How many times have you sat down with a new client to discuss their vision and they pull out an elaborate Pinterest board filled with amazing inspiration? They explain all the things they are dreaming of and then tell you their budget. You realize that their dream and financial reality are MILES apart. It is never a fun situation, but common in the life of a wedding planner. Part of our job is to help our clients manage their expectations based on how much they can spend on their wedding day. 

Today we are going to share how to manage client expectations without crushing all their dreams, and how to ensure they are getting all of the necessities needed for a successful wedding. 

Couples Don’t Know What They Don’t Know

The first thing to realize is that most people simply do not understand the actual price of a wedding. When scrolling through Pinterest, they are just grabbing the things they love and do not realize the cost. One of your first jobs as their planner is to help them understand how far their budget will go toward their vision and what the typical spend is for each vendor category. 

When you start your client-planner relationship by offering a clear explanation of what the couple can expect with their budget you demonstrate your expertise and build trust from the start. While it is not always easy to tell a couple that their vision is not feasible based on their budget, it is better than allowing their hopes to rise only to be disappointed later. 

Determine What is Most Important to Your Client

When vision and budget do not match, the best place to start is determining what is most important to the engaged couple. Most couples will have elements that are most important to their vision and the budget can be rearranged to give them their non-negotiables, and then costs can be cut elsewhere. 

Unless your clients have unlimited funds, there will have to be some compromises in the budget. Often, if couples can have their must-haves, then they get close enough to their vision to achieve the wedding they have envisioned. 

Account for the Necessities

As a planner, it is imperative to ensure that your couple is not forgetting any of the non-negotiable necessities. There are certain things that every wedding will need; an officiant, a venue, a place for your guests to sit, a marriage license, etc. Another item that should not be overlooked is event insurance. Some venues will require the couple to obtain a policy to use their space. Even, if it is not a requirement of the venue it can protect the couple from unexpected issues. 

Every planner wants to help their clients achieve their dream wedding, or get as close as possible. When you start the planning process with realistic expectations, everyone is happier throughout the process!

Markel Event Insurance is an easy and affordable solution for your clients with liability coverage starting as low as $75.

Get more information now on the Markel Insurance website on how easy it is for event planners to recommend event insurance to their clients. (link to www.markelinsurance.com/event/planner). 

*This post is sponsored by Markel Service, IncorporatedThis blog is intended for general information purposes only, and should not be construed as advice or opinions on any specific facts or circumstances. The content of this document is made available on an “as is” basis, without warranty of any kind. This publication is not intended to be legal, underwriting, or any other type of professional advice.  Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser.  Markel does not guarantee any particular outcome and makes no commitment to update any information herein, or remove any items that are no longer accurate or complete. Terms and conditions for rates and coverages varies. Insurance and coverage are subject to availability and qualifications and may not be available in all states. Coverage descriptions listed are intended to be brief and do not replace actual policy language. Nothing herein shall be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation or offer to purchase any products or services.Coverage is provided by one or more of the insurance companies within Markel and policyholder services are provided by the underwriting manager, Markel Service, Incorporated, national producer license # 27585, in California d/b/a Markel Insurance Services, license # 0645481.  Certain products and services are provided through various non-admitted insurance company subsidiaries of Markel and are offered through licensed surplus lines brokers or through Markel West Insurance Services California license # 0D95581.