If had a dollar for every website I've seen with an about page that says something along the lines of "I saw a need in my market for a good wedding planner [feel free to substitute planner with photographer, florist, blogger, caterer, etc] so I decided to open my own business", then I would be writing this post from a tropical island somewhere and not a city office. Do people seriously believe that the wedding industry was a sinking Titanic until they came along? That no one had ever run a profit and loss statement or looked at a balance sheet? That creativity didn't exist until they blessed everyone else with their new take on chair ties?
If the industry is over-saturated and too easy to enter, then it is because many talented people went before, paving the roads and building an industry that is now so ripe with opportunity. For a new company to claim that nothing done in the industry was done with excellence before they came along or that the people who have been in business longer than ten years are outdated and now irrelevant is ignorant at best, arrogant at worst.
There are plenty of people who many of us have never even heard of who built this industry into what it currently is and who are still setting trends and creating new blue oceans. Their time has not passed and there is much to learn from them. Take some time to study the history of your respective field as well as learning about the history of the wedding industry as a whole. Seeing the bigger, and historic, picture will help you create a better product or service for your clients.
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27 comments:
that is my new favorite quote! (: i love reading your blog.
xo
Well said! When I started as a planner I initially thought no one had done it as well as I could! When that initial absurd confidence wore off I realised there are many people doing fabulously and being creative long before I'd even thought about being a planner! A good lesson to learn I think.
GREAT post. It needs to be said more often. Hopefully all of us reading it will not think of someone else who needs to read it, but will apply it to our own lives and continually seek to preserve our own humility.
Well put ... completely agree with all of it. Love your blog!
~xoxo
Heather and Kimberly
Said perfectly!
Thank you, Liene. Many of the people I look up to in this industry most have never heard of: John Daly, Andrea Michaels, Joann Roth-Oseary, Richard Aaron. I can go on and on.
They have always conducted themselves in a down to earth and humble manner. They were true pioneers and deserve the credit for being brave and setting out as true entrepreneurs when you had nothing but a land line, a fax machine & a phone book. They were, and are still, doing work that receives little to no credit for "trendsetting".
They share, they grow and they teach others with grace and style. It's rare that people like them are thanked for everything they did to raise this business up to the high points it is now...I am extremely grateful to them.
xo,
S
I completely concur with you and with Sasha that I did not invent the wedding planning wheel and always say so.
I have, in my possession, a book called "How to Plan a Beautiful Wedding" by Sallie Newton. My book was the last copyright, 1954, but it was first published in 1939.
Wow, it seems like weddings were being planned and wedding advice was being dispensed way back when. Imagine that;)!
As a June Wedding Consultant, I learned from Robbi Ernst, Founder of JWI who began his career over 30 years ago. Many of my mentors have been at this for 20-30 years +, still bringing that "fresh perspective" to their weddings & events.
Enjoyed this post!
Thanks Liene,
As one of the oldies I appreciate the thoughts. I think we can all learn from each other no matter what the age or time in the business,as long as you stay open.
A to the Men
Perfect timing! I just had this topic on my blog after seeing it going around the internet. You really did a great job of conveying the subject so that it was clear to anyone in almost any industry but very specifically the weddanig industry. I posted a link to this on my FB page and the link has been reposted three times already since being on my page! What a great articel!
Great post, Liene! It helps to really understand the industry.
Well said Liene!
You know what's sad? When a non-wedding professional such as myself even notices the type of behavior you described. I really love how blunt and honest you are in posts. I'm a fan of keeping it real. :)
Well said!
I am only able to do what I am doing because of the people that have come before me and I will continued to be challenged (in a good way) by the professionals that will come after me.
I can't believe anyone would say that in their "about" page! That's an insult to others in their markets and that is not a good way to get into the market. Plus, who is to say that they are that good?
Great article!
So true, thank you for this great post! The wedding industry is over-saturated with new planners who think they can change everything... They charge nothing so they set the bar low and they have no idea about the passion, dedication and commitment that an experienced planner has in order to succeed.
Liene,
Thanks for your fresh, common sense, and "let's be realistic" approach to the business of weddings. This is a good lesson to be thoughtful of those on a national scale and locally who have been in the trenches before us. Inevitably, this generation is destined to be the old guard at a time in the future. Remembering keeps one humble. Thanks again for the food for thought!
Thanks Liene. There is always someone smarter, more creative, more business savvy to learn from. Having the wisdom to realize you don't know it all and the grace to acknowledge those whom you can glean much from is the key to longevity and success in this biz.
Think everyone is getting tired of God's gifts to weddings. Puh-lease. Get over yourselves already.
One of your best posts ever, Liene. I love it!
In my industry (photography), it troubles me how so many new photographers dismiss the experienced veterans based simply on photographic style. The reality is, many tried and true successful business practices are the same today as they were 10, 20, even 30 years ago. Sure, the methods may have changed, but the principles are consistent. No matter what we think about style, substance is the same. Thanks for bringing this to light.
Although I do not disagree with what you are saying one bit, I feel as though there is quite a bit of negative energy stirring around online in regards to new planners entering this amazing industry lately.
I, for one, have the utmost respect for the professionals that have helped build this industry over the years and those who continue to raise the bar for us all.
I'd like to remind established event professionals that there are "newbies" willing to put their time in, work harder than ever, and prove themselves to their clients and colleagues alike.
I understand that it can be frustrating to be in an industry that so many people have misconceptions about, but I also don't think it's fair to pass judgment on anyone (in ANY industry) until you've had the opportunity to get to know them.
Thanks for continuing to share thought-provoking information and letting me share my perspective!
Well said Liene. While I love discovering new talented wedding photographers, in this industry there's no substitute for experience. I'm sure it's the same amongst planners. I like how you think. :)
- Joe Milton
Raquel - I completely agree with you. While I do think there are "newbies" who have hurt the industry with inexperience, there are also many who are pulling their weight and doing a fantastic job.
There are also plenty of established people in the industry who slashed their prices last year to make up for the fact that their poor business models weren't surviving the economic changes. I think both sides need to be looked at critically and with an honest perspective.
Great post! If only we had a dollar for every time someone says that...
Hi Liene,
I'm glad we agree to agree - and your points are all valid ones. :)
By the number of comments you've received on this post it certainly seems like you struck a nerve with your audience.
Thanks again for fueling some great dialogue!
While on one hand I applaud those who have the bravery and persistence to start a business and do their best to succeed, I also think their is something to be said for taking it slow, being humble and getting a little experience under your belt before you test the waters on someone's wedding. Respect and learn from those who came before you. I came to wedding planning with 10 years of experience in a related field and was probably more experienced than most newbies. I looked around for people I admired and learned from them before I went out on my own. 9 years later I am still learning and growing with each client and each new experience. Work your way up and earn your stripes. It may take a little more time but you will be well qualified once you get there instead of potentially in over your head and experimenting on someone's milestone event.
This is so true! I am going to read this everyday!
You're absolutely right. I'd rather work with a consultancy that promotes themselves as average, mediocre, inexperienced and basically worthless. That's why I still use candles for light, an abacus for calculations and a wood-fire for cooking. I know a surefire way to book a client is by admitting to myself that I've never done a wedding before and referring all my prospects to people have done. That's how you get experience, by realizing that if you havent done it before... you'd better not try!
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