Before I moved on to the 3rd shipment, it was time for my independent research project. I had to research caterers in my area. Sounded like a drudging task, but really, it was helpful. Especially when it comes time to use those caterers in my wedding business. If I were to really have one, which I won't. Still, I can see why this is a very useful application in the course. Plus, it starts to get your feet wet in the industry. Next, it was on to creating a three-month novice memberships with the Association of Bridal Consultants. These were certainly two things that will get any wedding-planner-to-be on his or her feet.
Now, on to Lesson 6, The Role of a Consultant.
This part lists the skills and qualities a consultant should have and also touches on a consultant acting as a counselor, too. While you won't be offering marita advice, questions arise during the weddiing planning about the rite of passage that is marriage. It's vital to have good listening and boundary-making skills because you don't want to get in the middle of a family fued or a couple's tiff. I liked this section but feel that this is where the course started to get disorganized. I mean, we were just learning about the business aspect; now we're back to cultural norms. Then back to a generalization of what the consultant does. While the information is useful, I think it could be better organized.
Next, I learned about the different qualities a consultant should have in the bridal industry:
- Analytical thinking
- Social communications
- Assurance
- Appearance
- Administration and organization
The consultant must also garner business, so we're going back into the technical end of things. Networking was covered, as was getting the first sale. Then a section on your image as a bridal consultant. Things like your personal branding are important. What's your angle as a wedding planner? Are you more affordable or do you want to specialize in high-end affairs? These are all things that must be thought of when you get into marketing your business--you've got to brand yourself, too!
Now, it gets tricky. Because I went into the topic of setting fees. The guide says that some plannrs charge the bride a fixed fee but others charge on a per-person basis. How do you know what to do? Figure out what you're worth, and what your time is worth, the guide advises. A great formula for figuring out your hourly rate will help. Also, call other firms in the area and see how they handle their pricing. You'll be able to gauge where you should be, and no one said you can't raise your rates as you get more experienced.
This was the only section so far that didn't make too much sense. Because I already thought we learned about contracts and now there's more. I wish they'd put it in one section. But overall, the course is very thorough and I can see why it's successful!