Results for business Tag

Preston Bailey Tulips & Pansies Flowers Floral

VILLAGECARE’S TULIPS & PANSIES: THE HEADDRESS AFFAIR

What a night! Yesterday evening my team and I had the privilege of once again participating in the annual Tulips & Pansies fundraiser for VillageCare, a wonderful nonprofit organization serving older adults, people living with HIV/AIDS and those in need of medical and rehabilitation services. The annual benefit includes a silent auction as well as [...]

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Preston Bailey Payment Plan for Brides and Clients

MY PAYMENT PLAN FOR BRIDES AND OTHER CLIENTS

(Image via Jim Legans, Jr) This morning I promised that I would outline the payment plan I ask all of my clients to follow. So, here it is! I’ve been ask many times how I handle payment. This is tricky because, obviously, you need to get paid, but your client also needs to feel comfortable. [...]

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listening to clients in the wedding and event planning industry

LEARNING THE BUSINESS OF MONEY THE HARD WAY

(Image via ky_olsen) Yesterday, I promised to explain how I handled those three difficult payment situations. So, here’s what I did: In the first situation, everything came to a head the day before the event. My client was simply unable to come up with the money he owed me. I was angry. I was also [...]

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paying wedding and event vendors on time

WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS: GETTING PAID IN FULL BEFORE THE EVENT

(Image via gfpeck) There is absolutely no question in my mind that wedding and event planning vendors should always be paid in full at least two weeks (you need time to make sure the check clears!) before the wedding or event. And you can just forget about getting that check on the day of the [...]

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wedding vendor commissions

DEAR PRESTON: I PAY COMMISSIONS AND MY CLIENT IS FURIOUS

(Image via B Rosen) Dear Preston, I have always felt that there is nothing wrong with paying commissions, and this practice has never caused me any problems. However, a new client just found out that I do this, and now she wants to fire me. How do I save my job? Sincerely, Very Worried Dear [...]

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how to get clients and get paid in the wedding and event planning industry

HOW TO GET NEW CLIENTS AND GET PAID

(Image via pshegubj) I’ve always been more than a bit uncomfortable asking my clients for money. In the past, this has led to a great deal of financial burden. Once, I worked with a client for over three months before she paid me even a dollar. Eventually, I learned how to set up very specific [...]

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10 ways to avoid pissing off angry brides

TEN EASY WAYS TO AVOID PISSING OFF BRIDES AND OTHER CLIENTS

(Image via Lucia..) I never ever forget that without my brides and other clients, I simply would not have a business. Even if you have the very best talent and service, it’s meaningless without clients. So happy clients are my very top priority. But, in order to have happy clients, I have to know not [...]

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keep brides and corporate clients happy

THE IMPORTANCE OF FUN DURING THE WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING PROCESSS

(Image via james.holly) Recommendations from clients can be a blessing or a curse. I’ve seen it all. There’s the bride who is so happy with my work that she can’t wait to recommend me to all of her girlfriends who are also getting married. (I live for these brides!) Then there are the clients, often [...]

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wedding stuff

DEAR PRESTON: WHAT’S THE POINT OF SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON A WEDDING?

(Image via TheDarkThing) Dear Preston, 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, [...]

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recommendations for the wedding and event planning industry

MORE ON RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING INDUSTRY

(Image via sarae) This morning I introduced the topic of recommendations and how, unfortunately, some recommendation tactics in the wedding and event planning industry aren’t always fair or reliable. We’ve already discussed those dreaded preferred vendor lists from venues. Now, I’d like to tackle commissions and nasty gossip. If you recommend me for a job, [...]

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wedding and event planning recommendations

RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING INDUSTRY

(Image via sara_kate) Our industry, like many industries, survives on recommendations; for better or worse, we simply can’t live without them. And I like to think that when I’m recommended for a job it’s because of the high quality of my work and my professional manner. However, there are recommendation tactics in our industry that [...]

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dear preston

I’VE GOT SOME EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE

(Image via the00rig) Happy Friday, everyone! Not only is the weekend only hours away but the sun is shining AND I have some exciting news to share. One of the things I love most about this blog is the community that has grown out of it. I love learning what you think and watching discussions [...]

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creating happy brides and happy weddings

PREVENT UNHAPPY BRIDES AND CLIENTS

(Image via Brent Gambrell) What’s the easiest way to keep brides and other clients happy? Give them great service, talent, and care. Sounds pretty simple, right? Unfortunately, it’s not. The biggest issue is how you relate to each other. Let’s face it. Most brides and clients choose their wedding and event vendors because they like [...]

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be successful in the wedding and event planning industry

BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING INDUSTRY

(Image via alter1fo) Dearest friends, Thank you for the many birthday greetings yesterday. I love birthdays even though getting older (62 now!) isn’t always fun, and I tend to get a little blue about it. On the one hand, I’m thankful for friends, loved ones and all of my family. On the other hand, it’s [...]

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planning the perfect wedding

THE SECRET FORMULA FOR CREATING A MEMORABLE WEDDING OR EVENT

(Image via becca.peterson26) No matter how carefully I plan and design my weddings and events, something always goes wrong. It’s inevitable. However, some things are very much IN your control. Here’s my list of the 10 things that can and should be perfect at every wedding and event: 1. Wedding and Event Invitations. On this, I [...]

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perfectionist and the event planning industry

PERFECTIONISTS IN EVENT PLANNING

I’m pretty confident that if I took a poll, most of you would consider yourselves perfectionists. Recently, to my great surprise, a good friend accused me of been an extreme perfectionist. Being in the wedding and event industry means that we’re always aiming for that perfect evening — not only for our clients and brides [...]

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Wedding Industry Etiquette Making Money

THE ONE MISTAKE YOU DON’T WANT TO MAKE

(Image via John C Abell) Most of the wedding designers, wedding planners, wedding photographers, and other wedding vendors I meet and work with are very talented. And talent, well, that’s the hard part. So it has always struck me that vendors who have the hard part down (the skills!) are sometimes so bad at the [...]

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wedding and event planning design inspiration

My Top Tips for Finding Inspiration

(Image via Cimexus) The weather here in New York appears to have finally turned a corner. It’s gorgeous outside. I love the warm weather and the way the city comes alive on nice days. Everyone lingers outdoors and there’s a festive, practically jubilant mood. But it can wreck havoc on your schedule: it’s almost impossible [...]

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Preston Bailey Wagner College Event Planning Design

A BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR OF MY STUDIO WITH WAGNER COLLEGE

Last week, a group of talented Wagner College students who are currently enrolled in my Signature Wedding and Event Design course visited me and my team at our New York City offices. I’m so inspired by other wedding and event designers, but especially those that are young and just starting out. Their perspective is fresh, [...]

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vendors stealing ideas copy cats

COPY CATS: WHAT TO DO WHEN OTHER VENDORS STEAL YOUR IDEAS

No doubt almost all of you have your own websites to help promote your businesses. When clients are looking to hire a caterer, photographer, planner, designer, florist etc… for a big party or wedding where do they start their search? The internet, of course.  In today’s market, if you don’t have your own site, it’s [...]

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