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best things in life aren't things

THE LOVE BUSINESS: LOVE YOUR CLIENTS AND YOUR WORK

(Image via hello bauldoff) “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – HELEN KELLER. Helen Keller was a very wise woman, and I think her quote captures what it means to be an artist. Even after all these years, I [...]

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DEAR PRESTON: A CLIENT RESPONDS TO A READER’S RUDE LETTER

(Image via kevindooley) This morning I shared my response to Poor and Confident’s letter, which I published in last week’s Dear Preston column. This afternoon, I’d like to share with you an email I got from one of my clients after she read the letter. Dear Preston, I am appalled at the accusation that Poor [...]

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DEAR PRESTON: HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH YOURSELF? ANSWERED!

(Image via sarahbeach) Dear Readers, Thank you for all of your insightful and kind responses to the letter I posted last Tuesday; I was touched by your encouragement and heartfelt reaction. Your comments made it abundantly clear that most of you appreciate the work that designers and other artists create. Because that’s what we all [...]

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Preston Bailey Dear Preston

DEAR PRESTON: HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH YOURSELF?

(Image via cbanck) Dear Preston, How do you live with yourself? I’ve been following you and your work for quite awhile, and what you do is over the top. It’s empty and soulless. Your clients are rich and insecure and have a desperate need to show off. How do you live with yourself knowing that [...]

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preston bailey wedding and event planning business finances

WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING: TOP 3 FINANCIAL MISTAKES

(Image via alancleaver_2000) Last week we discussed at length the importance of getting clients to pay us prior to the day of their wedding or other event. But there’s a lot more to be said about business finances, and I’d like to continue our conversation this week. Let’s start by tackling the months or even [...]

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Golden Gate Bridge Wedding Proposal

AT LAST: THE WEEKEND IS HERE

(Image via drewmer1) Happy Friday! It’s been another hectic week (aren’t they all?), and I’m looking forward to my weekend even though the weatherman is predicting clouds and rain on both Saturday and Sunday here in New York City. Truthfully, I think it’ll be nice to have an excuse to stay inside and enjoy some [...]

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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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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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Easter Table Setting Decorations

MY RECIPE FOR A MAGICAL EASTER CELEBRATION

Happy Easter! I love this holiday. When I was a child in Panama I always received a new suit for Easter; it was the one time each year that I got a brand new outfit. I wanted to look good, because all of the colorful church ladies wore extraordinary hats and outfits to our Baptist [...]

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Not believing you can do it

Common Mistakes: Not Believing You Can Do It

Let me start today’s post by asking you this: How many times have you had a great idea? And how many times have you taken your great idea and actually executed it? I think what usually happens is that immediately after we get our great idea, we tell ourselves, “But I could never do that. [...]

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Thank You, To Staff

Reminder: To My Staff, Thank You

(Image via Nate Grigg) As my company grows, I still struggle with how to be a good leader. At times, I find that it takes an immense amount of love and energy to deal with a group of folks with all the dynamics of an extended family. As I see it in my business group [...]

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Happy Valentine's Day, Vintage Valentine

Venting: Valentine’s Day

(Vintage Valentine Image via Karen Horton) Living in New York and walking to work, I counted at least 18 floral delivery trucks this morning, busy and hectic, delivering millions of floral arrangements to loved ones. From a business point of view, I was happy to see that. We could all use the business. Valentine’s day [...]

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Patience

Reminder: Patience

(Image via via MShades) If you are like me, you might be asking yourself, “I am doing everything right, but I am not seeing immediate results. WHY?” The irony is that most of us are in the event industry so no matter what we do, we’ll get no business until a client is actually having [...]

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Preston Bailey, vacation, photo

Holiday Highs and Lows

Today I’d like us to share our holiday highs and lows. My December was both wonderful and stressful. December is a time of lots of entertainment and celebrations in New York and it culminated with a great Christmas day. My partner and I were so excited to be taking a 10 day care-free vacation starting [...]

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end, review, notebook, pen, office, desk, class, woman reading,blackboard

Venting: End of the Year Business Review

(Image via Raquel Abe) Learning doesn’t just happen in a classroom. As we are about to end the year and begin a new one, I think this is the perfect time to review our business priorities–re-evaluate what is working and let go of what is not. When one’s destination becomes gracious, the journey can be [...]

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set up, white, table setting,covered chairs, ceremony, plates, elegant, chic, curtains, drapping

Time for Thanksgiving!

Today, we’re really busy getting my all White Thanksgiving table for my 50 friends and family, so this will be a short post. We have the perfect giveaway (which I’ll share with you next week!) Thank you to you all, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! What are you most looking forward to eating tomorrow? As [...]

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Thanksgiving prep, Tamales, asparagus, food, dish, traditional, recipe, green

Thanksgiving Preparation

Without question, one of my favorite parts of planning for the holidays is when we start thinking about food and decor (basically, now). This year, I am having about 50 friends and family members over for Thanksgiving dinner, and after doing practically every color under the sun for past Thanksgivings, I’m thinking about creating the [...]

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reminder, ribbons, orange, yellow, hand,fingers, bow

Reminder: List I Keep In My Daily Journal

Recently, I had the pleasure of doing two of many dinner parties for one of my longtime and tasteful clients Mrs. Hershaft. I love her not only because she is a class act, but also because at the beginning of the year she sent me a list of reminders I carry in my daily journal [...]

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Eliza-DooLittle

Halloween Costume Ideas

I’m not much of a Halloween guy, but I do appreciate how creative and detailed some folks can be with their Halloween costumes. My Creative Director Merv and his wife Janet spend a lot of time and blood, sweat and tears on Halloween costumes for their kids. I just had to share some of the [...]

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success, inner peace, dyers, secrets

Reminder: Say What You Want To Be, Then Do What You Have To Do

It’s important to treat yourself as if you already are what you’d like to be–then become it. Let me explain. I started out as a florist, however I knew that as much as I loved doing flowers, I wanted to be a designer. When folks asked me then what did I do for a living, [...]

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