You've Probably Made These Wedding Etiquette Mistakes!

Wedding etiquette—a series of rules, formalities, and expectations passed down the wedding industry lineage for centuries. And with all the rules to keep up with and follow, you might be missing a few. So quiz yourself, how many of these wedding etiquette mistakes are you making?

Mistake #1: Leaving off the Date and Location on Save the Date Cards

One of the few purposes of the Save the Date card is to let your guests save the date for your upcoming nuptials. Which means, on your save the date cards you’ll have to include when and where the wedding will be. It’s a common courtesy to give your guests this information sooner, rather than later, so that they can save extra travel days (if necessary).

Mistake #2: Selecting an Inconvenient Date and Location

OK, we’re still on the location and date train here, but it’s a big etiquette no-no to plan your wedding on difficult days and in inconvenient places. Yes, we know you’re the bride, but you have to think about your guests too. Although Friday and Sunday weddings are cheaper than Saturday, they tend to put a bit of a strain on your guests who have to make arrangements at work to attend the event.

Mistake #3: Inviting Some and Not Others

It can be tough to narrow down your guest list, be selective, and make a final decision. But one of the biggest etiquette mistakes that a lot of people make is inviting some family members but not others. We understand that you’re really close to one uncle, and that you’ve never met the other uncle, but in terms of etiquette, all uncles should be invited. In situations like this, it’s best to sit down with your family members and draw up a list of all extended family that will need to be included before moving forward with your other guests.

Mistake #4: Inconsistency with Plus Ones

We’ve all heard/seen/experienced it before. Someone brings a plus one that everyone knows will not be sticking around the relationship for very long. And it seems absolutely depressing that you have to allot $40 for this plus one. However, in the laws of all things etiquette, you can’t be wishy washy on who can bring a plus one and who cannot. You have to remain unbiased in the plus one category. Trust us, being unbiased will help you avoid any potential arguments or fights.  

Mistake #5: Not Having Handwritten Labels on Invitations

Now sure, this seems like an archaic etiquette rule but it’s a mistake that should never be made! Weddings are big events, and your guests need to feel that you are excited and that their presence there is important. Whatever you do, ensure that you handwrite your guests’ names on the envelopes.

Mistake #6: Not Personally Greeting Each Guest

You invited over 200 people to your wedding, and now you’re thinking “there’s no way I can speak to every one of them.” Well my friend, failing to speak to all of your guests personally is a big wedding etiquette mistake. Your guests made the effort to be a part of your big day, so make sure your thank them for making it special. 

Alright, tally them up! How many etiquette mistakes have you made? Let us know in the comment section below or share with us on our Facebook page.

And remember, Inspherio is here to help. From planning weddings to organizing your staff information, Inspherio can do it all. It’s also free for the first 30 days. So what do you have to lose? Give Inspherio a try, now!

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Event Guide: Handling Difficult Bridesmaids (and Groomsmen)

You love, love, love, being an event planner. From the flowers, to the taste of the cake, to the exchanging of the vows—there’s nothing better. Well, except for Cranky Candy, Diva Daniella, Whiner Wendy, and Too-Perfect Patty. You know, the bridal party?

As an event planner, you not only deal with the bride’s and groom’s emotions, you also have the bridesmaids’ and groomsmen’s emotions to constantly consider. Ugh! Can you handle anymore?

Although we can’t be there in person to help you handle this “difficult-to-manage” bridal party, we do have some tips that might help.

Bridesmaid (and groomsman) #1- The Drama Queen/King

Forget about it being the bride’s and groom’s special day, it’s all about the Drama Queen/King. This person is out to steal the show, the thunder, the spirit stick, whatever you want to call the special moment. And there are a couple of reasons why they choose to act like this:

• If they are unmarried, they’re most likely jealous
• They envy the attention others are getting
• They’re feeling sad about “losing” a friend, sister, brother, etc.

You can handle the Drama Queen/King bridesmaid and groomsman by pulling them aside and having a heart-to-heart with her/him. You can ask what’s going on or how they’re feeling. By calling into question their feelings, there’s more of a chance they’ll recognize and correct their actions.

Bridesmaid (and groomsman) #2- The Everyone’s a Critic

Not to sound too judgmental, but this bridesmaid/groomsman might just be the toughest to deal with. They’re full of opinions, “advice” and plenty of critique. It can be disheartening for your clients to constantly have their ideas and dreams bashed by somebody else. And this type of bridesmaid/groomsman isn’t just trying to be critical, they might be doing it for these reasons:

• They regret the details they’ve decided for their own wedding
• They can’t accept that their moment is over

During moments like this, your clients will be glad you’re there. As the event planner, if the critic offers advice you and your clients don’t agree with, politely thank them for the help, but don’t waver from your final decision. Or, you can always have your clients give the critic complements of their wedding, but have them insist this is what they would like for their big day. If worst comes to worst, you can always choose to ignore the critic. People tend to give up complaining or criticizing if it’s not being listened to.

Bridesmaid (and groomsman) #3- The Complainer

Let’s just say, having a bridesmaid/groomsman that agrees with every decision but then complains the entire time is tiresome. Every step you make, or any task you ask them to do is a chore. And even more so, it’s hard on your bride and groom to constantly have someone dragging their feet along in the party. This person is probably doing it for one reason:

• Sad they’re “losing” you as a friend, sister, brother, etc.

It’s hard for them to agree and to go along with activities when they’re feeling sad. Unfortunately, there’s no magical line that will make the person feel better about the situation. But your clients could have a one-on-one meeting with the upset bridesmaid/groomsman to ask them how they can help them make feel better. It’s all about being open to communicate, willing to hear how the other person feels, and being there to offer comfort and encouragement.

Bridesmaid (and groomsman) #4- The Have-to-be-Here

They might be their third cousins, twice removed, or best friend of your Uncle Tom, but your clients felt like they had to invite them to be a part of the wedding party. Be it pressure from extended family or friends, your clients should never feel like they have to include someone. Because in the end, a person knows when they’re asked out of obligation, and it will make for a very disinterested bridesmaid/groomsman.

When it comes to situations like this, your clients have to be the ones to decide whether not inviting a person to be in the bridal party will cause too much of a rift or divide in the family. 

For more event tips, keep up with Inspherio. We’ll be here to always offer you advice on everything from flower arrangements to handling the bridal party. And if you haven’t already done so, sign up for a free 30-day trial of Inspherio. It’s the business management solution tailored just for event professionals, like you.  

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3 Reasons Why You Should Share Your Event Planning Secrets

Event planners need to share their secrets. Yes, really! During my time as an event planner, I’ve noticed one major aspect of this industry: it’s guarded and secretive. Try to ask a fellow event planner about a design idea of theirs and you’ll probably get a politician sort of answer, where they skirt around the question and talk about something else. You say, well what about books? Aren’t event planning books designed with all the need-to-know secrets? Nope! Books and event planning certifications are chock-full of how to run a wedding and technical advice, but they contain no realistic details or help when it comes to a planning and designing an event.

What gives? As many other event planners will tell you, the event planning industry is oversaturated with people, making competition a huge deal. Well, let me just say this, event planners, there’s enough people getting married out there for everyone to have a slice of the pie. If my Facebook feed is any indication of the weddings to come, there will be plenty of need for event planners. But if you need more convincing to get you to share your secrets, here are three additional reasons!

Reason #1- The Right Client

Event planners all have unique styles and techniques for how they plan/design weddings. A client might approach you with an idea for their wedding, or have eclectic requests that simply don’t fit your style of design. What do you do? Do you force it and try to make it work? Well, if you knew another event planner’s style and design, you could recommend the client to try their services instead and vice versa.

Don’t force yourself to work with a client that isn’t a good fit for your business. Define your niche and what makes you, you in the event planning industry!

Reason #2- Raise the Bar

Thanks to Pinterest, everybody thinks a professional event planner is irrelevant. This only makes the argument for sharing your secrets stronger!  When you share ideas, trends, and styles with your fellow event planner, you are setting the bar—no one else!

Work together and take the event planning industry back from the DIYer. Start working together to do so, today.

Reason #3- Inspiration

Although you might share your idea with a fellow event planner, we’re all individuals and will have a different way of creating something. What you do to gain clients, decorate a reception area, or stay organized is what works for you, but it can also be inspiration for someone else to find what works best for them. Sharing secrets can help you become someone’s inspiration!

There’s plenty of fish in the sea, so don’t be afraid to share your secrets with your fellow event planners. When you do, not only are you helping the industry grow stronger, you’re honing your skills and standing out in the crowd as a voice of the industry. Here at Inspherio, we’re an open book! Stay tuned to hear all our secrets on how to be successful in the event planning industry. Or to stay a step ahead, join Inspherio. It’s the business management solution designed exclusively for the event planning industry. We’ll help you plan your success. And did we mention, it’s free for 30 days?

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5 Reasons to Start Your Year with Inpsherio

It’s the new year, and do you know what that means? Time to set some goals, make resolutions, and dream bigger than you did last year. And what better way to make it all happen than with Inspherio.

Inspherio is an event professional’s dream, helping you manage all aspects of your business from finances to contracts, while also helping you plan events. Sounds unbelievable, right? Well believe it! Check out the five reasons to start your year with Inspherio, and let us know we convinced you by joining our program.

Reason #1: The Dashboard

Wouldn’t it be great not to have to search all over your computer for important documents, finance reports, or contact information? We thought so, which is why we created the dashboard, giving you the power to keep everything organized in one online location. That’s right, everything you will ever need for your business can be found on the dashboard. You can view pending documents, see a snapshot of tasks and your calendar of events, and so much more.

Reason #2: The Cost

We know you don’t do what you do for the money—it’s seeing the look on your client’s face when they see your great work. At Inspherio, it’s not about the money, it’s about helping you plan your success. We’re proud to offer low-cost plans for every type of event professional.

Reason #3: The Features

It wouldn’t be a business management solution without amazing features, am I right? From our information on leads, to the Know Your Event form, Inspherio has all the features you’ll ever need to plan dream events. And when you sign up for a free trial, you’ll have access to all of them. Don’t you want to see what Inspherio can do for you?

Reason #4: Inspiration

Here at Inspherio, we do more than just provide you with features. We also provide you with inspiration and ideas. With our blogs and social media, we’ll share with you all the ideas, trends, and suggestions that are circulating through the event industry. We’ll be your one-stop-shop for all things event.

Reason #5: World-Class Support

How many business management solutions offer 24/7 support? Well, I know of at least one—Inspherio. The Inspherio Crew is in the office Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm, ready to answer any questions you ask, whether it’s via phone, email, or live chat. But we don’t stop there, we always offer 24/7 email support to all of our users. Any problem you have, you just let us know and we’ll help you fix it.

So what are you waiting for? Start your new year off right with Inspherio! It’s free for the first 30 days. We’ll be here ready to help you plan your success.

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5 Fool-Proof Ways to Get Ready for Engagement Season!

Holiday lights aren’t the only thing sparkling this season. Oh yeah, step aside Santa, it’s engagement season! Couples are giddy, dreaming about their new life and their perfect wedding. This is a (as Donald Trump would say) HUGE time for wedding planners. So are you ready to gain new clients, plan beautiful weddings, and make some money? Here are 5 fool-proof ways to get you ready to handle the engagement season rush.

1. Revamp and Dust Yourself off

How long has it been since you last updated your logo or tagline?  Well, the time to attract more people is now. It’s time to dust your marketing materials off and give them a fresh look. Whether that means you need to make yourself new business cards, update your email marketing content, or change your social media images, anything that gives your business there appearance of change can help. So do it!

2. Evaluate Your Pricing

Is what you’re offering competitive? Is it fair? These are questions you should be asking yourself as your prepare for engagement season. One of the first items on a couple’s budget and to-do list is finding a wedding planner. So you might want to start thinking about updating your prices before the beginning of the new year. Our advice is to increase your prices by 10%. If your services cost $5,000, you’ll up your prices by $500. Not too bad of an increase if you ask us.

3. Give Your Website a Facelift

Online is the first place people turn to to find a wedding planner, which means your website is the first impression they get of your services—make it count. Your website has an estimated three seconds to make a good impression, pretty stressful, right? Our suggestion is to post as many pictures as possible on your site. The reason sites like Pinterest are so successful is because they help bring the vision to life. By using images of the style and previous weddings you’ve planned, potential clients will be more trusting of what you can do for them.

4. Add to Your Vendor List

You have a small group of vendors that you’ve worked with for a while; we think that’s great! However, it might be time to update and find more vendors to add to your list. Couples trust that you can find the services they need for their event. Our advice is to branch out a little and find vendors who offer a variety of services. Your potential clients will be more inclined to use your services if they see you offer a wide range of vendors to choose from.

5. Trust in Inspherio

Inspherio is designed to be your all-in-one event planning program. We have features that can help you manage your business a little easier. From Know Your Event, to Invoices and Contracts, to keeping all of your events organized, you’ll wonder how you ever did business without Inspherio. And the best part—we offer world-class support. So we’re always there anytime you need us, day and night!

Don’t let engagement season take over! Get your business ready with these tips, and trust Inspherio to help you plan the perfect event. Like we always say, we’re here to help you plan your success.

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11 Adorable Ways to Include Pets in a Wedding

Everyone will be there—mom, dad, brother, second cousin once removed, so why not Fido? Our thoughts exactly! With their sloppy kisses, cold noses, and outstanding love for their owners, a pet is the perfect guest to invite on the big day—you can even give them a special part to play. Check out this 11 adorable ways to include pets on the big day!

1. Flower Girl or Ring Bearer

Don’t have a flower girl or ring bearer in mind to walk down the aisle? Why not a furry friend? And no, not the soon-to-be brother-in-law—a pet! Keep in mind though, the pet might steal some spotlight so be willing to share.

Our advice for this idea is for you to attach a faux ring to the collar. You don’t need a lose dog wandering off with a pricey ring attached. And if you’re thinking about adding decor to their leash or collar, make sure it’s not toxic for them. Florists know which flowers to avoid, and which will be the perfect substitute—trust them!

2. Charm or Cufflink

Ever thought about personalizing your wedding attire? If not, consider designing cufflinks or a charm to help keep your pet at your side during the wedding. Talk about sentimental feelings!

3. Getting Ready

If you’re thinking, “hm, maybe having a pet during the event wouldn’t be a good idea,” don’t worry, you can still include them—just differently. When you or your clients are getting ready, you can always invite the pet to be a part of it. Photographers love to capture pictures of the bridal party getting ready, making this a perfect time to snap a few pictures with your furry friend in the background.

Our advice, make sure the venue you are getting ready at is OK with pets, and try to have your pet professionally groomed before their big photo opportunity.

4. Vows

You’re making a vow to each other, ever thought about adding your furbabies into the commitment too? Promise each other you’ll commit to raising and loving your children (no matter if they’re furry or not). Why not start that commitment by adding a line about your pets in your vow!

5. Formal Photoshoot

Pets love pictures, so why not include them in some after the main event? Dress them up with a tie or flower collar and take some shots with them. Photographs can capture your love and your pet’s love in the same moment. Plus, it’s something you can hold onto forever. How sweet is that?

Our advice would be to ensure that your pets get all of their wiggles out. They’ll need to hold still for the photographer.

6. Engagement Photos

Engagement photos are taken months prior to your event, and are a good time to include your pet. If you’re worried about who will take care of the pet during the event, or who will watch it over the honeymoon period, maybe it’s best if man’s best friend misses the big event. This is where engagement photos play an important part! You can book a session with a photographer for a day and capture all the great memories without the worry.

7. Photo by the Guest Book

Find the cutest picture of the pet, decorate the frame, and place it beside the guest book. This is the surest way for guests to catch a glimpse of the special, furry family member. You can attach a caption along the bottom of the frame to welcome guests to the event from your pet friend.

8. Wedding Favors

You have the wedding favors set, but did you include a favor for your guests’ pets? You should! Including a dog treat with a cute message from your pet to theirs is a nice added touch.

Our advice, however, is to either purchase dog treats or ensure that if you make them you only add ingredients that are safe for animals.

9. Bouquet Charm

Why not purchase a small token or reminder of your pet and add it to your bouquet? It’s a simple decor that can bring happiness to you and your spouse every time you look down at your wedding flowers.

10. Cake Topper

Dedicate a small portion of the cake to miniature replicas of the pets. You can either purchase a cake topper that represents you, your new spouse, and your pet. Or, you can just add a small token along the bottom of the cake. It lets your pet share in the special moment (and enjoy the cake) with you.

11.Stationery

OK, so maybe your pet is too rambunctious, and you’re worried they might steal the show in a not-so-good way. Well, they can still be a part of the big day, but maybe in 2D format instead of 3D. You can hang or set pictures of the pet on tables, in your invitation, save the date, etc. The options when it comes to stationery and your pet are endless.

Our advice is to be sure you worked the extra cost of printing images on photo paper into your budget. 

So whether they’re furry, have four legs or have wings, be sure to do something special for those who spend their whole life loving you unconditionally. Although we would love to watch the pet for the big day, we’re still here to help you with any of your event planning needs. Did you know we offer world-class 24/7 support? But in closing, make your day that much more special by finding a spot at the event for all the furbabies! Because really, who could resist a face like this?

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Snapshot: 10 Brilliant Inspherio Features to Fall in Love With

You heard us correctly! We want you to fall in love with Inspherio, the only business management solution designed just for the event industry. As much as this sounds like promotional material or us tooting our own horn (toot toot), we honestly just want to make managing your business a little, OK a lot easier! Want to know how we do it?

We do the work for you!

That’s right! Here at Inspherio, we’ve designed everything to make owning a business seem like a dream.

Our Features

From managing your leads, to keeping track of your contacts and invoices, we’ve got you covered.

1. The Dashboard- The complete overview of your organization, where you can view pending business information, and see a snapshot of your calendar and events.

2. Leads- Time to leave the rolodex at home and use Inspherio’s Lead feature instead. You can organize and keep all of your potential customers’ information in one online location.

3. Packages- Who said you have to be ordinary when you can customize with Inspherio? You can create specialized pricing packages to send to your clients.

4. The Know Your Event Form- Isn’t it time you really got to know your event? We thought so too! Send your clients the questions you really need answered before you begin the planning process.

5. Contracts- Protect yourself from any potential disaster, whether it’s Bridezilla or the rain by having a contract in place. We’ll even provide you with a sample form.

Related: Event Contracts: Your Armor and Your Shield

6. Invoice- Who wants to spend all of their time worrying about invoices, when you can let Inspherio take care of it for you. We have reminders, auto-generated forms, and even billable expense options to make your life easier.  

7. Itinerary- Don’t panic the day of your event and help keep everyone on time with the Itinerary feature that can be accessed anytime and from anywhere.

Related: Keep on Schedule with the Itinerary Feature from Inspherio

8. Guest List- Never lose track of who’s attending again when you use the Guest List feature. You can help your clients plan their guest list, and you can even send invitations out from Inspherio.

9. Payments- Although it’s not fun to talk about, everyone needs to get paid, which is why we made it easy to accept and process payments instantly through our online payment gateways.

10. Marketing- The best way to grow your business is to promote it, and that’s where we come in! With our email marketing or other promotional campaigns, you can grow your business in no time!

Related: Follow-Up Emails: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Although the list stops there, there are plenty more Inspherio features for you to check out! And don’t just take our word for it, give Inspherio a try free for 15 days; you’ll see what we mean when we say we’re the only event business management solution you’ll ever need.

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