Personal styling is about understanding the person behind the clothes. Client questionnaires provide a unique opportunity to ask your clients key questions about their shopping habits and wardrobe needs, while also revealing their character. To truly understand your client, you need to ask unique, creative questions. Though it may seem trivial, your client's typical Saturday night plans or dream holiday destination can significantly impact their style identity. Here are 10 unconventional questions to ask
This article will explore...
Do they dream of walking NYC streets or sunning on a beach in Bali? Explore how you can incorporate that fantasy into their everyday wardrobe.
Does your client need an outfit for fine dining with friends, or do they prefer something cute but cozy for staying in and ordering pizza?
70s flares, 80s power suits, or 50s rockabilly—what elements of their chosen era's aesthetic can you incorporate into their wardrobe?
A good way to snapshot your client's life and figure out what they need to feel fabulous on all these occasions.
Fashion and music are closely linked. Maybe their favorite singer is also a style icon or their favorite sound indicates a preference for a specific aesthetic.
It’s important to understand your client's fundamental priorities. This is also a great way to discuss letting go of old, unnecessary clothing to make room for the new!
Put yourself in your client's Sunday shoes. What kind of wardrobe do they need to feel comfortable yet fabulous?
Does your client hope to embody the confidence of their favorite fictional character? Could you recreate the fashion aesthetic of their favorite show?
Is your client a keen runner, a talented artist, or an animal lover? How can their wardrobe be more functional for these activities while still being stylish?
Flying, mind-reading, or the ability to style an outfit without any stress—if the latter, you know where to focus your attention!
Wedding MBA (Merchant Business Academy) is the top conference for wedding industry pros. Wedding MBA 2024 will be at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 12 to 14.
This year's event is a must for wedding planners, florists, DJs, photographers, and venue owners. Attendees can network with experts and gain insights to boost their businesses in the ever-changing wedding industry.
Visualist attended Wedding MBA 2023. We spoke, exhibited, networked, and partied. Here's why you should attend Wedding MBA 2024 and how to make the most of it.
Key teaching points of Wedding MBA 2024:
Wedding MBA is the place for industry-leading talks and seminars. This year's speakers include Tim Chi, CEO of The Knot, Alan Berg, a global speaking fellow, and luxury wedding planner Andrea Eppolito.
Last year, Visualist CEO Cherie Yang spoke on 'AI and Wedding Planners: The Perfect Match.' We're excited to announce that Visualist will be back on stage at Wedding MBA 2024. Don't miss our WedTalk 'Put Client Wellness First' on Wednesday, November 14, at 11:15 am.
Enjoy Vegas to the fullest! During Wedding MBA, join various activities designed for wedding professionals.
Last year, Visualist sponsored the Monday Night Mixer drinks, hosted by wedding educators Renee Dalo and Amber Anderson at the Museum of Selfies Las Vegas.
Renee and Amber will speak at Wedding MBA again and co-host Conference Confident workshops. Conference Confident helps solo attendees join a community, meet new people, and apply conference knowledge.
Get your Conference Confident tickets here.
Watch our BTS recap from last year:
Don’t miss the Expo Hall at Wedding MBA. Discover new software, products, and services for wedding professionals. Enjoy freebies, discounts on wedding software, and branded merch.
Last year, Visualist was featured in Terrica's Favorite Things tour. She guided wedding planners through the Expo Hall, highlighting must-have tools for enhancing processes, systems, and client experience. Expect similar tours in 2024.
Terrica, a top wedding business educator, is a regular on the Wedding MBA stage. Don't miss her talk with Meghan Ely, owner of OFD Consulting, on "The Trend Experience: The Hottest New Wedding and Event Ideas."
Wedding MBA is the perfect place to learn and network. Connect with others who share your goals. Keep in touch and collaborate after the event—both in person and online.
Last year, we met wedding educator Becca Pountney. Cherie was recently on Becca's podcast, "Wedding Pros Who Are Ready to Grow." In the episode, "Automation, Tech, and Entrepreneurship with Cherie Yang," they discuss how Visualist stood out at Wedding MBA with clever marketing ideas.
At Wedding MBA 2023, we also met Margaux Fraise, founder of Wedding Summit Series. This community for wedding pros hosts regular events and summits. Since then, Visualist has proudly sponsored two Wedding Summit Series events.
This year's Wedding MBA promises much to look forward to. It's a global staple in the wedding industry for a reason!
Visualist is returning to Wedding MBA. Visit us at Booth 2318B
We're excited to collaborate with Jessica Valenzuela, a Las Vegas wedding content creator, capturing the event's magic.
Follow us on Instagram for updates on our Vegas events and talks!
When it comes to running a successful wedding planning business, few things are as crucial as creating good client proposals. A well-designed proposal is more than just a formality. It's a powerful tool that can boost client conversion rates and set the tone for your business.
A standout proposal can be the difference between landing your dream clients and losing them to a rival planner. We recently sat down with renowned wedding business coach, Terrica, in an Instagram Live session. Packed with actionable tips and insights from the session, this article will cover...
Romantic, classic, and fun are three words to describe Terrica's wedding planning style. A 17-year veteran of the industry, Terrica is today known as an award-winning wedding planner and designer of exquisite destination weddings in the Golden Isles region. As the Chief Wedding Planner and Designer of Cocktails & Details®, she leads a talented team of planners and event managers.
But Terrica's impact extends far beyond her local community. Today, her mission is to teach wedding pros "how to advocate for themselves."
Through her virtual wedding planning concierge service, The White Lounge, she connects destination couples with top-notch wedding professionals, ensuring seamless experiences no matter the location. Terrica also spearheads the Unity Through Community initiative with the goal of championing diversity and inclusivity within the wedding world. Her speaking engagements—ever humorous yet grounded—have earned her a nomination for NACE's Speaker of the Year Award.
A client proposal is a formal document that wedding planners present to potential clients, outlining the details of their services, packages, pricing, and planning process. It's often a client's first tangible glimpse into a planner's skills and can be a make-or-break factor in their decision.
For wedding planners, mastering the art of proposal writing is crucial for attracting and retaining their ideal clientele, and Terrica knows exactly how to do that.
As a wedding planner, you're likely less a writer and more a designer. Proposals are essential, but may not come naturally. Terrica teaches wedding pros to lean in to their strengths. Below, she shares her top five rules for creating wedding planning proposals that stand out.
The number one mistake wedding planners make is creating boring client proposals. Your client proposals should always catch the client's attention at first glance. Make them visual and interactive. Don't write like a generic wedding planner. Write as you and tell your story and how you can make their vision come to life.
Know what your brand is, and what your brand isn't. Your proposal should be an extension of your brand identity, and reflect the same values, aesthetic, and personality that drew clients to you in the first place.
Let's talk examples. If you're looking to attract luxury clients, make sure your social media and website exude the same luxurious energy. Never post weddings that you do not want to do again.
Yes, there may be times when you take on jobs because you need to. But that does not mean you have to post them!
Pro tip: If you want to attract certain weddings that you've not yet done, organize a styled shoot to build your portfolio and show what you're capable of..
Visuals are key in client proposals. If you're a wedding pro, your proposal should always include a variety of photos, videos, and moodboards to help couples envision their dream day coming to life under your creative guidance.
Break down your client proposal into features and benefits. The features highlight what you do and the steps you'll take, while the benefits explore what they'll enjoy as a result of working with you.
Make sure to include great detail shots of people and venues, or photos that follow the client's preferred color palette. It's also a great idea to mix in a few behind-the-scenes shots that give clients a glimpse into your process and the dedicated team they'll be working with.
Lastly, vary the sizes of your visuals. Use larger images to emphasize crucial elements, and pick a striking, full-size image for the cover photo that immediately captures the couple's attention.
Always add an "expiration date" in your proposal. Pricing, availability, and priorities can all change. An expiration date gives clients a clear notice period for when they need to make a decision and prevents them from sitting on your proposal indefinitely. This is one of the many ways you can set boundaries and keep control in your wedding planning business.
One of the most frustrating experiences for you as a wedding planner is investing time and effort into a proposal only to have the client "ghost" you. To prevent this, Terrica recommends adding a required question in your proposal or contact form that gauges the client's intentions: ask them "when do you want to start working with our event team?". Responses may vary from "immediately", to "in a few months", or "just exploring." This will give you an idea of how often you should follow up and nurture the relationship without overwhelming them.
Beware! Never overwhelm nor underwhelm your clients—always give just enough. If they ask for your package rates, answer them briefly. If they want to learn more about a certain service, walk through it concisely. There's no need to go on a long speech about why they have to book you now. They will make that decision as they see fit.
To sum up, wedding industry veteran Terrica shares the following expert tips for creating winning client proposals:
With these rules, you can finally create a client proposal template that actually works. Better get ready—you'll be getting booked in no time!
Afia Bayayi is vibrant and spirited—an energy which is replicated in the colourful floral compilations she has created to adorn intimate wedding celebrations for newly-weds, to store launches for Adidas.
Before finding her passion in floristry, Afia worked as a teacher. However, a DIY-approach to the floral design of her own wedding acted as a re-education for Afia and opened the door to a new life as a creative entrepreneur—and so began A F M E N A.
Afia recounts her experience of allowing her creative expression to bloom, shares the lessons she has learned along the way, and explains why bold should always be considered beautiful.
I began my journey with flowers at 18, crafting the floral arrangements for my own wedding in a simple DIY fashion. Seeing the fruition of a design I envisioned was immensely gratifying. Throughout my years of education, I never quite identified as a creative so taking on the responsibility of crafting my wedding arrangements was an awesome challenge.
As word spread, I found myself the designated florist for friends and family gatherings, all while teaching full-time. It brought me great joy to extend this service to loved ones but it was only during my maternity leave, after welcoming my first son, that the spark ignited. Inspired to create a home-based career, I decided to formalise my passion by registering it as a business. Thus, my hobby blossomed into a profession.
Upon returning from maternity leave, I resumed teaching while simultaneously managing my growing business. Balancing both roles was demanding, yet I remained driven by my aspiration to transition to full-time entrepreneurship. A year and a half later, with the arrival of my second son and another stint of maternity leave, I seized the opportunity to further propel the growth of my business. By the time my daughter was born approximately two years later, I made the bold decision to commit fully to my business endeavours and I’ve never looked back.
Transitioning into entrepreneurship, I've found many skills from my teaching career to be readily transferable. My ability to engage effectively with people—whether clients, prospective clients, fellow vendors, or staff—all stems from the strong interpersonal skills developed in the classroom.
Furthermore, effective communication is a cornerstone of teaching and I would say that directly translates into providing exceptional customer service.
Lastly, everyone knows that teachers are and need to be exceptionally organised. The organisational prowess essential for managing a household with three homeschooling children and juggling the myriad of responsibilities of running a business has proven extremely valuable.
Navigating my entrepreneurial journey solo presented its share of hurdles. Throughout the journey, I had to cultivate my business acumen—often through trial and error. Financial missteps were a common occurrence, which unfortunately led to wasted resources. Looking back, I realise the significance of closely monitoring the profitability of each project from the outset. In my early days, I sometimes found myself so immersed in bringing my creative designs to life that I neglected to prioritise profitability. I am passionate about my work and found every opportunity exciting, I now recognise the importance of ensuring that each endeavour is financially viable.
One significant challenge was the absence of a business partner to share the workload and brainstorm ideas with. Today, recognising and harnessing the creative strengths of each member of my team is vital. Granting ownership in areas that align with their strengths encourages a sense of empowerment. I place my trust in the creative judgment of my team which pushes them to excel in their contributions.
Additionally, grappling with imposter syndrome, particularly as a Black business owner, led me to shy away from being the visible face of my brand. However, I came to realise that personal connection plays a pivotal role in consumer engagement. By not stepping into that role, I inadvertently hindered the growth potential of my business. Embracing this realisation, I now understand the importance of being authentically present as the face behind my brand.
As someone who embraces boldness and individuality, I aim to make a statement and leave a lasting impression, both personally and professionally—I'm your red lip, afro wearing, fabulous-earrings-always type of girl.
This essence defines who I am and I strive to embed my work with the same sense of flair. In my floral designs, I seek to strike a balance between my creations being clean and bold with the infusion of vibrant colours and playing with textures to create stunning arrangements. Just as I express myself boldly, I want my floral creations to speak volumes.
I'm recognised for presenting mixed florals as a choice to clients, a contemporary approach that is unique where we seamlessly merge fresh and silk flowers in our arrangements, aligning with our commitment to sustainability.
Focusing on a niche is crucial. Discover your distinct style and remain consistent. Avoid trying to cater to everyone. This strategy simplifies the process of attracting your target clients and enables them to find you more easily.
Anthurium. I love the tropical vibe.
Successful wedding planners know how to connect with their couples. This is even more true for destination wedding planners. They manage long-distance relationships with clients until the big day.
Lisa Makaneole is one such wedding planner. She owns Lotus Events & Weddings in Hawaii.
Lisa's couples enjoy stunning Hawaii views and receive a personalized service. Client communication is at the heart of what she does. With all-in-one planning tools and project management software, Lisa builds strong bonds with her clients. She can create their dream day even from afar. Distance truly makes the heart grow fonder.
We spoke to Lisa about how good communication is at the heart of her wedding planning service, from the first "aloha" to the final checkpoint.
This article explores...
At Lotus Events & Weddings, we prioritize excellent communication with our couples above all else. For us, it's not just about listening; it's about truly hearing what the couple envisions for their special day. Clear client communication is the cornerstone of our planning process. It ensures that every detail of the vision is understood and brought to life. More than that, it builds a foundation of trust and mutual respect, ensuring that expectations are not only met but exceeded. By using comprehensive wedding planning tools and efficient project management software, we stay dedicated to open, honest communication. This helps us avoid surprises and ensures a smooth, joyful journey to the couple's wedding day.
The nature of destination planning means we often bridge distances to connect with our couples. At Lotus Events & Weddings, we embrace digital tools to make these connections as intimate and personal as possible.
Through digital technologies, we bridge the physical gap and create a planning process that feels just as personal and engaging as if we were sitting together in their living room. Our goal is to ensure that, despite the distance, our couples feel supported, understood, and most importantly, excited about their upcoming celebration.
We recognize that each couple's communication preference is as unique as their wedding vision, so we've embraced a flexible and adaptable approach. Adaptability is at the core of our philosophy. We're committed to evolving alongside our couples' needs, ensuring that each step of the planning process is supported by the right mix of communication methods. This responsive approach is what allows us to build and sustain strong, trusting relationships, making the journey to "I do" as seamless and enjoyable as possible.
We agree, 100%. We've discovered that most couples don't just appreciate visual aids—they love them. Describing a sunset beach ceremony or a floral arrangement in words is one thing, but visually sharing that concept is entirely different. Visualist provides our couples with a new way to see and approach their wedding design.
In destination wedding planning, every detail matters, and every vision is unique. Visualist not only brings our couples' wedding dreams into vivid reality but also ensures that we're all on the same page, envisioning the same breath-taking moments. This visual language transcends words, making sure every nuance of their dream wedding is understood and realized.
Using Visualist, part of our all-in-one wedding planning tools, allows us to collaboratively pinpoint preferences, adjust details in real-time, and experiment with different concepts together. This interactive approach enriches our process, ensuring that what we dream together is exactly what we create.
A picture doesn’t just speak a thousand words—it speaks volumes of dreams, ideas, and emotions. Visualist is an invaluable asset in bringing wedding visions to life with impeccable clarity and creativity.
Building healthy, enduring relationships with our couples is the cornerstone of everything we do at Lotus Events & Weddings. While there's no single secret to success, our approach is rooted in a combination of essential values and practices.
We rely on:
At Lotus Events & Weddings, we don’t just plan weddings; we build lasting relationships based on these principles. Utilizing tools like Visualist helps make every journey to the altar as unique and special as the love stories we are honored to celebrate.
Learn more about Lotus Events & Weddings on their website, or say aloha to Lisa on Instagram.
As an interior designer, your goal for every consultation is to answer the question: what does my client want and need from their home?
To answer that question, you need strong communication skills and an effective system for identifying and logging your client's pain points and preferences.
The best way to improve client communication? Invest in a bespoke project management tool that enhances communication and collaboration.
We're here to help you take your client communication from good to great. Here's what we'll cover:
Good client communication is about keeping clients informed, engaged, and satisfied throughout the design process. As an interior designer, your client is always your top priority. However, managing everything from supplier delays to invoicing can make communication challenging.
Project management software designed specifically for interior designers lightens the load, making client communication not only easier but also more efficient and enjoyable for both you and your clients.
Good client communication must be efficient, specific, and personalized. What does that mean in practice?
Efficient client communication is paramount to keeping your client engaged throughout the project, especially when trying to secure their business. Clients will likely send many inquiries to interior design services like yours—what makes you stand out? An efficient, professional, and creative response to their request.
Clear and consistent dialogue is crucial throughout the partnership to accurately capture your client's vision, preferences, and requirements, which are essential for creating personalized and functional designs. Effective communication minimizes misunderstandings, prevents costly revisions, and keeps the project timeline on track. It also fosters trust and a positive working relationship, making clients feel valued and heard.
Regular updates and responsiveness to client feedback further demonstrate professionalism and commitment, ultimately leading to a smooth process and an outstanding final result that meets or exceeds the client's expectations.
Project management tools such as Visualist allow interior designers to create templates for common client communications, such as proposals and questionnaires. Smart AI integrations also aid you in understanding more about your client and understanding how you can best support their needs and wants throughout the project.
Specific and clear client communication, enhanced with visual aids, is crucial for interior designers to bridge the gap between abstract ideas and tangible outcomes. These visual tools help clarify complex concepts, making it easier for clients to provide precise feedback and make informed decisions. This approach not only reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings and costly revisions but also fosters a collaborative environment where clients feel engaged and confident in the design process.
Sticky notes in Visualist facilitate targeted conversations that increase productivity, prevent misunderstandings, and lead to higher client satisfaction.
Personalized client communication is essential for interior designers to create spaces that truly resonate with their clients' unique tastes and lifestyles. By taking the time to understand each client's individual preferences, needs, and aspirations, designers can tailor their approach and deliver bespoke solutions that reflect the client's personality and vision. This personalized interaction fosters a deeper connection and trust, making clients feel valued and heard.
Hubs in Visualist act as a bespoke space for you, your team, and your client to share and discuss everything related to the project. This private, personalized portal improves communication, making your client feel valued and informed every step of the way. Effective communication throughout the project ensures that the final design meets the client's expectations
Owning a wedding planning business demands creativity, organization, communication, dedication, and essential project management software.
These tools help manage tasks, timelines, budgets, and vendor contracts while nurturing client relationships and crafting stunning designs. Think of project management software as your efficient personal assistant!
Yet, with numerous all-in-one tools available, choosing the right one can be daunting.
To guide your investment in productivity software, consider this checklist. The ideal tool for wedding planners:
Let's delve into this further...
Using a wedding business CRM or productivity software should make your work smarter, not harder.
Setting up your workflow in a project management tool should be straightforward, not stressful. The goal is to streamline the process, allowing planners to organize tasks, set deadlines, and track progress effortlessly. By simplifying workflow setup, planners can focus on creative and strategic tasks instead of technical complexities.
Look for user-friendly wedding planner project management software that you can navigate intuitively, saving time and enhancing the client experience.
Your work is valuable, so it deserves secure storage.
We understand the hesitation about digital storage. However, wedding business CRM and productivity software are designed meticulously to safeguard your documents, designs, and data in an easily accessible space. No more misplaced files or accidentally deleted inspiration images!
Many wedding planner project management tools also offer invoicing capabilities, ensuring financial security is a priority. Look for software with secure invoicing and online payment options for safer transactions.
Your project management tool reflects your brand—make sure it's as stylish as you are!
Invest in a sleek, user-friendly tool to showcase professionalism and sophistication. A well-designed system enhances efficiency and impresses clients with its polished interface and seamless functionality. This alignment of style and substance reinforces your brand’s image as meticulous and contemporary, ensuring every client interaction, from initial consultations to final touches, resonates with excellence and elegance.
In a competitive industry where details count, a stylish project management tool sets you apart, showing your dedication to the art and science of wedding planning.
Wedding planner project management tools are designed for modern planners aiming to boost client satisfaction. When choosing software for your wedding planning business, prioritize simplicity, security, and style.
Small homes and clutter are not synonymous. Walking into a 700-square-foot living space can (and should) feel like entering a spacious oasis with all the necessities for cosy, practical, and enjoyable living.
Bearing this in mind is now more important than ever. According to a recent NY Times report, smaller homes are the future of housing now that mortgage rates have reached a two-decade high. As a result, denser communities of duplexes and small-lot homes are on the rise. A recent John Burns Research and Consulting survey found that hundreds of architects forecast a significant decrease in their average house size.
This however, should not deter interior designers—interior design is not about how big the house is, but how you make it feel like home.
Unfortunately, though, it’s much easier said than done. Navigating the upturn in smaller canvases is nothing short of challenging for interior designers. In 2024, designers are forced to find their feet in a turbulent market. Is there any need to hire an interior designer to decorate such a small space?
The answer, thankfully, is yes. The sharp incline in small-space living does not stem from a disinterest in a nice home. In reality, people are adjusting to the current state of the economy. Increasing housing costs, and growing populations make homeownership a reserve of the wealthy, but that doesn't mean comfortable, stylish living has to be compromised too. Simply put, interior design is not a dying profession but one ready to evolve.
There are a million reasons why an interior designer's services are just as valuable in today's market as ten years ago—the trick is convincing the public of the same and learning how to adapt accordingly. With the influx of small homes, interior designers find themselves in unfamiliar territory. How can interior design businesses adapt and cater to the shrinking homes trend? Our advice: get creative, adapt to the needs of small space occupants, and accommodate your services and practices to fit the current homeowners market.
Shrinking homes do not mean shrinking opportunities for interior designers. However, it does entail catering to a new market of homeowners—homeowners eager to make their new spaces both practical and personal.
For every homeowner putting their house on the market and comprising square footage for small-space living is a million reasons to do so. From financial considerations to sustainability issues, there is plenty of conversation to be had surrounding the benefits of owning a small home. For an interior designer, walking away from every one of these small-space projects with a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction—for both you and your client—is priority. Understanding the motivations behind this trend is key. For just a moment, let’s put ourselves in the shoes of these down-sizers.
Millennials, a generation riddled with student debt, are running on a treadmill. It's hard to get ahead when the cost of living is increasing at a faster rate than average income, according to a 2022 Economics Observatory report. In short, its no surprise that this generation of homebuyers are downsizing—for many, smaller homes are the only affordable way to get on the property ladder in the current housing market. For others, opting for small-space living offers financial freedom and a means to indulge in their passions—a generation of avid travellers and social butterflies still need a cosy place to call home. Recent retirees also make up a majority of tiny house owners globally. Smaller homes are more affordable and easier to maintain for older individuals or couples who no longer need the excess space. Naturally, comfortability and accessibility are key to making a baby boomer's house feel like a long-term home. But, they can't achieve this on their own.
Jamie Dibble, longtime artist and Channel 4's Big Interior Design Battle finalist, has witnessed this trend trickle its way into the interior design industry firsthand, and in fact attributes much of the shrinking homes trend to our collective shifting attitude to sustainability, "The way we live these days is changing all the time. I think there's a few different reasons people are opting for small space living… our effect on the environment is becoming more and more important to people and I think this is forcing us to take a long hard look at how we live, how wasteful we can be and what we can do better. Not to mention the cost of energy these days are all over the place- let's face it, winters can be harsh but no harsher than the cost of heating a big old house!"
Regardless of reasoning for living in a smaller square footage, small home dwellers share a common desire for a simpler life and a beautiful home. How can an interior designer make their homes reflect this feeling of simplicity to make themselves desirable in the new housing market?
Small spaces need big thinking. To make interior design services valuable in the current housing market, creativity and innovation must be an integral part of the offering.
With small-space living comes new demands. A small room cannot be designed in the same way that a grand and spacious one is. According to Jamie, the key to making smaller rooms work is seamlessly combing comfort and function, "Creating really smart, functional designs for these multifaceted rooms without compromising on the beauty of the overall design is really important."
Functional design requires a defined understanding of the desired function of the space, which is why Jamie stresses that despite the quicker turnaround of small projects, a deep understanding of your clients is still of paramount importance—perhaps even more so compared to a larger project!
Whilst Jamie might be taking on an increasing number of clients living in smaller spaces, they certainly don't come with less baggage—Jamie observes, "One thing that hasn't changed is our love of stuff!" If there's one thing Jamie's years of experience have taught him it's the importance of finding unique and hidden storage opportunities in every room.
Working with limited room and storage space makes capturing the flow and feel of a home tricky. In a small home with limited space, Jamie explains that all rooms need to be multifunctional, "While smaller properties can be beautiful, it does mean each of the rooms now need to work that much harder to be functional. Creating really smart, functional designs for these multifaceted rooms without compromising on the beauty of the overall design is really important. That's been my biggest challenge lately! "
If rooms themselves have multiple functions, so too must the furniture within them. Finding the right manufacturers can make or break a project. Without innovative furniture, interior designers cannot deliver clients the pretty yet practical homes they are searching for. Thankfully, a plethora of manufacturers have responded to the demand for furniture pieces that are customisable, multi-purpose, and adaptable.
Furniture suppliers perfect for small homes:
Our personal space and what we call home is directly reflected in how we live and feel. Creating a space that is not cluttered and supports mindfulness is key to making a small home work. When designing smaller houses, a holistic and creative approach to design can ensure client satisfaction and wellbeing.
A good interior designer possess a love for beauty, a knack for functionality, and an intuition for client-centric design.
As the housing market shifts towards denser communities and downsized homes, the spirit of adaptability that defines the interior design industry is what will keep design businesses afloat.
Small home dwellers share a common desire for simplicity and beauty in their living spaces. This presents interior designers with the chance to reimagine their approach and offer innovative solutions that maximise functionality without compromising on aesthetics.
By understanding the motivations behind the trend towards smaller homes and embracing creativity and innovation, interior designers can thrive in this evolving market and create beautiful and practical living spaces in even the smallest of homes.
Today's wedding business to-do list:
And that's not even the half of it...
Sound familiar? Owner, lead planner, client coordinator, chief marketer—running a wedding business means wearing many hats. Your daily to-do list never shrinks. But what if you could get all these tasks done on time and free up more time to focus on beautiful designs and meaningful client connections?
You might have thought about hiring a wedding planning assistant. But have you considered AI-powered software? It can help you in the same way for a fraction of the cost! AI tools can handle repetitive tasks like social media management, vendor coordination, and data management.
Implementing an AI assistant into your wedding planning workflow is easier than you might think.
In this article, we'll cover:
In any profession, hiring an assistant is a smart move. An assistant makes operations smoother, improves client communication, and frees up your time.
Like a human assistant, an AI assistant can manage daily administrative tasks. Think managing client communications, invoicing, coordinating with vendors, preparing client presentations, and creating concept boards.
How do you know if you need an AI assistant for your wedding business?
1. How much time am I spending on admin?
If administrative work takes up a lot of your time, it's worth getting extra help. What would you do with an extra 4 hours in a day?
2. What tasks do I need help with?
Which tasks need your unique design eye and personality? Which tasks could you hand off to an assistant with clear instructions? Be clear about what you need help with and how it would enhance your wedding business.
3. How much am I willing to invest in an assistant?
AI assistants are more affordable than hiring multiple staff. They come with built-in training and work efficiently—a budget-friendly option with great results!
What tasks can an AI assistant help you with?
Effective communication is key in maintaining client satisfaction from the first inquiry, all the way to the big day. According to the UK's 2024 Wedding Industry Report, 43% of couples expect responses to initial inquiries within 48 hours, which requires 24/7 monitoring of your inbox and a big portion of your time and attention.
An AI assistant can monitor client inquiries and send ready-made template responses to prospective clients.
AI tools can streamline the creative process. They provide access to vast databases of images, themes, and styles. Planners can quickly gather inspiration and ideas. AI-powered image recognition technology allows planners to search for specific elements or themes. This ensures every detail aligns with the client's vision. AI tools also help organize and arrange images into visually appealing concept boards, saving time and effort. By leveraging AI, wedding planners can efficiently communicate their creative concepts to clients. This fosters clearer understanding and collaboration throughout the planning process.
AI tools act as trusted assistants for busy wedding planners. They help digest and summarize intake forms, client questionnaires, and feedback. With smart algorithms, these tools sift through details and pick out important nuggets. It’s like having a reliable sidekick for organizing and highlighting key points. Instead of drowning in paperwork, planners can connect with clients and bring their dream weddings to life. With AI, wedding planners can streamline their workflow and deliver personalized, memorable experiences for their couples.
If you're a wedding planner spending most of your time on lesser-priority tasks, take this as a sign to hire a virtual assistant for wedding businesses. VAs excel at administrative tasks, vendor coordination for weddings, digital marketing, and customer service. This frees up more time for your core responsibilities.
Here's the twist: while traditional virtual assistants are great, technology offers another option—software-based virtual assistants! These digital, non-human assistants use automation and AI to perform tasks with speed and precision, providing an alternative solution for wedding businesses.
Moodboarding is one of the most underrated stages of the interior design process. Traditionally, it can be tedious and time-consuming. Fortunately, the industry has developed smart moodboarding tools that reduce the time spent from several hours to as quick as 30 minutes!
Why is moodboarding so important? In the interior design industry, it's better to show than tell. You’ll often encounter clients who struggle to describe their vision or misinterpret certain styles. They might say they want a 'cottage' themed room but actually prefer a mid-century modern design. This is where moodboards come in handy!
But do interior design businesses really need moodboarding software to create good moodboards? Let's explore three key benefits of using a moodboarding tool...
This article will explore:
Not sure what a smart moodboarding tool can do for you? Here is a walk-through of the three key stages of moodboarding...
The first stage involves collecting images, textures, colors, and other visual elements that showcase the design concept. You can download elements from platforms like Pinterest, Houzz, or even image search engines.
A moodboarding app or software facilitates easy access to the reference elements you have collected so they don't get lost in your folders or downloads. It allows interior designers to either save images directly to their digital library or upload their elements to a designated storage.
Once a pool of inspiration is gathered, the next step is to organize the elements to form a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing moodboard.
Smart moodboarding softwares like Visualist often have auto-layout features that arrange images in the way you prefer automatically. Additionally, some come with handy design tools such as background removal and image editing to help you create polished and professional-looking moodboards.
Finally, the completed moodboard needs to be shared with clients for feedback and approval. With an interior design moodboarding tool, designers can share them instantly through email or direct download links.
Even better, some smart moodboarding software even offer direct commenting or annotating on the board to save time and space. This enhances client communication and speeds up the decision-making process. No need for lengthy email exchanges!
Gone are the days when creating moodboards took hours off your workday. With interior design tools like Visualist, you can do more in less time! Invest in a reliable app to easily gather and store inspiration, create polished presentations, and facilitate real-time collaboration with clients for better communication and decision-making.
Looking for software that's worth every dime? Try the Visualist app today.
The pathway of water, the curvature of ancient wooden statues, the human body—in all these abstract forms, Colombia Everett sees a shape that can be traced, printed, assembled, polished, and worn as an ornate piece of jewellery.
Colombia Everett is a material librarian, product designer, and the founder of Studio Agaea—a brand exploring the intersection of digital and traditional craftsmanship through fine silver jewellery pieces.
Studio Agaea's debut collection, Naiads, takes inspiration from the fluid spirit of the water nymphs of ancient Greek mythology. Every Studio Agaea piece is a labour of love, meticulously designed and handcrafted by Colombia Everett herself, the process of which she intentionally lays bare to the end wearer.
We spoke to Colombia about her respect for craftsmanship, developing sustainable practice, and the beauty to be found in "imperfection".
Studio Agaea in three words: Process. Texture. Connection.
Jewellery making is a traditional technical craft that can be enhanced by different design mediums. My design practices are derived from a speculative, multidisciplinary approach. I consider myself a material-first designer, having completed my master’s in material design and working as a material librarian at an architectural firm. For me, having a deep understanding of the materials I am working with enables me to explore and stretch the limits of design with the material.
By approaching design digitally, with 3D rendering, I can experiment with forms and shapes not readily possible with traditional jewellery techniques. The freedom of the tools allows for more risk-taking that explores the limits of possibilities, operating on the edge I can use the 3D printing to evaluate the feasibility of my designs.
My designs are heavily influenced by the process. I actualise them using Blender—a 3D mesh software—and to me, it is like modelling in clay, but with the opportunity for extreme precision. The software imparts on the design process an experimentalism and organic fluidity that is especially similar to clay. Printing the pieces in 3D adds a topographical texture which enhances the fluidity of the pieces. The jewellery forms encourage connection, the open structure exposes the skin allowing the wearers' skin to act as the gems.
I want my pieces to hint at how they were made, when I think of traditional craftsmanship, the identity of the craftsman is evident. It can tell the story of how the piece was made. I associate perfect finishes with mass manufacturing, which of course is fine but I want to celebrate and tell the story of the entire making process, and it's the 'controlled imperfections’ that give my pieces their individuality.
I love the idea of Wabi Sabi, the centering of transience and imperfections in life. I believe perfection is somewhat unnatural and that translating the beauty of nature into these pieces requires an openness to imperfection. The jewellery being imperfect allows them to be one with the wearer, in contrast to perfection that can only exist separate from the person. I want my work to become an element of the wearer.
I have always preferred silver in the jewellery I wear, so my first collection leaned heavily into it. Despite this, I am very open to using gold as I progress with future collections. I find that they convey very different feelings, the silver feeling far more fluid and watery than the gold which made it more suitable for Naiads. Metals are very interesting to work with and are extremely versatile, they can take any form when worked correctly. I love the way the casting can capture the entirety of 3d prints and all the design intricacies.
for its design influences. The softness and abstract structures are translated into fluid curved textures that emulate the female form. I think the female body should be celebrated and I admire how we have interpreted it over and captured its beauty. I wanted to pay homage and create a new interpretation that can also be worn on the female body. I also found inspiration in ancient Minoan wooden statues. The forms of these pieces are simple but emotive and playful.
I would say I’ve subconsciously been influenced to be open to different aesthetics. Direct exposure and immersion [to different cultures] has led me to adopt and build on the elements that surround me—it is like learning a language, you can only truly understand if you are surrounded constantly, and then slowly one's accent changes to become like those around you.
Sustainability has always been a driving force in my design principles and played a major part in my studies. However, I am aware that not all elements are perfect. I am investigating alternative filaments that can be used for pre-casting prints, but I use recycled silver for my pieces and this contributes to a circular economy and ensures the silver finds a new purpose. Ultimately though jewellery is designed to last, and can be passed on to another home down the line.
Jewellery is just one aspect of design that I want to explore. I think of Studio Agaea as a design studio that currently uses jewellery as its primary design vehicle. I hope to expand to working on product and furniture design within the high-end/luxury market, using new materials that have zero impact on the environment.
Learn more about Studio Agaea on their website and discover upcoming collections on Instagram.
Clear communication is the cornerstone of a successful planner-client relationship in the wedding industry. Each wedding is unique, demanding transparency for a smooth experience.
Today, leveraging digital tools is key. Features in wedding planner CRM systems enhance responsiveness and transparency. From project management tools like Trello to messaging apps like Slack, these tools streamline communication.
This article covers essential topics:
Ready to optimize your wedding business's client management? Let's dive in.
Good communication isn't just about conveying information—it's about collaboration. Clients share their wedding vision, you offer expertise, and together, you transform ideas into reality.
How can you ensure effective client communication? Here are three key indicators:
Remember, communication is a dialogue. Foster open channels where clients feel heard and valued. Encourage their input, listen attentively, and integrate their feedback into the planning process seamlessly.
Email has long been the go-to for wedding planners to share details, track conversations, and document decisions. However, in today's fast-paced world, it might be holding back efficient collaboration between planners and clients.
Why is that?
Research by Microsoft highlights that employees spend up to 8 hours weekly on emails—almost 2 hours daily, a significant chunk of time for busy wedding planners.
The issue lies in email overload. Important messages can get lost in cluttered inboxes filled with promotional emails. It's frustrating to sift through dozens or even hundreds of irrelevant emails before finding client inquiries or sending crucial updates.
Moreover, email threads often sprawl into chaotic, lengthy chains that make it hard to locate specific details or track tasks efficiently. While organizing folders or starring emails can help, managing emails manually is time-consuming and prone to oversight.
Despite its longevity and reliability over the decades, email isn't evolving as swiftly as AI-driven alternatives. Embracing modern client communication software tailored for wedding planners—like CRM systems—can streamline interactions, ensuring faster responses, organized workflows, and enhanced client satisfaction.
While email has been a stalwart in wedding planning, today's couples desire a more interactive experience. It's time to explore cutting-edge project management tools to revolutionize client communication.
Why embrace digital tools now?
Wedding planners, elevate your client communication game!Clear and effective communication is key to successful wedding planning. Prioritize timely updates, personalized interactions, and open dialogue to foster trust and satisfaction.While email has been a staple tool, its organizational challenges and time constraints no longer meet the demands of modern wedding planning. Embrace digital solutions like wedding planner CRM and client communication software to streamline idea sharing, focus discussions, and automate reminders and messaging.
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