wedding tips | Elegant Music

How Much Do You Charge?

Let’s say someone asks a florist “How much do you charge for flowers?” It is a valid question but it is also possible that the person asking might not know “all about flowers” or how they will use flowers for their special event. It might happen that they get a price from one vendor and then will ask another vendor “how much they charge for flowers” and get an other price. Now they have 2 prices.

However in this case…

…they really don’t know much about the first or second vendor and

don’t really know what they are getting for those prices.

They like flowers. Good.

But this is a big subject.

They probably are not familiar with the many “varieties of flowers” and what flowers would be available at the time of year of their wedding “seasonal flowers” (this would certainly effect cost.)

They are probably not that familiar with floral design and the various ways of displaying flowers not to mention logistics of “their wedding location” (these would also effect floral presentation and cost.)

So the 2 prices given in this scenario leave many unanswered questions.

Elegant Music – Wedding Ceremony, Formal Garden @ Greystone Mansion Beverly Hills, CA

Contact Elegant Music

for a free consultation: 626-797-1795

Interaction with the Person Providing The Service

The bride really needs to “go shopping” or at least “go learning” and interact with florists, ask questions and learn about flowers. While they are learning about flowers they should observe the person and determine what kind of person they are. Usually florists are passionate about what they do and as artists are more than happy to show their work and offer helpful tips. In the process of interacting with artists one can’t help but broaden ones perspective and become inspired.

No Connection with the Vender

Every once in a while I get a wedding coordinator asking for a price of a “String Quartet” or for a “DJ” and then say that “they will pass it along to the bride so that the bride can see if she can afford it.”

Well, I guess that’s OK? …but this practice does not permit the bride to one on one interact with the vendor and evaluate their work nor does it allow the bride to interact with the vendor and get to know the vendor as a person. She should care about “what kind of person will be providing my flowers”. As any experienced wedding coordinator knows “you want to put together a good team of vendors.” Well their personality is an important factor as well as the cost of the service they provide. So having direct contact with the vendor and getting to know the vendor has a big influence on the success of the wedding.

Talk to Sheila and Eric

of Elegant Music: 626-797-1795

wedding-favor — Photo by Jessica Sterling Photography

Price Only

So the bride only has a “price” and being busy and possibly overwhelmed by it all might not take the time learn about “the service” or get to know “the vendor” and so may just settle on a price. Really, most wedding vendors are artists and enjoy collaborating with brides and helping them find what truly speaks to them.

Elegant Music Services

I find that a bride who has visited www.elegantmusic.com and enjoyed:

Reading articles/posts

Watching video

Listening to Wedding & Event Podcast episodes

Is ready to talk about music for her wedding.

I like to have a personal meeting with the bride or at least the opportunity to talk by phone. This helps me to discover the music she likes. It may have been a movie theme that moves her or a song a street musician played while she had coffee at a seaport town on the Mediterranean. Discovering those experiences that formulate her vision for her wedding is what I am good at.

What we offer is a specialized service based on the needs and wants of the bride. I especially enjoy helping bridal couples. Planning music for a wedding is almost as much fun as performing for one.

Talk to DJ/Master of Ceremonies

Eric Zimmermann

626-797-1795

Learning is fun. Here is a suggested sequence:

Your wedding coordinator should give a reasonable price range the couple could expect to spend.
I like to talk with the bride and groom (by phone) about music and find out what they are interested in. I am very qualified to talk about music; they may not know what their options are and what is possible.

We have a simple to use website that shows examples including: pictures, video and helpful articles.

Read about one bride who was not excited about choosing her wedding ceremony music and was going to just “settle for the traditional…“. What she chose was anything but traditional.

To help organize ideas an itinerary sketch is worked out showing where music and announcing is needed. This document really helps to define the scope of service. At a glance the couple knows what they are getting from Elegant Music. It is our policy to include this sketch with every agreement/contract.

Next, couples are invited to our office where we can play for them. It is a live performance (like a mini concert) where couples can choose music and experience a preview of their wedding.

Throughout this process the bride and groom better understand their wedding and can better express their ideas. Frankly throughout this process I better understand her wedding and can suggest services correct for them.

At this point the bride and groom are informed. They have certainty and can make their own choices. An informed couple is a joy to work with and always has a great wedding.