Making It Look Easy: How Top Wedding Consultants Get Things Done

By Mary Brophy


The best wedding consultants out there have a knack for making it look easy. "How did she pull it all off?" guests will ooh in wonder as they enter yet another magnificent, well managed event. Make sure your wedding planning business is as strong as it can be by working on these key areas.

Organization & Time Management

This is one of the most important aspects of running a bridal consultant business – you must be organized to a tee. Keep copies of all agreements and contracts for easy reference. Have a system – whatever it works for you. It could be using a high-tech wedding planning software, or it could mean having a complex filing system. Whatever your system is, stick to it, understand it, and follow it. Create "day of" itineraries and timelines. Being organized is imperative in pulling off a successful event and coordinating a multitude of different components to create a picture-perfect event.

Vendor Relations

Knowing a wide variety of wedding professionals is a must in this business. Knowing their phone numbers isn't enough – their faces need to light up with a smile when they see your name and number on their phone. Developing strong business relationships takes many years and experiences, and like any other relationship, vendors bonds take time and effort to form. Treat vendors with respect, send them business, and always do what you say you will. Be professional and kind at all times, and understand that you are working with other vendors – not against them. A simple thank you can do wonders for you.

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Interpersonal Skills

From organizing entire families for photo shoots to having a specific flower flown in from Thailand, one personality trait all bridal consultants share is that they are good with people. It's important to be able to make people from all walks of life feel comfortable. You can do this by letting your personality shine through, interacting with others in a respectful fashion, and being assertive when you make special requests.

Set Expectations

Some brides expect a wedding consultant to swoop in like a fairy godmother, and make all her dreams come true. Setting realistic expectations from the beginning is always the best way to avoid this line of thought. Work logically through the couples' budget, and offer them guidance about where to save and where to spend.

Do a Little Miracle Work

On the day of the wedding, you and her should both be armed with some emergency supplies. You might suggest she collect items 2 weeks ahead of time in a tote bag. A fun and elegant way to carry the items is in a personalized bridal bag. With everything from a sewing kit to band-aids and clear tape, you'll have the right materials on hand in case of emergency. Often there is some sort of emergency.

The role of the wedding consultant on the celebration day is to make sure everything runs smoothly. This could mean anything from giving the bride a pep talk to fixing a broken heel. So be prepared and ready to save the day – you just might have to.

By weaving together your excellent communication and coordination skills, you'll be able to throw stellar event after stellar event! Make sure you have a clear idea of the bride's vision and that you keep her wishes at the forefront – after all, it's her special day.

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