Just booked wedding planner - unresponsive!

indigo-2

Hi everyone,

I had a phone call with a partial wedding planner/designer that I clicked with, and she sent me a proposal a couple days before Thanksgiving. I took the holiday break to think about it, but I was pretty sure I wanted to hire her. She sent me an email that Monday saying that another couple was interested in booking her for our wedding date and I had first rights of refusal, so I quickly paid the retainer and sent her an email saying I'm so excited to be working with her. 

I never got an email or response from her confirming the payment or even just a nice message like "Yay we're set. Thank you for choosing XYZ planning company!" I sent her an email 4 days later asking if we were good to go, and she apologized and said a  welcome packet would "be in your inbox shortly".

It's been a week and I haven't gotten a welcome packet! I'm feeling very in the dark and uncomfortable, like she pressured us into making a decision and paying a large sum of money, but hasn't even told us what the next steps are. We booked for partial planning and she made it seem like we'd be scheduling a design meeting ASAP. I just feel like you should make your client feel warm and welcome and excited - like they made the right choice - and right now I'm not.

Am I being impatient, or is this a valid feeling? Should I email now that it's been a week and ask about the welcome packet? 

Thanks!

ernursej

I would give it up to a month and then reach out to her. I would also look at the contract and find out exactly what you paid for. If the contract isn't specific, book a meeting with your planner to hash out the specifics. Contracts that don't specify things lead to issues.

It will also depend on how far away your wedding is. If it is in a few months, more to be concerned about. A year or more ... put things on the back burner.

Keep in mind that no one (even paid professionals) will ever be as excited about your wedding as you are.

SaintPaulGal

ernursej said:

I would give it up to a month and then reach out to her. I would also look at the contract and find out exactly what you paid for. If the contract isn't specific, book a meeting with your planner to hash out the specifics. Contracts that don't specify things lead to issues.

It will also depend on how far away your wedding is. If it is in a few months, more to be concerned about. A year or more ... put things on the back burner.

Keep in mind that no one (even paid professionals) will ever be as excited about your wedding as you are.

This was my first thought as well--when is the wedding?  There is no use fretting or freaking out if it's still far off in the distance.

Whether your wedding is next weekend or in the year 2020, she should have done a better job of keeping in touch with you.  Industry best practices would be to follow up within 1-2 business days.  But people are human.  And it's the holidays--everyone knows how crazy things get around the holidays.

You're not wrong to feel like she could/should have handled things better. She's not exactly rockin' it at this moment.  But you picked her for a reason, and she undoubtedly has other things on her plate.  I say take a deep breath and give it some time.

charlotte989875

So she's not completely unresponsive, she replied to your email, apologized for not getting back to you as quickly as you liked and said she would send you the welcome packet soon. Aside from not confirming receipt of your payment (which I think she should have done), I don't think she's done anything wrong, yet. You booked her what, last Monday? Emailed her last Thursday to confirm? So it's only been a week. If you don't get anything from her by the end of the month I'd be worried, but not yet. She has other clients, probably holiday weddings, and unless your wedding is right around the corner I think you should try to be a little more patient. 

If she doesn't get back to you by then email to follow up and go over the expectations you both have moving forward. 

climbingsingle

Knottied40a4d6703bd041d said:

Hi everyone,

I had a phone call with a partial wedding planner/designer that I clicked with, and she sent me a proposal a couple days before Thanksgiving. I took the holiday break to think about it, but I was pretty sure I wanted to hire her. She sent me an email that Monday saying that another couple was interested in booking her for our wedding date and I had first rights of refusal, so I quickly paid the retainer and sent her an email saying I'm so excited to be working with her. 

I never got an email or response from her confirming the payment or even just a nice message like "Yay we're set. Thank you for choosing XYZ planning company!" I sent her an email 4 days later asking if we were good to go, and she apologized and said a  welcome packet would "be in your inbox shortly".

It's been a week and I haven't gotten a welcome packet! I'm feeling very in the dark and uncomfortable, like she pressured us into making a decision and paying a large sum of money, but hasn't even told us what the next steps are. We booked for partial planning and she made it seem like we'd be scheduling a design meeting ASAP. I just feel like you should make your client feel warm and welcome and excited - like they made the right choice - and right now I'm not.

Am I being impatient, or is this a valid feeling? Should I email now that it's been a week and ask about the welcome packet? 

Thanks!

I think you're being impatient. When is your wedding? She did respond, and told you you'll get the welcome packet. 

Heffalump

Knottied40a4d6703bd041d said:

Hi everyone,

I had a phone call with a partial wedding planner/designer that I clicked with, and she sent me a proposal a couple days before Thanksgiving. I took the holiday break to think about it, but I was pretty sure I wanted to hire her. She sent me an email that Monday saying that another couple was interested in booking her for our wedding date and I had first rights of refusal, so I quickly paid the retainer and sent her an email saying I'm so excited to be working with her. 

I never got an email or response from her confirming the payment or even just a nice message like "Yay we're set. Thank you for choosing XYZ planning company!" I sent her an email 4 days later asking if we were good to go, and she apologized and said a  welcome packet would "be in your inbox shortly".

It's been a week and I haven't gotten a welcome packet! I'm feeling very in the dark and uncomfortable, like she pressured us into making a decision and paying a large sum of money, but hasn't even told us what the next steps are. We booked for partial planning and she made it seem like we'd be scheduling a design meeting ASAP. I just feel like you should make your client feel warm and welcome and excited - like they made the right choice - and right now I'm not.

Am I being impatient, or is this a valid feeling? Should I email now that it's been a week and ask about the welcome packet? 

Thanks!

So you were busy, and it took you a few days to get back to her.  Fair enough.  I think you should extend her the same courtesy.  "In your inbox shortly" is perfectly compatible with a week (or possibly even longer), unless your wedding is this Saturday or something. 

What does she need to be doing for you right this second that she's not doing?  If the answer is anything except "making me feel warm fuzzies all over," then address that with her directly.  Otherwise, I get that you're excited, but calm your tits for now. 

As others have pointed out, if your wedding is not coming up immediately, then she is probably working on weddings that are.  If you were in the other brides' shoes, would you want her to drop everything that she's supposed to be doing for your December wedding, so that she can appease a bride whose wedding isn't for months?

MissKittyDanger

Definitely like others said, if your wedding is more than a year then don't worry. Things get back-burner but they haven't forgotten about you.

Also, wait some more time. I would give it another week then email back about the welcome packet. With Christmas and New Years coming, it could be a very busy time of year for your venue.

indigo-2

The wedding is mid August. I should clarify that during our phone consultation around Thanksgiving, she mentioned scheduling our first meeting at the venue before the December holidays or in January. Our main package with her is design. She told me she wants her clients to have the full design bible at least 6 months before the wedding. 

I'd just expect her to try to get our first meeting on the books for January at least, so she has enough time to create the design bible by February. Also, part of her services includes access to Aisle Planner, which I'm anxious to use to keep track of my budget, timeline etc.

I know I'm being impatient, as it is the busy holiday season, and I appreciate all your responses. I'll give it at least another week. 

kimmiinthemitten

Knottied40a4d6703bd041d said:

The wedding is mid August. I should clarify that during our phone consultation around Thanksgiving, she mentioned scheduling our first meeting at the venue before the December holidays or in January. Our main package with her is design. She told me she wants her clients to have the full design bible at least 6 months before the wedding. 

I'd just expect her to try to get our first meeting on the books for January at least, so she has enough time to create the design bible by February. Also, part of her services includes access to Aisle Planner, which I'm anxious to use to keep track of my budget, timeline etc.

I know I'm being impatient, as it is the busy holiday season, and I appreciate all your responses. I'll give it at least another week. 

Keep in mind, December is very busy for most event professionals.  The catering company I work on the side for had an 80 person dinner last week, a 130 person dinner tonight, a 300 person event space opening next week, a wine tasting for 50 and my wedding, a 170 person dinner.  Plus about 50 drop off orders in the same time frame.

It doesn't take long to set up a meeting.  She could email you next Tuesday to book Jan 6th.  I'd use this time in between to really think about what you want, what you want her to do and your goals so you're prepared when the meeting happens.