Become a Top Wedding Planner - 9 Steps to Take Before Your First Meetings With Wedding Vendors

When you are a new wedding planner, it's important that you develop a network of high-quality vendors you can work with to plan your weddings. Vendors are usually eager to meet a wedding planner because they see you as someone who can bring them many referrals. But you want to make a good impression so they take you seriously as a potential business partner.

Here are 9 steps you should take to prepare to meet vendors for the first time:

1) Study the vendor's website and any marketing materials you might have so you know something about them. Vendors will be impressed that you did some research before meeting with them. Your website should be up and running by the time you contact vendors so they can also do research on your business.

2) Prepare a list of questions to find out about their business, experience, style, services, products, and fees. From their answers you should be able to decide if they are the right fit for the brides in your niche and if you would work well together.

3) Prepare your portfolio and bring it with you. Vendors will want to see photographs of your wedding and event planning work. You will also need to show your portfolio to potential clients so be sure you take the time to select the photographs and information that represent you well.

4) Be ready to answer questions about your background and experience as it relates to wedding and event planning. Vendors will want to know the type of experience you have and that you will give good customer service to anyone they refer to you.

5) Call to confirm your appointment the day before your meeting. People get busy so be sure you are on their schedules.

6) Dress professionally, as you would for a client meeting. No matter how you think they might dress, you should look like a professional wedding planner when you meet.

7) Bring plenty of business cards and your marketing brochures so you can give them to vendors to distribute, if they are willing to do so.

8) Allow plenty of time to get to your meeting and plan to arrive early, don't make them wait for you.

9) Send a note in the mail after your meeting to thank them for taking the time to meet with you. This is a courtesy that few people do, so it will make you memorable.

Stay in touch with your vendors so you'll know when they add products and services that may be of interest to your brides. Also, let them know when you add services to your business so they can refer more people to you.