an event planner's worst nightmare
Anyone who has been in the business long enough has come across one. They are aggressive, intolerant, and possibly lethal. Stress is undoubtedly going to strike any bride at some point during the planning process, but as an event planner, it is necessary to avoid this risk with proper precautions and, if one does arise, to handle the situation with ease. Below are a few suggestions:
- Prepare: There is nothing more obvious than someone who is not on top of his or her duties. If you are prepared, your client will feel prepared. Keep an updated schedule and notes on the details of the event. Even if you are having trouble contacting a client, communicate this to your bride so they know you are making genuine efforts to gather information. If your bride begins to feel nervous as the date approaches, offer to e-mail a weekly update to ease her worries.
- Delegate: Some demands from the bride or the bride’s mother may be unreasonable. In this case, consider dividing the work to other bridesmaids, groomsmen, and family members to help alleviate your own stress. Likewise, this is a great way to get members involved in the process. Try to include a grandmother or aunt that may be able to incorporate a personal experience with the bride to their duty. Overall, the tasks these members accomplish will be noticed the day of the wedding and each will be able to look around with pride at what they contributed.
- Posture: Keep a calm and firm posture when meeting with your bride. Even if you are nervous, hide it as best as you can. Confidence is catching, so if you are sure of yourself, your bride will be as well.
- Negotiate: If you are unable to meet a bride’s unreasonable demands, offer alternative options. This will most likely occur when a client requests something outside her budget.
- Explain: If there are no other options to offer, be sure to explain why you are unable to accomplish the client’s needs. No person can be in two places at once, so it would be unrealistic for you to be checking the progress of the food during the ceremony procession.
- Listen: Let your bride vent. It is important that your client feels comfortable speaking with you about their worries and frustrations, otherwise, they may build up over time. Even share your own feelings about a concern. Being a person your client can lean on during the process is crucial, for mother’s can be a weight on any bride’s shoulder.
- Distract: Have a jar of dark chocolates on your desk or pocket a few in your purse to give your bride when their stress seems to rise. Studies have shown that eating chocolate can relieve anxiety! And besides, who can deny a Dove candy?
- Stand Your Ground: No event planner is going to drive to the next town over the day of the wedding to pick up a last-second guest. Respect yourself and your client will respect you as well. Assure your bride that you love her and will do anything in your power to execute the perfect day, but Tory Burch flip-flops for every guest to dance in are not in your budget. And no, you are unable to hand-make 150 ceremony programs by tomorrow.
Blog Post Inspired by: TheFrisky.com