Wedding Planner Pro Files
CWP Society is proud to produce the "Wedding Planner Pro Files" podcast!
Laurie Hartwell & Krisy Thomas, award-winning Master Certified Wedding Planners and Industry Educators from the CWP Society, discuss the real lives of wedding planners and professionals, dispense business tips, and share ways you can elevate yourself and your career in the wedding industry.
Visit the CWP Society website for more information: www.cwpsociety.com
Wedding Planner Pro Files
Lady Whistlewed: The Hidden Costs of Underpricing
What if underpricing your wedding planning services is hurting you more than you think? Tune in as Laurie Hartwell and Krisy Thomas explore this pivotal issue, drawing inspiration from Lady Whistlewed's latest column. Through the cautionary tale of Miss Amelia Flairfax, we shed light on the dangers of undervaluing your expertise, which can lead to burnout and financial woes. Discover how education and certification through the Certified Wedding Planner Society (CWPS) can equip you with the essential strategies to confidently assert your worth, ensuring both professional growth and industry-wide respect.
In our discussion, we also tackle the widespread misinformation in the wedding planning industry and how differing service packages can confuse clients about pricing. Learn why detailed inquiries and efficient software tools are crucial for clarity and success. Whether you're just starting or are a seasoned planner, proper education and certification can standardize best practices and elevate the overall quality of the industry. We invite you to join the CWPS community to gain access to invaluable resources, supportive networking opportunities, and membership tiers tailored to every career stage. Visit cwpsociety.com and find out how joining the CWPS can transform your professional journey.
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You're listening to the Wedding Planner Profiles Podcast brought to you by the CWP Society. Welcome to the Wedding Planner Profiles Podcast brought to you by the CWP Society, the world's leading wedding planner certification program and the largest network of wedding professionals. Your hosts for today's episode are Lori Hartwell, founder of the CWP Society, and Chrissy Thomas, the Society's Vice President. In this episode, they'll be examining the latest column from Lady Whistlewed, a prominent voice in the wedding planning community. First, you will hear Lady Whistlewed's most recent piece read aloud. Then Lori and Chrissy will share their thoughts and insights, breaking down what this means for today's wedding planners. So let's listen in to Lady Whistlewed's latest column.
Speaker 2:Dear Gentle Reader, today I find myself compelled to address a matter of utmost delicacy within the esteemed circle of wedding planners. The topic at hand is one that oft causes furrowed brows and hushed whispers among our society the art of proper remuneration for one's services into reality for our betrothed couples. I implore you to consider the grave importance of charging appropriately for your invaluable expertise. Just as a fine silk gown commands a price befitting its quality, so too should your services reflect the true worth of your talents and efforts. It has come to my attention that some among our ranks may be undervaluing their contributions, perhaps out of a misplaced sense of modesty or an eagerness to secure commissions. However, I must caution against such practices, for they do a disservice not only to oneself but to the profession as a whole. Consider, if you will, the plight of Miss Amelia Flarefax, a planner of considerable talent who, in her early days? Amelia Flarefax, a planner of considerable talent who, in her early days, charged but a pittance for her services. While her calendar overflowed with engagements, her coffers remained woefully empty and her health suffered from the strain of endless toil. How different might her fate have been had she recognized the true value of her expertise from the outset. Yet let it not be said that Lady Whistlewed casts aspersions on those who may be struggling with this delicate balance Nay, for I understand that the path to proper pricing is oft fraught with uncertainty and trepidation.
Speaker 2:Instead of judgment, I offer a suggestion to those who find themselves adrift in the tempestuous seas of financial negotiations. For those planners who wish to gain a firmer grasp on the intricacies of pricing and the true value of their services, I humbly recommend seeking certification through the esteemed CWP Society. This venerable institution offers not only instruction in the finer points of wedding planning, but also imparts crucial knowledge on the business aspects of our profession. Through such education, one might gain the confidence to charge fees that truly reflect the scope and quality of their work. Moreover, the networking opportunities afforded by the CWP Society can provide invaluable insights from seasoned professionals who have successfully navigated these waters.
Speaker 2:Remember, dear planners, that by valuing your own work appropriately, you elevate not only yourselves but the entire profession. A rising tide, after all, lifts all boats. In closing, I beseech you to approach the matter of pricing with the same care and consideration you bring to every wedding you plan, for in doing so, you ensure not only your own prosperity but the continued flourishing of this noble profession Until next time when we shall perhaps discuss the latest scandal in wedding color palettes or the shocking rise of unconventional venues. I remain your faithful chronicler of all matters matrimonial Yours, in advocacy for fair compensation and professional growth, lady Whistlewed.
Speaker 3:Hey everyone, lori and Chrissy here, so glad to have you guys listening in. So, chrissy, tell me what was your take on Lady Whistlewood's latest column.
Speaker 4:I'm actually quite glad that she covered this topic because she did mention, you know, hushed whispers among society, and I do believe this is a topic that doesn't get talked about that often. You know, when you talk about money and pricing, it can sometimes be a little hush hush, and that is in fact, not. That's not how we roll here at the CDBP Society. In fact, we talk about pricing very in depth in our certification course. I believe it's six hours of conversation about pricing. But that's because it's something that a lot of people make mistakes with and that, again, because it's not talked about that often or among other planners, it's causing the mistake to get even bigger and bigger, and I love that she's bringing this to the forefront for us to really have an in-depth conversation about how wedding planners are either undercharging, not charging their value, and how that really does not only impact them but also the industry as a whole.
Speaker 3:It really does, and I know that in the beginning of some careers, you're not always sure exactly what you're supposed to be charging. You're kind of guesstimating, if you will. The problem, though, is when you are charging too low, it doesn't just hurt yourself and your business, but it does hurt the entire industry. But a lot of times, too, you're only going to make that mistake one or two times because you realize, after the first couple of weddings you're like, wow, that was a little bit more than I thought it was going to be. This is harder than I had originally assumed that it would be, and then they start charging a little bit higher, but it just seems like sometimes it takes a little longer for people than I would like to see, and that's why I think it's so important that getting educated in the field that you wanna go into is incredibly important.
Speaker 3:Now let's say you're a couple of years into your career, right, you're a wedding planner. You have a right, you're a wedding planner, you have a website, you've had a few clients. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't start getting education as soon as possible. And let's say you've got 10, 15 years of experience in the wedding industry. That, too, does not mean you do not need to have the vital information that educators like myself and you really want wedding planners to have so that they can start charging appropriately and that means not too much either. I mean, let's stop pretending like we're curing cancer and that we're doctors and these big scientists making huge discoveries. That's not what we are. But we are important, we are vital and we do need to charge for the amount of work that we put in, and it's a very, very important job that we need to make sure we're getting paid appropriately for.
Speaker 4:And it's so funny that you mentioned, you know, after the first couple of weddings I honestly I realized after the first couple of hours of first wedding that I severely undercharged myself. I was one of the lucky planners, though, where I booked a client, found the CDBP society and then, at that point, was able to adjust and modify my pricing to really truly reflect what work was actually being put in, and that is something that we talk about during our certification courses. It's not just how much your package should be. We got to think a little bit deeper. How much do you want to make? How much are your bills? How many hours are you putting into each and every single package to make sure that, a you're being paid what you're supposed to be paying because of the work that you're doing, but B like you mentioned, that you're not overcharging and you're doing less work than what your couples are actually paying for.
Speaker 4:So it is a fine line, it is a fine balance that, to me, like you said, comes with actual education, because a mistake I see a lot of planners making, whether they're new or been in the industry for a while, is they're comparing themselves to the planners in their market, which, in theory, sounds like a really good idea, but we may not realize what their packages actually entail, what's included in their packages, why they charge, what they charge for. These packages could be very differently than what you and your business and how your business operates. So, again, pricing can just be one big giant bowl of mistakes, and that's why we do spend so much time on it, because we want to make sure that our certified planners are charging appropriately for all aspects of what pricing should look like and how that should be reflected.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. And you know being okay with the fact that maybe you've been doing it wrong and it's okay. It's okay, but we can fix it today. Let's go ahead and know that maybe we were charging inappropriately before now, but let's go ahead and start charging accurately today. You can go ahead and make those changes to your contracts, to your packages, so that everything from this moment on is done correctly. And you're right, I do spend an enormous amount of time talking about pricing and packaging. It's just you know, and way more than when you first got certified Right, Way more, you know. Add five hours to that conversation, and so you know.
Speaker 3:One of the things that I am always just amazed of is that a wedding planner will say to another wedding planner so what do you charge for? Month of coordination? Well, a couple of things go into play here. Number one the person you just asked that question to is probably going to be very hesitant to tell you exactly what it is that they're charging. But let's say they're not. Let's say they're very open and transparent with it. They're very open and transparent with it. If they gave you an answer, who's to say that their wedding day management package looks exactly like yours and includes the same amount of hours, the same amount of services, and so it doesn't. And so now what's happening is people are getting misinformation. This is how misinformation is spread is that particular person might give more, like a partial service within their wedding day management package, and that person who asked the question really has a very true to heart, very straightforward month of coordination package.
Speaker 3:So when you're asking how much they're charging and they're telling you $2,500 or $3,000 and they live in a standard city, not one of the big cities, you might be thinking as a planner, like, oh my gosh, could I possibly be this far off the mark? And the truth is it's because you didn't ask follow-up questions. What do you include in those packages? How many hours are included there? What types of software are you using to make things go a little bit faster so that you are able to charge a little bit less? And so there's so many factors that go into play.
Speaker 3:And wedding planners today I'm seeing these mistakes with brand spanking new planners, but I'm also seeing a ton more than I should from wedding planners who have been in the industry more than 10 years, all the way up to 30 years of experience. We all need to get on the same page, and I know that there's also a completely different opinions on should I be charging flat rate? Should I be charging percentages? We also dive a lot into the differences there within our wedding planner certification program.
Speaker 3:So if you want the answers to all of these questions and you want to get to the point where you feel super comfortable, I'm going to suggest very heavily that you get your education and not see that as a problem. Don't see this as an issue for yourself. See education as an investment in your future so that you can become even better than you are today. And then what you don't even realize you get once you get certified through CWPS is you get the family, the network of wedding planners and wedding professionals, where now we're all seeing eye to eye, and now we can have the real conversations and break things down a little bit further, because now we're all coming at things from the right perspective, the same perspective and on the same footing, and I think that that's really a very important piece of the puzzle.
Speaker 4:I think so, too, because, for me, all that does is not only elevate you and your business, but it's going to elevate your market. It's going to elevate the industry whenever, if everyone is getting this baseline education and charging what that we should be charging, based on our market, based on your packages all it does is elevate us and it truly allows couples to see the true value in a wedding planner, because that's what happens whenever you are undercharging or even overcharging is that people aren't seeing the value in hiring you as their wedding planner. So let's combat that together, all join forces and combat that issue and be charging a fair rate.
Speaker 3:I agree, because you know what to your point. It's kind of amazing how we're all going in millions of different directions as wedding planners and but we're. We think that we're all marching down the same path, going in the same direction, but we're not. We're not, and I'm seeing it every day. You're seeing it every day.
Speaker 3:What we need to do is make sure that we all put on glasses that give us that 2020 vision, so that we can all see, oh wow, I was going in the opposite direction. It's all my fellow CWPs Am I going in the right direction or are they going in the wrong direction? Or vice versa, Like, what's the deal? And having great information from reputable sources like CWP society is going to be vital. It's going to be where it's at, because we you and I have one interest in one interest only, and that is to make sure that we're elevating wedding planners across the globe, and we only want them to be successful. We only want them to feel like they've got everything that they need, so that you know they can make really good and educated decisions for themselves.
Speaker 3:Don't make financial decisions based off of what someone in a different situation is having to do or needing to do or wanting to do. Their situation is very different than yours. So let's make sure that we're focused on what you do, why you do it and what you need to get out of it, and make sure that, just like you're supposed to be curating the experience for your couples, that you're curating a business specifically built for you and for your needs. So thank all of you for listening to the Wedding Planner Profiles podcast and if you're not yet a member of the CWP Society, we would absolutely love to welcome you in. Simply go to our website, cwpsocietycom and learn how you can join.
Speaker 1:And now a message from Lady Whistlewed herself.
Speaker 5:Dearest gentle listeners, it is I, lady Whistlewed, here to impart some crucial information that simply must not escape your notice. For those of you who find yourselves positively ravenous for the latest wedding industry insights and the most delicious society whispers, I implore you to make haste to CertifiedWeddingPlannerSocietycom, or, should you prefer, ladywhistlewedcom. It is there that you shall discover my most recent musings, penned with the sharpest of wits and the keenest of observations, on the wonderfully chaotic world of weddings. Now, to those of you who find yourselves entangled in the intricate web of the wedding industry, I extend a most tantalizing invitation. The Certified Wedding Planner Society, or CWP Society as it's known in certain circles, is ever so eager to welcome new members into its illustrious ranks. Whether you're a fresh-faced novice just embarking on your journey in the realm of wedding planning, or a battle-hardened veteran of countless nuptials, I assure you there is a place for you among us.
Speaker 5:The Society, in its infinite wisdom, offers three tiers of membership to cater to your varying needs and lofty aspirations. 1. A free membership, open to any and all categories within the wedding industry. How delightfully egalitarian. 2. A premium membership, replete with additional benefits and resources for the truly dedicated professional. 3. And the piece de resistance, the certified membership, the gold standard for wedding planners committed to the pursuit of excellence.
Speaker 5:Each level, I'm told, comes with its own set of perks and opportunities, all meticulously designed to help you flourish in your chosen career. To explore these options in painstaking detail and find the perfect fit for your particular circumstances, I suggest you make your way to cwpsocietycom with all due haste. Do remember, dear listeners, that the CWP Society is far more than a mere professional organization. It is a veritable community of passionate individuals, all dedicated to the noble pursuit of creating truly unforgettable wedding experiences. They eagerly anticipate welcoming you into their family of wedding pros. Until we meet again in the pages of my next column, may your timelines remain as smooth as silk and your clients as delightful as a spring morning in Mayfair. Yours truly, lady Whistlewed.
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