Brides, Do Your Homework
By Karen Moore, Managing Partner & Senior Consultant

October 8, 2008

I spend allot of time on the web. It is a wonderful resource for businesses. The web can work either in your favor or against you. Your online reputation is a considerable asset.  Because of my profession as a wedding planner I am always interested in finding out what my former clients have to say about me.

In this business, as in all business’s a good reputation is hard to build and can be destroyed in a matter of moments. I have worked hard to maintain an impeccable reputation for (re) Defining Moments.  All things being done in a spirit of excellence. I have been in this industry for almost 10 years and have seen my share of business’s come and go.

The most disheartening thing is when I read about a bride’s wedding dreams being shattered by the lack of professionalism and due diligence on the part of wedding professionals.

As I read through a thread on a travel advisory website I was lead to a thread describing numerous postings regarding awful wedding experiences with a local wedding planner. I found this quite disturbing and felt compelled to post some advice for future brides.

As wedding professionals we only have one opportunity to get it right. I love what I do and I feel that I truly have a passion for weddings as well as my clients.

My advice to anyone who is searching for a planner is to do your homework. Research the planner. The Better Business Bureau should be the starting point. The local Chamber of Commerce and The Association of Bridal Consultants are also great resources.

Weddingwire.com is wonderful to tool for both brides and wedding professionals! I randomly select clients to visit weddingwire and review the services provided to them. A true and genuine review from a bride will not lie! A former bride will give you a true, un-biased, accurate description of the services that she received. I also keep both an electronic and paper file of written testimonials as well as client satisfaction surveys that I send out randomly to future clients.

I want to provide a wonderful and memorable service and the best possible experience for my brides. Do your homework and you can't go wrong.