| Talent. Vendors. Services. When you use a destination | | | | scene atmosphere pleasant and people are happy to |
| wedding planner you will usually depend upon them to | | | | be there working. The client may not notice it |
| make recommendations and hire the vendors that will | | | | consciously but it does show. |
| provide various services. | | | | It's up to the wedding planner to make sure that the |
| So then, what do they look at when they decide who | | | | vendors know just what is expected of them. And, if |
| to recommend? | | | | there is a problem, to deal with it gracefully. |
| Some companies do everything in-house. While some | | | | There are a few things that will immediately take a |
| are very good, others are not and hire people for price, | | | | vendor off of my list. Let me rephrase that. There is |
| not talent. They could be maximizing their profit at your | | | | one thing but it can take different forms. The word is |
| expense. Everybody is different and that includes | | | | attitude. I think everybody has had the experience of |
| destination wedding planners. So I will explain my | | | | going into a restaurant and sensing that something isn't |
| evaluation process. | | | | quite right. You may not be able to put your finger on it, |
| 1. Do they do what they do well? If it's a photographer, | | | | but it's there. |
| are the pictures good? But this is the easy part. | | | | A bad attitude can show itself many ways. There's |
| 2. Are they professional? Do they have the insurance | | | | the prima donna; the vendor that thinks he or she is so |
| that they need? Do they show up at or before the | | | | good that it's all about them. Wrong. It's all about you |
| appointed time? Are they dressed appropriately? If | | | | and your wedding. |
| somebody has multiple navel piercings I don't really | | | | Then there's the snippy attitude, often servers show |
| care. Unless I can count them when they are working. | | | | this, and it spreads faster than cholera. It only takes |
| A professional appearance matters. | | | | one person to upset everybody else and it shouldn't be |
| 3. And possibly the most important. Do they play well | | | | tolerated. |
| with other children? It's vitally important that everybody | | | | Each person involved in your wedding should be happy |
| who is providing a service have the overall success of | | | | to be there and happy to work together. If they are, |
| the event as their goal and not just their part of it. This | | | | they will go the extra mile. And I insist on the extra mile. |
| means that everybody is working together and it | | | | So should you. |
| makes a huge difference. It makes the behind the | | | | |