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Smoke and Mirrors
I rarely post anything negative on this site but this is something I want to address because I see how much it affects honest event planners across the country who have integrity and would never lie about their success.
Not everything you read on social media is true. And not everything your competition tells you is true. Unfortunately, there are a lot of smoke and mirrors in our industry. While it could be true that your competition booked ten weddings this week, it could also be a huge exaggeration. I have seen this many times in my own market and in various other markets across the country. It’s a shame that anyone would lie to make themselves look more successful, but it happens every day.
There are wedding planners who portray big success who actually don’t make any money in their business. There are wedding planners who claim to do fifty weddings a year but filed bankruptcy last year. There are event planners with huge brands who still work a full-time job to support themselves. You never know what is really going on behind the scenes with a business.
Don’t believe everything you read and hear from the competition. Trust in your skills and maintain your integrity.
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A complete set of templates, checklists, and tools for professional wedding planners.
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Debbie thank you SO much for this post. I have such a hard time continuing the high fives on social media for all of the “Amazing” things these planners are doing. It is nearly daily at times. Then dropping things like, “I am so busy with ALL of my brides and consultations”, and all of the pics of their daily work schedule. It is so annoying. I want to be real with my followers. I am struggling to make a name for myself after 5 years of being in business. Trouble with pricing and how to streamline my packages. Tackling school online courses to be more marketable in the work force in the event that I need to get a job. All the while dreaming of the day I can be a success on my terms. Whew….Oops, did I just spew all of that our loud? Oh well like I said, I want to be real. So there ya go, and there ya have it! Thanks for always allowing us to have a safe platform to voice our concerns and questions!
Ah, this is so authentic Diana. Thank you for sharing. I’m sure there are MANY other planners who feel the exact same way.
Excellent points!!
The smoke and mirrors applies to more than a planners experience. We also have to remind out clients that what they are looking at in the magazines and on social media are often staged productions, photo shoots of event moments with lots of donated materials and event professionals expertise to target an audience and sell an event experience. What they leave out is the cost to replicate that look.
That is so true Heidi. Photo shoots can be so very deceiving for brides and grooms. Thanks for sharing!
The truth is, wedding planning does not provide a full time income here in Australia. I work with seven planners, all of them have part time jobs, as do many florists and cake makers.
There is no shame in having a second income to support a passion.
I completely agree Denise. Just because you need to have another income stream in addition to planning does not mean you are not successful. For some people, it takes the stress out of relying on planning only to pay your bills and makes planning events more enjoyable.
Debbie:
I’ve preached this so much over my years in the industry. Bottom line – all that glitters, sparkles, glistens or is “swoon-worthy” on social media and the ‘innanets…ain’t necessarily true.
Being a wedding planner is hard work.
Running a SUCCESSFUL wedding planning company is hard work.
I will *drop* this factoid here…..I don’t care how “pretty” your “collateral” is..if you cannot PLAN & MANAGE a wedding SUCCESSFULLY….you need to pack up your lovely Prada bag and go on home.
Real talk.
#truth Linnyette. With social media, there is so much “fluff” that it is impossible to tell who actually knows what they are doing AND is making a regular income from it. Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Thank you for the post. I try my best not to believe the hype. I will definitely focus more on quality of my business.
Thanks for your comment Atiya!
So true Debbie! If we spend too much time worrying about what the “other” planners are doing we are not being true to ourselves. I try not to compare to others, but stay focused on the product I am offering my clients and that I maintain integrity and honesty at all times.
Debbie thank you so much for this post! Oftentimes, when we hear this and it makes us feel like we are less than because you wonder how they get so much business, so many referrals, and large projects. This literally happen to me the other night. What I have come to realize is that I have to just run my race, and not worry about the people next to me and how they are running because when I turn to look at them, I lose sight of what’s in front of me. Competition is everywhere if you choose to look at it that way or you can flip it and say if its so many of us out here doing well, then there is room enough for me.
“What I have come to realize is that I have to just run my race, and not worry about the people next to me and how they are running because when I turn to look at them, I lose sight of what’s in front of me.” -Yes! That is the absolute truth. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for being part of the community here.
Debbie! Thank you SO much for posting this excellent, honest look in on the wedding planning industry! Every day I allow that thought of they’re more successful than me from what I see on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. rather than focusing on the success that I know we have had and not on what they’re saying they’ve had. Seeing the above happen first hand, it is disheartening to think that people in our industry have to pump themselves up when they’re not face to face with someone, even when they are face to face. It is best to remember and remind ourselves daily that we are bettering ourselves with education, doing what’s best for our brides, and keeping our integrity for who we are and what we stand for!
Amen! I know exactly how you feel. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
Love this! Great post! A a new planner, it can be intimidating listening to established planners rave about their success. I guess it’s a part of their strategy, but nevertheless I keep pushing forward.
Good for you! Sometimes they are as successful as they seem but not always. Thank you for your comment.