The majority of brides and grooms have never planned an event as big as their wedding day. It is most likely the largest amount of money they have ever spent on a single day. Typically they have not worked with an event planner before or with any other event professionals. Your clients are relying on you to get them through the process but they often don’t know what to expect. What seems simple and common sense to us may not be true for your clients. Through each phase of the planning process, take time to explain how wedding planning works. Talk your clients through your particular planning process including the following:

• The order you like to book vendors
• How you estimate and work with their budget
• How many vendors you will recommend in each category
• How your design process works
• How rentals work
• What they can expect at vendor consultations
• What meetings you will attend
• What you keep track of and what you expect clients to do on their own
• When you will have initial time lines done
• How vendor contracts and payments work
• What a mock-up and final walk-through are
• What you do on the wedding day

By educating your clients and setting their expectations, they will be more relaxed, trust your knowledge and understand the process you use.