The UK Alliance of Wedding Planners - The leading industry body for the UK Wedding Planning Market | Promoting professionalism in Wedding Planning

Today I am delighted to introduce you to Whitney who is flying over from the U.S especially to present at WPE!

Describe your company in 100 words or less!
Wish Wonder Dream  is a boutique wedding coordination studio located in California. We specialize in bringing whimsical and charming events to life while always remembering that our clients are truly unique. No two Wish Wonder Dream weddings are ever the same because we strive toward developing our clients’ personal styles by getting to know who they are both as individuals and together as a couple.
We’ve been awarded “Best of The Knot” and “The Bride’s Choice Award”   from Wedding Wire. We are certified by Here Comes the Guide and we’re featured vendors with The Knot, Wedding Channel, Wedding Yentas, Get Married, Wedding Wire , The Inspired List , Elizabeth Anne Designs , The Wedding Chicks , and Style Me Pretty.

What do you hope planners will learn on the day from your talk?
I hope I’m able to give planners an idea of the differences and similarities between US and UK weddings. I also hope I’m able to elaborate a bit on what types of services we offer our clients and offer suggestions for “expanding horizontally” by offering other products and services to maximize profit from each client (even those who are simply interested in our smallest “Month Of” package). I have also heard that trends often start in the US and then make their way to the UK so hopefully I’ll be able to share some insight into the growing trends that are currently taking shape here.

How would your clients describe you?
Very personable, enthusiastic, excited, friendly, professional, knowledgeable, dependable, calming.

Have you ever had a challenging client and how did you deal with it?
I quite often have challenging clients. In fact, most of my clients are challenging in their own ways. Recently one of my brides came in for a meeting and she was stressed to the max. She said her mother and all the ladies in her wedding party were bombarding her with brochures, items from past weddings they’ve attended, and their own opinions and suggestions. She said her head was spinning and she felt that addressing each of their concerns and embracing each of their suggestions was becoming more difficult than actually planning her wedding. I reminded the bride that they genuinely have her interests at heart and that she should appreciate how deeply they care but that it is HER wedding day and that she needs to feel empowered enough to make her own decisions, confidently.

What is your vice?
I’m a “workaholic.” I feel like my computer is always calling to me and it takes every ounce of my effort to resist. I have a new baby at home and I want to spend every moment with her, especially since babyhood is so short but I often feel anxiety about not responding to emails as soon as they come in as I never want to disappoint a client.

What’s the best piece of business advice someone gave you?
Know when to say “no.” In my earlier, novice, years I was eager to find a way to sign and appease every potential client. I gave huge discounts and took on more work than I could handle. But (in my experience) what I learned is that the clients who push the hardest for the best deal are also the ones who ask for the most and rarely appreciate your work in the end. I learned that my time is valuable and that the projects I take on have to be worthwhile, which often means saying “no.” If I respect myself and my time, so will my clients.

Describe yourself in 3 words
Passionate, driven, empathetic

Name one blog you follow religiously
Elizabeth Anne Designs