}
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Building Your Vendor Network as a New Wedding Planner
When you are new to the events industry, it can be a daunting task to grow your network of event professionals. Your reputation is on the line with every recommendation you make to clients. It is important to not only build a solid network of event professionals to refer but you also want to be strategic and careful about who you add to your preferred vendor list.
Here 5 strategies to grow your network of preferred vendors:
1) Attend Networking Events
Check out local industry events to meet and connect with other wedding and event vendors in your area. Here are 4 strategies for strategic networking as a wedding planner.
2) Read Online Reviews
Check out online reviews for local industry professionals on theknot.com, weddingwire.com, yelp.com, and on Google. You can find event professionals with great reviews, look through their website to learn more about their business, then email or call to set up a time to meet and get to know the owner and what they offer.
3) Read Blogs from Other Event Planners
If you follow the blogs of three wedding planners in your area and they all use the same florist for their weddings or consistently rave about the same catering company, you know that those companies are likely the best in the area. Reach out to that florist or caterer and schedule a time to meet and get to know them.
It is very beneficial to become friends with other planners in your market. As a newer planner, this can be tricky but here is our best advice on how to build these relationships as a newer planner.
4) Join a Local Facebook Group
Many cities have a local Facebook group for wedding and event professionals. This can be a good place to get to know vendors in your market and to learn about future networking events, photo shoot opportunities, and even a place to give and get leads for weddings and events.
5) Connect on Social Media
Social media is so powerful. I don’t know of a single event professional who isn’t on at least one social media platform. Search for wedding professionals and event venues in your area on Facebook and Instagram, follow them, and leave comments on their posts and images. If you follow someone for awhile and really like their work and what they share, reach out via email and invite them to meet up so you can learn about their business and possibly add them to your recommended vendor list.
Not sure how to introduce yourself and invite a vendor to meet? Here is a ready-to-use script:
Hello {name or business name}!
I am a professional wedding planner in {xyz city} and am currently {building/updating} my list of recommended event professionals who I can refer to my event planning clients. I have been following your business on {Instagram/Pinterest/Twitter/Facebook} and love the {style/quality} of work that you {create/offer}. Your {talent/expertise/level of service} really shines through and I think you might be a great fit for my clients.
Do you have time to meet next week on {Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday} to get to know each other? I would be honored to treat you to coffee or if it is more convenient, I can meet at your {office/studio/kitchen/venue}.
I look forward to getting to know your business, your services, who your ideal clients are, and how we can work together in the future!
Warmest Regards,
{your name, website, phone number, and 1-2 social media links}
When sending this email, use or replace the text in brackets to fit your business and the person you are sending it to.
As you build your network of recommended vendors, keep a spreadsheet or document, organized by vendor category (photography, floral, stationery, catering, etc), and enter every vendor you meet. Include your notes about their business, pricing, services, and personality. This will make it quick and easy to make recommendations to future clients.
When I was planning full time, I also kept a separate spreadsheet of venues in my area. After 5-6 years of planning, I had over 300 venues in my spreadsheet that I could sort by location and price range. If you live in a very small city or only serve a market where there aren’t many options for venues and vendors, you may not need to keep a spreadsheet.
If you aren’t sure what to ask during a meeting with a vendor, the Wedding Planner’s Toolbox has a “Questions to Ask Vendors” guide with the key questions to ask each type of event professional. The Toolbox also has professional timeline templates, consultations forms, and more templates for wedding planners.
During your meeting with a new-to-you venue or vendor, ask relevant questions, take notes, and also share about your business, what services you offer, and the types of clients you like to work with. Not only are you building your list of recommendations, share what you offer and encourage the vendor to recommend your planning business to their clients.
It can be easy to get overwhelmed with all the tasks of starting and growing a new event planning business. Here are a few resources to help:
Advice for New Planners: Start Small
25 Steps to Start Your Wedding Planning Business Guide
How to Handle Vendor Contracts and Payments
Prepping Event Vendors for Consultations
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A complete set of templates, checklists, and tools for professional wedding planners.
Business
Wedding Planning
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Day in the Life
Self Development
Friday Favorites
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[…] clients do all of the planning on their own. You may consider giving these clients a list of your recommended vendors. Not only does it save them time, it makes your job easier if they book event professionals who are […]