By Tonia Adleta, PWP™, Aribella Events - Frank J. Andonoplas, MWP™, Frank Event Design - Alan Berg, www.AlanBerg.com - Donnie Brown, CWP™, Donnie Brown Weddingsand Events - Merryl Brown, CWP™, Merryl Brown Events - Mark Kingsdorf, MBC™, Mission Inn Resorts - Carmen Mesa, MBC™, Carmen Mesa Weddings and Events, Inc. -Shelby Tuck-Horton, MBC™, Exquisite Expressions and EventsQ: “How can we avoid ‘no shows’ to appointments without charging?”- Frances Reed, Distinct Elegance Bridal Boutique, Cedar Hill, Texas A: “My administrative assistant does a follow up confirmation the day before the appointment. If we don’t hear back, we try again the day of the meeting. I arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled meeting and wait for 30 minutes. If they don’t show, I call. At this point, I don’t expect an answer. I say, ‘I’ve been here for 30 minutes waiting for our scheduled meeting, that I tried to confirm since yesterday. I hope you are okay! Please feel free to call me if you’d like to reschedule.’ (In other words, I am not waiting for you any longer, and I can’t believe you couldn’t at least call or email to cancel.) Unless some very extenuating circumstances happened, I know I won’t hear back from them, which is fine. Do I want them as a client?”- Frank“My ‘no shows’ decreased when I started confirming appointments by email and text the day before. I also take a credit card number and explain that I will charge the card if they do not call to reschedule 24 hours before their appointment. If they have a legitimate reason for not doing this, I do not charge their card. However, by taking the card number and explaining the policy, our couples show up for their appointments.”- Shelby“I don’t set an appointment with a potential client until I have prequalified them by phone. When we do meet, it is because we are both interested in pursuing the relationship.”- CarmenQ: “What ‘day-of’ advice do you have for one planning their first wedding?”- Annie Sparks, Anne Maureen Events, Church Hill, Md.A: “The best ‘day-of’ advice for someone planning their first wedding is to make certain that, prior to the wedding, he or she has contacted each wedding service provider to ensure that all wedding details and outstanding balances have been confirmed. By doing so, you eliminate wedding-day problems. Also, prior to the day, develop a timeline that will be used by all of the wedding professional team so that everyone is using the same document. Wear or bring comfortable shoes because wedding days are long days.”- Shelby“Here are the documents you must have when doing a day-of event: a detailed timeline, vendor list with cell numbers, all vendor contracts, to-bring list that you will also use for strike, the CAD of the space, table seating chart, and alphabetized guest list. You must be exceedingly well organized with every event. The more organized you are, the less stressful the day will be. For your first wedding, bring someone with you who has done a wedding before. Don’t worry about making money the first time, focus instead on learning the ropes. The money will come later.”- Merryl“First, there is no such thing as ‘day-of.’ Wedding-day direction services begin at least six-to-eight weeks from the wedding day. If you are offering this service (especially if it is your first client), be sure you are familiar and comfortable with the venue(s) and the event professionals that have been secured and that you have thoroughly reviewed all contracts. Plan a site visit with everyone involved at least four weeks in advance. You are only as good as your last event, and if the first one doesn’t go well. . .”- Carmen“Know every last detail to the wedding like you planned it from the start. Personally, I rarely take on this level of service. But when I first started, I did not have this luxury, and it is a great way for novice consultants to learn and meet new vendors. However, you do need to be prepared to solve day-of emergencies, and sometimes that comes with experience. . . . I also require knowing which vendors clients have selected. If there is someone I prefer not to work with, I pass on the opportunity. I have learned (the hard way) all business is not good business.”- FrankQ: “ What are the benefits of being a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC), and how can I get a mentor?”- AnonymousA: “As with any organization, you get out of it what you put into it. Be active! Go to meetings. Go to conference. There, you will meet established consultants. That is how I met my mentor, back at the Hawaii conference when I was starting out 20-plus years ago. Now, she sometimes calls me for advice! It’s so flattering. We’ve become great friends, too, and have catch up ‘wine time’ phone calls.”- Frank“There are numerous member benefits, but to me, the best and most important are the industry relationships and friendships with ABC members throughout the world. Local, state, and national meetings offer great educational opportunities. Get involved and attend as many as you can. Once you begin building relationships, I’m sure you’ll find a mentor.”- Carmen“There are many benefits to being an ABC member, but the ones I enjoy most are the networking and education. I value the relationships that I have built with others — not only within my state at quarterly meetings but nationally and internationally. As much as possible, I take advantage of ABC seminars and workshops, as well as annual conference.”- ShelbyQ: “If you weren’t a bridal consultant/wedding planner, what career would you have chosen, and why?”- AnnaMarie Wintercorn, MBC™, Elegant Weddings & Events, Stuart, Fla.A: “I would probably have been in PR. I love working with clients, and I love crafting a great story both verbally and through writing.”- Merryl“I would have rather had a career as an actor in musical theatre or been a television news anchor. While at a wedding, I do my best to stay out of the spotlight, since it is their day, not mine, but I don’t mind being in the spotlight from time to time.”- Frank“I would have been a teacher. I taught for a few years when my children were younger and we moved to Florida. I love seeing the amazement in the eyes of someone who learns something knew. Today, I thoroughly enjoy giving back to new planners and sharing my knowledge.”- Carmen