South West Florida Wedding Professionals:Today is the Last Day for We Wed Brunch Tickets

It's going to be quite the gathering of wedding professionals next week! The attendee list is absolutely amazing. I'm really looking forward to enjoying brunch with so many of our industries best

★wedding planners ★photographers ★officiants ★talent coordinators ★wedding magazine reps. ★rental companies ★videographers ★stationers ★florists ★bakers ★venue catering & sales managers ★site coordinators ★musicians ★dj's ★Hair & Makeup stylists★

Don't let this be the event you're kicking yourself for not attending; this is an open invitation to all wedding and social event professionals of South West Florida.

☛Want to make someones day? Invite someone as your guest!

I would also like to take this time to mention:

BBJ Linen, who has sponsored our linensShari Bare, our official event photographer
Miromar Lakes Beach Club, our venue sponsor

Happy Valentines Day from the team at Weddings by Socialites

We found these cute shirts and had some flowers left from tablescapes, so...Have a LOVELY Valentines Day from the team at Weddings by Socailites!

Ah, the art of being ridiculously silly midday.
L to R, Top to Bottom: Jacqueline, Michelle, Kelly, Andrea

My interview responses.

These are not the answers I gave that bride all those years ago, this is current. I decided to share this because I wanted to show how important it was to invest some time into researching your key vendors. Great websites, clever blogs, and preferred vendor lists aside- be an informed consumer.

By no means should you use this questionnaire to rule out or hire a wedding planner you are considering. Rather, use the answers as a piece of the decision. A face to face or phone interview is crucial, to make certain that your personalities are a fit!

My Wedding Planner Interview:
1. Is wedding planning your only job?
* Yes. The only way I could do anything else would be to make days 32 hours long.
2. How many clients do you have right now?
* 11
3. How many weddings have you planned, start to finish?
* More than 60, but not sure exactly how many without doing some serious digging.
4. How many weddings have you planned and executed in the last 24 months?
* 27. Well, 27 ended in the last 2 years- some started planning prior to that time.
5. How many weddings have you coordinated in the last 24 months?
* 4
6. Who were the last 4 photographers you worked with?
* Susan Stripling
* Ashley Brockinton
* Michelle Reed
* Impact UK
7. What venues have you worked at in the last 6 months?
* South Seas Island Resort
* Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach
* LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort
* Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa
* Rosen Shingle Creek Golf & Spa
* Casa Ybel Resort
* Grandezza Country Club
* Dolce Vita
8. Can I get a recommendation from one of your last 4 full service clients?
* Absolutely.
9. Can I get a recommendation from one of your last 4 coordination clients?
* Absolutely.
10. Where can I see samples of your creative or design work?
* My website or my planning studio
11. Are contracts with vendors with my name or yours?
* Always in yours, unless it’s for something that I can only get as a trade professional.
12. Do you only work with select vendors or at select locations?
* I only recommend certain professionals, but am also happy to work with others who will uphold both yours and my high standards.
13. Have you ever worked for the venues you now plan weddings at?
* Yes. I worked at one 10 years ago, before I had anything to do with the wedding industry (accounting, can you believe that?).
14. Do you accept any kick-backs or commissions?
* No.
15. Do you offer invitation etiquette assistance?
* Yes.
16. Can I order any products from you, such as linens, invitations, and chairs?
* Yes, but there can be restrictions, based on your wedding venues.
17. How quickly can I expect replies to phone calls and emails?
* Usually within a day, but 72 hours is the longest you’ll wait. I’ll email you if I’ll be out of touch longer for a special reason.
18. Do you have assistants that will be helping at my wedding day? How many?
* Yes, at least 1. The exact number depends on the size, location and complexity of your wedding.
19. Will you be on site the entire length of my wedding day?
* Yes, before you arrive, and after you leave.
20. Are your rates negotiable?
* No, rates are not negotiable, but fees are customized for each and every client.

Wedding Planner Interview for Brides

I came across this while I was archiving my emails late last night and I thought that it would be great to share with brides. It is by far one of the most thorough interviews I was ever asked to complete. After I sent it back to the potential client, we had a phone consult, which we could use to talk more about her wedding- so efficient. I should have known; turns out she was an event planner.

1. Is wedding planning your only job?
2. How many clients do you have right now?
3. How many weddings have you planned & designed, start to finish?
4. How many weddings have you planned and executed in the last 24 months?
5. How many weddings have you coordinated (wedding day coordination)in the last 24 months?
6. Who were the last 4 photographers you worked with?
7. What venues have you worked at in the last 6 months?
8. Can I get a recommendation from one of your last 4 full service clients?
9. Can I get a recommendation from one of your last 4 coordination clients?
10. Where can I see samples of your creative or design work? And are all the pictures on your website weddings that you planned?
11. Are contracts with vendors with my name or yours?
12. Do you only work with select vendors or at select locations?
13. Have you ever worked for the venues you now plan weddings at?
14. Do you accept any kick-backs or commissions?
15. Do you offer invitation etiquette assistance?
16. Can I order any products from you, such as linens, invitations, and chairs?
17. How quickly can I expect replies to phone calls and emails?
18. Do you have assistants that will be helping at my wedding day? How many?
19. Will you be on site the entire length of my wedding day?
20. Are your rates negotiable?

Want to know my answers? Check back tomorrow!

Preferred Vendor Lists

Recently I was meeting with one of my clients, reviewing all the plans for her wedding. When we got to the videography tab in my planning binder, I asked a few basic questions and her answers lead me to realize that she had hired this company without doing research. I cringed. She had selected them simply because they were on the venues preferred vendor list. She hadn't seen one of their wedding videos or even a wedding clip, She didn't know what her tangible product would be or what options she would have, or how this compared to other vendors who charged the same amount. This isn't the first time I've heard this from clients.

You wouldn't choose your venue ONLY because you saw it in your favorite magazine, so don't take this path with any other part of your plans.

You'd consider the costs, the location, the menus available, the atmosphere, the contract terms, what you get for your dollar, etc.
The good thing is that you can trust that preferred vendors are well versed on the property. Most of the time (please note that I did not say always), its okay to trust that the professionals on venue lists are quality, dependable wedding vendors. But this is not always the case, and there's much more to consider than this.

A few things to keep in mind when you start your vendor planning:
1. Realize that some venues charge vendors to be on their venue list or pay a commission every time they work there.
2. Realize that there may be many other reputable high quality vendors that are better for your event, better suited for your personality, offer better services/products.
3. Invest the time to compare. Get samples of each professionals work that applies to what you are asking for, and compare to other professionals.
4. Don't rule out vendor lists, but don't make them your play book either.
5. Get referrals from everyone, other vendors and previous brides (recent brides, married in the last 16 weeks).
6. Check out wedding planners blogs. Wedding planners are notorious for only highlighting good professionals because these are vendors who are good to their clients.
7. Remember that price is not everything and that great marketing is just that- great marketing (look deeper).
8. Look for experience and talent.

A few wedding planner-bloggers who highlight great wedding pros (and there are many many more (check out "My Friends say" on the right sidebar):
www.blog.emilieduncan.net
www.perfectpartysolutions.blogspot.com
www.weddify.com
www.greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com
http://www.stellaeventdesign.com/blog/