"The Preferred Vendor"

                                             “The Preferred Vendor”

 

Let me ask you a question.  Have you ever purchased a product or service and been so happy with it that you couldn’t wait to tell everyone you knew about it?  Of course you have.  Maybe it was your new phone or laptop.  Maybe it was a kitchen item, an oven or microwave perhaps.  Or maybe it was an interior decorator, painter or other home remodeling professional that completely exceeded your expectations and as a result, you’re still talking about it today and sharing the information with whomever will listen.

Well, that, my friends, is called a referral and it’s the way professionals have been doing and building their businesses for hundreds of years.  By the same token, if you’ve ever had a bad experience, you know as sure as you’re reading this that bad news travels a whole lot faster than good news does – and so it is when a person has a bad experience – be it a bad meal at a restaurant, a horrible stay at a hotel or resort or a rude cashier at the home improvement center, people hear about it fast!

And that brings me to the subject of this article – the wedding referral.  I want to start out by saying that as with all of my articles, this one is also meant to be informative, interesting and designed to make a point – to get you thinking and hopefully get you to see the business of weddings from another perspective.  And as always, it's unbiased advice, good for no matter what vendor you hire.

As a bride-to-be, you are focused on planning your event.  You want it to be perfect, flawless, memorable and hopefully fun.  You’re not thinking about the vendors that you are interviewing from a business standpoint – you’re not seeing the business the way we see the business – nor should you be.  After all, this wedding will hopefully be your only wedding, we on the other hand have multiple weddings every weekend – it’s our business.  With that said, let me get to the point of this post.

In the first two paragraphs, I’ve covered the definition of a referral.  Now let me describe what a “preferred vendor” is, because as you’ll soon see, a preferred vendor can be very different from a referral. 

One trend that many wedding facilities have gone to is putting out a bridal brochure.  In this brochure you’ll find ads varying in size from a business card size ad to full page advertising, with each vendor, from bridal salons, florists, photographers and disc jockeys, to bartenders and limo companies selling their wares.  Most of the time, these brochures are very nicely done with proper ad layout and a nice glossy finish, overall a very nice and professional looking product – and it should be because these ads usually cost the advertiser $500.00 and up!

That’s right, the vendors in that brochure were not put there out of the kindness of the wedding facilities heart – it’s not a simple referral, it’s a money maker for the company producing the brochure and the vendors who are featured PAID to be there.  So now you clearly see the difference between a professional referral and a preferred vendor referral.  One is given because of a job well done, a great reputation and professionalism, the other is what we in the business call “Pay-To-Play”.

 

Now does that mean that the vendors featured therein are not great vendors?  No, it does not.  Christy and I have participated in these brochures in the past and our reputation is rock solid – but what if some of the really great vendors choose not to participate in the advertising brochure?  It means that you are not going to hear about those vendors, you’re going to be told only about those who are participating in the program, the ones who ‘paid-to-play’.  I don’t know exactly when this trend caught on and I don’t know why the facilities that participate in these brochures are so fond of the brochure in the first place – what I do know is that as a bride or groom, in a sense, you are being cheated by not being given the names of some of the best entertainers and vendors that are out there.  We feel it's a little dishonest on the part of the facility and are opposed to the brochures overall.

 

Let’s be clear, however.  Some facilities will hand you a list of vendors that they absolutely love to work with, simply typed out on a sheet of paper, who did not pay a single dime and they sometimes refer to that list as a preferred vendor list – that’s different and it’s okay because now you know the difference.  If, however you are handed a superbly done, glossy brochure with advertising inside from the vendors, you know you are holding a listing of vendors that paid to be in it. It's a publication not merely a professional referral.

 

So why did I feel the need to write this article?  Well, recently, some of the best wedding facilities that we enjoyed working at have now gone to this system.  This system excludes any vendor who declines to participate and as a result you are not getting a list of the best – you are getting a list of those who paid!  Think about it, as an owner/operator of a wedding entertainment company, if I were to be charged $500.00 or more for every wedding facility that I wish to be “referred” at, I wouldn’t be able to afford to stay in business because I would be writing checks all year long just for the opportunity to have “preferred vendor” status.  This is also one of the reasons that wedding vendors prices have risen of the past decade – the vendor is passing this added cost on to YOU!

And to be honest, as an entertainer, I can tell you that in the 23 years that I have been doing this, I have only gotten one or two weddings from these “brochures” – bottom line, this type of advertising simply does not work for me. There is no return on my investment because my business comes primarily by word of mouth. And because we have been blessed with outstanding couples and outstanding performances over the years, our company sells itself – and for that we are grateful. I must say that being excluded from being referred to prospective clients because I chose not to be extorted really does bother me and its just not fair to the bride and groom who are shopping for the best they can find or afford. Of course the bigger companies can afford to do this all day long and it really hurts the little guys out there - I'm just trying to educate my clients and level the playing field here.

 

So to close, the best advice that I can give to a couple looking to begin their search for wedding vendors is this: when you are visiting the facilities and gathering information about pricing, food choices, vendor referrals, etc. – remember what I just taught you about ‘referral’ vs. ‘preferred vendor’, and come right out and ask them if the vendors in this brochure paid to be in it. If the answer is yes, *(and you already know that it is yes), then your next question should be: "Do you also have a list of the other vendors that chose not to participate that you have worked with in the past?"  I bet their jaw will hit the floor!   You will show that you are an educated couple and you may even be handed a list of outstanding entertainers who were smart enough to say no to extortion.  If they tell you they do not know any vendors who declined the brochure, they are lying to you!! If enough brides ask about this, the wedding brochure may even go the way of the dinosaur.

So, remember - not every wedding vendor can afford to, or wishes to, participate in costly advertising, especially when they don't need to.  I'm sharing this information to educate you, the client.  It's my way of getting the real story out there as to why weddings have gotten so unbelievably expensive and why some things in the business work the way they do.  Now that you know how the wedding brochure works, it's up to you to dig a little deeper and ask a few more questions that just may score you a fantastic vendor who won't have to pass the cost of his advertising on to you!!

As always, best wishes for a great wedding and check  back often for the next informative article.

 

 

Ron

Fit To Be Tied

If you’re planning on tying the knot anytime soon, chances are you’ll be concerned with looking your best the day of your wedding and with that thought comes concerns of exercise and diet.  Inevitably, many brides will take to the internet, magazines or local gyms for professional advice - some will talk to friends while others will stick to some method of fitness and/or weight loss they have tried in the past. But before you embark on your fitness routine, I thought I’d share a few tips and opinions here for those who are considering a fitness plan.  And guys, this advice applies to you as well.  Losing that gut or those love handles will make you feel much better when you go for the final tuxedo fitting.

First, consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise routine.  The last thing you want is to end up hospitalized or injured before your big day.  Walking down the isle on crutches or being pushed in a wheel chair probably won’t be the ideal vision you had for your wedding day! If you’re already into a routine and have experience with fitness then you’re ahead of the curve but for those who are just getting started – go easy and use common sense. If you have any health issues such as bad knees, back or neck injuries, I highly suggest working with a professional trainer who can show you alternate ways to exercise without risking injury.   And diets can be just as dangerous to some people with issues like diabetes – so please consult your health care professional before you start any diet.

I want to start by saying that I am not a professional trainer.  But I am considered an athlete - by definition.  How you ask?  I am an avid runner with over fifteen years of mileage and competitive racing under my belt and I have never been injured during a race or training for a race.  Keep in mind that this article is geared toward running.  It is meant to get you thinking and get you started – SAFELY!  

The next thing you should do once your doctor has cleared you for an exercise program is to get fitted for a pair of running shoes.  Going to a department or big box store and picking up a pair of sneakers for thirty dollars is unacceptable.  Knowing your foot type and getting the correct shoe will save your knees and keep injury at bay.  (I have a friend who did not take my advice and last year ran his first 5K race wearing dime store sneakers – he injured his knee and has not run since.)

Foot Type/Shoe Type: to simplify, there are three foot types: Over-pronators, Under-pronators and normal arch.  Know which one you are and get the correct shoe.  Some of the different types of shoes include: Cushion, Control and Stability.  (It is doubtful that the department store sales staff will even know what you are talking about if you were to ask them about a control shoe for over-pronation!)  My best advice here is to subscribe to or pick up copies of “Runner’s World” magazine.  Besides being written and edited by professionals, they have an annual “Running Shoe Guide” that is worth its weight in gold. Also, find a local sporting goods store that has actual athletes or knowledgeable staff to educate you and get you fitted properly.  If there is a local running club in your area call and ask them where they shop – I’ll bet they are happy to help.  You may even consider joining.  Just Google running clubs in your area. 

The third thing you should do is to purchase a decent chronograph wrist watch.  With it you can count your laps, measure mile times and keep records of your progress.  I purchased a Timex Iron Man Triathlon Chronograph in 1997 and I’m still wearing it today.  I think it cost me all of fifteen dollars.  Again, worth its weight in gold, so trust me, buy the watch.  Some of today’s fancier watches even come with heart rate monitors that have the ability to download to your PC, but they are pricey and not necessary for results. 

Before we go on, I’d like to take a moment to clear up the walking/running controversy.  Many people walk for exercise.  They will argue that it’s just as beneficial and has less chance for injury.  While I agree that it’s better than sitting on the couch and does indeed present less chance for injury, it also presents less chance for fitness and weight loss.  The fact is that aerobic activity is needed to burn excess fat and there is just no substitute for getting your heart rate up for a good twenty minutes. Running does it every time.  Taking the first step is the hard part and if you can keep at it for three months, chances are it will become a lifestyle.  Jumping rope for 15 minutes works wonders as well.

So, you’ve been cleared by your doctor, you’ve got the right shoes and you’ve strapped the watch on your wrist.  But you’re not ready to start just yet – you still need to learn how to work the watch and look up some stretching techniques.  Once you know how to work the new watch, lace up those new running shoes and spend fifteen minutes stretching PROPERLY.   NOW you’re ready to run.  I advise going to the local high school or sports complex and using their track.  Why?  Well, first because it’s measured out for you – usually a quarter mile – which means all you have to do, is count laps. Four times around and you’ve done a mile, eight times is two miles – so on and so forth.  Second, it’s usually coated with rubber which softens the blow to the joints. Your knees will thank you in the long term if you are going to log the serious miles. 

 Once you get on the track, start your chronograph as you take your first step and run your first mile at your own pace.  In other words, don’t try to set a new Olympic record.  The goal here is to find out how fast or slow YOUR body runs the mile in.  Write it down.  This is now your baseline time – the time all other runs will be compared to going forward.  If you can’t make it around the track four times, that’s okay.  Write down how many laps you did.  Either way, however far you run, it’s your new baseline – you can work your way up to a mile later.  The goal is progress without injury – always remember that.  My motto when running is: “Run with your head, not your ego” and NEVER let faster runners or more fit individuals intimidate you.  Some people are natural born runners, some are not.  Some people are naturally athletic while others have to work at it.  What counts is sticking with it and getting results – no matter how long it takes.  (A good rule of thumb that many runners use is that if you cannot carry on a conversation with a partner while you are running, you are running too fast for your fitness level).  And get into the habit of walking one lap around the track after you finish your run, slowing down gradually.  It’s called a cool down lap and it is very beneficial to allow your body to recover properly.  Coming to a complete stop after a hard run isn’t good for your body. And bring a lot of water.  Hydrate before during and after a run.  DRINK YOUR WATER!!

Also, keep a notebook of your progress.  List the date, the distance, the time you ran it in, your heart rate and even the weather and how you felt that day.  Believe it or not, patterns will emerge when you look back on the data.  I even track my weight in my journals just as an added way to see progress. But remember, muscle weighs more than fat so the weight isn’t as important as the fat burning.  You will see your body change if you stick with it.  Don’t forget to spend fifteen minutes stretching properly AFTER the run as well.  Failing to properly stretch and cool down after a run will certainly raise the odds of injury – I guarantee it.  I cannot stress this enough. 

As you begin to gain fitness, the soreness and stiffness will be less of an issue.  Don’t let sore muscles deter you or stop you – they will adapt!  Just be patient and keep at it.  You will see progress.  As an example: Let’s say that you have worked your way up to four laps (1 mile) in ten minutes.  Depending on your goals, you can either try adding a lap or you can start whittling down your lap times.  Personally, I would continue to add laps until the two mile mark.  Once you can run two miles in twenty minutes, you now have your twenty minutes of aerobic activity to facilitate fat burning.  Then, as your body adjusts, try running each lap a little faster in order to bring your total time for the two miles to under the twenty minute mark.   

As you ad laps and nip at the lap times, you’ll find that using this formula you are soon able to gain fitness, run faster miles and run farther – all without injury. But beware!  Be realistic.  Shaving full minutes off of miles can take years.  Yes, years.  So don’t injure yourself trying to be super-human.   It’s a process and some people will never be great runners. (FYI: I found that cross training on my bicycle shaved a minute at a time off of my mile times when training.) 

If you find two miles in twenty minutes works for you as a training run, stay with it.  Over the last fifteen years I’ve run 5Ks, 10 milers and Half-Marathons and my favorite training distance still remains 4.2 miles. Why?   Because if you can run four miles, you’re all set for an easy 5K, which is 3.2 miles and if you want to run a five-miler, adding a few miles isn’t out of the question.  Training for the long races takes up an enormous amount of time, so I don’t recommend it unless you’re interested in becoming a competitive runner.  And if you are new to running, you are years away from taking on a Half or full Marathon anyway– unless you are one of those select few who excel at the sport and become addicted – as I did. It’s also important to remember that running everyday is frowned upon.  Your body needs time to repair itself.  Running every other day is the recommended routine. 

As far as stretching is concerned, I recommend basic stretching techniques.  They can be found on the internet, in any good magazine or inquire from your sports doctor. If you want a really great workout, I am a big fan of P90X – I use it and I love it.  You can find a used set of discs on the internet or go to www.beachbody.com. And order the whole kit. There are many discs in the set that include: Kempo ( kick boxing), Plyometrics (Jump Training), Cardio, Ab Ripper, Yoga, Core Synergistics, Shoulders and Arms, Chest and Back, Legs and Back, Chest Shoulders Triceps, Back and Biceps and X Stretch (which is a disc dedicated to stretching alone and is the ultimate routine for the aspiring runner). 

Once you’re able to run three miles, another way to gain fitness quicker is to enter a 5K.  Having a goal to prepare for will keep you on track and motivated.  You’ll get a free T-shirt, make a few new friends and connect with a community that is just plain fun to be a part of.  You’ll also feel great about yourself – not just because you are more fit, but because you’ve accomplished the goal you set for yourself.  It also makes things official because you can go on line and look at your race times - posted for the world to see.  As you get better, those postings become rites of passage to new levels of running and fitness.  I use every race I run as a benchmark for my next race – always trying to beat my last time. Once you are an accomplished runner, you may even find yourself trying to run one race a month as I used to do back in the day – when I had more time on weekends than I do now.  Needless to say, my race T-shirt collection is awesome! 

One last piece of advice – and I know that many of you will not agree with me.  It’s why I left it for last.  Take it or leave it, here it is: Running with an iPod and ear buds, I say don’t do it – and here’s why:

When you first start training, it’s important to concentrate on your heart rate, your running pace, your form, your stride, your foot strike – all of it.  Rocking out to your favorite tunes can definitely motivate you, but if you don’t have the basics down and you continue to do them wrong, you’re not going to see results and more than likely, you’re going to get injured because of the bad form and inattentiveness which will also ultimately lead to becoming disgusted from lack of results which then leads a person to throw in the towel and just quit fitness.   The same thing happens to those who fail at diets.  They just get disgusted and quit. 

And here is my biggest reason for not wearing headphones when training: I was once chased by a dog on a training run.  Not your run-of-the-mill mutt, mind you, but a big bad Doberman.  The only reason he did not attack was because I heard his tags jingling on his collar as he ran after me and I stopped in my tracks!  He had me cornered against a tree until his owner called him off.  Because a dogs hunting instincts kick in when they see something running, they naturally chase after it – and take it down if they can. When you have a dog chasing you, you’d better stop running or you’re going to get a hunk taken out of you.  And if that weren’t enough to deter you from headphones, consider this. If you can’t hear a dog chasing you, how can you hear an attacker?  I have a co-worker who is a golden gloves boxer.  He was out on a training run and got jumped by a man who tried to mug him as he ran by.  (Why he tried to mug a victim who was not carrying a wallet we still don’t understand!)  Needless to say the mugger got his butt handed to him and learned a hard lesson, but what if this happened to you?  Wearing ear buds for motivation during a race, with hundreds of people around you is one thing, putting yourself at risk when running alone or at night is another. My best advice is to run with a partner if possible, vary your route often so as not to become predictable and if you have to run at night leave the ear buds at home for your own safety.  Be aware of your surroundings at all times and stay alert.   Your focus should be on your body and your technique, not the music!!

I hope this article has been informative and motivational.  I know it’s not directly wedding related, but many of my clients mention getting into their gowns and tuxedos as being as issue during our consultations, so I figured I’d share what I’ve learned about one of my favorite sports over the years.  I hope it helps you toward your fitness goals.  Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment and when you feel good, the world is that much better.  Looking great on your wedding day is the biggest reason to go out and get those new running shoes today!  And if you want to run an upcoming race with me, just give me a call!!

Up-lighting, Photo-booths and Specialization 

One of the latest and fastest growing trends in the wedding industry is the addition of up-lighting and photo booth technology to the wedding package.  Many brides are inquiring about these services and many disc jockey companies have been listening to these requests and are now offering these services as “add-ons” to boost their bottom line. 

Whether the addition of up-lighting or photo booths turns out to be a fad or a trend, still remains to be seen. But I wanted to touch on this subject because there are some things to consider before you go “all in” on these services. And as with many of my blogs and posts, I know that some of my fellow wedding professionals will not agree with me because Christy and I tend to view our business model quite a bit differently from our wedding counterparts, but we have the right to our opinion. After reading this you may or may not agree with us but we are presenting the viewpoint for your consideration.  Let me explain my line of thinking: 

Over the years we have attended a few bridal shows, as guests, to gauge whether or not we were interested in participating in any future shows as wedding vendors.  While we were there, we visited with some of the vendors, paying particular attention to the disc jockeys in attendance. As we went around and picked up business cards from some of our competitors as well as from the other vendors there, we noticed something about a few of the cards that stood out – but not in a good way.  

While the cards listed all of the pertinent information you would expect a business card to have, one line stood out. It started with this claim: “We specialize in…” and then went on to list five, six, or more items that the company “specialized” in. For the sake of this article, I’ll use disc jockey/entertainment services because that’s my wheelhouse. My wife was the one who noticed it and read the card out loud: “Specializing in: parties, christenings, bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, Jack & Jill events, birthday parties, anniversary parties and more!” 

Okay, you and I both know what they are trying to convey, but technically, if you ‘specialize’ in something, it’s only one thing, maybe two. So how is it possible that these companies specialized in so many things?  The answer is that it’s not possible. We’ve all heard the old saying: “Jack of all trades, master of none.” And that brings me back to the subject of this blog and one of the things I want you to think about as you begin your wedding DJ search. 

Let me start by telling you why we do not offer up-lighting and photo booths. When a bride hires Christy and I to provide music and entertainment for a wedding, our focus is totally on the task we were hired to do. My focus is the music and sound, while Christy mainly focuses on the flow of the event, the details of your day and then later, taking requests and helping me to format the songs as those requests come in. That’s it! We can honestly claim, and rightfully so, that “We specialize in weddings”. If I do two to four parties a year, we are lucky. Honestly, unless it’s an adult birthday or anniversary party, we usually refer the client to one of our DJ friends who are better at doing small parties.

I’m not a typical party DJ nor do I pretend to be. By the same token, I am not a lighting technician or a photographer. I do not claim to be, nor do I want to be. The way we see it, it distracts from what you hired us to do for you in the first place.  You only have about two hours to set up for a wedding reception and my time needs to be spent on making sure that my sound system is set up, tested and flawless by the time your first guests are arriving.  Throw in a photo booth set up and up-lighting and that two hour window now becomes critically small.

And here is another piece of information you should check into before you pay for a photo booth – and I have this directly from the lips of many photographers that I have worked with over the years. Many of the top photographers will refuse your business when they find out you have hired a DJ that is providing a photo booth and the reason for this is very valid if you think about it. Many times a DJ will post photos from your photo booth on their web pages or their Facebook account.  While at the same time the bride is posting details about her wedding such as who the DJ was, who they hired as their photographer, caterer, etc., on her Facebook page or on one of the many bridal blogs like The Knot.

As people share information and these pages are shared and linked – guess who gets the blame for the poor quality pictures?  That’s right – the photographer and they don’t appreciate it.  The photo-booth pictures are meant as a keepsake, using humor and whimsy – but since the photos are so easily shared in today’s technological world, you can see how a professional would take offense at being credited for what appear to be “amateur” photos.

Now if the DJ company you choose has a separate lighting division that sends a separate crew out to set up lights, or has a separate crew to set up the photo booth, that changes my opinion slightly.  However, having additional hands to aid in set up still does not make you a lighting technician. Lighting is an art form in itself and I feel it should be done by a true professional if it’s going to be done right. If you've ever tried your hand at interior decorating and you weren't very good at it, you'll understand exactly what I mean. 

Also, the photographers will tell you that in many instances, these "up-lights" turn the photos of your wedding, a bright pink or purple. If you don’t believe it, go to any website featuring pictures of these lights in use and see for yourself. Ten or twenty years from now, how will you feel when someone looks at your cherished photos and says: “Oh, you got married in 2010”?

Simply put, we strongly feel that if a DJ company wants to offer lighting services, it should be done so as a totally separate division of the company – one that hires people who are lighting experts – not DJs turned “up-lighting” salesmen.

So, that’s my take on this subject.  Maybe you agree with us, maybe not, but either way, its food for thought and I hope the information helps you to make a decision on the planning of your most important day.

Till next time…

Hold That Date!

As our 2008 wedding season draws to a close and we gear up for Christmas and holiday events, I wanted to get back to some blogging and quickly touch upon a subject that many times is of great distress for brides; Vendors that do not hold dates for brides and grooms.

While each entertainer has his/her own way of running his/her business, most professionals I know will not hold a date for a client indefinitely without a deposit. Still, many brides will post on blog sites such as (“The Knot”), that they were upset when an entertainer that they met with last month simply “booked their date out from under them”.

While I cannot defend another entertainer when I do not know what was or was not promised, I can say this; when you make a living as an entertainer, many times you must strike while the iron is hot and fill your calendar with the client that is ready to commit to the date. Imagine our frustration when a client leaves our office and days or sometimes even hours later, the phone rings with another bride wanting the same date and willing to meet immediately to sign a contract.

[ It leaves the disc jockey in a tight spot. Do we tell the bride that is ready to book that we have another bride interested in her date, (even though she has left no deposit, and risk losing a paying client), or do we make the appointment and take the commitment from a bride who is ready to secure her entertainer? ]

Please, I’m asking all who read this to pay attention when you meet with your potential entertainers. If they promise to hold your date for you, even if you have left without giving them a deposit, then they should do just that – hold your date. However, if they made it clear that they do not hold dates without a deposit, you must be fully prepared when you walk out of their office without leaving a deposit, that you are playing a game of chance – especially if they are entertainers that are in high demand.

You really have to put yourself in their place before you get upset. Imagine making your living by selling your services and people ask you to commit to them without giving a commitment back to you in the form of a deposit. Where do you stand with that client? Will they call you back to let you know that they chose someone else? Probably not – after all, that’s a difficult message to deliver.

As you may have guessed, the reason for the subject of this blog is because we are faced, as I type this, with two brides wanting the same date and neither one has left a deposit. As you can imagine, one bride is going to very disappointed and there is nothing I can do about it. It’s first come first served and with the economy talking a dive you will be seeing more dates being booked without warning because everyone is going to scramble to fill their calendars as quickly as possible. Money is going to be tight and the most popular entertainers are going to book even faster in 2009 and 2010.

So, if you meet an entertainer that blows you away and comes highly recommended book them. You may want to ask for a few days to think it over, but get back to your vendors with an answer one way or the other. A professional should not take it personally when you choose to book with a competitor. After all, it could be price, personality or simply comfort level that tips the scale in one direction or another.

[ It benefits both parties to know where they stand. We’re not left wondering if a potential client is still interested in our services and the current bride on the phone with us can get a straight and clear answer as to whether or not we are available for their date. ]

Happy planning and see you in 2009!

Ron

UPDATE:
The couple who prompted this blog did not get back to us and lost the date to another couple who came ready to book. We gave the first couple over 4 weeks to think it over, making it very clear that we do not hold dates without a deposit.

Defining Value

Value: 1. A fair equivalent or return for something as in goods or services., 2. Worth as measured in usefulness or importance; merit.

Sounds pretty simple when you read the dictionary's definition, doesn't it? But the reality is that when you sit down to write that check, the palms start to sweat, the butterflies start in the stomach and the second guessing starts and usually continues for a few days after you've written the check.

The problem is that "Value" means different things to different people. Some of our clients place a greater importance on the flowers, some on the cake, while still others find the ceremony or the dress to be the most important consideration.

Just as an example, one of my passions is working on my Jeep 4x4. I have wonderful brand new tools that fill two tool boxes, yet the most cherished tools I own are the ones left to me by my Grandfather. Whenever I get the chance to use one of his tools to complete a job, I feel as though he were here helping me - like he used to when I was young.

The point is that I value those old, beat-up, rusty and worn tools because of what they symbolize to me and if my house were to be robbed, I would hope they took the new tools and left me the ones that mean the most to me. I value the old stuff.

When it comes to vendors, value may take on a slightly different meaning. For instance; Christy and I work as a husband and wife team. She helps our clients with the planning, execution and guidance of the day while I do the heavy lifting, set-up, technical items and the actual entertaining. When you compare us to a DJ that simply shows up the day of your wedding to play the tunes, you can see where value comes into play. You get more bang for the buck with us than you would with an entertainer of the same or lower price who simply entertains.

The same holds true for caterers, photographers, bartenders, etc. How many people are included for the price? What service do each of those people perform? How many of those people will be there the day of the wedding? Do they subcontract or swap out employees without notice? In other words, exactly what are you getting for your money. That's how you should be determining "Value".

The best advice I can give a client is to be sure you are comparing apples to apples. If one disc jockey is half the price of another, ask each of them exactly what they are going to do for you. If both promise exactly the same services and you are on a budget, then obviously you have a valid reason for choosing the cheaper of the two. If, however, the cheaper of the two disc jockeys, does nothing more than play music, you can clearly see why he would be the cheaper of the two. You are simply not getting the same level of service as you would from the more expensive entertainer. Don't forget that a vendors' reputation also comes into play and that's hard to put a price tag on.

If the more expensive DJ will be an asset to not only your planning, but to the actual day itself, then you must consider the value he or she can bring to your day for the extra cash. Also, don't forget that many times those of us who plan weddings can actually save you money in the long run because we can prevent you from making costly mistakes and point you to vendors that we have worked with in the past that are reliable, professional and give you the most value for your hard earned dollar.

Value is something that only you can determine. It's a personal decision that you and your partner must define. Remember to compare like services, consider reputation, then look at price and go with your gut.

See you next month.

Ron

"Take the Honey and Run?"

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