As a past bride and wedding photographer we know what a big task wedding planning can be. There are so many details that go into your big day and once you figure out what you would like then you have to find all of the vendors to help you put your vision to life. There are a lot of options. They are kind of endless and the lists on Wedding Wire and The Knot can be endless. So you finally find someone who looks awesome and you would love to meet them. What should you do before the meeting? What should you do during the meeting? How should you follow up?

Time is of the essence everyday and even more when you are planning your wedding. Whether you are planning your big day in 6 months or you have over a year every minute is valuable so make the most of your time. The proper preparations for consultation meetings can help you with this!

-Be sure to look at their website and blog!

Really take the time to look through the whole gallery, read about the vendor and get a feel for their philosophy and what they love about weddings. Make sure that they are truly a great fit before you even send the email. If you are looking for a photographer DOES THEIR STYLE MATCH WHAT YOU DREAM YOUR PHOTOS WILL LOOK LIKE? | DOES THEIR PERSONALITY SEEM LIKE ONE THAT WILL MESH WELL WITH YOUR’S? Those are the two biggest questions to ask yourself for not only a photographer but for any vendor. If you are searching for a florist, does their style match your dream bouquet? Are they more traditional or trendy? Many times the website and blog will answer these two questions for you.

Have you checked out our website yet?

-Does their investment information fit in your budget?

This isn’t always the most fun to think about but the wedding industry has a WIDE range of investments, for instance photographers can range from $1,500 all the way to over $9,000. But not everyone has the same budget and that is OK. Either way, before sending that email see if they have their starting investment listed. If it is, see if it is in or at least reachable and that is another step in the direction towards meeting up for a consultation. This is often one of the biggest let downs for brides so don’t fall in love with someone’s services until you find out if you can fit them into your dream! If they send you an email with more information take a few minutes to look over it and make sure the details fit your needs. In the end, this will save you time! (On a side note if you REALLY fall in love with someone’s services that will make a HUGE impact on your day, like your dress, a fantastic floral designer, or a photographer who’s work matches your dream consider adjusting your budget. There are some things that are worth investing more for a large impact! )

 

our website investment page

 

 

 

 

-Read the reviews?

What are other brides saying that have already worked with the vendor? Are they saying things that you would hope? Do they seem like simple reviews or are they excited to share their experience with you? This is a great way to get a feel for not only the services provided but the over all experience!

-Once the above questions are answered send an email.

When sending an email consider telling them about your day! This will allow you to make a connection as well as help the       vendor gage how they can best provide your needs. Often as a photographer I will let brides know if we have been to a venue before and share a blog post that we have of their venue. If you tell a florist you love peonies she may share  a few images of bouquets with your favorite flowers! This is just another step to assure that setting up that consultation meeting is well worth your time!

 

a glimpse into our client lounge

 

 

-Waiting for the response. 

If you get the response back in a timely manner (this is important as it is the first thing that shows you a glimpse into the type of service you will receive. Expect an average of 24-48 hours for most vendors with maybe slightly longer if you email on the weekends. Once you hear back from them look carefully through any additional information they sent you and if they fit your vision and needs set up that meeting!

-Going to your consultation meeting.

For us, we hope that once you arrive at our home that you have already looked at our website and read about our wedding experience and investment options in our online Client Lounge. That being said, our goal for consultation meetings is to get to know you! We love to hear about your love story and get a strong picture of the vision for your wedding day! We will show you some more of our work in albums and show you around our online galleries. We take the time to answer all of your questions and help you feel confident in your decision!

Alrighty brides, those are the steps that we would take to setting up a consultation meeting. Next week we are going to share some questions that we would ask if we were going to a consultation meeting with a photographer. We are still booking 2016 weddings and would love to meet you over cupcakes and lemonade for a consultation meeting. 😉 Look around and send us an email!

 

We are so excited to announce the winner of our Website GIVEAWAY! Congratulations Ashley Duffield! Thank you so much to everyone who entered our giveaway! We can’t wait to have another one soon!