I have received some emails in the past that literally make me ask the sender out loud, “did you really just email me that?” Sometimes I am just shocked by the lack of common courtesy and basic etiquette I come across. My mother imparted the age old adage to me that if you don’t have anything nice to say you shouldn’t say anything at all. The wedding industry is based on and around relationships. We are in an emotional business. Brides and families are preparing for a big rite of passage in their lives while planners, designers, photographers etc.. are here to help nurture and navigate this process. To be well equipped in this business to take on the daily deadlines, pressures, and emotions that can run high you need to be poised, collected, rational, and classy when you are dealing with industry vendors and your clients. Just remember that we are all human beings and no matter how entitled you feel it is never ok to berate someone via email. In addition, keep in mind that these emails can and will get passed around. My client passed me one of the most horrific emails she was sent from a blogger who was upset that she wouldn’t advertise. I’ve had media and vendors forward me countless emails that leave me saying, “would you kiss your mother with that mouth?” (or type to her with that tone).
Let me ask you…How tempted are you to begin a professional relationship with someone who emails you asking right off the bat, “what can you do for me?” My immediate impression is that we aren’t going to be a good fit. The only thing worse is when it is coupled by statements basically saying they don’t actually need help. Planners: when inquiring brides email you one liners that say “what are your prices” without anything else- how does that make you feel? You know they are scouring for the cheapest price out there. They don’t care about what your services are and most likely they aren’t a right fit for you. It’s similar to them saying in the subject line “what can you do for me”. My thought is that with any business relationship there is an exchange of someone’s time, a product, or service which should be a mutually beneficial experience. Clients should be happy with the outcome and the vendor should be happy they are working with that client. Remember that being grateful for the opportunity to work with someone will give back to you in the long run.
Relationships should be symbiotic. Not to sound super cheesy but we are all in this together. We need to speak to others the way we would want to be spoken to and when in doubt err on the side of kindness.
You do not want someone giving you “the mom look!”
Image found on Darla Shine’s Happy Housewives Club
xo, Leila, WeddingPR
