WeddingIQ Retrospective: Problem Vendor Series, Revisited

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Problem Vendor Series, Revisited

Guest Contributor
Ethics

(Editor's Note: Our monthlong series of flashbacks to our most relevant, relatable and (in some cases) controversial WeddingIQ posts of all time is almost done - today, Kyle looks back at the five posts we wrote in 2015 calling out problematic behaviors and practices among wedding vendors.)

We don’t always get to choose our A-Team. I would love to collaborate with my favorite vendors every weekend but, alas, sometimes I am forced to photograph among those that are less than professional and oftentimes make my job challenging. When I began my business, I naively thought my only job was to take great photos. Little did I know the political minefield I was entering, working as a cohesive team with vendors I had never met, to bring about such an important event for our clients.

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Styled Shoots - Creative Marketing or Waste of Time, Revisited

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Styled Shoots - Creative Marketing or Waste of Time, Revisited

Guest Contributor
Marketing

(Editor's Note: We're just ONE WEEK away from a huge announcement for WeddingIQ - we can't wait to show you what we've been up to! In the meantime, we continue our retrospective series today with Kyle's look back at her May 2015 post, "Styled Shoots: Creative Marketing or Waste of Time?")

My advice to all involved is decide from the beginning what your goals are for the shoot. Do you want to work with a particular vendor? Do you just want to have the experience of a styled shoot? Or are you expecting to be published and bring recognition to your business? It may be all of the above and then some. Not all styled shoots are created equal, so make sure you are working with people you can trust and openly discuss your goals. Maybe the shoot meets none of your qualifications and you’d be better off declining the opportunity or planning a styled shoot yourself.

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Why "Wedding Confidential" Should Make You Proud, Not Mad, Revisited

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Why "Wedding Confidential" Should Make You Proud, Not Mad, Revisited

Guest Contributor
Wedding Industry, Ethics, Mindset

(Editor's Note: Our monthlong look back at WeddingIQ's most influential posts continues today, as Jennifer revisits her January 2013 article, "Why Wedding Confidential Should Make You Proud, Not Mad.")

If there's one thing I've learned in almost 20 years in the wedding industry, it's that the media will apparently never tire of not only vilifying wedding businesses, but also thinking it's original to do so. The January 2013 episode of the ABC News program 20/20, titled "Wedding Confidential," was no exception.

While the program link in my original article no longer works (evidently, ABC didn't feel the show was worth archiving anywhere - which is no big loss, trust me), my feelings on the program itself remain the same.

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Why Competition Isn't a Bad Thing, Revisited

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Why Competition Isn't a Bad Thing, Revisited

Guest Contributor
Mindset

(Editor's Note: In Kyle's and Jennifer's May 2015 post, "Why Competition Isn't a Bad Thing," we explained how the new hot focus in the wedding industry and other creative fields, that of #communityovercompetition, was both compelling and confusing. Today, Kyle looks back at our original article and shares her current thoughts.)

I don’t know when competition became a dirty word in our industry, but it has done nothing but help me define my business, strive to create better products and services, and serve as inspiration to constantly improve my technique. When I began my business, I spent hours poring over competitors' websites and blogs to research the local market, gain an understanding of pricing structures, then work to set myself apart and create a viable (and competitive) offering to potential clients.

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Why We've Said "No" to Wedding Venues' Marketing Brochures, Revisited

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Why We've Said "No" to Wedding Venues' Marketing Brochures, Revisited

Guest Contributor
Ethics, Wedding Industry, Marketing

(Editor's Note: We're just two weeks away from a BIG announcement for WeddingIQ! In the meantime, we continue our look back at game-changing posts from our past. On the docket today, Jen's May 2012 post, "Why We've Said "No" to Wedding Venues' Marketing Brochures.)

Boy, was I hot under the collar when I wrote this one. I remember so clearly how excited my former business partner and I were when our DJ company started seeing referrals roll in from our favorite venues. It was so validating, like all our hard work was truly paying off, and paying off in spades.

And then, the calls started rolling in. We went from receiving a few requests to advertise in our favorite venues' new marketing books - beautiful, photo-rich books, to be truthful - to receiving dozens. The quality of our referrals dipped. And after a couple of years of this, we said "enough."

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