Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting

Having a wedding PR strategy in place is just the start. Objectively, you could be doing all of the right things and be well-meaning, but one slip-up in etiquette could mean the difference between getting published and having your submission or pitch put on the back burner.

Let’s unpack the two main focuses: wedding submissions and media pitches.

Wedding Submissions

Each publication has different requirements for wedding submissions, but there are some general, unspoken rules to follow.

Wedding PR Do’s

Be transparent about your submission plans with fellow vendors, especially if you aren’t the photographer. This keeps everyone on the same page, as only one person should be in charge of submitting the wedding.

Additionally, both the photographer and the couple must be on board to have the wedding submitted. Without the copyright holder’s permission and collaboration from the couple on wedding day details, the submission isn’t viable and can’t move forward.

Research and respect the publication’s exclusivity requirements. Some outlets may want total exclusivity, meaning they get the first dibs on featuring the wedding. While other outlets are non-exclusive and may give you free rein to submit elsewhere, it’s best to stick to submitting the wedding one place at a time.

Read all of the submission guidelines thoroughly. Does the publication require an extensive questionnaire? Do they ask for a preferred number of images? What are the vendor credits like? Check and double-check their requirements before submitting in case anything has changed.

Give timely responses to the editors. Publications receive hundreds of submissions, especially those that are more competitive and high-end, so you need to be on your A-game and stay focused on your inbox (and your spam folder, just in case!).

When a wedding feature goes live, be mindful of sharing it with your fellow vendors and tagging them appropriately on social media when you promote it. Additionally, it’s always good practice to email a thank-you to the editor and tag the outlet on social media as well.

Wedding PR Don’ts

If someone on the vendor team is already submitting the wedding, don’t go rogue and start your own submission. Even if you have a contact at a publication that you’d love to utilize, it’s never a good idea to jump ahead, as you could potentially risk your chances of getting featured by having too many cooks in the kitchen.

Never assume that just because a couple had given prior permission to submit their wedding, they’ll still be on board after the fact. They may change their mind as they move onto the next stage post-wedding.

Do not submit anything without permission from the photographer. You’ll want to run your final photo selections by them before submitting the wedding, ensuring they get final approval on how their work is represented as the copyright holder.

Don’t make more work for the editors or bombard them with frequent follow-ups. Pay close attention to their guidelines, as they will typically provide a time frame for how long they may need to review a submission and when you can expect to hear from them with a decision.

Media Pitches

Media pitches to writers and/or podcasts are all about showcasing your expertise and potentially qualifying topics, and while it can be much more open-ended and easygoing without strict guidelines to abide by, it’s crucial that you stay on course.

Wedding PR Do’s

Brief is better! Keep your pitches short and sweet, noting your qualifications as a thought leader and what makes you an expert on the topic(s) you may be pitching. Lead with a quick intro that includes your experience/background, then your topic(s). Additionally, you’ll want to maintain a level of professionalism, so feel free to make a personal connection, but avoid any information about the writer or host that isn’t public knowledge.

Run your pitch through a grammar/spell checker before hitting send. This is especially important for any quotes you may send to a writer for an article, as they’ll prefer professional, ready-to-go expertise that can be easily copied & pasted without editing.

Do your research. Does the writer you have your eye on quote their sources and write wedding-related content? Have they published any articles in the last three months? The same goes for podcasts — are their episodes recent, and do they accept guests? 

Keep a copy of your bio, headshot, and any other information that can be used for promotional materials on hand. Having a podcast kit ready is essential if your pitch gets accepted.

Wedding PR Don’ts

Don’t pitch a topic that a podcast has recently recorded an episode on or a topic that a writer has previously covered. Be mindful of giving them timely, fresh, and relevant ideas. We caution against pitching anyone via DMs on their social media unless they explicitly request them there.

Using AI to respond to a writer’s interview questions is a big no. The answers will typically be generic or outdated; media outlets will not accept this. Only use AI for brainstorming; never use its ideas word-for-word.

It’s not wise to follow up more than 1-2 times on a pitch. A good rule of thumb is to wait a week after your initial pitch and then send along a friendly follow-up email, but if you don’t hear back after that, it’s best to assume that the writer or host isn’t interested at this time.

Sending the same pitch or ideas to multiple media outlets can land you in a sticky situation. You always want to try to give exclusivity where you can, so in the event that more than one pitch is accepted, it may present a conflict.

PR is known to be a long game at times, but following a publication’s preferences and keeping everything professional will always work in your favor. The more submissions and pitches under your belt, the more naturally it will come to you!

Meghan Ely is the owner of the wedding PR agency firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.