I really am proud of the relationships that I create with each client. Or should I say, with each couple that starts as a client, and ends as friends. For the most part, our clients are fantastic, and I really pride myself in getting to know the ins and outs of each event. Asking the random questions that might seem, well, random in the planning process but certainly will end up mattering on the wedding day or weekend. And it’s my want to love my profession daily, and the clients that I work with daily, that I have set up our standard for beginning the process with each and every potential new client.
Let’s just say, “there is a method to my madness!” No matter the industry, or the profession, there are definite standard practices. Things that you have been taught, or maybe have figured out, throughout your tenure in your profession that just seem to work, and stick. Or, that maybe your higher ups say “this is how we do things.” And while these might seem antiquated, old school, or a little weird, there is usually a “method” behind the standard practice. Have you noticed when you go to a Coach Store, each and every time you purchase an item, the attendant wraps the item ever so carefully, places your product in a bag, and walks around the counter to hand over your purchases. They do not “hand over the goods” with a table or sales wrap in between the purchaser and sales clerk, they walk around, and greet each and every client. At ACE, my team and I, kind of have our own “Coach Experience.” We don’t walk around a sales counter to hand you a bag, but we certainly add an extra step to break down the barrier between us.
We get contacted quite often with potential clients that have done the “research” on their end and want to cut to the chase and find out the price point to work with us; But, they haven’t spoken with us to find out if the services that we offer are what they are looking for, if they understand the difference in a coordinator vs. a planner (we are full service planners, all the way!…and I can explain the difference in another post later if you’d like), but they don’t know if they like us as people! They haven’t asked themselves the questions, do I feel a connection to ACE? Can I trust them? Can I relax and enjoy my day, weekend or event with Team ACE and Antonia at the helm? So many important questions, above and beyond a simple price.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand that” Money Makes the World Go ‘Round” like Liza Manelli sings, but I also understand the value in relationships, experience, and trust.
So how do I combat this little detail that is so very important to the team at Antonia Christianson Events? We always FIRST set up a face to face meeting, video chat or proper conference call. This is the first step to making sure that not only you as the client feels that we are an awesome fit for you, but also us as the planning team feels that each and every new client we take on are an awesome fit for us! Yes, it does go two ways and that is OK! That is better than ok! If we aren’t feeling fully connected to you as a potential new client, don’t feel that the services we offer are truly what you are looking for, or we just don’t honestly hit it off (which is ok too! We can’t expect to be the perfect planning team for each and every potential client) then why should either one of us, force ourselves to work throughout one of the most emotional times in a lifetime just because we asked you to sign on the dotted line without doing the research on our end.
We might be a bit old school, wanting to chat with you first, really laugh and get to know you…but in the end, this is our “Coach Experience” to ensure that you love not only your wedding or event day, but the entire process leading up to it.
