Kickbacks and Commissions in the Wedding Industry

We found this interesting article about kickbacks for wedding vendors.  Read here:

Preston Bailey did a blog post yesterday on transparency and vendor kickbacks and fees and it prompted me to pull out a post I have had sitting in drafts for a while.

It is a dirty little secret of the industry that some planners charge kickbacks to vendors in order to recommend them.  It is more common in cities on the coast but it is certainly happening here in Columbus as well.

This is long so click below to read more….

So, here is how it works – a planner charges a lower fee to a couple (usually WELL below market value) and then the planner shakes down vendors for kickbacks and referral fees.  They will then push those vendors that are willing to pay the kickbacks onto couples whether they are a good fit for the couple or not.

Let’s be honest here – this sucks.

A professional wedding planner charges a fee to the couple and then represents them and their best interests during the planning.  In my opinion, a professional planner should not take kickbacks or commissions from vendors for recommending them.  If they do, you have to ask is the couple getting the best fit for them in the recommendations or the best fit for this planner’s bottom line?  And in the end where does the planner’s loyalty lie?  If they are taking money from people other than their client – their loyalty isn’t with their client and it becomes a huge conflict of interest.

Beyond dealing with a dishonest planner, there is another reason this is a bad idea for you as a bride or groom.  It will likely cost you money and/or quality of service from the vendor.

Consider this scenario – Mr. Photographer charges $3000 for their most popular package.  Most business people know that they are going to need to work with a certain number of clients at a certain price to make a living.  If Mr. Photographer usually books 25 weddings a year at $3000, he will make $75,000 gross.  Take out at least 1/3 for taxes, at least another 1/3 for camera equipment and studio rental and albums and prints and other general business costs and he is likely taking home less than $25,000 a year.  Also, only shooting 25 weddings a year allows him to meet with each couple and really get to know them through meetings and engagement shoots, allows him to edit every picture to perfection and means he averages about a 1 month turn around time on pictures.

So, Kickback Planner (KBP from here on out) comes along and says, I need 15% of your fee to recommend you.  If Mr. Photographer agrees and KBP’s clients book him, Mr. Photographer is only going to make $2550 on that wedding.  Now, let’s say that KBP brings him 15 weddings out of the 25 he normally books.  His gross profit drops to $68,250 for doing exactly the same amount of work! Heck of a pay cut for doing nothing different, huh?

Mr. Photographer now has two choices: figure out how to live on less money and have fewer expenses or find a way to make more money.

Read the rest of the article:

http://blog.emilieduncan.net/kickbacks-and-commissions-in-the-wedding-industry

What Benefits are Included When Hiring a Wedding Planner?

Being the most populated city, Los Angeles is a sought out wedding destination for many couples across the United States.  Weddings are one of the biggest occasions in a person's life, but planning them can be exhausting and stressful.  Luckily, there are many wedding planners in Los Angeles that offer packages and cost effective solutions.  If you want to make sure that every detail of your wedding is organized, you must hire a wedding planner.  

http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/how-will-a-wedding-planner-in-los-angeles-benefit-my-wedding/

What Does a Wedding Planner Do?

In such a competitive city, wedding planners in Los Angeles have a lot to prove. The main goal of an established wedding planner to make the engaged couple feel at ease with their wedding plans, and give them confidence that their wedding will be a success. Wedding planners are and must be extremely organized a professional. They also must have the ability to predict the clients needs and satisfy them.

 http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/what-do-wedding-planners-do-exactly/

Saving Money With a Wedding Planner

Planning your wedding can become very costly.  There is a certain kind of flair and glamour in today's wedding ceremonies and receptions.  A wedding planner can facilitate the planning process and make it a successful wedding.  A wedding planner can tell you which venders have the best prices, and also might get you an additional discount due to their relationship with a vender. 

http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/will-wedding-planners-in-los-angeles-be-able-to-save-me-money/

Organizing You Wedding Plans Is A Must

All aspects of your wedding should be carefully organized and planned.  Doing so will guarantee the success of your wedding.  Luckily there are many wedding planners, and wedding planning companies that will do this for you.  These wedding planners will take all stress away from you, and allow you to enjoy more time with your fiance and other things leading up to you wedding.  

http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/kim-ruha-a-los-angeles-wedding-planner-explains-how-organization-is-key-to-a-successful-wedding/

The Best Way to Find A Wedding Planner

Many difficult decision go into planning a successful wedding.  It is a challenge for only two people (the bride and groom) to handle everything in regards to the wedding.  Many couples look to hire wedding planners, but the task of picking a wedding planner can be just as overwhelming as the wedding plans themselves.  Although stressful in choosing a wedding planner, once hired they will take the stress away by coordinating everything for you.

http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/what-is-the-best-way-to-find-a-wedding-planner/

How To Know If Your Wedding Planner Charges Reasonable Fees

How much is a reasonable charge?  Some wedding planners charge a percentage of the total cost of the wedding and others charge per hour.  The percentage of the total cost should be about 10 to 15%.  It is important to incorporate your wedding planner fees in your budget from the beginning of your planning.  

http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/what-are-reasonable-fees-to-pay-your-wedding-planner-that-all-depends/

How Much Do Wedding Planners Cost?

we found this article for you to read about wedding planner costs!

Wedding planners can be invaluable vendors for the busy bride and groom, but many worry that they are expensive and unaffordable. The truth is that the cost of wedding planners vary widely, and most couples can afford to hire someone to help them with at least a portion of their big event.

• Full-scale Wedding Planners handle things from beginning to end, designing the look and feel, keep things organized, find and manage vendors, and coordinate everything on the actual day. They might attend meetings without you, make decisions on your behalf, and find many ways to make things easier for you. They charge between 10% and 20% of your total budget, depending on their experience and the size and scope of your event.
  
• Day-Of Wedding Planners make sure your wedding day goes smoothly, create timelines, confirm vendors, and coordinate all details on the actual day. They typically charge a flat fee between $500 and $2000, depending on their experience, the size and scope of your event, and the prevailing costs in your local area.
  
• Coordinators and Consultants Most couples are looking for wedding planners that do more than a day-of-coordinator but don't cost as much as the full-service couture event designers. The wedding planners that most hire will help you get organized, create budgets, schedules and timelines, give advice, and help avoid pitfalls. But make no mistake - you'll still be responsible for a fair amount of the work. You'll make phone calls and send emails, find vendors, attend meetings – sometimes on your own, and make hard decisions. These wedding planners typically charge between 5% and 15% of your total wedding budget.

Before you hire anyone or sign a contract, make sure you understand more about what different kinds of wedding planners do.

http://weddings.about.com/od/weddingplanners/a/weddingplannerscost.htm

Fall Wedding Trends

Read this article on Fall Wedding Trends:

Summer is coming to an end and fall is right around the corner, but we're not sad to see it go -- there are some great wedding trends to look forward to next season!

Designer Melissa Sweet stopped by HuffPost Live this week to discuss the biggest fall wedding dress trends. Sweet noted that short dresses, illusion necklines and deeper shades of ivory are emerging as leading trends, and that dramatic backs -- one of thebiggest trends on the spring bridal runways -- will continue to be popular next season.

"You hope your photographer gets a picture of you from the back -- the right shot. You want that for your album," Sweet said.

Watch the video above for more on the hottest dress trends (and click here to see the full segment), then click through the slideshow below for more fall wedding dress ideas.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/09/fall-wedding_n_3733256.html

Wedding Planning As Easy as ABC with Wedding Planners in Los Angeles

Every girl dreams of the perfect wedding day when you walk down that golden aisle, and into the arms of the man you love. However, preparing to walk down the aisle can be stressful to say the least. With all the details that partners have to face, there is a chance that they will miss something. But the good news is, couples can lessen the stress and enjoy tying the knot with the help of wedding consultants. Memories By Design, a professional team of wedding planners in Los Angeles, offers free consultation to brides and grooms-to-be who want to have the perfect wedding – from the ceremony down to the typeface of their place cards. The team works closely with providers who are highly known in organizing different kinds of events here and abroad. Memories By Design understands that couples need more time to prepare themselves emotionally; thus, the team is willing to help them to deal with the nitty-gritty details and make their wedding day an affair to remember.

http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/los-angeles-wedding-planners-offer-free-consultations-for-couples/