CUSTOMER SERVICE - you`re paying for it, you should expect it!
By Christopher Kight

You, the Bride, are the real Wedding Planner for your event, whether or not you hire and pay someone else, it`s YOUR dreams and ideas that will be implemented by the professional Wedding Vendors that you hire. A professional Wedding Planner usually knows the quality of a Wedding Vendors product from EXPERIENCE.

As you meet with and hire your professionals, keep this in mind:

As you choose them, make sure that you question them not only about their PRODUCT, such as photography, flowers, food, cake, etc., but JUST AS IMPORTANT, question them about their Customer Service. Do they guarantee that they will arrive on time? (A vendor arriving late throws everyone off schedule)

Will the Florist not only prepare the flowers, but will they pin on the boutonnieres and corsages as your Wedding Party members and parents begin to arrive? (The flowers need to be pinned on properly or they`ll look funky all day, flop around and be a problem.)

Will the photographer stay longer if there are still photos to take at the reception? (Some photographers will tell the DJ, "Hey, we have to cut the cake because I want to go home.)

Does the photographer promise to have your proofs ready for you quickly? (Taking beautiful photographs isn`t good enough if it takes the Bride forever to get her album)

Does the limousine company guarantee that their driver will be well-dressed and professional in his communication? (If the driver looks sloppy, it doesn`t matter HOW nice and shiny the car is.)

Will the caterer promise to have sufficient servers for the size of your guest-list? (It can take an hour to get the tables cleared if there aren`t enough servers and this will throw your schedule off for the toast, dancing and cake cutting.)

If you`re offering a buffet dinner to your guests, will the caterer set it up so that the guests can go down both sides, thus shortening the line for dinner and ensuring that your guests are served quickly? (Sometimes a one-sided buffet LOOKS a bit tidier but, with 250 guests, it can take an hour or more just to get them all through a buffet that only has one side.)

Will the photographer work quickly and NOT dominate your time during the day? (Being GOOD isn`t good enough if they are also SLOW and your memory of your Wedding day is that it was ONE BIG PHOTO SHOOT.)

Will the store where you purchase your gown promise to have it ordered and delivered WELL before your Wedding date so that you have plenty of time for your fitting? (Some stores will have you pay-in-full NOW but wait to order the gown until just before the Wedding in order to maximize their cashflow.)

Will the tuxedo rental company allow time for your Men to try on their Tux`s when they pick them up? (Many Tux disasters can be avoided this way.

Does the Officiant also attend and help organize the rehearsal or are you left to figure it out on your own? (The Officiant knows how the event should flow due to experience and can be very helpful in planning and rehearsing your ceremony.)

Think about what kind of customer service you would offer if you were in the Wedding business and demand that from the vendors that you hire. You`re paying for it, insist on getting it.

Christopher Kight