I had a fantastic consultation a few weeks ago with a couple that I call “soup to nuts” clients. They had just started to plan their wedding and had nothing done. They had looked at a few venues online and I gave them some referrals for a few other venues that fit their criteria. We went through all the questions on my survey and talked about what they wanted and how All the Best could help them. At the conclusion of our meeting they felt that I was very knowledgeable and were confident in my abilities. They even indicated that I was the only planner they were consulting. I went back to my office, wrote up their service proposal, sent them an email and waited for the “you’re hired” response. And waited, and waited, and waited.
When they did get back to me they indicated that they had consulted with two more planners after our consultation and shared the names. They told me that based on these meetings that I should cost “X”. I removed the services they said they wouldn’t need and lowered the cost. Not quite to what they asked but close. Time went by again. The response this time was they were waiting to find a venue before deciding on a planner. I’m confused, especially since they agreed that I would be an asset during the venue search process.
One of the planners they mentioned I knew very well, the other not at all. When I asked the planner I knew if she had consulted with them she told me that, basically, they blew her off saying “the venue we visited told us we don’t need a planner.” WHAT??
I could go on for hours on why that’s not true. The venue is going to hand you a list of “preferred vendors” and tell you to pick from there. How do they know if any of them fit your criteria? Do you get any value from picking from their list? The venue will hand you their timeline and say “this is way we do it.” That’s fine if you want your wedding done their way and not yours.
Is the venue going to read over the contracts and make sure they’re inclusive of everything you discussed? Is the venue going to send you payment reminders? Is the venue going to make sure you’re staying within budget? Is the venue going to work with your photographer and schedule hair and make up to make sure you’ve got enough time to get done what you want to get done? Is the venue going to be there to handle any emergencies that come up before the ceremony? Are they going to coordinate your hotel shuttles? Monitor your room blocks? Deliver your gift bags? Help with the wording for your invitations? Track down the RSVP stragglers? Work with your florist on your event design? Repurpose the flowers from the ceremony so your florist can concentrate on the reception? Listen to you when your mother or mother in law is driving you crazy? Answer the “what do you think about this?” questions? The list of what the venue is NOT going to do to plan your wedding is much longer than what they are going to do.
I’ve worked at those venues who tell clients they don’t need a planner. Want to talk to those brides who hired a planner anyway? Arlene Schmid of Parties by Design always says “If I could talk to the bride the day after her wedding she would hire me every time!”
If you’re that bride that believes the catering sales rep who tells you “You don’t need a planner if you have your wedding here” ask them exactly what it is that they’re going to do for you. If it’s everything you wanted a planner to do then you’re in the right place. If it’s not then the next step is up to you.
Totally true! My venue was wonderful & beautiful, but our contact person changed several times and they were very unrespOnsive because they had closer weddings to worry about! Weddings have so many moving parts, I would have never been able to figure it out without Kathi 🙂
It’s so refreshing to hear this shared publicly! If I had a dime for every client whose venue told them they didn’t need a planner, I’d have a good amount of pocket change. But if I had a dime for every problem I fixed along the way– as the planner the bride and groom ‘didn’t need’– I’d be rich.
Catering sales managers *truly do* believe they are providing everything. The issue is that their view of what ‘everything’ is is limited to five hours on the wedding day. Not the 200+ hours it takes to get there. Thanks for sharing!
Leigh – your bring up a good point about the turnover some venues have in their catering sales department. We had such fun working on your wedding and your venue knew not only the value of a wedding planner but how to work cooperatively with one!
Kristen – good point! You and I both know that it’s not just venues. Other professionals are touting themselves as event planners. How would a DJ like it if we told our clients that they don’t need a DJ – we’ll take care of the entertainment and being the emcee for them too?
Totally agree that planners do way more than a catering sales rep, but please don’t lump ALL catering sales reps into that category of ones who say you don’t need a planner. Many catering reps are the first to suggest AND refer planners;)
You are absolutely right there are venues who do suggest that brides hire a planner and I’m proud to be affiliated with those venues here at the Jersey Shore! Those that do say ‘you don’t need a planner” either don’t know the value that a professional experienced wedding planner can bring to an event or they’ve worked with planners who are inexperienced and caused more problems than they solved. Would these same venues tell a bride they don’t need a photographer or entertainment or invitations? I would never tell a venue which suppliers to use or how to train their staff or what recipes to use for their favorite entrée. That’s their job, their profession, how they make their living. Give me an equal opportunity to do the same.