Reviews
The one great thing about the wedding industry is that we are all very passionate about what we do, and we obviously care about our clients and the products and services that we provide. Therefore, any vendor reviews (good or bad) are very important to us.
Of course, I would love to hear from my clients that everything went well throughout the entire planning process and on their special day, but if for any reason that something wasn’t up to par, I would definitely welcome the constructive criticism. I believe that there is always room for improvement, and if there are any ways that I can do things better in the future, I would love to know.
IMAGE SOURCE HERE
However, there is a huge difference between constructive criticism and just plain vendor bashing. To illustrate the point - I once read the reviews that one of my clients have posted online, and she said that she didn’t think my services were worth the money that she paid for, and that she didn’t really need my help because she already had her vision in mind.
It’s interesting that she mentioned that because she loved and raved about all the vendors that I have recommended and booked for her - the caterer, photographer, minister, ceremony musician, DJ, florist, tent/linen/decor… and she didn’t like the only one vendor that she booked on her own, which was the hair stylist. In fact, she had problem with that vendor because he never responded to any of her phone calls and emails, and she had to email me and ask me what she should do because she’d already paid a $150 deposit and didn’t want to lose the money. It took me 2 emails and 1 voice mail, but I finally got in touch with him. It seems like she needed my help more than she thought!
There were a few other items that she listed but these types of reviews don’t really help the vendors or the future clients in the long run. Here is how you should write a constructive review:
1. First of all, you definitely need to get all the facts straight or else no one is going to take your review seriously, especially when the vendor is very reputable within the wedding industry.
2. Secondly, don’t complain about little things like “She didn’t tell me to switch my engagement ring to my right hand before the ceremony” because that will only make you sound like those brides on the “Bridezillas” TV show.
3. Thirdly, make sure you are neutral and non-biased when you write, and also address the review to the vendor directly and not just posting it on some wedding website and online forum. If a vendor has always gotten excellent reviews on these wedding sites and all of a sudden you complain about everything, people will know you are just bashing the vendor and will question the validity of your review, which again will make you look like those brides on the “Bridezillas” TV show.
We definitely welcome any reviews from our past clients. We’d love to hear what worked and didn’t work at your event, and what we need to concentrate and improve on to make future events better. But be sure that it’s constructive and that it will help us grow and improve our services, so that we can better serve our future clients. If you have any issues with the vendors during the planning and/or on the day of the wedding, it’s best to address them right there and then instead of ambushing and bashing the vendor online afterward. You do not want the vendors to take legal action against you for defamation, libel and slander.
Our boutique business is not catered toward appealing to the masses, and we know that we can’t always please everyone all the time. However, please know that we will always do our very best to serve and accommodate all of our clients. Thank you for all of your support!
Tags: Reviews
July 15th, 2009 at 6:25 am
Evonne — such a well-thought out and awesome tip sheet on giving constructive criticism to a vendor. Feedback is important in every aspect of our lives and this very valuable information can help us (as vendors) improve our services and the way in which we interact with our clients.
July 15th, 2009 at 8:02 am
This is ballsy Evonne! Good for you for standing up for yourself!
July 15th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Thanks, Beth! I actually learned that from you! :)
July 16th, 2009 at 1:55 am
Thanks, Donna… I sure hope this is helpful! How are things going at Swish?