Whitewed Advise: Getting prepared for engagement season

Here at Whitewed, I work with engaged couples, wedding venues and suppliers alike, and 13 years in the industry and many thousands of contacts means I have a true and realistic view into how both sides of the industry react, perform, cope, and what their processes, challenges and wins are.

Thinking back to this time last year, we were preparing for the engagement season in such a different way, with huge anticipation for what 2020 may bring.  In the office and among many of the suppliers we know there was a lot of excitement for the upcoming Wedding Shows, and for many of us 2020 was set to be one of our busiest wedding years yet.  My didn't things change in a way none of us could have ever anticipated!  

I am looking into 2021 with optimism and hope for our industry, and feel you need to prepare for the upcoming engagement season to ensure you are visible to your clients who booked you previously as they will want reassurance that you are still going strong, and entice all those newly engaged couples from those Christmas and New Year proposals.

So here are my top tips for planning for engagement season:

• Showcase your very best material on social media – reflect back on your favourite weddings and events.  This will mean you have your very best content at the top of your feed

• Be brand ready, make sure your company name, logo, colours, fonts etc. match on your website, your Whitewed Directory page, across your social media channels in Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.  This way couples won’t question whether they’re in the right place when they go on their journey with you

• Be clear that you're open for bookings for 2022 – 2023…and beyond, and make clear any availability you still have in 2021

• Update your Whitewed Directory page.  Have a look at your category and look at how your showcase image compares with your competitors and decide if yours needs updating to stand out. Update your wording, make sure it is the very best showcase of you, your business and your work!

• Ensure that your pricing, terms and conditions and booking process are clear and easily accessible

• Help each other out!  There’s so many photographers and graphic designers on the group, so if you’re looking for a refresh, do a shout out on the Whitewed Facebook group 

• So many people will say ‘oh, don’t look at my website or social media, I haven’t update it for ages’ – if that’s you, sort it! Now’s the time to get engagement season enquiry ready!

That's it from me.  I wish you all a much improved 2021!

Kindest, 

Natalie Lovett, Director of The Whitewed Directory