What Happens At A Client Meeting?

After I have been contacted by a client on the telephone or by email one or several times, we usually arrange to meet. This is a great time to come face to face and discuss what a potential client's needs are. By getting together, we can go over every aspect of that client's upcoming function. For example, we can pull together a basic blueprint as to how a wedding reception is to proceed. This entails breaking the evening down and mapping out how each portion will play out. This is important because it provides me with a heads up as to what I need to be doing next. Even more importantly, it allows the bride and groom to plan in advance so that their celebration is cohesive, relaxed and fun. I do supply a questionnaire (there is also one online too), which gets bridal couples thinking about what they would like included - or excluded - in their reception. Sometimes contracts are reviewed and signed. Other times, clients will think about what we have discussed and get back to me later. In any event, the purpose of the sit down is never to coerce a potential client to sign "on the dotted line" then and there. The most important aspect of the meeting is to get to know each other so that we can begin working as a team to make that reception, party, etc. tasteful, memorable and entertaining. Although I have planned affairs via the telephone exclusively for clients who were out of state and were coming into town for just that occasion, getting together in person is really the best way to go. Additionally, with reference to wedding receptions, I usually will have a second sit down about four or five weeks prior to the reception. Sometimes things or circumstances have changed which warrant a modified itinerary. It's ok and these things happen all the time. Of course, I am available anytime to answer questions via telephone or email. I once had a bride who called me two hours before her wedding to change a song! No problem!