You just pulled off a stunning wedding and are likely rejoicing because you made it through. What do you think about immediately after? The next to-do list, the next couple, the next vendors, the next wedding? It’s always go, go, go. As a wedding pro, you move from one project to the next, never stopping to reflect and analyze. You’re busy, we get it, but if you don’t take a step back, things can begin to fall through the cracks. It’s so crucial to check in with your business and your planning process as a whole. Your business will thank you for caring for its wellbeing. Here’s why and what you should consider when analyzing your business:
Why:
It’s simple. Manage your entire business simultaneously, not just one event at a time. If you don’t pay attention to your business as a whole, you’ll lose the opportunity to enhance and fix what needs improving and changing. You’ll miss what's blatantly there. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks of a wedding pro and forget that you’re running a business that needs care and attention. It’s always a good time to check in. Your business isn't stagnant. It's always flowing and changing, so inadvertently, you must change with it as there's always room for improvement. Create a system that facilitates check-ins regularly. Become so accustomed to checking in that it becomes a part of your business practices.
Pro Tip: Make the details work for you and build them in at the template level (Checklists, Timelines, etc.), so you don’t have to retype them in for each event.
What to Consider:
1. How often do you step outside of your business?
What is taking a birds-eye perspective? It means taking a full step back and looking at your business from a new angle. Seeing what you would be unable to see if you were stuck in the daily practices. This reflective process is what will make your business stronger.
2. What check-in points do you have?
Every business is different and requires different actions. Only you know the ins and outs of your business. Get to know your work by paying close attention to your functions and their outcomes.
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Do you check your budget regularly?
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How do you asses your work flow and best practices?
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What about your marketing?
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Do you review your events through a survey/paper method?
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Do you meet with your team and have an aural debrief? Speaking of debriefs…
3. Do you have a post event debrief?
Your business is continuous. It doesn’t end when an event ends. Create a detailed and precise checklist. You can customize your Aisle Planner Checklist to suit your business and facilitate that reflection.
Consider items that you can clearly say “Yep! Nailed it.” or “Nope. Needs improvement.” If you use specific language to track your progress, you’ll be able to concretely see what could use some work. This process also serves as an efficient form of documentation and record keeping. That way you can look back and see the changes your business has made and celebrate how far you've come.
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