March 9, 2010 Brides 31-35 are more likely to hire a wedding planner than other age groups, says a study by My Wedding Workbook. 36.4% of brides 31-35 said they've either hired a planner or would consider it. That's much more than the 27.9% of 26-30 year olds and 23.9% of 18-25 year olds who say the same. The study also shows that in addition to day of coordination, brides under thirty are likely to require planning for pre-wedding events, and brides over thirty look for the most additional help with post-wedding events.

Across all age groups, most brides said they would consider hiring a professional wedding planner for their ceremony (91.3%) and reception (95%). But brides 31-35 are most likely to consider hiring a planer to help with the rehearsal evening. 63.6% indicated they'd consider a planner for the rehearsal, and 36.4% for the rehearsal dinner. The number drops among brides 26-30: 48.3% for the rehearsal and 31.0% for the rehearsal dinner. Brides 18-25 showed slightly more interest in having rehearsal coordination (57.9%), but far fewer (26.3%) for the rehearsal dinner.

In contrast, brides 18-25 said they would consider a planner to help with other pre-wedding events such as the engagement party (5.3%), bridal showers (7.9%), bridesmaids' luncheon (2.6%), bachelor/bachelorette parties (2.6%) and wedding dress/attire selection (10.5%).

Brides 26-30 were most likely to consider hiring a planner for pre-wedding events: engagement party (10.3%), Bridal showers (6.9%), Bridesmaids' luncheon (6.9%), bachelor/bachelorette parties (10.3%) and wedding dress/attire selection (13.8%).

Surprisingly, no brides (0%) ages 31-35 said they'd consider a planner for their engagement party, bridal showers, bridesmaids' luncheon, or bachelor/bachelorette parties, and only 9.1% of brides 31-35 said they would consider a planner for their wedding dress/attire selection.

Whereas brides under thirty want more pre-wedding help, brides 31-35 are looking for planning services for post-wedding activities. Almost one-third (27.3%) of brides 31-35 said they would consider hiring a planner for day-after activities such as the post-wedding brunch. Only 20.7% of brides ages 26-30 said they would do the same. Even fewer (18.4%) of brides 18-25 said they'd look for help with day-after activities.

Brides 31-35 were most likely to look for planning help with their honeymoon. 18.2% of them said they already have or would consider a planner. But only 6.9% of brides 26-30 and 13.2% of brides 18-25 have or would consider a planner for their honeymoon.

Browsing through tons of wedding sites can give you some indication of the trends going on this year, but it's hard to know for sure when there are so many out there! We've got some hard facts on which trends brides actually like this year.

Homemade products like invitations and favors are the most popular, with 73.6% of brides saying they plan to incorporate homemade products into their wedding. Combine the sheer volume of DIY websites and information available to today's brides with the downturn of the economy, and it's no surprise that brides are getting crafty and implementing homemade products into their weddings.

Tech-savvy brides are also on the rise, and it doesn't look like they'll be going away anytime soon. 68.7% of brides say they'll have a wedding website. These sites are a great way to share photos and wedding-related info with guests and family. This trend is here to stay!

Brides love their stationary, and 62.6% say they're sending out save-the-date cards. The heightened excitement over save-the-dates may be due to the resurgence of craft-inspired weddings. Save-the-dates are becoming more personalized and expressive, creating a new enthusiasm for this trend.

59.2% of brides indicated that they plan to take engagement photos. Not surprising since 46.7% of brides also said they'd devote the most time and effort to photography on their big day. Having memories is important, and lots of brides are multitasking by combining their engagement photos and their save-the-dates to make personalized save-the-dates.

There's a lot of hype about the mismatched bridesmaids dresses trend, but our study revealed that actually only 34.7% of brides are jumping on board with it. The mismatched trend may continue to grow in the future, but for now matching dresses win out by about two-thirds.

Eco-friendly weddings are slowly catching on as well. 26.7% of brides said they plan to use eco-friendly products like décor and food in their wedding. The green movement is influencing every aspect of culture, and with the average wedding creating around 400-600 lbs of trash, the wedding industry is in need of a serious green makeover.

According to a lot of websites, having a photo booth at your reception is a hot new trend, and 21.8% of brides said they plan to have a photo booth. It's fun for guests, and you'll probably get some great, memorable shots!

Surprisingly – and contrary to what we've seen on many wedding websites – only 14.1% of brides said they plan to have a candy buffet at their reception. Usually put out after a reception dinner or in place of wedding favors, it seem that this trend isn't catching on as quickly as we may have thought!

Casual weddings are also supposedly on the rise, but only 18.5% of brides said their wedding would be casual. Semi-formal weddings with cocktail dresses and suits were the most popular at 66.9%. Finally, 14.6% of brides said their wedding would require formal attire.

75.2% of brides say that they've never considered hiring a wedding consultant. Why, you may ask? 74.7% of brides said the top reason they didn't consider hiring a consultant was because it's "too expensive." This correlates with the 71.9% of brides who said if they were to hire a wedding consultant, the most important factor they would consider in choosing one would be cost.

Now, as you know, having a wedding planner is no longer a luxury reserved for brides with unlimited budgets. With your flexible package options, you have something to offer every bride. But overcoming the "wedding planners are too expensive" paradigm may require some strategic positioning on your part. So how do you, as a wedding professional, overcome this constraining stereotype? Remind brides of all the ways you can save them money!

Time = $$
The old saying "time is money" may be cliché, but that doesn't negate its accuracy. Brides really only see the glamorous side of wedding planning. They don't see that you're continually shopping vendors to make sure that brides get the best deal, and most brides underestimate the amount of time that goes into planning a wedding. For example, without a planner, brides may spend numerous hours researching and contacting vendors just to narrow it down to the few they want to meet with! Most brides today work full time jobs, and taking time off work to go meet with scores of vendors is just impractical. The good news is you've already done all the research. You can evaluate their needs and pair them with appropriate vendors right away limiting the amount of vendors that they have to take the time to sit down and meet with.

Avoid Flaky Vendors
44% of brides said they think of themselves as "do-it-yourself" type people – which is great when you're creating centerpieces and floral arrangements. But when it comes to interviewing and selecting vendors, DIY probably isn't the most fiscally efficient route. Most brides aren't specialists at reading contracts and sniffing out possible hidden charges. Most vendors are great, but you can help guarantee that vendors are reputable simply by knowing the right questions to ask.

More Bang for Your Buck
As a planner, you already have a list of trusted vendors to work with, but a lot of brides worry that you'll make them choose from only that list. What brides don't know is that even if they have their heart set on vendor that's not on the list, you are the queen/king of negotiation. You'll definitely be able to negotiate a better price than if the couple were to go meet with the vendor themselves. You know the tricks of the trade, and a vendor knows they can't pull the wool over your eyes. The bottom line is that no matter what they want, you'll be able to get them more for less money.

The Ultimate Ally
More than anyone else, you have the couple's best interest in mind. You're there to help them whether that means offering etiquette advice of bartering with vendors. Though many brides want a personal connection with their planner, your ability to leave any personal connection out of your dealings is actually a great asset for the couple. You won't let any personal issues get in the way of your ultimate goal: making sure their wedding goes off without a hitch. That's not to say that you shouldn't be personable (having a great personality will definitely benefit you), but brides should know that your first priority is a professional commitment to their wedding.

That's my budget, and I'm sticking to it!
Knowing what are reasonable prices for various wedding-related items is another great advantage of having a wedding planner. You can tell brides how much of their budget should be reasonably delegated to which items. You can also help brides avoid wasteful spending. It's easy to get caught up in fun and exciting wedding spending, but many brides go over-budget. As a planner, you can serve as a purchasing advisor and help avoid spending on items that may not be necessary or fit with their vision.

We know not everyone is what you would call "technologically gifted," but in the end devoting time and resources to perfecting your website can only help your business. Actually, it may be to most helpful thing you can do.

75% of brides said they the first place they look for wedding consultation is wedding-related websites. Poke around the Internet, and you'll see that there are plenty of wedding-related sites out there for brides to consult. So how do you make your site stand out? In a word: Professionalism. Think of your website as you would your resume; it may not land you the job, but it will get you in the door for that first interview. When brides are browsing online, your website is what's going to draw them into your office for a first consultation. Your website is an online representation of your business, and – like we've said before – if your website looks unprofessional, so do you.

A couple tips to keep in the back of your mind when designing your website:
(1) Consistency. You want your website to be creative, but you also want all of it to flow together. It should coordinate with the style of all your other marketing materials, e.g., your business card, fliers, logo, etc.
(2) Have pictures of what brides deem most important. There are tons of websites with pictures showcasing pictures of rings and table settings. We asked brides about the wedding items to which they were willing to devote the most time and resources, and their answers may surprise you. 46.7% listed photography, 45.8% reception location, and 37.7% wedding dress/attire. These top areas that brides are willing to spend money on are the areas that you should emphasize you can help them with. Pictures are a great way to do that. For instance, differentiate yourself by having pictures of the bride and groom posing for pictures (in other words, have the photographer in the shot). It's a subtle way to show brides your photographic resources.

One more thing: get a blog. 54.9% of brides say they're looking for consulting help on online blogs, and you have an advantage over a lot of other wedding bloggers: practical experience. There are a lot of blogs by people with no real experience who just like to post pretty pictures. You have reputable knowledge to share, and brides are looking for that. Obviously, you don't want to give away all your trade secrets on you blog, but try to post relevant information regularly. Soon you'll be getting lots of bride traffic. Make sure there's a link or some way to direct that traffic back to your site, and you're good to go!

Don't be intimidated by the world of online marketing. It's really all about creativity (which luckily is a wedding planner's forte). So, take those creative juices and use them to vamp up your website. The more distinct you can make your website, the better.

When brides today are looking for a service, where to they look? Not in the phone book, that's for sure. So how should you allocate your advertising budget? We've compiled some handy statistics to show you exactly where brides are looking for you.

We asked brides "If you were looking to hire a professional wedding consultant/planner, what sources would you consult to find one?" Not surprisingly, the majority of brides (75.8%) said their first move would be to ask friends and family for recommendations. So, make personal connections with your brides. That connection will only benefit you in the future when she tells all of her friends what a tremendous help you were on her special day.

Astoundingly, only 41.3% of brides said that the first place they'd look for a consultant was through a search engine. Apparently, not all brides are "googling" local wedding planners. What they are doing however, is consulting wedding websites and online forums. 63.3% of brides said they would consult a wedding website or forum first when searching for a consultant.

A third party wedding website is a more reliable review of your company than other sites, which is one reason more brides may be looking there. Third party sites are the Internet equivalent of asking for friend and family recommendations. Most sites have places for other brides to leave comments and reviews on what they liked or didn't like about a given service - yet another reason to form those personal connections with your clientele.

If you don't have a website, get one. On the Internet, looks matter. Your website is a representation of your business, and if it looks unprofessional, so do you. Connecting with other local businesses on the net is a great way to grow your company. And blogging allows you to share your industry knowledge while attracting new brides and grooms. There are endless ways to get your name out on the Internet; it just takes a little time and research to do it.

Though bridal shows are important, only 44% of brides said that they'd look for a planner at a show. While you might attract brides who didn't necessarily know they were looking for a planner, less than half set out to a show in search of one. Bridal shows may still be beneficial, but you may have to work harder than other vendors to grab brides' attention.

Though not as popular as the Internet, print is still a viable medium with 30% of brides indicating that they would consult a wedding magazine, directory or other publication in search of a planner. Depending on the size of your company, allocating part of your advertising budget to print may be advantageous. Unlike other publications, brides will probably always buy bridal magazines. They're a tangible source of inspiration, and it's a guaranteed way to market to your target demographic.

Last (and least) comes the phone book. Only 17.4% of brides said they'd consult their phonebook to find a planner. No surprise here, given that 81.8% of today's brides are under 30 and grew up surfing the web. In fact, almost half of brides (49.4%) are twenty-five or younger, and only 18.2% of brides are over thirty.

The bottom line: the world of weddings is becoming more technologically focused, and word of mouth has a new medium as social media is making it easier for brides to share their opinions and experiences. Market yourself in the places brides are looking, but remember, personal connections with clients are as important (if not more so) than ever.

As I'm sure you know, the recession has definitely impacted the wedding industry. 62.3% of brides say that the economy has influenced their wedding plans and budget. Though every bride is different, the following statistics show what most brides are willing to cut back on, and what they don't want to give up. So rather than focusing your marketing approach on what brides are willing to spend money on, you can use these statistics to show couples that you know how to save them money in the areas where they are more reluctant to spend.

Surprisingly, 58.4% of brides said that their top area for cutbacks is the honeymoon. If you offer honeymoon planning services, being able to get couples the most bang for their buck will be very advantageous in drawing in clients. Flowers and decorations came in a close second, with 57.9% of brides indicating that they would limit them. We recommend having a long list of floral vendors in every price range to appease every bride's budget.

54.5% of brides also indicated that they would be limiting reception food and drink, but only 45.5% said they would cut back on their number of guests. What this means: brides are willing to cut back on the amount of food and drinks in order to accommodate more guests. Indeed, there has been an increase in "cocktail receptions," and fewer "dinner party receptions." We recommend expanding your list of caterers to include vendors specializing in finger foods and hors d'oeuvres.

51% of brides indicated wedding day transportation as an area for cutbacks. This includes cutting things like limousine services from their budget. Also, 45.5% of brides said they would cut back on their budget for the reception venue, but only 23.3% said they would cut their budget for the ceremony venue, which hints at the fact that more couples are holding the ceremony and reception at the same place. In addition to reducing cost for the venue, this may also save money by reducing transportation from one venue to the other. Thus, advertising your long list of limousine service connections may not be your best marketing strategy right now.

Contrary to findings that more and more brides are utilizing more photography on day after photo shoots like the "trash-the-dress" trend, we've found that 47.5% of brides intend to cut back on photography and videography for their nuptials. These brides may be choosing to take advantage of other options like giving guests disposable cameras, asking them to take pictures and developing the photos themselves.

The next area of budget cutting is wedding attire. 39.1% of brides said they intend to spend less on the wedding dress, tuxes, and so forth. This may indicate a shift towards more casual weddings. Other recent trends such as the popular 50's inspired tea-length wedding dress correlate with these findings. This year's bride isn't necessarily formal, so make sure to market your business as being able to coordinate any type of wedding from backyard picnics to formal events.

With the advent of the Internet, it's no surprise that 37.6% of brides intend to spend less on invitations and other stationary for their wedding. The technology savvy bride is utilizing email for everything from invitations to save the dates. Other ways brides are cutting parchment costs include things like sending out event postcards rather than formal invitations, which require the added expense of envelopes.

Reception and ceremony music cutbacks were smaller but still significant areas for budget cuts. This year's thrifty bride is now making her own CDs or Ipod playlists for the reception (20.8%), but only 14.4% of brides, are cutting back on ceremony music. Conclusion: brides are more willing to spend money on unique and beautiful ceremony music than a band or DJ for their reception, so lengthen your list of options for ceremony music.

Now that you know what brides are willing to spend their resources on, market yourself as connected to the best bang-for-your-buck vendors in that area.

Participating in a bridal show as a wedding consultant is a little different than participating as another type of vendor. Whereas they can display a tangible product, you're selling a concept. And you're selling yourself first and foremost. A bride who doesn't feel she can connect with you as a person will never hire you as her planner. So here are some suggestions on how to make the most of your bridal show experience.

First things first: Pick the right show

There are different types and sizes of bridal shows, so finding the right one for you is important. There are numerous factors to consider when picking a show to participate in, the first being attendance. Most shows will be able to give you an estimated attendance number from previous years. Knowing the show's previous attendance will help you decide how many people you will need to help staff your booth. It's a good idea to have at least two people at your booth at all times, but if you're expecting a large turnout you may need more. You'll also need to know the attendance in order to plan materials to bring. But remember, it's better to have too many brochures and business cards than to run out.

You'll also want to know the location of the show. Are you going to be in a good location demographically? Decide how far you're willing to travel for a show. Some shows are multi-day; how much time are you willing to invest? Will you need a parking permit? A hotel room?

Next, you'll want to know more about the services inside the show. Do they provide tables for you, or do you need to bring your own? If you'll need electricity, internet connection, water, or phone for your booth, find out if they're included or if you'll have to pay extra for them. Check out all additional costs, and try to think of everything you may need.

The location of your booth and the other vendors surrounding you is important as well, so check out the layout and what vendors are near you. You don't want to be placed directly across from a competitor. In addition, make sure that you and only you can distribute materials from or near your own booth; you don't want your competitors hanging out in front of your booth handing out their materials.

Also, try to avoid being right next to the concession stand so people don't leave cups or napkins at your booth. It's better for your prospects to have their hands free to be able to flip through your brochures and portfolios anyway.

Once you've got an awesome location at the right show, it's time to start thinking about your booth. What's your booth size? What will you display? What materials are you going to hand out at the show? Finally, just make sure that you give yourself enough time before the show to set up!

Success with brides:

Before the show, you're very first step should be to alert the clients you already have that you'll be participating in the show. Then you'll want to find out if you can get promotional materials placed in the grab bags that the show hands out to participating brides. At the show, make yourself "open" in every sense. Rather than having your table set up in front of your display like most other booths, have two tables on the sides of your display to create a welcoming area that brides can enter into. If you have the space, consider bringing in a comfy couch where brides can sit and look through your portfolio and brochures. If it's slow sit with brides and discuss. Subtleties are important. For instance sitting on a couch with someone rather than across from them in a chair makes the interaction feel like a conversation rather than a consultation. It's imperative that you position yourself as a bride's friend first.

Always make sure that you're smiling. Go sit outside or grab some coffee to give yourself a little break, but never be just sitting at your booth. These brides are excited, and they want the people helping them to be excited too. You can have the most interesting booth in the world and bad energy will still drive brides in the other direction.

Differentiate yourself:

From a bride's perspective, everyone at this show is trying to sell her something. You can make yourself stand out in several ways.

(1) Don't initiate conversation by telling a bride what you can do for her. Introduce yourself, and then begin conversation by finding out things about her and what she's envisioning for her wedding. Feel out each bride, and subtly mention things that she probably wouldn't think of if she weren't talking to you. Chances are, she'll think about your conversation later and wonder what else she's forgetting about that you would help her with.

(2) Don't over clutter your booth. Bridal shows are cluttered and overwhelming as it is. You are supposed to be the person alleviating stress and clutter from her life. Too many planners set up things like mock reception tables, which, in addition to being visually overwhelming, only allows you to have one main display of your work. Brides that don't like that particular table setting may dismiss your booth without even talking to you because they don't think you match their style. Instead, have several portfolios for brides to look through with many different styles and examples of your previous work. Another sleek display option is a digital photo frame. Get a large frame for the back wall of your booth, and put your most fabulous photos on repeat. Make sure to include a frame every 10 pictures or so of your business logo as well.

(3) Auditory clutter is just as bad as visual clutter. Do not overwhelm your brides with information; instead just engage them in conversation and when they leave make sure to give them a pamphlet with all of your business and package information in it. Rather than focusing on the obvious things you do, address brides' misconceptions about wedding planners. For instance, let them know that you can work with any budget and probably even save them money. In short, don't give brides a sales pitch; instead try to engage them on a personal level. They probably won't remember the details of your conversation, but they will definitely remember how you made them feel.

(4) Have a book with theme ideas or even collages that you've put together. Most brides have an idea of what they want, but the brides who need a little extra help will love that you have some ideas for them to look through. Plus, if you have one they love they'll contact you to revisit the idea. Remember to be prepared for every type of bride.

Be Consistent:

Put your business logo on everything; pens, candy, water bottles, everything! Also, decorate with your business' colors. The more subtle marketing moves you can make, the better a bride is going to remember you. When she looks back at your pen or brochure from the day, you want her to be able to connect that material to your booth. Also, have a sign professionally made for your business. Some shows will provide signs, but a professional sign looks much better. Get nametags with you business logo on them as well. It's easier to connect with someone when you're putting yourself on a first name basis.

Get the most out of the show:

When you have some down time, take a moment and network with other vendors. Hand out your card, and collect their cards as well. See who you connect with and who has services to add to your list of vendors.

Compile a mailing list. There are numerous ways to get brides contact information, but the most frequently used way is to hold a contest requiring contact information for the winning bride. If you choose to go this route, give away something related to your business. For example, give a free wedding day consultation, theme consultation, or initial consultations. Whatever you give away, just make sure it relates to your business.

When you're talking with brides, keep a list and rate them 1-5 based on how interested they seem in your services, and use that to make sure you contact the most interested brides first. Then you must follow up immediately. Contact everyone, and quick. Don't give them time to forget about you, and remind brides that they need you now. Some shows will provide lists of the attendees, so make sure to get that list if it's available.

Whatever you do, don't go home early. If things are starting to die down, chances are other booths are going to start packing up. Though it might be tempting to leave, stay. If eventually all of your competition is gone, you'll be there to help any last minute brides!

Finally, keep lists of what went well, and things you think could have been better for future shows.

Most brides know that they'll probably need help finding vendors and picking out a dress. However, there are dozens of little details in making a wedding run smoothly that brides may not know about, and they all can make the difference between the day of their dreams and a heartbreaking disaster. Here are 6 things that you bring to the table to create unforgettable events that you may want to point out in your list of services.

1. Etiquette Questions
With access to the Internet, brides can look up answers to pretty much any etiquette questions they may have. The hard part is finding the right answer. There is so much information out there that it's hard to know who is an authority and who is just spouting off their opinion. As a consultant, you know the answers to all of her questions about proper etiquette, and you can help your bride decide which traditions are a must and which ones she can let slide.

2. Phone, email and face-to-face consultations
When your brides have questions, you're there ready to answer. You're their go-to person for all things wedding related. Too many brides think that this is the maid-of-honor's job. It is to a certain extent, but often brides pick their maid of honor based on friendship rather than who would be best for the job. So, when the maid of honor is unavailable or unskilled, where is a bride to turn? You. Whether it's via phone, email, or actual meetings, your bride will feel less stressed just knowing that she can call on your expertise whenever she needs to.

3. Organize ushers and bridal party
Just because the rehearsal went well doesn't mean that the ceremony will. The day of the wedding is the best time to have a planner. The bridal party that may have been organizing the wedding up to this point is busy in the wedding, the parents are involved or watching, and the bride definitely can't orchestrate things! You can be there to make sure people are standing where they're supposed to be, in line correctly, and walk when they're supposed to.

4. Reception set up
Setting up the reception venue shouldn't be on a bride's wedding day checklist between hair and makeup. Brides don't want to be worrying if the centerpieces are set up correctly while saying their vows. So while she's getting her nails done and her hair coiffed, you can be making sure that the reception set up is going according to plan.

5. Organize other wedding related events
Few brides realize how many additional wedding related events they are going to come across during their engagement period. Let brides know that you can help manage smaller events like the bridesmaids' luncheon, engagement party, and post-wedding brunch as well as the actual wedding day!

6. Verify payment schedules
One of your best attributes as a planner is your budgeting skill. Even the most economical and organized bride can stumble upon hidden fees and confusing vendor contracts. You can guarantee that her vendors get paid on time, and that they'll do what they said they would. Half the battle is simply knowing what fees to look for, and you do. Letting brides know that you can save them money and time will make you an invaluable resource.

Though brides may not realize they even need help with these things, they are the little details that will make the entire wedding and engagement run smoothly. Though your main marketing point should be your phenomenal wedding planning services and your ability to take care of every task and issues, don't be afraid to point out the smaller services you provide that make a huge impact.

Hello Consultants!

We're back with more helpful statistics! We asked brides, "If you were to hire a professional wedding consultant/planner, what would be your biggest expectation of that planner?"

42% of brides said their biggest expectation of their planner would be to make sure the wedding day goes smoothly. Obviously, your bride will want to be able to relax as much as possible and enjoy her day without worrying about the details. Similarly, 32.3% of brides said that they expected their planner to manage details and alleviate them of stress. As you know, there are thousands of stressful little details throughout the wedding process, not just on the day-of. It may be beneficial to inform brides during their initial consultation, that you, as a planner, will be much more able to ensure a smooth "day of" if you're included in managing the details from the very beginning of the planning process.

12.9% of brides said that they would expect their consultant to help them select and sort vendors for their wedding. Though many brides think they can find vendors on their own, as a consultant, you already have a list of reputable, reliable vendors for them to choose from. Finding the right vendor is more than just finding someone who will show up on the wedding day; it's about matching your bride with vendors who will work with her throughout the planning process to create her envisioned celebration. Pairing your bride with a vendor whose personality blends with hers is a talent that only an expert (like you) can deliver on.

11.3% of brides listed helping the couple realize their vision for their wedding as being the most important planning service. Most brides have visions of what they think they want their wedding to look like but have little idea how to bring it about. That's where your skill and experience comes in. Helping your couple create their envisioned wedding while staying within their budget is an important service that you should definitely promote.

Surprisingly, only 4.3% of brides said that the most important duty of their wedding planner is to be dependable and someone the bride can count on. Brides put a lot of faith in their maid of honor and bridesmaids, and in most cases these trusted friends are eager to help. But, as a consultant, you are a bride's ultimate ally. In addition to being there when she needs you, you have the skills and knowledge to fix any problems that arise - qualities that even the most qualified bridesmaids may not have.
Only 3.2% of brides said that their first expectation was for their planner to help them save money with vendors and stay on budget. There is definitely an illusion that all wedding consultation is expensive. But if you save the couple 20% on vendors, and are charging 20% of the budget for your services, the couple is spending the same amount of money and getting much more value for it. Don't be afraid to let couples know that you can help them save money. Show them that it is possible be elegant as well as cost effective.

3.2% of brides also said that they expect their planner not to take over too much. Again, emphasize the fact that you're there to help her, not to take over. Brides are understandably protective of their day, so your best bet is to position yourself as her personal advocate.

Check back soon! There's much more to come!