “Can my friend/family member be the second photographer so that we don’t have to pay that fee and you can just edit the photos?” No, I have never worked with them. I don’t know their experience level, equipment, etc. They don’t know how I work. Plus, I need to spend time editing those pictures.

All in all, if you want to DIY – then DIY. It doesn’t work half way.
http://www.silverleafevent.com Navjot Kaur

I feel that it happens because they can not relate to what it takes to design, plan and execute. I have started saying no to these kind of offers. This cost me more in terms of quality, reputation and altering the design concept.
http://www.pyonidesigns.com Shaunelle Brathwaite

I’ve had brides come to my office to have wedding stationery done, and ask what the cost would be if they provided their own cardstock, paper or ribbon. Honestly I don’t change the price simply because there is much more to the entire process. There needs to be a definite line for DIY brides. Either do it yourself OR have it done professionally.
http://www.sandrasflowerstidio.co.uk sandra picksley

Completely agree. I am happy to provide flowers for someone to do the designs themselves, or I will provide a complete service. I refuse to work with flowers that I have no knowledge of where they came from, their freshness, or storage. As all have said the full price is more than the cost of product but my time, expertise and professionalism to create wow designs for the couple. I have previously asked if clients go to work for nothing, following blank looks, I have explained that this is my job and where I make money to pay my way. Their response, ‘never looked at it like that’
http://www.njluxuryweddings.com Samantha

Love this! Thanks for being so respectfully honest! Brides and other clients need to be educated on what it all entails on what we do and how much it costs US.