What Couples REALLY Think About Wedding Suppliers (And Vice Versa!)

Planning your wedding? This episode is FULL of honest advice that every bride, groom, and wedding supplier needs to hear.

In this solo episode of Totally Absolutely Engaged, we’re breaking down the biggest frustrations, misconceptions, and behind-the-scenes truths in the wedding industry — from BOTH the couple’s perspective and the supplier’s side.

We discuss:
• Why slow replies lose bookings
• Why wedding suppliers don’t always reply instantly
• The REAL reason wedding services cost what they do
• Why deposits matter
• Wedding planning mistakes couples make
• Why changing plans last minute causes chaos
• Whether wedding pricing is actually inflated
• How to build better relationships with your wedding suppliers
• Wedding budgeting tips
• Why trust and communication are EVERYTHING

If you’re currently planning a wedding, this episode will genuinely help you avoid stress, save money, and understand how the wedding industry really works behind the scenes.

Whether you're looking for wedding planning advice, wedding supplier tips, wedding budget guidance, or just love hearing the reality of the wedding world — this episode is packed with useful insight, funny moments, and honest conversations.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:06

Ready?

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 0:08

Hello everybody and welcome back to another episode of Totally Absolutely Engaged.

SPEAKER_00 0:13

Hello.

SPEAKER_03 0:14

We're back on another solo app, Just Me and Me and Thee.

SPEAKER_01 0:17

Just me and Thee, innit? So uh we're we're coming down from the the Dwayne episode, the Kelly Brides episode. Very successful. Uh very successful, very busy, created a lot of questions, and then um it was that long that we've had to do it in two or three parts.

SPEAKER_03 0:32

Yeah, so watch out for the bonus episode.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

So we're gonna release a bonus app at some point. Are we gonna try and do that on the Thursday, maybe? Yeah, essentially on Thursday. So there's gonna be a bride's guide that we've put together through little clips of his, and then there's a supplier's guide that there's we're gonna put together. So keep your eyes peeled. Exactly. Um, and obviously we got into the awards ourselves, the added expert, so uh we're in uh what is it, special touches, which is obviously for our letters and dance floors, curtains, etc. And then we're in the photo booth category. Um so we just have to decide are we going on the night? How many of us are going on the night? Yeah, but thank you for the votes, definitely. We much appreciate it, it was, yeah, hugely appreciated, and a great relief.

SPEAKER_03 1:18

At first we didn't think we'd got into one of them, did we? The emails came apart, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:22

So one email was sent to Hannah, and we thought, all right, great, we're in the photo booth category. And then we were a little bit like god, special touches, we won it last year, and now we're not we're not in it.

SPEAKER_03 1:33

Paul's face was seething.

SPEAKER_01 1:38

And then I realised that I had an email four hours before, so I probably should check my emails.

SPEAKER_03 1:43

You sure your panics are all for literally no reason. We thought we're all about to lose our job.

SPEAKER_01 1:48

But no, all good, all good.

SPEAKER_03 1:50

So, do you want to explain the format of this episode? Because this was actually your idea.

SPEAKER_01 1:54

Well, we we get we get we get we talk to a lot of couples, don't we? We do. So we've learned that there's there's couples that wish suppliers knew things, and then there's also suppliers that just wish that customers knew things. So we thought we'd try and attempt to break that down.

SPEAKER_02 2:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:13

So we've we've tried to put a list together, haven't we, of the stuff that's been mentioned to us or questioned to us.

SPEAKER_02 2:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

And then we've tried to put it in a point format. So we're gonna try. To discuss the point format. Discuss it, yeah. So you so I mean uh if we do like the what the couples wish suppliers knew first, yeah, then um we'll see where that leads.

SPEAKER_03 2:34

So hopefully you find this episode helpful.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

That's that's the overall age.

SPEAKER_03 2:38

And it bridges the gap a little bit between the supplier and the customer. So hopefully you can understand each other a little better.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

Mm-hmm. Sorry, I was just taking a coffee.

SPEAKER_03 2:46

So he's been waiting for that all morning. We're actually late recording because we were waiting for the van to come.

SPEAKER_01 2:51

Yeah, really awesome coffee.

SPEAKER_03 2:53

Shout out!

SPEAKER_01 2:54

To Vicki.

SPEAKER_03 2:55

No, she is brilliant.

SPEAKER_01 2:55

Yeah, she is.

SPEAKER_03 2:56

But anyway, so we'll start with then what couples wish suppliers knew.

SPEAKER_04 3:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 3:01

So, this one says slow replies lose you the booking. We're talking to multiple suppliers. We don't want to feel like we're just another booking.

SPEAKER_01 3:10

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 3:11

Okay, let's break that one down.

SPEAKER_01 3:13

Well, that's big, isn't it? Um, okay, right. So naturally, if you're looking for a mirror or something like that, most people are probably gonna ask three or four companies. I would say that the company that sort of answers first or second is probably in with the best shout. So it's kind of up to the company, the supplier, to actually speak to that person first. At the same time, you don't want to be dead sales idea. No, so you actually do want to take interest, which we do, we actually take interest in their weddings. So I think it's important that you reply very quickly and basically humanize it and say, oh, how exciting, etc. etc.

SPEAKER_03 3:55

Don't just go straight in with this.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 3:58

But in terms of making them feel not feel like just another book-in, what are your views on that? Because obviously, we get a lot of inquiries, we speak to a lot of people. Does it become hard to make people feel like, oh, you're like amazing, you're our only customer, we're gonna put all of our energy into you when actually there's quite a few people that you gotta speak to in a day.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

Yeah, I think initially it's very hard because I think what the customer doesn't realise is there's lots of customers out there that do waste your time as well. Yes, so we have to process which customers are actually a genuine, b, they're just not trying to find out a price. Uh it could be competition for all we know. So it it's one of them where we have to. I mean, I like I like to think, or we do our very best to answer very quickly, especially through the social media channels. I think that's pretty much within 10 minutes. Yeah. Emails normally we do like an hour rotor, so we sort of go through through everything every hour. So I think being quick is obviously important, but then like I said, it's just talking to them about their wedding.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:07

And actually showing interesting. Yeah, yeah. I mean, if someone says, Oh, how much is a mirror and you say, Oh, it's £395, that that's not really a good relationship, is it? No. You you want to be saying, Oh, this is what we do, and what is the venue? Because we we try and find out the venue in the day, A, so we're not wasting their time. So we you have to ask these questions. So we need to know there's availability before you even both start having a chat because you can have a chat, go all the way to the end, and then we're not even available. So that's a big problem. Um, and then there's others where I I mean we always use the plough as an example, don't we? But if someone's getting married at the plough, we can instantly say, Oh, right, okay, this is when it works, this is the best time to do it, this is where you should put the mirror, da da da da. So I think it's just personalising the deal to them as much as we can in the first instant.

SPEAKER_03 5:56

Okay, so next one. We don't know what's normal. This is our first wedding, it's your hundredth.

SPEAKER_01 6:03

Okay, right. Well, understandably, couples will be worried, um, and it is a nerve-wracking experience, and a lot of the time it is just their first wedding and only wedding. Um, so I think it is a supplier's responsibility to actually basically calm the situation down and say, we've done this venue before, this is how it would work. We we try and tell couples uh how the day would run rather than just say I'm gonna use a selfie mirror again, rather than just say we're gonna drop a selfie mirror at seven o'clock.

SPEAKER_02 6:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:37

So you you I'm trying all the time our staff, especially are taught to explain the day properly. Really break it down, yeah, and say where we actually fit into the day and why we fit into the day and what we actually offer the customers.

SPEAKER_03 6:49

Yeah, exactly, because it's not just assuming that they're gonna know exactly how the day is planned out because obviously to us, second nature, you know exactly what time, where it's going, they don't know this stuff, this is brand new to them, so it's literally breaking it down and having patience with them as well. Because I think I've been to shows and seen the same couple multiple times, and they're obviously nervous about something, so they are asking the same questions over and over and over, but it's just because they need the reassurance, so it's just keeping the patience with them.

SPEAKER_01 7:16

And I think couples need to take it upon themselves as well to become knowledgeable as well. So, okay, yeah, depend on the suppliers that you're using, but at the same time, if you do go to the wedding shows, then you're talking to different suppliers and you'll start hearing the same things. So you're learning as you go, and also if you're if you are getting married at a set venue, there are recommended lists there for a reason. It's because them suppliers actually use that venue a lot, yes, and vice versa. So it would make sense for them to explain the order of the day and why things are done. So you can probably put more trust into a recommended supplier for a set venue than just going on the internet and thinking, oh that that guy does photo booths, he's the he's the cheapest, I'll go with that guy.

SPEAKER_02 8:01

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:01

Because he might have a full-time job and only do a mirror at the weekend or something like that. Whereas some uh companies like ourselves that are in in the business uh every day of the week, you learn so much, and therefore we just pass on that advice.

SPEAKER_03 8:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:17

Is the idea.

SPEAKER_03 8:18

Makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 8:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:19

Would you recommend any tools such as like the likes of a spreadsheet or anything like that to Yeah, I mean I mean we've discussed before, aren't we?

SPEAKER_01 8:27

I mean, just for budget purposes, I would always recommend a spreadsheet. Uh but yeah, I mean, why not become knowledgeable? I mean, I I do I I read Bride Book, I read Hitched, I read all them sort of places because it it gives you ideas and trends and something to talk about. I mean, uh venue dressing's a whole new field, but I reckon the majority of people wouldn't know what colour they want. By their favourite colour, they'll be like, Oh, I don't I don't know what colour I want. Yeah, yeah. You've got no idea what's in. Like now at the moment we're seeing lots of black and whites. People need to sort of go, Oh, actually, yeah, that I I've seen that now. Yeah. I want to see what the black and white looks like. Oh, I've seen it and I want that. So it's it's just becoming do a bit of reading, yeah. Be a bit knowledgeable that way, but you can't put it all on the suppliers. Yeah. But I do think the suppliers should assist the couples as well. Yeah. If it comes from both ends. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:19

We can leave a link to those places that you've just said in the show notes, can't we? And then they can access them.

SPEAKER_01 9:24

Yeah, yeah, we'll do that.

SPEAKER_03 9:25

From there. Right, next one. Explain why things cost what they cost, and we'll trust you far more. It's intimidating otherwise.

SPEAKER_01 9:33

Yeah, um I mean, from that point of view, I don't know why companies don't put prices on websites.

SPEAKER_03 9:39

I will never understand this, not even just in the wedding industry, in any industry.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

Because it pisses me off. It's annoying. No, it is, it's annoying. I do like the fact when I go on a website, I can see the prices. It might say from, but at least I've got some kind of idea. Yeah, yeah. Um, when it's all this big mysterious, oh, this is what we do, but you've got to contact us. Why you be possible? I mean, I get why companies do it because they don't want other companies copying them, etc., etc. But ultimately I can pretend to be a groom and phone them and get the prices anyway. So you might as well just put the prices on. So there's I mean, I mean, if we stick within the photo booth industry, companies that are very good, prop guys are very good example of how it should be done. He's website, just clearly stakes, packages, prices, done. It does make sense. I don't know why everyone doesn't do that, I don't know. Um so that that would be the first thing. What was the thing? You want me to justify the costs?

SPEAKER_03 10:33

I mean, explain why things cost what yeah, the justification of a cost.

SPEAKER_01 10:37

I mean, there's so many hidden costs in in things, isn't there? I mean uh again, going down uh photo booth firstly, paper alone is like £92 to £123. Jeez, it adds up and in a in a in a average wedding, you're gonna be doing printing out 300 pictures. Yes that that adds up. There's gonna be hidden costs everywhere. I know when we speak to Jen, uh the venue dresser downstairs, she I mean, the hidden costs that she talks about and the how flowers and things increase in price all of a sudden. We we have to have all them costs allow for. We still have to pay people, we still have to make sure they're actually being delivered on time, and yeah, there's so much admin involved with a wedding that people don't see. Yeah, people I think people think they phone up and it oh yeah, we'll book it in and it's coming, but we actually have to liaise with the the wedding coordinator, the venue, um obviously the bride as well. There's just there's so much admin, you could be talking on average again, even from our side, probably 25 emails from start to end. Um for our items, so God knows what it is for a venue dresser and a photographer and things, because they they need a lot more contact with the bride and groom.

SPEAKER_03 11:54

So what are your thoughts on when something's got the word wedding whacked in front of it? The price is astronomical.

SPEAKER_01 12:04

I I don't know where that myth comes from because I don't know anyone rich in the wedding industry for a start. So if we're whacking the prices up, we're really shit at it because it hasn't happened. Um I I actually think that the wedding industry is that competitive, the if anything, the prices come down.

SPEAKER_03 12:24

Oh, so it's actually a myth.

SPEAKER_01 12:26

I think so. I think the prices I mean probably get in trouble for saying I think I think the prices go up more for corporate parties and come down for weddings. Whereas I think it was but I think it was I used I used to think it was the other way around, but it isn't. I I I think that because there's so many gunning for jobs at weddings, the price just keeps coming down and down. You've the customer just then has to be careful because pay too cheap, you actually do get cheap cheap, and you'll get a lot of cutting costs, and you're I know um I mean we've seen it with the letters, haven't we? Some some some people pay next to nothing for letters, and then they're not even made of wood, they're made of polystyrene and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_03 13:06

So and ultimately you might not even find this out till on the day, and then at that point it is too late, and you're gonna end up disappointed.

SPEAKER_01 13:12

Yeah, can you imagine walking out and there's polystyrene letters?

SPEAKER_03 13:15

Oh my god, I'd be fuming.

SPEAKER_01 13:16

Exactly. So yeah, I think you again do your research. Why are these people able? Yeah, why are they cheap? Yeah, but the the ones that are charging properly, look on their Instagrams, their socials, and you'll probably see that the quality's there and that's that's what you're paying for.

SPEAKER_03 13:33

Yeah, and also the feedback.

SPEAKER_01 13:34

Yeah, and just organisation. I mean, again, because this is our full-time job, we're gonna be there on time. If someone's a car salesman in the day and then they're doing uh like a mirror at night, they're gonna be late if the traffic's busy.

SPEAKER_04 13:50

Yeah, so true.

SPEAKER_01 13:51

Just silly little things like that, and it it happens a lot with DJs as well. Um, you get a lot of part-time DJs, which uh I'm always a bit like should you book a part-time DJ for a wedding? But that it happens. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:05

Okay, perfect. We'll head on to the next one. Radio silence for weeks after paying a deposit is genuinely unsettling.

SPEAKER_01 14:13

I do get this. I get this, I get this, and I think it's the only industry, really, I would say, where you you pay something, you pay someone, you put all the trust, you do all the research, and then there's a good chance that you're never gonna speak to them for the next well, you're not gonna speak to them for two years, maybe.

SPEAKER_03 14:27

I'd forget.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:29

I'd actually forget what I've done. It does happen.

SPEAKER_01 14:31

It does actually happen, and we we email them away. We used to do it, so it was 28 days before, because we thought, well, we've done all the we've done all the work in terms of what they want, etc. etc. We've got to the point of booking, we've booked them in, they're in the diary. There isn't really a lot we can do in that period for us especially because ours are fixed items, so it's like a an arcade machine, a photo booth, LED letters. There's nothing that we can physically talk about. So we have tried to counteract it slightly with sort of newsletters or try and email them 12 weeks before and say, Oh, we haven't forgotten you, but yeah, we are um I think when it comes to definitely photographers, definitely venue dressers, um, even D well DJs would probably be a few weeks before, I would say. But definitely venues and photographers, you they need that long-standing relationship. Um, so that is important.

SPEAKER_03 15:27

We had a message in about a venue the other day, didn't we? Basically, they paid, uh, she'd had a receipt, but no contract sent through. And we weren't sure what this what the protocol of this was, did we?

SPEAKER_01 15:40

So we asked a few venues. We asked a few venues, and they do send like a wedding file. So that would have your terms and conditions in and it would detail what you're actually getting for your money, etc. etc. So we basically said to the woman, didn't we, that a receipt's great because it proves that you've paid, yeah, but you do need a receipt of what you've paid for and just some terms and conditions, like if you do want to cancel or if they cancel on you, it just gives you a bit of cover.

SPEAKER_02 16:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:05

And we I think we worked out that it by having that wedding file, that then is what the insurance company would ask for.

SPEAKER_02 16:12

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 16:12

Which we've gone down the line of before, but we now know about 80 quid gets you good wedding insurance.

SPEAKER_04 16:18

Yeah, you don't get eighty.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

So it's important to get the the right the right documentation as you go. But I think as long as you're getting receipts, then it doesn't matter too much if these companies are talking to you. You can see that they're still active. You just keep checking their their socials, and on the whole, you'd be excited anyway, wouldn't you? What's the other people are doing? So I think you're fine.

SPEAKER_03 16:42

Okay. Not everyone can afford the premium package. Don't make us feel bad for it.

SPEAKER_00 16:49

Yeah, it's difficult.

SPEAKER_01 16:50

I can't believe people do this. I actually can't. I think people see what they want, and obviously, a lot of the time you're seeing the very, very best of what there is. But that obviously is the very highest, highest price. Yes. So I I think I think you can talk to a lot of suppliers and say, look, I've seen that you do this. Is there a way that we can scale it down so it's affordable to me?

SPEAKER_03 17:14

Yeah, because we've had loads of suppliers on that have said that they can do that. They can uh almost like bespoke a package to make it more affordable to the couple. Yeah. So it's not like it's not doable.

SPEAKER_01 17:23

Yeah, I think just because a package is a package doesn't mean that that's it written in stone. Yeah. I mean, maybe it is for some suppliers, but I know for us it certainly wouldn't be, and I know a lot of suppliers it wouldn't be. So I think that as long as the customer is actually honest with the supplier, I think that that that works a lot better because then the supplier in in turn can be a lot more honest with it. On his back with that, yeah. So you can sort of be honest with each other, like okay, you you probably can't afford this, and okay, that might be harsh, but it's better than leading them on.

SPEAKER_02 17:54

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 17:55

So you you sort of say, right, but we what you what we could do for the budget that you've got is do this and try and manoeuvre it slightly, and then the the customers get in something a bit more of what they want, and obviously the suppliers not losing out to a deal, which is why again it's going back to the thing about the website prices, it's dangerous sometimes to just put a package and a price because then people might say, Well, I can't afford it, and then turn up. And I get that's the fear for a lot of suppliers, but I think it should be edu customers should be educated as well. Yeah. That they can ask.

SPEAKER_03 18:30

I think this is why you should get in touch with your suppliers. I think was it Dwayne that was saying it? We've lost like the human communication with each other because people are just going online and then being, for example, going, Oh, I can't afford this, onto the next one, maybe a worse supplier, rather than messaging and being like, Oh, is there any way that we can change this up a little bit so that it is within my price range? So it is reaching out to your suppliers as well and actually seeing if there is any wiggle room in these packages.

SPEAKER_01 18:58

It's it's it is intimidating for couples, yeah. It is because again, we we we we know the prices of most things in the industry, but if you don't know our price, that's intimidating because it's it is embarrassing to say how much is it? Oh, a thousand pounds. Uh you you want to pull into a hole, don't you? Like, oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 19:16

Another brand.

SPEAKER_01 19:18

Um so yeah, it all goes back, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_03 19:22

What's your thoughts? Do you find it insulting when couples ask for discounts?

SPEAKER_01 19:28

I I personally don't.

SPEAKER_03 19:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 19:30

My background is jewellery. Yes. So I'm used to people coming into retail shops and bartering and asking for discounts and things. So I actually assume that was normal.

SPEAKER_05 19:43

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 19:44

It's only since I've got older I've thought actually.

SPEAKER_03 19:47

It's like do we get into Tesco and be alone? It's meat down for me a little bit, please.

SPEAKER_00 19:53

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 19:54

Um so I I I don't mind. I I don't mind as long as it's reasonable. Okay. I think if people are just taking the piss, if they've seen something that's 500 quid and they say, Oh well, I've only got 250, well, no, no, do do on. I I I've got a living to make. I'm not I'm not gonna be a busy fool. We're all here to make money and but at the same time give you a service. I think as long as they can sort of give you something back, and in in that I mean I don't know, like if if they only want the selfie mirror, but they only want it for two hours, not three, then you don't mind knocking a bit off because we're saving because we're saving on wages. Yeah, so there's there's got to be a reason for the discount, other than I want to. I just want money off. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But again, that that's about you and the supplier working together, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 20:43

Yeah. Speak to your suppliers, folks. Okay. Chasing us for a a review the day after feels too soon. Give us a moment. Do we chase for a review of the the day after?

SPEAKER_01 20:55

We don't, we don't, we don't.

SPEAKER_03 20:57

I God can you imagine you're just waking up, you've enjoyed your wedding day, leave us a review. I'm like, piss off.

SPEAKER_01 21:02

We we we send them I I I probably should know as I own the company. But um I think Hannah starts sending out like a a re not a review, we don't actually request a review, so you can leave a review if you want, but we're more interested in feedback for ourselves.

SPEAKER_02 21:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 21:18

So it's like, hope you've had a great day. Hope it's been everything you wanted, blah blah blah. Did we do alright? So that's all we want to know. Did we do alright? I'm not that fussed, and I know it helps business, but I'm not that fussed on Google reviews and hitch reviews and things like that. It's nice to get them, and it I appreciate it massively. Yes, but I do prefer someone just to say, Yeah, you did a great job, everything was great, or actually, that mirror stuff, she was awful, and then we learn from it. Yes, but I'd rather that we actually learn from feedback, personal feedback, yes, than all these review things, but at the same time, we don't do it the Day after we we do wait a week or two.

SPEAKER_03 22:02

That's good.

SPEAKER_01 22:03

I do know that there is suppliers that literally text the morning after.

SPEAKER_03 22:08

That's crazy to me. That's absolutely crazy.

SPEAKER_01 22:10

I know.

SPEAKER_03 22:11

You're still in your little bubble.

SPEAKER_01 22:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:13

Not about to start doing ad mini bits. No, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 22:16

But yeah, on the on the other side of the coin from the suppliers' point of view, thinking about it. I bet a lot of photographers get texts the following day. I bet they've done a full day's work at a wedding.

SPEAKER_03 22:27

I get yeah, yeah. And then they want to see pictures.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

Exactly. I want to see some pictures. Have you got any sneak peeks?

SPEAKER_03 22:33

That's very true. And like the likes of your content creators and that as well.

SPEAKER_01 22:36

Exactly. So I bet it works both ways.

SPEAKER_03 22:39

So couples don't do it, suppliers don't do it. Let's make a formal agreement now. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:43

Give it a week. Give it a week.

SPEAKER_03 22:45

Right. Well, I think that that is all of the couple ones, the suppliers.

SPEAKER_01 22:50

Maybe not all of them, but we'll go through through them again. We keep getting thrown questions, so let's just go through some more at a later date. Yes. Because we'd just be here forever. We would.

SPEAKER_03 23:00

There's too much to go through, and we've got we've got things to do. Exactly. So we'll head on to what suppliers wish couples knew. So this is very interesting for you all to listen to. Take some tips, get your notebook out, get ready. Okay, so first one replying to an inquiry doesn't mean we're available. Check the date first.

SPEAKER_01 23:20

Yeah, we get this a lot. So uh customers will actually check the date. So they'll say 3rd of July 2026. Are you available? Yes, we are. We have a full conversation. Um they want Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and we say, Right, okay, we'll send a deposit, uh, we'll send an invoice, you pay the deposit, and we'll book you in. There are people out there that think that's then booked in already.

SPEAKER_03 23:44

Right.

SPEAKER_01 23:44

And I know that you see you'll see a lot of posts and a lot of stories where suppliers are like, you must pay your deposit before we can book you in. And it is very, very uh important. Okay. It needs to you've got to pay your deposit. I mean, it's for us it's a £50 deposit.

SPEAKER_02 24:02

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 24:02

So until you've paid that £50 deposit, we can't physically book you into the diary because there's just inquiries coming in all the time.

SPEAKER_03 24:10

Yeah, you can't hold the date off the box.

SPEAKER_01 24:11

They're gonna overlap, yeah. So until it's actually booked in, we can't put a hold on those letters. So if then if someone else comes in and they're called Smith or whatever, then the letters will go, and then we haven't actually then got the availability that we had at the start of the conversation. So you do have to kind of act quickly as well, or at least say just check in that they're still available from time to time if you can't afford the deposit there and then.

SPEAKER_03 24:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:38

But it is uh again clear communication, but it yeah, the deposit needs paying.

SPEAKER_03 24:44

Makes sense. Get the 50 quid out, guys. Right. Changing your mind three times costs us unpaid time.

SPEAKER_01 24:52

Yeah, I mean that I get as well. Um it's unbelievable how much time that takes. It it seems easy, but to actually then go into a system, take things off or add things on, adjust the infantry, change the uh the invoice, resend the invoice, is you uh again you're talking another what 20 minutes of uh staff members' time. Yeah, it's actually quite costly. I don't mind doing it. I think people if they if they want to add to it, then obviously it's of benefit to us if they want to take, so be it. It probably still means it's affordable, so we still get the customer. So from that point of view, I don't mind it at all. And I know companies do charge for alterations and things. We don't. So I mean, yes, it is costly, but I think you've got to allow them to do it. But again, clear communication, don't change your mind and then change your mind again and then so is that what you think is reasonable then?

SPEAKER_03 25:47

Like, oh, can I add can I add this on or can I take this off and then that's so like a one a one situation?

SPEAKER_01 25:54

Yeah, and like I say, I mean, if you really, really want change and you you really want to change, there's not a lot you can do about it, but yeah, being picky over things and keep changing month on month, it's just just come to a decision nearer the time if needs be, just leave it as it is and then come to a decision. But it is hard because we'll we'll release like a new product, yeah. And then they might think, Well, actually, I I don't want that product, I want that one.

SPEAKER_03 26:17

You want the new one?

SPEAKER_01 26:19

Fair enough. Again, it's of benefit to me, so we will do it, but just as a customer, just have a bit of sympathy for the supplier, and it takes time and it's not gonna be done within two minutes.

SPEAKER_03 26:30

I mean, if it was the other way around and the supplier was going to the couple, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:34

Can we change this?

SPEAKER_03 26:34

Can we change this? Or and then next next month, oh no, actually we're gonna change it back, or oh no, actually we're gonna change it again, you'd start getting annoyed too. So it works both ways, just don't do it. Okay, we have other clients, you're not the only wedding we're working on.

SPEAKER_01 26:51

Okay, is that brutal? It's a difficult one, isn't it? I mean, you you want to devote all your time to someone's wedding, yes, genuinely, because they've they they've trusted you with their big day.

SPEAKER_03 27:02

Yeah, it's a massive day card.

SPEAKER_01 27:04

Exactly, and you and you want to be present and you want everything to run smoothly for them more than anything. And even I've been doing this 10 years, even now, I still get worried. I still think, oh, please let the software work, please let all the plugs work, please let's you do worry, yeah. But at the same time, we've got so many customers, and I think I I think that helps us in many ways because it makes everything drilled, everything's checked, everything else. But I get it from the customer's point of view that then they are a bit like, oh well, it's my day, why aren't you just focusing on me? But you just can't, can you? Because we've got to earn money to focus on her day, we need other people's weddings to pay for everything.

SPEAKER_03 27:45

Yeah, it's different in different parts of the wedding industry, isn't it? Because like it was it a venue dresser, for example, might only have one wedding on on one day, so they sort of can build that relationship, spend all that time with them. But for us, when you might have I mean, God, how many do you do on a day sometimes?

SPEAKER_01 28:01

Yeah, I mean we average 14 to 18.

SPEAKER_03 28:02

So it's mental.

SPEAKER_01 28:04

We can't yeah, and I think for us, we're we're dropping off an item. I mean, we we can't we can't form the best of relationships when we're just dropping off an arcade machine. I mean, it's otherwise people would be like, Do you want to leave your wedding now? Yeah, exactly. Yeah, put your mother in for. I mean, uh I mean we got into weddings because weddings excite us and we love the love of the big day for people, but there's nothing that we can talk about. We we've got an arcade machine, it's like okay, it's a hard bit of hard hardware with a bit of software, and yeah, there's not a lot we can talk about there. I think it I think it's great if you're the photographer or the venue dresser and you're talking to them all the way up to their wedding. Yes, you need that great relationship, and yes, you need you can get excited and form that bond, but yeah, I think when it's when you've got multiple weddings, it's harder.

SPEAKER_03 28:52

Yeah, yeah, agreed. Right, next one. We've done this hundreds of times. Trust the process, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:59

I mean, we we we get customers that ask so many little questions about the finest of details, yeah. And we've said it in previous shows with other suppliers, you've got to trust your supplier. Ultimately, you're paying that supplier to take the time and the stress off yourself. So they're gonna get it right. It's I don't know in in 10 years, I don't know many instances where someone's really messed things up. On the whole, 99.9% of the time, a supplier will get it right, everything will be on time, and it will run the way you've you want it to. As long as you're clear at the start before the wedding day, and this is what I want, this is what I want, we know where we're putting stuff, timings, etc. But the process itself is fine. After that, you then have to just trust the venue that you've you've just paid thousands for. Yeah. They have their own wedding coordinators, you might even have your own wedding planner who you've got to trust, but ultimately they're gonna make sure that you have the best possible day as well. And then behind the scenes, if you've got a Toastmaster, they look after your day and sort things out. Wedding planners, as we know, they sort things out. Uh, there's there's a lot of people that have got your back on the day.

SPEAKER_03 30:13

You're just literally your responsibility is to chill out, yeah, have fun, exactly, and let the suppliers do what you're paying them, thousands of pounds to do. Like you're basically wasting your money if you're stressing because you're doing what the supplier should be doing for you, which is all the behind the scenes stuff. Stop stop doing it yourself.

SPEAKER_01 30:32

I don't think you should be worrying really a week before your wedding. I think by that point, everything should be paid in place, exactly. Well they say that, don't they? Have a spa.

SPEAKER_03 30:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:41

Have a spa the day before or something.

SPEAKER_03 30:43

Yeah, people stress far too much.

SPEAKER_01 30:45

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 30:46

Okay. This one could be controversial.

SPEAKER_00 30:49

Go on.

SPEAKER_03 30:50

When you override our advice and it goes wrong, that's on you.

SPEAKER_01 30:55

Eek Yeah, sometimes the customer can change their mind actually on the day. And from a supplier's point of view, that is when there's problems.

SPEAKER_02 31:05

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 31:05

Uh we have had it in the we've always got around it, but we we have had it where someone's wanted the letters all day, and then they've decided literally the day before, oh no, I only want them for the evening.

SPEAKER_03 31:18

Right.

SPEAKER_01 31:19

That actually creates huge problems because we've already done all the driver itineraries.

SPEAKER_03 31:23

Yeah. So this is so.

SPEAKER_01 31:24

So we're actually probably we could be at a venue 20 miles in the other direction, and all of a sudden this person's decided the day before, oh, I want the letters here. Now we can't then say to the venue, oh, can we just drop the letters off and you put them out? Because then there's a whole set of insurance problems. Also, if they don't turn on for whatever reason, we're obviously all trained and can fix it at the the pot Osher. Probably garb. So that causes problems. Uh I think the the most important thing is going back to the last question, everything should be prepared the week before. Because if everything's done the week before, all problems are solved. Yes. Um trying to sort something out the day before an event because a customer's changed their mind is mental. Is yeah, and and and that is mental from our side. I can't even imagine what it would be like for someone else in the industry. I mean, I mean, I don't know if it happens with hair or makeup or I bet it does. Yeah, I think it does. If they suddenly want to change their hairstyle, I mean that must throw you into a right panic.

SPEAKER_03 32:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:31

Um yeah, I yeah, are you just it's just not fair, is it?

SPEAKER_03 32:35

No, I don't think so. I think a week is ca I think that's yeah, I mean, even that I think's pushing it. But at least it gives you time to adjust and and make changes where needed. So it's not all just, oh my god, I need to change everything the day before.

SPEAKER_01 32:49

Yeah, customers have to understand that there is logistics involved.

SPEAKER_03 32:53

Right. Final one.

SPEAKER_01 32:55

Go on.

SPEAKER_03 32:56

Just because you've attended weddings doesn't mean you know how to plan one. Sassy.

SPEAKER_01 33:02

This is actually quite common, actually. Okay. So you'll get someone that goes to a wedding and they look round and they're like, oh yeah, this is this is what I could do that for 20 quid. I could do this for 50 quid, and so on and so on. And what they'll end up doing is they'll decide I'm gonna be a wedding planner. They'll be sat about to watch the wedding, and they'll be like, Yeah, this is my future. This is uh they've got absolutely zero idea. The hours, yeah, you know, from talking to other suppliers, not just myself, we lose all Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays. Um admin, we're lost Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. We basically have no lives, guys. Yeah, we don't, we don't, we do it. Yeah, and there's so many sacrifices involved, and uh yeah, uh people think they can do the weddings. I mean, cost-wise, it's not effective because you're buying all this stuff if you are doing your own wedding, you're buying all this stuff, and then what are you gonna do with it? Literally you've wasted money and you you probably haven't got the expertise, and you certainly couldn't do a display like someone can in venue dressing that does it every day. Um all the liaising with the different venues and all the times, and knowing when your product is actually needed at what time of day. Because a lot of people think, oh, it just turns up in the morning and it's done. Well, that's not the case, is it? I mean we we have venues where we have to go back after the ceremony, change the room round, then we have to go back again and change it for the wedding after the wedding breakfast and set it up for the evening. So sometimes you go into venues three, four times in a day, and that's part of the logistics as well. So because we're going to a number of venues three, four times a day. So we're working in these tight circles and yeah, to sit there and say, Oh yeah, I can do this.

SPEAKER_03 34:56

I think people must get wrapped up in the excitement and like the loveliness of being involved in a wedding day, which is lovely because that means everyone's done the right job, yes, but then they think that that's how working in the industry is when actually you you're just desperately trying to solve everything behind the scenes, it's not as yeah, and we've and I have seen it many times where someone and it does work for some people, uh ironically, me.

SPEAKER_01 35:22

But I think I was at a point where I wanted to change career anyway, um, and I had a similar idea, so that that's why. But uh there are people that it works for, but I've seen it so many times where a company's just come out of nowhere, yeah, bought a load of stuff. We have venue dresses, we do this, we do that, and then it's it's a car crash, yeah. Well, yeah, they do a few weddings and then think, Jesus Christ, I've I've lost all my weekends, I'm not doing this again, and they realise that they're not going to spend time with their kids and the the school holidays, you've lost them, you're not going on holidays and school holidays, because yeah, that's when most people were in this conversation the other day, weren't we?

SPEAKER_03 35:56

You were like, Yeah, the six weeks holidays, that's right around it.

SPEAKER_01 35:59

Yeah, so we have to take our kids away before, which again is a whole new set of controversy, but we have to take ours away before the six weeks holiday because the six weeks holiday is gone. Yeah, we're working every day, probably twenty hours plus, which sounds ridiculous, but it has to happen.

SPEAKER_03 36:14

Yeah, it's just not as easy as you think, guys.

SPEAKER_01 36:17

No, no, no, right then.

SPEAKER_03 36:19

That wraps up. Covers a few things, doesn't it? Yeah, do you want to tell people where they can find us?

SPEAKER_01 36:24

Wow, you're asking me.

SPEAKER_03 36:25

I am because I always do this, so there's a reason for it.

SPEAKER_01 36:29

Because you can find us on social media. What Instagram? Yes. Instagram, we're added extra. Facebook, which I don't ever use Facebook, but everything we do on Instagram transfers to Facebook, so we're on there. TikTok we do extremely well with.

SPEAKER_03 36:46

Yeah, that's totally absolutely engaged.

SPEAKER_01 36:48

Yes, that's doing extremely well.

SPEAKER_03 36:50

That's do that is doing really well actually, but loads of people write into us on there. So if you want to send us anything in, send it across on either the totally absolutely engaged Instagram or the totally absolutely engaged TikTok. We have a website which you can go and check out, but also remember please to like, follow, and subscribe because it will help us. It will help us and it helps us get better guests.

SPEAKER_00 37:11

Yeah, it helps better guests, doesn't it? Yeah, it does. And the guests that we've had has been so good.

SPEAKER_03 37:16

They've been really, really good, and we've had really good feedback from listeners saying how much they like them. So, yeah, so just make sure and even leave us a little um rating on Spotify and Apple because we're in the charts, but we want to go up a bit.

SPEAKER_01 37:29

Yeah, yeah. Well, we've been regularly in the top hundred now in the importance of that.

SPEAKER_03 37:32

And our aim is to be top 20.

SPEAKER_01 37:35

I think only famous people get in the top twenty.

SPEAKER_03 37:37

No, my aim is to be in the top twenty.

SPEAKER_01 37:38

My aim's the top four.

SPEAKER_03 37:40

I've got bigger asking for anything. Well, thank you so much for tuning in, and we'll see you next week. Bye-bye.