Results for Event Planner Tag

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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event planning wedding new business

PREPARING FOR YOUR FIRST MEETING WITH A POTENTIAL CLIENT

(Image via midwestgrrl) So, you’ve convinced a potential client to come in and meet you. You’re excited and very eager to get the job for this wedding, corporate event, birthday party, etc… And even though I strongly believe that we’re not right for every client, and every client is not right for us, of course you still [...]

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budget-conscious brides

CONVINCING POTENTIAL CLIENTS TO MEET IN PERSON

(Image via pshegubj) Today’s venting post is in response to one of you, my lovely readers, who wrote in asking for my help with brides who want a price quote before they’ll agree to meet with a vendor. We vendors typically prefer to meet with a potential client before quoting any prices. The reader who [...]

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notebook

UPDATING MY LIST OF PRODUCTION COMPANIES

(Image via angelocesare) On some occasions, we’ve been hired to do just flowers and planning. However, more often we do large transformations that involve a great deal of building, draping, staging, tenting, flooring, and countless logistics. Previously, as most of you know, I’ve used this Friday post to update my list of fantastic planners and [...]

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make_misteaks

COMMON MISTAKES: LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES — YOUR TURN

(Image via advertisingelyse ) So far this week I’ve talked a lot about how planners, designers and vendors should work together. Today I’d like to turn the tables and give you the opportunity to voice your own thoughts on these delicate working relationships. Keep in mind that I believe strongly in being honest about our mistakes. [...]

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sleepwalkers

REMINDER: MY TOP 10 DO’S AND DON’TS FOR PLANNERS

(Image via oedipusphinx ) This week it’s all about finding a good middle ground for planners, designers and clients, so that we can all work together effectively and efficiently. Today, I’m sharing my top 10  suggestions and reminders specifically for planners: 1. It’s very important for designers and other vendors to meet with clients directly. [...]

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silence

Faqs: You’re A Designer Not A Planner, So When Should You Keep Your Big Mouth Shut?

(Image via AraGuim ) I must admit that I don’t always do a great job of keeping my opinions to myself. When I’m designing, my enthusiasm for the job and my many years of experience make me want to contribute to every single aspect of the wedding. Unfortunately, I often end up infringing on the [...]

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todolist1-582

Updating My List of Talented Event Planners in Your Area

(Image via puuikibeach) Thank you very much for the wonderful response to last Friday’s post asking for talented local florists! I was absolutely blown away by how many of you sent me links to your websites – I spent almost an entire day looking at your work, and it left me utterly in awe. This [...]

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wedding plans, common mistakes

Common Mistakes: Hiring a Planner Only for the Day of Your Event

(Image via Salicia) I know I’m going to ruffle a few feathers with this one. There are several reasons clients may opt to only hire a day-of planner, but usually it’s because that’s what their budgets allow. In my humble experience, and please feel free to disagree with me, there are pros as well as [...]

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Showing Respect to Nature

REMINDER: It Isn’t Your Event, It’s Your Client’s

(Image via gwaar ) I wonder if this ever happens to you… you start working for a specific client, and you have such a clear vision of what the event should look like that you catch yourself thinking, “I know best.” This has happened to me many times, especially when I also happen to love [...]

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Questionmark

FAQs: REQUEST FOR QUESTIONS

(Image via ePi.longo ) Last week, many of you posted some great questions. This week, I’ll start answering them. First up is, Lia, who is planning her own wedding. Congratulations, Lia! She wants to know the best way to cut down on flower costs, particularly the gorgeous calla lily. Dear Lia, Thanks for your question! [...]

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FAQs, How to Make Money, Timecard

FAQs: If I don’t get commission from my vendors as a planner, how do I make money? What should I charge?

(Image via via Brandi Sims) The industry is bombarded with a new generation of planners. I think this is great, however, most of them are under the assumption that you ONLY need great organizational skills to call yourself a planner. In fact a lot of brides, after planning their own wedding, love the process so [...]

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Venting, Difference, Wedding and Design

Venting: Explaining the Difference Between Planners & Designers

(Image via via Jude Doyland) I empathize with most clients who aren’t sure about the difference between what planners do and what designers do. These two services have become so interchangeable that most of the time, it’s difficult to tell them apart. Not to mention the local banquet managers from hotels and venues who do [...]

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Frequently Asked Questions: How do you get clients to view you as credible if you still have another job?

These days, most people start in the event business by wearing two hats. They most likely take gradual steps out of their old boring job into the new and exciting world of the event industry. There is always that “cross-over” period of adjustment. If you’re a newcomer I strongly suggest that if you have never [...]

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