By Jennifer Taylor, Taylor’d Events Group
There is no such thing as a quiet period for the wedding industry – am I right?
Even now, when it’s ‘off season’ and we’re not slammed with back to back events each weekend, we’re in the throes of engagement season and always actively preparing for the months that lie ahead.
Luckily, we all love our businesses and, even more than that, we love weddings. So, despite the fact that your calendar isn’t filled with events at the moment, it’s important that you’re spending your time jumpstarting your wedding season. I promise it will be here before you know it.
So, how can you jumpstart your wedding season so you can be primed and ready to hit the ground running? Read on, my friends – read on.
Organize your to-do’s
There’s no time like the present to sit down and put together a business to-do list. It can be as elaborate or as simple as you like – just make sure it’s comprehensive. Ask yourself what urgently needs to be done for your company and write it at the very top. Underline it, bold it, highlight it – whatever you need to do! Then, ask yourself what other tasks could help your business operations to run smoother and add those to-dos underneath your main priority. Having a list of your tasks is a great visual tool to ensure you’re knocking them out in a timely manner.
Update all of your files
Despite the collective groan that comes with organizing files, this is a must-do for all event professionals. Between April and October, chances are you’ll have just enough spare time to eat and sleep but not to update files that need it. Give your files (whether digital or physical) a run-through and make sure all of your proverbial ducks are in a row. You’ll be grateful you did once your busy season picks up!
Schedule planning meetings
Now is the perfect time to start mapping out the year ahead and getting a head start on those clients’ work. You will be getting new clients in the new year, so you certainly don’t want to fall behind on current client work. Sit down with your clients to plan out their wedding day – it’s always better to do this sooner rather than later!
Meet with your team
Every year, we get together to create off-season chores list – essentially we allocate any and all housekeeping that needs to be done so that we can all work together to prepare for the next season. Divvy up the to-dos between everyone and have a monthly check-in to evaluate progress. Consider adding a reward system into the chore list, just as you would with kids – there’s nothing like a staff lunch out to motivate the team to finally finish that newsletter template.
Try out new tools
There are numerous apps and programs out there to help simplify your life. However, the last thing you want to do is try out a new app on a major wedding with an impending deadline. Experimentation is not for moments when you’re in the thick of things! Take some time to take some apps for a test drive and see if they make the cut for the wedding season. My favorites are Aisle Planner and Wunderlist, but everybody has their own preferences so don’t hesitate to try something new.
Of course, off-season strategies will vary depending on your business and its specific needs, but these tasks are a great foundation to start your push. What are you waiting for?!
Jennifer Taylor is the owner of Taylor’d Events Group, a planning firm that specializes in celebrations of all kinds in the Pacific Northwest and Maui. She is also the creator of The Taylor’d Plan, a self-administered class for wedding planners who are new to the industry and looking to grow and develop their skills.
