We’re dreaming of a white Christmas. And with that, we’re also wishing for a successful snowy season for you and your wedding business.

But why rest your dreamy head in the wintry clouds when you can create your own winter wedding success and secure seasonal bookings?

Introducing the 12 tips of Christmas.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my wed-pro gave to me…

…“twelve excellent tips on how to make your wedding business stand out over the Christmas period.”

Ok so our version of that crimbo song may not have the same ring to it but our advice is worth its weight in gold.

We’re gifting you with twelve tips on how to make winter weddings your thing so that you can build a dream vision of your wedding services and attract couples dreaming of a winter wedding.

1. Wedding venues – carry a camera (or a photographer!) with you everywhere.

The weather is unpredictable and you never know when those flakes of snow may fall or when you’ll catch a newlywed couple snuggled by your venue’s roaring fire over a steaming mug of mulled wine. Christmas 2017 is a wonderful time to capture sparkly moments that you can advertise on your website, and appeal to couples hoping to get married in the winter of 2018.

2. Wedding photographers – do what you do best.

We don’t have to tell you what makes an inspiring winter wedding photo – you’re the experts. But as winter weddings aren’t yet as popular as fair weather weddings, take a look at the world around you and capture the season itself if you’ve no winter weddings booked to photograph.

Showcase a gallery of frosted flowers, iced lakes and mugs of hot mulled wine and cinnamon sticks by a fireplace to draw in attention from winter wedding loving couples. You need to sell a story to capture hearts.

3. Wedding florists – stick to seasonal flowers.

Upload shots of berry bouquets and holly adorned garlands to your social accounts and website. Think brides in fur boleros holding frosted flowers in the snow and sell your services visually.

4. Wedding caterers – create seasonal menus.

What winter warmers can you conjure up to offer prospective couples before they’ve even thought about exactly what they’re after? Whether you’re a fresh produce and wholesome food provider or an elegant a la carte caterer, now is the time to be creative with your culinary skills and whip up winter menus that no other wedding supplier could rival.

5. Winter wedding cakes  

if you specialise in making beautiful wedding cakes make sure you’re not seasonally biased! Present photographs of your wonderful winter collections of cakes on your website to show how versatile your skill set is and how dreamy winter wedding cakes can be.

6. Wedding transport

If you’re in the specialist business of wedding transport make sure you’re optimising your website to get to the top of google results for all sorts of specific terms, including phrases such as “winter wedding transport”.

7. Wedding decorations

Between November and January wedding venues should build a festive atmosphere to really set the scene for winter wedding lovers. Make a real statement and create a winter wonderland of your very own; transporting couples to a Christmassy world adorned with fairy lights and scented cinnamon candles.

8. Wedding planning

Although wedding planners are typically behind the scenes you should absolutely boast about the weddings you’ve helped plan on your website. Optimise your site for wedding planner searches by season.

Did you know long tail keyword searches are one of the best ways to target smaller but more engaged audiences? Try including phrases like “wedding planning for winter weddings” and ask permission to use photographs of winter weddings you’re particularly proud of.

9. Wedding entertainment

Bands and musicians…why not include a couple of christmas favourites on your playlist or share on facebook? Who knows; your rendition of the Pogues, Fairytale of New York, could help you win the hearts of a newly engaged couple keen on a festive affair!

10. Wedding dress

The perfect winter wedding dress is stylish, demure and elegant but with practical elements to keep the bride warm. A faux fur throw is always a great winter addition but could you offer something different? Be daring and creative with your winter bridal wear collection and turn heads for all the right reasons! Dress your shop front to reflect the change in season and make sure your website showcases the best in winter bridal wear.

11. Wedding accessories

Remember to invest in a new collection of closed toe shoes for your wedding boutique in winter, and it may be worth investing in a few pairs of white wellies to ensure you’re offering an ‘all eventualities covered’ one-stop-shop for brides. Sparkly hair decorations work particularly well in winter as do velvet headbands decorated with crystals or feathers.

12. Wedding makeup

Winter makeup can be a much more enjoyable affair than summer makeup, as makeup artists need not worry about the bride sweating off her foundation and more! Embrace the colder seasons and show your talents for fair foundations with peachy pink blushed cheeks, icy tones for eye makeup and a bold red romantic lip. Show your best season makeup trends on your wedding website.

This winter is your chance to show couples getting married next year how well you cater to winter weddings and how beautiful and romantic a frosty affair in the UK can be!

In recent years, wedding technology has advanced somewhat and we’re seeing pioneering businesses lead the way with innovative new ideas on how to make the wedding experience, even more, WOW for next-gen couples.

This is largely in response to millennial couples expecting technology to play a big part in their wedding day (as well as in the planning and research phase of their wedding journey) now more than ever before.

Predicted technology trends for 2018

1. Something old something new

We’re not the only wedding business to have detected a surge in the popularity of online invitations between 2016 and 2017, and sending digital invites has become normal custom for many younger wedding planning couples in particular.

In 2018 we’re expecting to see a resurgence of the physical invitation but with a modern ‘techy’ twist.

We predict that on pretty printed wedding invitations, couples will start to ask guests to download an app and scan their personal invite to RSVP, or at the very least, visit their wedding website to respond.

2018 is going to be all about streamlining and efficiencies. Couples want to keep their weddings personal but also make their own lives easier, hence the decision to collect RSVPs all in one place – online.

For wedding stationery suppliers in need of a little inspiration, Interactive Wedding Invitations is a UK based wedding supplier that specialises in making real wedding invitations come to life.

2. Virtual wedding planning 

Wedding industry experts expect couples in 2018 to go fully mobile with their wedding plans, using platforms like Bridebook to help them plan their big day.

Millennials want to be able to plan their wedding on the go and have access to all the information they need there and then – right at their fingertips.

According to a Forbes article on tech trends that will shake up content marketing in 2018, 69% of digital media engagement happens on mobile platforms across all industries right now.

Experts predict a continued increase in the entire wedding planning process happening online and we’ll begin to see more and more wedding suppliers developing processes and systems to facilitate this change in behaviour.

3. Photo apps will become the norm

We’re seeing more couples choosing to use photo sharing apps for their wedding day in addition to (not instead of) a professional photographer.

Photo apps like Scripin, mean that guests can be actively involved in the happy couple’s wedding day -taking photos and videos, sharing them with all the other guests in one simple and easy to use app, that you can download after your wedding so you get the complete picture!

4. 3D wedding planning designs

We’ll soon wave goodbye to loose conversations about reception layouts and colour scheme blends because 3D design tools that help couples virtually design and plan their reception rooms and then explore them in 3D are coming in 2018.

These tools do already exist and are becoming increasingly popular within the US wedding industry, so we predict they’ll be crossing the pond into the UK very soon.

These design tools enable couples, suppliers and venues to collaborate in an interactive, real-time way to create beautiful layouts and styles within the room specified.

Couples simply drag and drop wedding themed items into their real wedding venue or a template venue created to the exact measurements of the real deal.

They can then start designing how their day will look – making it almost impossible for wedding suppliers to misinterpret a couple’s requests and in turn, reassuring the couple that everything they’ve chosen works well together.

We expect to see future wedding technology trends build from this idea, and have seen similar examples of virtual wedding planning support in the form of Brookfield Barn which offers 3D virtual tours of their facilities on their website – helping couples and suppliers work together throughout the planning stage without having to actually visit the venue in person.

5. Hidden action cameras

Expect to see GoPro’s in brides’ bouquets, in vicar or registrars’ top pockets, in brides’ hair, on pets walking down the aisle, and even on bottles of alcohol and disco balls!

As a wedding photographer, get creative and go one step further than offering drones. Incorporate action cameras as part of your premium wedding day packages and impress the couples you work with in 2018.

6. GIF Photobooth

We’re seeing the already very popular wedding photobooth give way to the GIF booth in 2018.

A GIF booth captures a selection of around 3-5 photos and then automatically animates them into a GIF that is instantly shareable there and then. The booth also provides printouts of the single shots as well so you still get all the benefits of the original wedding photo booth.

7. 3D Printing

3D printing is nothing new but we predict an increase in popularity as 3D printing helps facilitate some truly unique and special ideas such as 3D Wedding Cake Toppers of the actual bride and groom (both humorous and personal!) and 3D Wedding Cake projections.

Couples will start to experiment with printed cake designs and personalised 3D projections to make their wedding cake come to life.

This process is unique and requires a lot of time but the results are stunning

8. Social will play an even bigger role 

Couples will continue to find new ways to integrate technology into their wedding day plans; adopting things like custom Snapchat geofilters.

This year, we’ve also seen more wedding venues offering live streaming as a service in wedding packages, indicating a shift toward incorporating social and tech into standardised wedding packages.

Are you ready for the latest in wedding technology?

Whilst we don’t think anyone expects all wedding suppliers to tick all the techy boxes any time soon, it’s important to keep abreast of industry developments to ensure you’re not lagging behind.

What technological advances do you think will hit the UK wedding industry in 2018?

Will your wedding business be investing in a techy upgrade next year?

Where do quality wedding enquiries come from? Well isn’t that the million dollar question.

Whether you’re inundated with wedding enquiries of a mixed quality or are struggling to get enough leads to your inbox, it would be pretty handy to know exactly where you should be focusing your efforts and resources to guarantee the best quality enquiries, wouldn’t it?

Well we’re here to tell you that if you can invest a little more time in being strategic in your approach to lead generation and begin to build insights around your target audience’s behaviours you could very quickly streamline your marketing efforts so that they focus on the channels that bring YOU your best enquiries.

What does a good quality enquiry look like to your wedding business?

Before we look at where you can find quality enquiries you must first determine what you consider to be a high quality enquiry for your wedding business.

We use a traffic light system to categorise the types of enquiries we typically receive and to determine where they fit in our priority list. This helps us to decide where to allocate our resource.

Here’s what a traffic light system could look like for your business:

Green = newly engaged couples with a wedding date, location and budget in mind

Amber = couples who seem to be contacting many suppliers to ‘get a feel’ for what is on offer

Red = secret shoppers or individuals reluctant to give you much information about themselves

Once you’ve established what a good lead looks like for your business it’s time to go through your enquiry database from the past few months or year (depending on the volume of enquiries you’ve received – you should ensure you’re working with a large enough sample size) and organise your enquiries into categories to see which channel has been working well for you historically, over the short-medium term.

Determining where to allocate your resources

It is important not to entirely dismiss a channel that appears to be delivering lower quality enquiries unless the volume for that channel is also very low.

High volume enquiry channels mean exposure. You’re getting noticed. These channels are worth closer inspection to see if there’s anything you could be doing to filter your enquiries further and ensure only the ‘Green’ enquiries make it through to your inbox.

This is the formula we use to help us decide how to approach each channel, post enquiry analysis:

High volume, low quality = opportunity

High volume, high quality = lead gold

Low volume, high quality = opportunity

Low volume, low quality = dead wood

The ‘lead gold’ channels are the ones you simply cannot do without and they’re the ones that are already working well for you. Take a closer look at these channels and make sure you’re doing all you can to make sure they continue to work well for you.

The ‘opportunity’ channels are there for your exploration. You’ll need to invest time and effort into optimising your business presence on these channels in an attempt to generate higher quality leads and filter out the Red enquiries altogether. Make sure you set yourself a deadline to revisit and re-measure the success or failure of ‘opportunity’ channels. You should be looking for short-medium term improvements in their performance to justify your resources being invested there.

The ‘dead wood’ channels are those that have consistently delivered poor quality leads and disappointing volumes for a prolonged period of time. You should cut your losses with these channels and allocate your resources elsewhere, where they’ll be more impactful.

Taking a closer look at key lead-generation channels 

Company website

Your website should be a high quality enquiry generator. It will most probably fall within the lower volume, high quality category which means there’s a definite opportunity to work on optimising your website and increasing traffic to it.

And more relevant traffic to your website means more, high quality leads.

Tip: read Using local SEO to attract local brides and grooms.

Social media

Social media is a tricky medium to call in terms of predicted success rate as it depends entirely on your objective for each social channel.

Many wedding professionals find Linked In is great for networking with fellow suppliers but it’s certainly not a channel for attracting couples.

Facebook and Instagram are probably the best two social platforms for attracting newly engaged couples however actually generating quality enquiries on social platforms is tough.

The fundamental nature of social media is that of fast content consumption and skim reading behaviour, and your messages are broadcast to a vast, broad audience which means it’s a lot trickier to use social channels as lead generation platforms.

Social media is better placed as an attraction tool – helping your wedding business improve local exposure so that couples want to find out more about your wedding business rather than make an instant enquiry off of the back of a social post.

Wedding directories

It is commonly believed that enquiries coming through third party websites such as wedding directories are of poorer quality and that couples enquiring through these channels are just looking for discounts and cheaper suppliers, regardless of whether they’re professional or not.

This kind of stereotyping is harmful, as it deprives many wedding pro’s of an excellent opportunity to benefit from a high volume of quality leads. As mentioned above, where high volume is concerned there is at the very least an opportunity to receive excellent quality enquiries if you approach featuring on wedding directories in the correct way.

Choose the right third party platform. A UK based platform such as Bridebook focuses on location based searches to ensure couples searching for wedding suppliers are shown the most relevant wedding companies possible. This is good for couples and it’s good for you.

Most wedding planning platforms are free for suppliers to register with. You can feature your wedding business on Bridebook completely free which means the risk associated with receiving what you deem to be a low quality lead is minimised because you’re not actually paying anything for it.

Optimise your business profile by adding tons of relevant information about your wedding services, location, pricing and reviews. This is likely to get you noticed in search, help filter out any time wasters and ensure you only receive informed enquiries from couples with real intent to book your wedding services.

It’s important to be where your clients are

If we could ask our readers to take away one key thing from this article it would be to remember that your business is unique and that what works for you may be very different to what works for a fellow wedding supplier.

Of course, sharing tips between wedding pro’s is helpful but be sure not to let preconceived ideas about certain channels discourage you from trying them out.

As long as you adopt a strategic approach to identifying which channels work best for your wedding business and you ensure that your wedding business has a presence where your potential clients are hanging out, you can’t go far wrong.

Remember, millennial couples behave differently to the generations before them and you need to be where they are. This generation of newly engaged couples will browse wedding services and suppliers on multiple platforms. They will do their research and use tools such as Bridebook to ensure they’re getting the best supplier for the best value.

It’s now up to you to be strategic in your approach to choosing where to feature your wedding business. Be where your audience are and provide tons of useful information to filter out the ‘Q&A via email’ process.

Do these things and you’ll snare the highest quality enquiries in the wedding industry.

Working as part of a small team can have big perks – both for employers and employees. 

We all have to start somewhere and it’s reassuring to know that even companies like Apple and Facebook would have started with a handful of experts before growing to employ hundreds of thousands of people all across the world.

What we do know first hand is that having a small, quality team of skilled, engaged and motivated employees beats having a large team. But knowing how to keep that team engaged, motivated and productive is the key to making sure your small team delivers big results for your wedding business.

Here are five ways to get the most out of a small team…

1. Hiring the right people

Being selective with who you employ is paramount for a company or team of any size but hiring the right people is even more crucial for small teams. And the right person isn’t necessarily the one with perfect experience.

Ensuring that a new members personality fits your wedding company culture is key as you’ll need new additions to be hard working, ready to get stuck in with all manner of tasks and able to thrive in a small team environment.

You’ll need to make sure that you’re hiring a people person too. The wedding industry is a public facing one so personality is key.

The impact of hiring the wrong person can spread throughout the entire team quickly and it can negatively affect the performance of your wedding business.

2. Cultivate a culture of respect

The benefits and challenges of a small team are that you’ll be spending a pretty significant proportion of your lives together. This can result in a close team with great relationships but it can also mean frustrations and disruptions are likely.

By encouraging all employees in your small team to have respect not only for each other but for the business, you maximise the chances of developing a professional yet relaxed environment for all team members to flourish in.

Boundaries are important when small teams become good friends as well as colleagues.

Be sure to arrange team building events to show you support relationship development but be clear that work time and down time are two separate things. And make sure to include all team members in decision making – giving everyone a voice by holding regular team catch ups and encouraging an open forum of discussion and idea sharing.

3. Ensure clearly defined roles and responsibilities

It is especially important that you ensure everyone is clear about their tasks and responsibilities within a small team. This prevents people stepping on each others toes and competing within close proximity. That isn’t to say that you should discourage collaboration on certain tasks; simply ensure that day to day tasks don’t overlap between colleagues for more streamlined operational efficiencies.

4. Invest in learning

Having a smaller team means that you can invest more time and money in helping them develop and grow as individuals. Offer to send employees on training courses or to wedding industry conferences and they will become valuable assets to your business.

5. Ensure your people have fun and a good work-life balance

Encourage your team members to have lives outside of work and you’ll enjoy the benefits of happier team members who spend less time doing a better job than someone who’s burnt out and demotivated.

Be sure to celebrate successes and arrange fun activities as a team to acknowledge a job well done.

A small team can have big advantages for wedding pro’s

A small team can be as successful (or even more) as a large team as long as they’re managed in the right way.

In a small team, each team member has even more responsibility in ensuring your wedding business is successful; so hire well, reward right and ensure everyone pulls their weight, and you’ll pride yourself on having the best team in the industry.

Start with good people and success will follow.

Did you know that Targeted Account selling is now recognised as the number one approach in lead generation by successful wedding suppliers?

Targeted Account management – or taking a strategic approach towards developing relationships and partnerships with specific companies or industry heavyweights – is being hailed as a game changer in B2B marketing for 2018.

For suppliers, the wedding industry has long been centred on winning customers in the form of engaged couples. And whilst this is still the case, 2017 has seen a surge in wedding professionals choosing to focus more of their time on developing relationships with other wedding suppliers and wedding venues instead.

We’re moving from a siloed industry approach to an inclusive one.

The benefits of referrals and preferred supplier lists is only really just beginning to be capitalised upon by UK wedding companies.

However the success of these partnering relationships is so significant that we predict business and bookings in 2018 will be driven largely by B2B relationships and targeted account selling and management.

What do we mean by Targeted Account selling?

Targeted Account selling is based on you identifying the very best potential customers for your product or service, and then spending time, efforts and resources on targeting that audience with personalised messages and communications.

It’s about being proactive in your approach to securing new wedding bookings rather than being reactive to enquiries that come through to your inbox.

This means building strategic B2B marketing objectives into your marketing plan – be that partnering with wedding venues, forging mutually beneficial referral relationships with other wedding suppliers, spending more time networking and even speaking at events and exhibitions.

Your key accounts will be the ones that generate the most bookings for your business and in accordance with Pareto’s 80:20 rule, you should spend more time (80%) on the smaller proportion of clients (20%) that bring you the most business (80%).

Here are three tips to help you kick-start a Targeted Account management approach in your wedding business…

1. Take your time and do your research

Learn as much as you can about local wedding venues and local wedding suppliers.

Do your research before approaching potential partner suppliers and find out who the decision maker is for the wedding venue or organisation you’re approaching.

You should have the name/s of one or two people you want to reach out to when discussing preferred supplier lists and referral agreements – don’t settle for sending a generic email to a generic address.

Swot up on all kinds of information about the wedding pro’s you’re targeting. What have they announced recently on their website? Which events have they attended or sponsored?

The key is to know more about your targets than your competitors do so that you leave a lasting impression and come across as professional, personable and knowledgeable.

2. Be clear and persistent in your communication

If at first you don’t succeed…

Reaching target wedding suppliers and receiving even an initial response may take multiple attempts, and whilst you should persist to get noticed be sure that each communication is clear, simple and focused, not harried.

The content and medium of communication should vary for each attempt you make at contact. Try emailing your target once then following up with a phone call before reverting to another email with new content. If that doesn’t work, perhaps try attending a local event or researching where the wedding venue or supplier may be exhibiting.

Be creative with your communication attempts and develop a system that works for you.

3. Prepare your marketing material in advance

When you hear back from your target account contact they’re likely to want to arrange a meeting with you, and knowing the wedding industry as well as we do, that meeting is likely to take place pretty quickly.

Make sure you’re ready to accept their meeting invitation by pre-preparing marketing materials ahead of time.

Prepare standardised questions that you can tailor to suit each wedding supplier as well as your portfolio of works, and have a think about any referral fees, rates and USP’s you can sell to partner suppliers that might work as an added bonus to them working with you (e.g. a successful blog you own or awards you’ve won that position you as an industry leader).

Choose a Targeted Account approach for your wedding business in 2018

Wedding suppliers – start building an account list today so that you can focus your sales and marketing efforts in the right place and on the right people in 2018 and beyond.

Target Account selling is a structured, repeatable methodology that enables you to efficiently build a network of distribution channels – that is, suppliers and wedding venues who will market your services to their audiences to help you win more bookings.

This Targeted Account approach will help you reduce marketing costs and rely less on more resource heavy avenues such as online advertising.

Partnerships and referrals are a surefire way to earn the trust of engaged couples and are one of the best ways to win new business in an era of savvy consumers.

With 2017 peak wedding season now firmly behind us and engagement season just around the corner we think now is a great time to stop, breathe and refocus. 

When the Bridebook Team is struggling to focus we often find that reading a few inspirational quotes works wonders; helping us feel more motivated and driven to achieving whatever it is we set out to do today, tomorrow and in the future.

If you’re in need of a few words to inspire you and help refocus your mind in time for the next wave of weddings, revisit this list of motivational quotes for life and work.

Motivational quotes for wedding professionals

“Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.” Albert Einstein

“It’s not what you say out of your mouth that determines your life, it’s what you whisper to yourself that has the most power.” Robert T. Kiyosaki

“Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” Muhammad Ali

“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” Karen Lamb

“Someday is not a day of the week.” Janet Dailey

“Make each day your masterpiece.” John Wooden

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” Steve Jobs

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt

“The more I want to get something done the less I call it work.” Richard Bach

“What we fear of doing most is usually what we most need to do.” Ralph Emerson

“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” Joseph Campbell

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” Bruce Lee

“Focus on being productive instead of busy.” Tim Ferriss

“I always had the uncomfortable feeling that if I wasn’t sitting in front of a computer typing, I was wasting my time – but I pushed myself to take a wider view of what was ‘productive.’ Time spent with my family and friends was never wasted.” Gretchen Rubin

“Never mistake motion for action.” Ernest Hemingway

“I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity.” Oprah Winfrey

“Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.” Carlos Castaneda

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, you ought to set up a life you don’t need to escape from.” Seth Godin

“A man should never neglect his family for business.” Walt Disney

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Charles Darwin

“You are not your resume, you are your work.” Seth Godin

“When writing the story of your life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen.” Harley Davidson

“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” Jim Rohn

Hopefully you’re now feeling more inspired and empowered to take on the wedding industry of 2018!

Whatever lies ahead, you are the creator of your own destiny.

When it comes to marketing your wedding business it can be difficult to know where to start. 

With so many free and paid-for options on countless numbers of online platforms and an abundance of opinions on which approaches are right or wrong circulating the web, marketing can seem like a minefield; where one wrong step could catapult your wedding business into lead-less space for all of eternity.

One of the most common questions we’re asked by space-fearing wedding businesses is whether featuring on wedding planning platforms or online directories is counter-intuitive where a business’s website is concerned.

Let’s address this question now.

Dispelling myths surrounding third party wedding websites

Myth 1 – “Third party wedding directory websites will just be fielding my traffic. I want direct traffic to my website.”

I’m not sure if you’ve heard but getting to the top of Google search results isn’t easy; which means that if you *really *believe you can knock wedding directories and planning platforms off of the number one spot, you’d better have a shed load of resources to throw at content, development and SEO; not to mention some super advanced Google-esq knowledge and a lot of time to be able to wait for this seismic shift to take place.

Realistically, you’re unlikely to be in a position to compete with wedding supplier directories who probably have bigger teams, better financing and access to expert SEO and technical knowledge.

However, that definitely doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still be trying to gain visibility at the top of search results. The first position on Google search results on desktop has a 34.36% clickthrough rate and the first position on Google search results on mobile has a 31.35% clickthrough rate. (Source: Hubspot)

That’s a phenomenal proportion of traffic that wedding suppliers like you should be capitalising on that actually support the ranking of your website. A tip, consider using WordPress hosting for your website to maximise your SEO advantage. 

Be present where wedding bookings are taking place. 

Engaged couples are using wedding directories and wedding planning platforms to search for local wedding suppliers like you. If you’re not listed alongside fellow suppliers, you could be missing out on a serious amount of bookings.

Visibility and ‘being present where your audience is browsing’ is how wedding suppliers generate sales online.

It’s not a case of competing for traffic with wedding planning platforms or directories – it’s about realising that you cannot change consumer behaviours; only adapt to them.

Did you know that 1 in 5 couples are now planning their wedding with Bridebook? If engaged couples are clicking on websites at the top of Google and you have a chance to feature your wedding brand there, do so.

Myth 2 – “Wedding directories cost money and don’t add much value”

This is largely untrue. In fact, many wedding directories and wedding planning platforms (like Bridebook Business) are completely free to sign up for and use, and have already proved invaluable to thousands of UK wedding suppliers.

Bridebook Business allows you to manage your very own personal account and chat with thousands of couples via free, direct email enquiries. Set up a free portfolio showcasing awards, reviews and your finest work to attract engaged couples who are searching for suppliers just like you.

What we find is that the value you gain from these platforms is directly proportionate to the effort you put in. It’s up to you to determine how significant these platforms are for you and how much resource to dedicate to them.

Myth 3 – “Featuring my wedding business on third party websites seems impersonal and I worry it will become too much to manage alongside my company website”

The level of control you have over your brand presence on wedding directories or planning platforms will be pivotal in ensuring that you can deliver a personalised experience and streamline any company updates between your company website and the third party website in question.

Let’s take Bridebook as an example. Setting up a Bridebook account is not time consuming or labour intensive, and can be as detailed or as basic as you’d like.

Tip: the more information you add to your Bridebook profile, the higher you appear in search so it’s definitely worth going with more detail if you can!

By featuring photographs of your work and letting couples in to admire a glimpse of the wedding services you provide, you’re actually providing a very personal sneak peek into some of the fabulous things you have achieved in your time as a wedding pro.

It follows the same principle as your company website.

Plus, visitors are able to contact you directly which means there’s no need for you to log in to Bridebook to see if you’ve received enquiries – they’ll all be sent straight to your inbox.

In terms of maintaining your Bridebook portfolio, we advise that you check contact details are always up to date and that you refresh your account with new photographs, pricing and testimonials as and when you receive them – just as you would with your website.

Updates can take just a few minutes and it’s simply a matter of you training yourself to update both your website and your profile at the same time – making the process less labour intensive and less of a hassle.

All technical updates and site maintenance is of course taken care of by Bridebook (the time consuming part of managing any website) which means you’ve actually very little to do considering the potential return you could achieve by featuring so much higher up in the search engine results pages.

Registering on wedding planning platforms and directories simply makes sense

As with most forms of marketing, you’re best trying it out (if your analysis suggests it makes sense for your wedding company) and finding out for yourself what works best for you and your business.

We’ve never known of a wedding supplier who has considered having a Bridebook Business account to be a mistake because it simply makes sense to ensure your business is listed on a site where 40,000 engaged couples go to plan their weddings.

Ultimately, how you choose to market your business is up to you but we strongly recommend you try out different approaches across different online platforms to see what fits.

Who knows – we could be a match made in marketing heaven.

Give Bridebook for Business a try today and join 14,000 other UK suppliers who’re making sure their business is where the bookings are.

We’re often discussing ways in which wedding suppliers can remain on top of their game throughout peak wedding season and we think we’re pretty good at providing tips on how to look after number one throughout the working day to ensure you’re performing at your very best.

But what happens after dark and the impact this has on our productivity and success as wedding professionals seems to have been somewhat neglected in the content stakes, so we’re here to change that. 

Waking up to the realisation that sleep matters

Did you know that your bedtime routine could be one of the most important factors in ensuring you’re operating at peak performance as we approach engagement season and prepare to start taking bookings for 2018 weddings?

Most of us won’t even have realised that our evening routines are affecting our daily productivity.

We’ll blame ‘typical’ daily stresses and mundane tasks for our inability to concentrate, and for making us feel lethargic and unmotivated instead of taking a closer look at the choices we made the night before.

Having to read just one more chapter of that captivating novel, watch one more episode of that trending box set or answering just a few extra emails as your evening slips away could be costing you more than you realise.

Did you know that more than one third of the UK population regularly gets less than six hours of sleep a night (source: The Independent) and studies suggest that getting less than seven hours could lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and mental distress.

Daytime fatigue and emotional stress are the most commonly reported symptoms of sleep deprivation and in turn, a bad night sleep is the most likely cause of the former.

Stress and lack of sleep go hand in hand, and unless you address the two, you’ll eventually exhaust yourself – not great for wedding pro’s coming into a busy season of bookings.

So here are 4 things that could be affecting your bedtime routine and ways to shake up bad habits to boost your productivity levels at work.

1. You’re not eating right

Whilst not sleeping enough causes us to make poor food choices, similarly a poor diet high in carbohydrates and saturated fats can lower our sleep quality.

Eating late at night can also affect sleep rhythm so try to get into a routine of eating dinner at least two hours before bedtime to give your body time to digest what you’ve eaten. This really will improve your chances of getting a good night sleep.

Tip: on Monday after a busy weekend of weddings, why not cook up a large batch of your favourite healthy dinner so you’ve got nutritious meals ready to eat at a sensible hour throughout the rest of the week? This will help you stick to a more regular dinner time and ensure you’re eating well rather than choosing convenience over health.

2. You’ve not scheduled in sleep

Working in an industry as hectic as the wedding industry demands organisation, and we’ll bet you can’t live without your diaries and work calendars.

How else would you remember everything?

It may sound a little over the top but setting a regular time in your calendar to go to bed and setting a regular wake up alarm will really help make sure that you stick to a routine and get a better night sleep.

Fixed hours won’t take long to adjust to and you’ll notice the benefits quickly as your body adjusts to a new and improved routine.

It’s also a good idea to schedule in a time to ‘unplug’ – ideally around 2 hours before you go to bed to allow you to unwind and give your mind a better chance of switching off.

3. Separate work and home

Whether you work from home a lot or just occasionally, it’s important not to turn your entire home into a workplace.

Set aside a designated work area and make sure that whenever you’re making calls, planning for the next day or brainstorming wedding ideas, these tasks happen in your work zone only – no matter how tempting it is to wander around with your phone in your hand.

When you leave the office for the day you should be able to enter a personal, work free zone.

4. Prep your morning tasks the night before

Taking just a few minutes in the evening before you go to bed to lay out tomorrow’s outfit, prep your lunch and pack your bag can help your morning run smoother which in turn, will help keep stress levels to a minimum.

This also gives you more me time in the morning to prepare yourself for the day ahead. Read the news over a cup of coffee, exercise or practice yoga and you’ll find your mind is clearer and better engaged by the time work starts.

Will you change your ways? At least sleep on it…

Your mood matters, productivity is key to the success of your wedding business and your health should always come first.

By changing just one small thing at a time you could find better balance and really reap the benefits of an improved bedtime routine.

Before you know it, these changes will become second nature and you’ll wonder why it’s taken so long to realise the benefits of a good night’s rest.

Get your head down and take a step up in the wedding industry.

In our previous post, we highlighted the importance of networking and how wedding suppliers like you can network smarter to secure more referrals.

This week, we thought we’d take a look at exactly which big wedding industry events are happening in your area as we near the end of peak wedding season 2017.

Whether you’re interested in attending a big wedding industry event to network or are hoping to have an exhibition stand at the next great wedding show, here are some of the names you need to have on your radar…

 London 2017 / 2018

National Wedding Show: London Olympia

Friday 22nd September

Featuring over 300 of the UK’s finest wedding suppliers across stationery, bridal wear, jewellery, favours and wedding cakes – to name a few – The National Wedding Show is one of London’s biggest and best opportunities to showcase your specialism and network up a storm!

Pssst! The Bridebook team will be here too so hunt us out for any ‘on-the-spot’ networking tips or even just for a good old chin wag!

The National Wedding Show: ExCeL London

Saturday 21st October 2017 

The ExCel London show (born of a joint venture between The Wedding Fair and The National Wedding Show) is fundamentally the same but slightly smaller than the Olympia show above – but every bit just as good!

The October ExCel Wedding Show features around 200 of the UK’s finest wedding professionals and their skilled wedding work.

Pssst! The Bridebook team will be here too!

Chosen London Wedding Fair: Islington Assembly Hall 

Sunday 8th October 2017

A small but exciting event, the Chosen London Wedding Fair is a newer addition to the Wedding Show scene featuring creative, unique, modern and vintage suppliers, ideas and services.

We’re talking cutting edge trends from London’s most stylish wedding pro’s – showcasing the very best in contemporary wedding design. Between 25-50 exhibitors.

The London Bridal Show – An International Bridal Buying Event: EXCEL London

25 – 27 March 2018 

This international bridal buying event features over 200 collections from over 100 exhibitors over the course of three days. Plus you’ll have the opportunity to impress over 2000 attendees.

The Wedding Industry Awards

Technically one for 2018 however entries, nominations and voting is now open. Attending this fantastic award ceremony will grace you with the company of industry greats. It provides a fantastic opportunity for wedding pro’s like you to find out what the best in the business have been up to as well as giving you the chance to meet and speak with industry experts afterwards over a glass of wine.

East of England 2017

The Suffolk Wedding Show: Wherstead Park 

Sunday 24th September 2017

The Suffolk Wedding Show takes place on Sunday 24th September 2017 (10:30am – 3:00pm) at Wherstead Park. This show is the biggest of its kind in the area and featured around 75 exhibitors at its last show.

East Of England Wedding Show

 Peterborough Arena, East Of England Showground

Sunday 22nd October 2017

Now in its 13th year this prestigious event is one of the best known and loved wedding shows in the east. Attracting the most spectacular exhibitors and a huge number of visitors from across the region, this wedding show now boasts over 80 stands, amazing fashion shows and the greatest exhibitors in the region.

The Cambridge Wedding Fair: Anstey Hall

22nd October 2017

The Cambridge Wedding Fair is recognised for its unique fashion shows featuring some of the very latest in bridal style, as well as between 25-50 inspirational exhibitors from in and around the Cambridge area.

 South West of England 2017

Cheltenham Bride & Groom Wedding Show: Cheltenham Town Hall

Sunday 3rd September 2017

Attending the Cheltenham Bride & Groom Wedding Show will give you the chance to meet some of your County’s finest fellow wedding suppliers! Join 75-100 exhibitors also hoping to network with you and secure more bookings.

The Bath Wedding Show: Guildhall Bath

Sunday 17th September 2017

This friendly, welcoming wedding exhibition provides the perfect opportunity for you to meet likeminded wedding suppliers in a glorious environment. Expect between 50-75 exhibiting wedding suppliers.

The Dorset & Somerset Wedding Showcase: The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

Sunday 17th September 2017

Showcasing the most talented wedding professionals in North Dorset and South Somerset this wedding show will be showcasing the work of 50-75 wedding suppliers all of whom serve the rural areas of Dorset and Somerset.

Plymouth Guildhall Wedding Extravaganza: Plymouth Guildhall

Sunday 17th September 2017

With up to 100 stands, the Dream Weddings Extravaganza at Plymouth Guildhall is the city’s biggest and best wedding fair so don’t miss out on the opportunity to see what your fellow wedding professionals are cooking up for 2018 weddings.

Midlands & North of England 2017

Birmingham National Wedding Show: NEC, Birmingham

29th September – 1st October 2017

Officially the UK’s Biggest Wedding Show, the Birmingham National will feature over 300 wedding specialists from all areas of the industry; from bridal boutiques, venues, honeymoon companies, florists, wedding cake companies to jewellers, photographers and everything in between. This is truly one not to be missed.

Pssst! The Bridebook team will be here too!

Manchester Wedding Show: Manchester Central

28th – 29th October 2017 

The North West’s biggest wedding show is back! With over 250 wedding specialists from bridal florists to jewellers and photographers, this is a networking and / or exhibiting opportunity to take full advantage of if you’re local to Manchester.

Pssst! The Bridebook team will be here too!

Durham Wedding Show: Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground

Sunday 24th September 2017

The hugely popular Durham Wedding Show is back this September with up to 75 exhibitors and a whopping 1500 visitors or moreregularly attending.

Newcastle Wedding Show: Newcastle Racecourse

Sunday 1st October 2017

Expect to find the North East’s most impressive wedding suppliers and wedding venues exhibiting at Newcastle Racecourse this October. With 100 stands expected to be filled, could you be an exhibitor this year? Get yourself down to the Racecourse anyway to mingle with the industry elite in your local area. 

The North of England Wedding Awards 

Monday 18th September 2017

One to watch; this annual Gala Awards Dinner held to celebrate outstanding customer service from the wedding industry throughout Yorkshire and North East England is an event you don’t want to miss in 2018. Whether as a guest or a nominee for an award, surround yourself with the best in the business.

Scotland 2017

The Scottish Wedding Show: Scottish Event Campus, Exhibition Way, Glasgow

7 – 8th October 2017

Scotland’s largest wedding show will feature over 300 suppliers taking over the SEC and providing you with inspiration and networking opportunities. Enjoy glittering catwalk shows and a cocktail bar to keep you entertained and inspired for hours!

The Big Dundee Wedding Exhibition: The Caird Hall, City Square, Dundee DD1 3BB, UK

14th October 2017

Between 11:30 am – 4:00 pm over 100 exhibitors will adorn City Square for the opportunity to meet newly engaged couples and local wedding suppliers like you.

Wales 2017

Top Tier The Members Centre Wedding Fair: Royal Welsh Showground

Sunday 1st October 2017

Get yourself along to Mid Wales’ biggest Wedding Fair at the The Members Centre at the Royal Welsh Showground, where the finest local wedding suppliers will be on hand to showcase their wedding talents. The clue is in the name – this really is an event for the best of the wedding supplier bunch. Between 50 – 75 exhibitors expected.

Chosen Artisan Wedding Fair: Portland House Cardiff

18th March 2018

Sister to the Chosen wedding event in London, Chosen Artisan Wedding Fair Cardiff is returning once more to the gorgeous Old Banking Hall to feature 25-50 wedding exhibitors and welcome hundreds of newly engaged couples looking to create their very own wedding with a difference.

Showcasing some of the finest artisan businesses in Wales and the South West, you can guarantee you’ll be in good company here; amongst the most talented and passionate creatives, designer-makers and businesses in Wales.

Will you be attending a wedding show in your local area this year?

Let us know of any must-visit wedding fairs near you and we could feature them in our upcoming articles on networking and the importance of attending events in your local area.

Wedding professionals are in the business of creativity.

As event planners and wedding suppliers we are expected to use our experience and imagination to create unique and beautiful wedding designs – whether in the form of floral arrangements, culinary creations or decorative inspirations, to name but a few.

But being continuously creative under pressure isn’t easy.

And subsequently, there may be times when your creative confidence is knocked and this can damage your ability to move on and continue creating.

Innovation and the pursuit of innovative ideas is the lifeblood of a successful wedding business.

So how do we continue to create when we’re busy, exhausted and feeling uninspired?

We’ve gathered tips from two creative experts (and their incredible TED talks) on how to stay innovative and creative – even when we’re feeling the opposite of those things.

David Kelley says “face the fear”

In his powerful TED Talk on Creative Confidence, David Kelley talks of unlocking the creative potential of people and organisations to ensure we* all *have the ability and the drive to innovate.

During his talk, Kelley explains that when creative confidence is knocked, that bruised feeling can become ingrained in us. But whether you consider yourself naturally creative or not, innovation is something we can all achieve.

Just as you’d overcome any fear, you need to face what it is you fear head on.

Is wedding photography what you were born to do? Well get out there and take photos – and lot’s of them.

Is wedding planning what makes you truly happy? Go to events, browse weddings online and find that source of inspiration that’ll get you excited about creating new weddings and forming new ideas for your 2018 wedding bookings.

It’s all about following steps to ease yourself back into the ‘creative room’. It’s about turning fear into familiarity.

Start working on things that are really important to you regardless of how creative you think you’re feeling. The more you work at it, the more ideas you’ll have.

You are naturally creative. Let your ideas fly. Do what you’re set out to do and you’ll naturally reach a place of creative confidence.

Julie Burstein – how to create in the face of challenge, self-doubt and loss

Radio host Julie Burstein shares four lessons about how to create in the face of challenge, self-doubt and loss in her acclaimed TED talk.

Burstein touches on how our creative conscience exists somewhere between our need for control and our ability to let go. She says that with creativity you need to let go at the very beginning of the creative process because creativity grows out of everyday experiences.

Paying attention to the world around us and being open to embrace all experiences is one of her fundamental rules for improving the ability to create.

This means switching off your phone for a period of the day; stopping, taking stock and being open to the experiences all around you because you never know which of them might change or inspire you.

She also explores how for many successful artists and creators, some of their best work is born out of some of their most difficult moments in life. As human beings, it’s important that we embrace challenges and learn from them. Try not to be discouraged by things that go wrong and when they do – because inevitably they will – pick yourself up and carry on.

Burstein places the following four factors at the centre of creativity: experience, challenge, limitations and loss.

She believes that a combination of all of these elements – whether we actively pursue them (the former) or come up against them by chance (the latter) – makes for a truly creative mind and the most original of ideas.

Similarly to Kelley, Burstein says that you must be driven by the need to do what you do best.

Possess the determination to push through boundaries and maintain a passionate optimism no matter how uninspired you may feel at times.

6 practical tips to help you unlock your creativity

In light of the wisdom we’ve garnered from these creative experts, here are six easy ways to help you unlock creativity when planning a wedding with your next happy couple…

1. Get visual

Visualising ideas is a great way to develop concepts. Get off the phone, step away from your laptop and book in some face to face time with couples to let your creative flair run wild.

2. Work backwards from the ‘dream’ end result

Clearly define what the couple you’re working with want from their wedding day. What is ‘the dream’? Now work your way backward from this and all the little pieces that help build the dream will seem obvious and things will fall right into place.

3. Write everything down

Carry a little notepad and pen with you and whenever a stroke of genius hits, write it down.

No thought is too small and no idea is too crazy! Anything could potentially add value to your business. You never know which little thought could spark your next big idea. Display some of your best ideas on the wall or on a whiteboard to help lead new brainstorming ideas.

4. Take mental breaks

Frequent mental breaks are so important when it comes to developing creativity and boosting morale. Whether you take a break to catch up with friends on social media or go for a walk at lunch time, step away from the everyday. It’s practically impossible to nurture creativity in yourself or others with a tired, burned-out brain.

5. Get physical

Regular exercise or engaging in any physical activity will help unlock creativity. Whether you run, walk, cycle or hit the gym, physical activity will relax your mind and enable you to think more clearly and creatively afterwards.

6. Just start

The hardest part of any creative process is getting started. And the best way to kick start your creative brain is to just start talking, writing and planning. No matter what the quality of the idea is at this stage, the fact that you’ve started and have a basis to build on will be enough to get ideas flowing.

Are you feeling creatively confident?

Let us know how you keep those creative juices flowing to ensure you consistently strive to deliver your best and most original weddings, year after year.

How successful wedding suppliers maintain pricing power

You’re in a meeting with a newly engaged couple. You’ve bought into their wedding vision and they’re clear on how you can help them build their big day.

Then the couple looks at you – eyes wide and enthusiastic – and one of them says…”how much?”.

Handling pricing questions can be tricky. Here are 3 tips to help you handle pricing and secure the sale when meeting newly engaged couples:

1. Be transparent with your pricing

Let’s assume you’ve already provided some basic pricing information online and are confident that the couple sitting in front of you are there because you fall within their budget and they’re serious about engaging your services.

The best way to avoid pricing issues before they even arise is to discuss each of the fundamental components or services you offer upfront and to be transparent about which of those added extras will cost the couple more.

If you’re a wedding planner be sure to mention whether you offer an ‘on the day coordinator’ package which costs a little extra but means that you’ll be there from the start of their day until the last lady dances her way home.

If you’re a wedding venue manager be clear on what is included within the brochure price and highlight the additional extras available to the couple at an extra cost.

Focus less on selling added features and more on providing a list of options that the bride or groom can buy into.

By offering cost breakdowns in keeping with the couple’s specific requests you earn their trust and avoid any difficult pricing queries later down the line.

2. Support your price with reasons why you’re great value for money

The best way to avoid price becoming the main point of conversation is to explain why you charge what you charge, and to support the fact that you provide exceptional value for money.

If you specialise in making wedding cakes explain that your costs are slightly higher than some other local wedding cake companies because you create all of the iced flowers yourself by hand. Or perhaps you charge more because you provide detailed drawings and cake designs, and work with the couple to perfect their wedding cake regardless of how many revisions there are.

Whatever your reasons are for charging what you believe you’re worth, justify them.

Have you any reviews or recommendations that you can show the couple? By supporting your claim that ‘you do it better than anyone else’ you give the couple no reason to argue with your price. They either choose quality or they’ll compromise and choose the supplier with the lowest price.

Whatever you do, don’t undervalue yourself.

3. Be careful with discounting

If you’re open to discounting make it part of your pricing strategy. If you’re willing to reduce your costs you could build in a little extra on top of what you believe your wedding services are worth before applying a price to ensure you don’t end up working for less than you can justify.

Another way to approach discounting is to agree something in return. Perhaps you’ll reduce your costs ever so slightly if the couple pays you in full now or if you’re a wedding venue, you may ask the couple to agree to a minimum guest count.

Ultimately whether you decide to discount or not is up to you but stand by what you believe in and only negotiate on price if you feel it’s a fair deal.

Be sure to sell your specialism 

Gaining and maintaining pricing power is all about ensuring that the couple will want YOU to cater to their wedding day more than anyone else.

If they can’t find anyone else to do precisely what you do as well as you do it at any price you’re in the strongest possible position.

Of course, if they don’t perceive a difference between what you do and what another wedding supplier does, the price will win.

Be transparent, be confident in your ability and know your worth, and the pricing game will be a much easier one to play (and win!).

Networking with other wedding professionals is one of the cheapest and most impactful ways to earn leads and secure bookings from engaged couples.

With that in mind, do you think you are doing it often enough or well enough?

Networking is something that comes naturally to some and fills others with dread. But don’t be fooled; being confident is *not *the most important factor in becoming a networking pro.

Successful networking is all about earning trust and taking the time to prepare beforehand.

Here are 6 ways that you can ensure you’re preparing well and giving yourself the best chance of securing bookings at your next networking opportunity…

1. Ask yourself why you are networking in the first place

Perhaps your sole purpose for networking is to spread the net far and wide in the hope that wedding suppliers across all areas might refer you to the brides and grooms they meet.

Perhaps your objective is more specific. Are you a wedding planner who has identified a gap in your partner portfolio? Perhaps you’re keen to get to know more wedding florists or cake makers so that you can offer your clients more options when it comes to helping them plan their wedding.

Perhaps you’re keen to strike up a partnership with your local wedding venue in the hope that they’ll include you on their supplier referral lists.

Whatever has driven you to focus on wedding supplier networking, know what your objective is and what you want to talk to people about before you turn up.

2. Be selective with who you want to speak to

Before you go to any networking event, take a look at the list of attendees and make a note of three people you’d like to meet. Don’t be afraid to ask the event organisers for an attendee list if it’s not listed online.

Giving yourself a target for when you arrive is likely to make you feel more confident about approaching those people. Plus by doing your homework beforehand you’ve already learnt a little about the people you’re approaching and can prepare a few specific questions and conversation topics that you’re confident will impress or engage that person.

Remember that your time is valuable so try not to get distracted and go off topic when you’re conversing with other wedding professionals. Yes, the conversation should feel natural and flow easily but try to bring it back to your core focal point if you feel you’re spending too long discussing holidays or the weather.

3. Be ready to start the conversation

Ensure you’ve rehearsed a brief elevator pitch so that you can confidently and succinctly talk about yourself and your wedding business.

Arrive at the networking event with three questions you want to ask fellow suppliers to kickstart the conversation and help you build the kind of relationship you want.

Remember, all relationships are a two way street so don’t force the conversation purely for your own benefit. Be prepared to answer questions about yourself and your wedding business, and try to let the conversation flow naturally rather than allow it to slip into a question and answer format.

4. Try not to see other wedding suppliers as competition

We speak to lots of wedding suppliers who see other businesses as competition and who are therefore reluctant to strike up a conversation with them or support them on social media with a few ‘likes’ and ‘shares’.

Change your mindset.

Whether businesses are similar to yours or completely different you’re missing a huge opportunity if you dismiss them on the basis of competition.

Think about it; when a qualified lead enquires about a weekend that another wedding supplier is already booked for, who will they recommend? Couples will inevitably ask this supplier if they can recommend anyone else and you could be the wedding supplier they choose.

5. Establish yourself as an expert in your field

Building a strong network is largely about earning trust and the best way to prove your worth is to ensure that the world knows you’re good at what you do without being boastful.

Positioning yourself as an expert verbally without saying “look how great I am” is an art, but there are a few easy ways to show you’re an expert online without seeming arrogant.

Showcase testimonials and recommendations on your website and in places that they’ll be seen, like the homepage or on your contact form. Include good feedback on your Bridebook profile from brides, grooms and other wedding suppliers so that other wedding professionals can see that you’re highly thought of by your clients and other wedding pro’s.

Set up a blog and share your expertise in the form of articles; writing about real wedding stories and giving insight into some ‘behind the scenes’ tips that help you prepare for a wedding and impress the couple you’re working with.

Knowledge sharing is to be encouraged. Other wedding suppliers can find answers to any question they need answering on the internet anyway, so be the one they turn to for this advice rather than worrying about protecting your trade secrets.

As your blog develops you may even be contacted by the media for interviews or opinion pieces as you’ll be seen as the number one expert in your field.

6. Make sure that you work at maintaining the relationship

Don’t let all of your efforts be for nothing!

Think of these supplier partnerships as friendships. You must continuously put work in to reap the true benefits.

Stay in touch with suppliers regularly so that you’re always at the forefront of their minds. Small added touches can go a long way, like sending Christmas cards and birthday cards.

Share your networks content on social media and include them when you write about real weddings they’ve worked on too on your blog.

Building supplier relationships should be your number one goal for 2017 / 2018

Building relationships with local suppliers is the best marketing tool you could ask for.

Creating a wedding dream team in the form of a community of wedding professionals all supporting each other allows you to grow professionally and you’ll see your business flourish as a result.

Plus those referrals and relationships often won’t cost you more than a cup of coffee and a little of your time.

Attend events at your local associations, meet people, exchange cards, and most importantly, follow up. Make sure that you’re easy to work with and try to position yourself as an invaluable resource of information.

Spend a little more time today nurturing your supplier network and reap the benefits in 2018 and beyond.

5 ways wedding suppliers can win new business and improve sales skills.

Sales and bookings are the lifeblood of wedding business success. Without them, we wouldn’t be a business at all.

But it’s not always easy to understand why brides and grooms choose a competitor over you.

And in a highly competitive industry like the wedding and events industries, it’s important that you’re aware of how you approach closing a sale in order to be really good at it and to continue improving and securing more bookings.

We’ve spoken to several industry experts to find out what they think helps wedding businesses like yours stand out in today’s competitive market, and what you can do to secure more bookings.

Here are 5 ways in which you can win new business and improve your sales skills…

1. Identify what makes your business unique

It’s essential that you can instantly identify (and be prepared to discuss) your wedding business’ USP – your unique selling proposition.

You need to give potential clients a reason to choose you over the competition and to do this, you must have evidence to support what makes you different to everyone else.

What do couples say about you after you’ve finished working with them? What do they write in testimonials and reviews?

Be prepared to discuss your best assets and show proof of weddings you’ve worked on where these assets have come into play and made a couple overwhelmingly happy with what you’ve done for them.

2. Listen more than you talk

It’s easy to get carried away when meeting a prospective client and to talk about all the wonderful things you could do for them.

The most powerful sales tool at your disposal is the ability to listen.

Ask open ended questions and be sure to listen to their specific needs to show that you understand that their wedding is unique to them and to show that you’re willing to tailor what you’ve done in the past to suit them and their desires for their wedding day.

3. Consider your pricing strategy carefully

Why do you charge what you charge? How highly do you value your services?

Pricing competitively is important but providing great value for the services you specialise in is the most important thing.

Of course couples will be cost conscious but this doesn’t always mean that they’ll choose the cheapest wedding supplier.

Be prepared to explain why you charge what you charge and focus on the quality of the service you provide, the value you could add and support these claims with client feedback.

4. Pay attention to how interested the couple seem to be

Try to read prospective clients and be conscious of any buying signals they might be giving.

If they ask you about your availability for their wedding day or if they discuss their plans and reference your business specifically as being the wedding venue for them or mention you helping them with wedding planning, floral arrangements or their cake in conversations, they’re most likely ready to commit to you.

Similarly, if the couple seem disinterested or keen to wrap up the conversation, give them the space they need to reach a decision but prepare to move on to your next potential client.

5. Express your intent to close the sale and begin helping them build their dream day

It’s ok to be open about how much you’d like to work with the couple. Once you’ve reached this final stage, ask the bride and / or groom if they’d be ready to move forward and pay a deposit to secure your services.

And whilst it’s ok to let them know that you’re booking up fast, be sure not to put too much pressure on the prospective clients and make them feel forced into making a snap decision. A lot of people will feel uneasy and even a little suspicious if you focus too much on securing a deposit fast because of how busy you are.

If they choose not to pay a deposit there and then, make sure that you follow up with them after your meeting.

Be confident, be professional and success will follow

Approach ‘closing the sale’ with a quiet confidence in your wedding business and in your abilities as a wedding professional.

Prospective clients will pick up on how keen you are to work with them so a balance between interest, calm and professionalism is the most surefire way to impress couples and win bookings in 2018 and beyond.

Secure wedding bookings in an instant with these handy tips from seasoned pros

Do you struggle to nail the first client meeting and secure wedding bookings?

Having a successful meeting that culminates in a booking is largely dependent on how you prepare for and approach meeting newly engaged couples, and on the kind of first impression you make.

Here’s how successful wedding professionals prepare to meet new couples and guarantee themselves a booking in 2018 and beyond…

1. Preparing for the first meeting 

As the saying goes, those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

It is so important that you prepare for the first meeting ahead of time and really do your research.

Treat this appointment as seriously as if you were going for an important interview. Find out as much as you can about the couple and their tastes before you meet. Send them a short, fun questionnaire to complete and return, or arrange a Skype call to guarantee some face time with the couple and ask them about their wedding style preferences.

Don’t ever assume you know everything and arrive at the meeting armed with lots of new ideas and fresh suggestions that reflect the kind of wedding you think the couple are looking to achieve.

Questions are your most important weapon at this first meeting. It is your job to ask, listen and make suggestions.

Tip: ask the couple to take a look at your website before you meet (which will of course, feature tons of great reviews – bonus!) and give them an idea of your costs. Most millennial couples will ask to know your prices before meeting anyway so it’s worth including pricing parameters on your website and Bridebook profile to save you time and ensure you don’t attract couples who aren’t genuinely interested in hiring you.

The final thing to consider before you meet is what you’re planning to wear to the appointment.

What do you know about the couple? If you know that you’re meeting a young, London based couple who work in advertising, for example, feel free to let more of your personality shine through and wear something informal that reflects who you really are.

But if the bride and / or groom you’re meeting haven’t given much away about themselves, dress conservatively as this shows professionalism and is a surefire way to make a good first impression.

2.How to make a good first impression

Making a good first impression is absolutely essential for wedding professionals when securing bookings and in securing a professional reputation for yourself amongst other wedding suppliers.

So how do you do it?

Well realistically, you’ve probably only got 2 minutes to make a good first impression and it’s all dependant on the words you use and the body language you choose. In fact, research shows that 60 to 90 percent of our communication with others is actually nonverbal.

Here are some tips (verbal and nonverbal) to help you make the best first impression…

• Check your posture – keep your back straight, your shoulders relaxed and your head raised to give off an air of confidence
• Mirror the body language of the person (or people) you’re meeting. This shows that you are in agreement and that you like the person you are with
• Align your body with the person you’re talking to and lean in so that you appear engaged
• Always remember to greet others with a firm handshake – but not too firm. This is probably one of the most important elements of body language because it sets the tone for the entire conversation
• Introduce yourself and your business with assurance
• Make eye contact and give the couple a genuine smile. By nodding and smiling in a natural way as you communicate with a couple you are showing them that you understand, agree, and are listening to their opinions
• Use your hands to gesture when you speak as this improves your credibility with the listener. Did you know that there is evidence to suggest that gesturing with your hands while speaking actually improves your thinking processes?
• Speak slowly and clearly to couples as this brings a sense of calm and control to the conversation

3.Start the conversation strong

Ensure that you’ve prepared and rehearsed your elevator pitch in time for the meeting.

As a wedding supplier, this ‘introductory speech’ should be relaxed yet professional. Think of it as a well articulated introduction of yourself, your wedding business and your experience which will set the tone for a positive conversation thereafter.

Keep your intro to less than 30 seconds and make sure that you smile, pause often and leave space for the couple to ask any questions or interject with details about themselves and their wedding desires.

Don’t forget to ask questions and remember to use this first meeting as an opportunity to show – not tell – the couple about your experiences.

Share stories of recent weddings where you’ve helped another loved up couple realise their wedding dreams. Bring a portfolio to the appointment and showcase your best weddings of 2017; making sure you pre-select just a few examples in keeping with the couple’s preferred style so that they can relate to the weddings you’re showing them.

Use the examples as prompts for the new wedding you’re trying to build for this new couple and explain how you could apply similar elements to their very own special day. This should be your constant focus so don’t get too preoccupied with weddings you’ve catered to in the past.

This meeting is all about helping a new couple create future memories.

Tip: Remember that you’re there to learn about the couple as much as they are there to learn about you. Ask lots of questions and listen more than you talk. Your contribution to this meeting shouldn’t feel like a sales pitch – it should be centred on how you can help this particular couple plan and build their wedding.

Are you ready to make this first client meeting your best yet?

Approach your next client meeting confidently knowing that you’ve done all you can to prepare for it; both literally (with research and portfolios) and mentally (by rehearsing how to make a good first impression).

If upon meeting the new couple you feel that for some reason you aren’t the right fit for their wedding, be honest with them early on. They’ll probably appreciate it and will be more likely to share your name with their engaged friends.

But the chances are that if you’ve taken the time to get to know the couple a little before you meet and if you prepare the kind of information you think they’ll appreciate, the meeting will go well and result in a booking for your business.

We hope we’ve left you with a great impression of what a little prep and a little forethought can do for you at your first client meeting.

Go get that booking!

Can you believe we’re already reaching that period when wedding bookings begin to slow but the number of national and local wedding fairs begin to ramp up in anticipation of 2018 / 2019 bookings?

The smartest wedding pros will already be signing up to showcase their unique supplier services at wedding events from September through to November so we thought “what better time to take stock and remind ourselves of exactly how to stand out at a wedding supplier show?!”

Whether you’re preparing for your very first wedding show or are an established wedding show exhibitor, check out these top tips from wedding industry experts that’ll help you maximise your return this year and make the most out of the opportunities that present themselves at UK wedding fairs in 2017…

1. Preparation is key

Tell people you’re going 

At least one week before you’re due to exhibit at a wedding show, use social media and email to advertise your appearance and let your followers and prospects know that you’ll be there.

If you’re lucky enough to have a list of contact numbers from interested prospects, call them and invite them to come along too. Remember to let couples know which number your stand will be at.

Prepare post event communications before the event

It’s really important that you set aside some time to prepare follow up communications for after the wedding show in advance. You’ll want to be able to follow up as soon after the show as you can, and having pre-prepared templates will enable speedy yet effective post event communications.

The last thing you want to do is rush to put something substandard together after the wedding show or leave it too long only to find that your prospects have already booked with another supplier.

Prepare separate email templates for ‘interested parties’ versus ‘appointments’ so that you’ve got very separate communications ready to tailor to each individual you’ve met. For more information on the importance of personalising your emails and how to construct effective email communications, read this article.

2. Make sure your wedding stand stands out

There are probably going to be a lot of other wedding suppliers competing for the attention of brides and grooms at this event so it’s imperative that you stand out.

Here are three easy ways to say “look at me” at your next wedding show…

• Try to build some height when dressing your stand so that you can be spotted from across the room and don’t be afraid to use lighting and colour.
• Use professional signage that’s easy to read from a distance and again, put it up high so that more people can see it.
• Make sure that your stand reflects what you do. If you’re a wedding florist create a showstopping booth made up of your most creative and impressive blooms and floral combinations. If you make wedding cakes, construct a tower that will draw “oohs” and “ahhs” from engaged couples looking to impress at their weddings next year.

3. Give away good freebies

It’s no secret that we all love a freebie and it’s a great way to attract crowds to your stand. True, some attendees will just be interested in the free goods but you’ll definitely reel in interested couples too.

The trick to separating the freebie-lovers from the serious bookers is this…when people approach your stall qualify them by asking when their wedding day is and which suppliers they’ve already secured so that you don’t waste time with the ones who aren’t going to convert to bookings.

Don’t sit down in your booth or stand with your arms crossed. Be open, friendly, smile and encourage couples to approach you and communicate.

Wondering what freebies you could offer?

Sweets and cupcakes always work well, as do gimmicky toys or gadgets that could help couples in their wedding planning journey. If you can, make sure that whatever you give away has your business name and contact information on it for maximum promotion.

You could try running a competition and include a bigger giveaway such as a romantic meal for two or an overnight stay at your wedding venue and gather contact details in exchange for entries.

4. Set a clear goal

Are you trying to make sales, book appointments or just gather as many contact details as you can from interested prospects?

Decide what your objective is beforehand and stick to it as best you can. When couples approach you, know what you want from them before you start discussing your wedding services.

Talk to as many couples as you can. Gather their details and if you need to offer something extra to get them to commit to an appointment you could offer them 10% off if they book your wedding venue or services within a 2-4 week period.

Remember to follow up with your appointments and contacts soon after the wedding show to give yourself the best chance of securing bookings whilst your wedding services are fresh in their minds.

5. Network with other wedding suppliers

One of our favourite benefits of a wedding show is that it gives you a chance to network with other wedding suppliers on a national and / or local level.

Arrive early so that you can meet other wedding professionals whilst you’re setting up and trade business cards or details so that you can keep in touch with them after the wedding show.

Creating networks between like minded suppliers is the best way to help boost referrals between yourselves.

Make wedding shows work for you

Now you’re armed with some of the best tips we have to offer it’s time to go and put your stamp on the industry.

How will you stand out from the crowd at 2017 wedding fairs?