Becca Parsons is the founder of Evermore Weddings. Specialising in dry hire and marquee weddings, Becca loves to work with couples who have bags of style but still know how to kick back and have fun!

Becca explains her approach to finding inspiration and understanding new clients with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...

Something old

I remember tearing up listening to the speeches at one of the first weddings I ever ran as a coordinator back in 2014 and thinking, "this is the best job in the world". That was the moment I knew I wanted to make this a career. Helping couples celebrate and watching them create priceless memories with their loved ones is such a privilege and it never gets old.

I can usually tell I've done a good job just by looking at the faces of my couples—if they have big smiles and are totally absorbed in the moment then I know I've succeeded.

Something new

My client onboarding process always begins with a video call. I find that this is by far the most effective way to get to know my clients and helps to establish mutual trust and understanding. I'll ask the couple about their plans so far and we'll talk about the vision they have, their likes/dislikes, and their priorities. My favourite question to ask new clients is "How do you want your wedding to feel?" This question helps me understand both their personality and their priorities for their day.

Something borrowed

I always encourage my clients to look outside of the wedding industry for inspiration. Interior design and fashion are particularly good places to look if you are feeling stuck. Are you someone who loves to wear bright colours or is your wardrobe strictly monochrome? Is your house full of soft neutrals or bold prints? I often have clients who know that they don't want a traditional green and white wedding but are struggling to narrow down what it is they do want—or they can't find suppliers who understand their vision.

These days, more and more couples are opting for humanist ceremonies because they add such a special personal touch to the day. I think it is a trend that will definitely keep growing.

Something blue

I love a bold colour scheme, so generally, the couples who book me are already on board with that—I think my website/social media content helps to attract couples who love colour as much as me.

I try and do one or two styled shoots each year to showcase new ideas and to give couples an idea of what my designs look like. The Australian wedding industry is a big source of inspiration for me—I previously worked as venue manager for a luxury Melbourne wedding venue and I think they are more daring and modern than the UK wedding industry.

I had a wedding recently that featured a pink, red and orange colour scheme and it was absolutely phenomenal. The brides were a little worried that the pink and orange would be too much but it looked so good and it's a colour combo I adore. The design also featured disco balls and one of the brides wore an incredible sequin dress so I named the design "Disco Sunset".

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Find out more about Becca's services on her website. Check out Evermore Weddings on Instagram for a bank of wedding day inspiration.

Megan Tinio is the founder of Magical Moments by Megan, a wedding and events planning company based in Southern California. Megan creates magical memories for her clients to be treasured for years to come.

Megan reflects on her journey into the industry, her approach to design, and the secret to a magical moment with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue...

Something old

My company was inspired by my paternal grandmother. She was always the person inviting people to her home and bringing people together. When she passed, I took charge of planning her celebration of life. Even though it was a sad and painful time, it was exciting to plan a gathering in celebration of her—knowing that it would be filled with love, laughter, and joy, just like her home. That experience sparked something within me.

Ultimately, I feel that my gift is bringing people together to create memories. Memories are the only things we can keep with us throughout life, especially when loved ones leave us. These are life's “magical moments” and I use my skills of communication, organisation, and planning to put together these occasions for people to celebrate and create memories that they get to keep forever!

Something new

There are so many wedding trends that come and go, which are of course influenced by social media. In general, I think couples are leaning toward smaller, more intimate celebrations. The pandemic made everyone realise who and what is really important to them so I find that couples want to spend their money more intentionally—they are spending more per person but for a higher quality, more memorable experience.

Something borrowed

My design process is very client driven. It is important to me that my weddings don't all look the same—my clients don't typically come to me because of a certain look that I specialise in. I believe weddings are so unique in that no individual is the same and no couple is the same. Weddings are an opportunity to learn more about the couple, by bringing out a style and design that speaks to who they are.

That being said, I am all about practicality and understated elegance. A little can go a long way and we like to help our clients create beauty without breaking the bank.

Something blue

To build a colour scheme, I start by asking my clients about their everyday style and preferences—home decor and typical shopping lists all speak to a client’s style. While a wedding is a chance to do things differently, a client is always going to be happier when staying true to themselves.

I had a client do a whole rainbow theme with every bridesmaid in a different coloured dress and each groomsman wearing a different coloured boutonnière. I would call their colour palette vibrant, unique and whimsical!

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Browse for magical moments on Instagram, or learn more about Megan's services on her website.

Jade Robinson is the founder of J.R. Events—an event management company based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team at J.R. Events pride themselves on delivering a seamless and stress-free experience so that their clients can focus on creating beautiful memories with their loved ones.

Jade reflects on her role as a wedding planner with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue...

Something old

My favourite memory from my time in the industry is the first time a bride told me that, "it felt like she hired a best friend for the day." Our team enjoys helping our clients create memories.

Something new

When taking on a new client we try to determine whether they are looking for us to support them as they plan, or whether they'd prefer for us to lead the plans for them. It is important for us to gauge how we can best meet their needs, but we enjoy the process either way!

Something borrowed

The best professional advice I've ever received is to simply focus on what I can control. There is no need to panic or stress about things that we cannot control. Plus, this mindset actually helps in seeking out a solution.                               

Something blue

At JR events, we specialise in guiding our clients through their perfect day, rather than the design itself. We partner with professional decorators to bring together the decor and colour scheme, but our services make the experience as a whole more bright, bold and colourful.

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Find J.R. Events on Instagram, or learn more about their services on their website.

The Golborne Collection is a luxury experiential events company founded by Sarah Kay and Natalia Hollingsworth. The pair hold a reputation for producing high-profile events in the UK's most prestigious venues.

Sarah reflects on her and Natalia's partnership and values, their approach to creation and the shifting landscape of the wedding industry with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue...

Something old

We’ve both loved hospitality from a young age and still do now. Natalia grew up in a B&B and used to serve guests their breakfast before she left for school, prior to convincing her parents to turn the grounds into a wedding venue. Equally, I had a strong desire to be an air hostess. There was just something about serving the little drinks and (in my day) the boiled sweets on departure! I used to always convince my parents to let me serve canapés and wine at their dinner parties before they sent me off to bed.

We’ve seen some new traditions emerge over our time in the industry—a lot more speeches from the brides and maid of honour which we love. In general, the focus is now on finding a format that allows guests to spend as much time together as possible and guests are more open to these informal celebrations.

We just love delivering great service and having happy guests—that's what it’s always been about for us.

Something new

Choosing the right suppliers and building a great team is so important. We’re only as good as our suppliers so we spend a lot of time nurturing those relationships.

We know very quickly if a supplier is right, but it’s hard to put our finger on exactly why. It tends to be that they take great care and attention with the brief and initial site visit, have great ideas and interpret our brief well. If we have a good rapport and trust alongside that, we know it’s a winning combination.

But one of the things that the last few years have taught us is that love is the most important element of the day. Our expectations, traditions and previous thoughts have been somewhat shaken and challenged. Did we expect so many people to have 30 people receptions or even to forgo a wedding altogether? No, but they did and it worked.

In a way, it put less emphasis on the traditional, expected format. We feel that couples have more confidence now to have a celebration that’s true to them. What’s important is that we can all be together to celebrate and, given the couple of years we’ve all had, we just don’t take that for granted anymore!

Something borrowed

Natalia and I have so much respect for each other and our contrasting skill sets. We think in exactly the same way—often an email or message will cross, and we’ve said exactly the same thing or we arrive at meetings in almost identical outfits!

Our views on how events should be designed and delivered as well as the future of the business are very aligned. It works so well that we often say we are each other’s dream business partners, yet our skill sets couldn’t be more different. I adore the creative—the marketing, pulling together proposals and pitching. Natalia loves the planning—excel sheets, finances, and working through all the minute details with suppliers. Natalia is our operations extraordinaire.

We like to have thing thoroughly planned but the best wedding planning wisdom I have ever heard is this: the guests don’t know what was planned. It can be a huge amount of pressure to plan someone’s wedding day and we spend a lot of time working on the details and ideas. So, of course, we feel quite sad if everything doesn't go just so on the day. For example, if it rains and an outdoor idea we had planned can’t be used. But the guests will never have known and to them, the day is perfect as it unfolds. Guests at a wedding are the most forgiving guests, as at the end of the day they’re there to see the couple wed and they’re not so worried about whether the speeches went on for 10 minutes longer than they were meant to or that they forgot to eat the late night snacks. It’s a good reminder for both planners and the couple!                      

Something blue

Colour is very important in wedding design. Although, I think times have changed in that you no longer need a strict colour theme. In years gone past, people seemed to choose one colour whereas now it feels more tonal—which we love.

When we design and present moodboards for the celebrations we plan, we are trying to capture a feeling, a season or a moment in time. That leads to a wider colour palette with various elements fitting into it—it feels more considered. The couple, the venue and the time of the year also have a strong influence on the colours chosen. The colour scheme for our last wedding felt soft, inviting, and natural.

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Find out more about The Golborne Collection via their website. Explore a beautiful archive of The Golborne Collection's events on Instagram.

Constance Taylor is the founder of Mrs T Weddings, an award-winning luxury wedding planning consultancy.

As well as delivering the perfect day for her couples, Constance partners with Vow for Girls—an organisation enabling women around the world to choose love on their own terms.

Constance reflects on emerging wedding trends, the importance of collaboration, and how colour shapes an experience with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue...

Something old

Mrs T Weddings is all about breaking free from the traditional structure and "box-ticking exercises" of wedding planning. We offer our couples a deeply personalised service that ultimately gives them a wedding that is truly authentic to their personalities and values.

This is achieved by adapting the planning experience to them, rather than trying to fit them into a formulaic process that is at odds with their lifestyle. Our focus is on removing the idea that planning will be an onerous, cumbersome task on top of their already busy schedules. As a former project manager and Operations Director, I find smart ways of working with what time my couples have to ensure we avoid any last-minute decisions.

Some of the best advice I've ever received is, "Anything is possible." And it’s true! It’s our job to make it happen, and we always take on any challenge with a positive can-do attitude which we pass on across the complete supplier team.

Something new

Mrs T Weddings has no set style, and it never will. Our ethos is always about finding out what is unique and authentic to our couples. We explore their history and heritage, and how we can bring that to their wedding. Naturally, couples do find inspiration from bygone eras—vintage transportation remains very popular. We recently had a couple that were very influenced by architectural design, which became a fun focal point for their wedding cake design—a bright, bold, square creation with references to origami and architecture.

The 2022 wedding season saw my most unique Groom entrance yet—arriving at the ceremony in a traditional wooden rowing boat with the sounds of Otis Redding floating over the lake. As soon as we visited the venue, he was keen to make this his entrance, and it was my job to make that a reality for him. It wasn’t without numerous trips into the water during rehearsals, but on the day it all came together beautifully and he got the entrance he loved and deserved.

This season we’ve seen far more celebrant-led weddings and couples taking their ceremonies "off-script". We have had ceremonies laden with glitter balls, bold colour schemes and an abundance of florals. Couples are definitely moving away from tradition and we’re hugely supportive of this. We have loved seeing some big, bold creative decisions from my couples this year and we think this is only going to increase as people look to make their weddings totally unique.

Something borrowed

At Mrs T Weddings, collaboration is vital. Weddings have so many moving parts, meaning we are always looking to curate a team of suppliers that are experts in their individual fields whilst respecting the expertise of others.

With every supplier we’re asking, "Do they fit with our couple’s style? Do they complement the other suppliers? Do they meet the needs of locality and price point?" Once we’ve considered all angles, I bring those recommendations to my couple and the curation process begins.                                  

Something blue

We often associate colours with particular moods and feelings and this can influence colour accents and bold palettes. Nature and the four seasons are definitely a source of colour inspiration. The venue also has a strong influence on the colour scheme—outdoor ceremonies embrace natural surroundings, whereas indoor ceremonies are an opportunity to invite nature inside.

I have a background in art, fashion and design, so I’m mindful of using my couples’ individual style, fashion sense and home interiors to build up a broader colour palette.

Beyond florals and tablescapes, the atmosphere, light, colour, perceived temperature and sense of space can all be enhanced using high-quality lighting and production. I will often bring in supplier teams that can transform a setting at the flick of a switch, injecting warmth, colour and vibrancy through intelligent lighting but also in more unique ways such as through the food and drinks we are serving their guests.

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Find out more about Mrs T Weddings on their website, or browse an archive of Constance's work on Instagram.

Katy Anderson is the founder and principal designer of her namesake interior design firm, Katy Anderson Interiors. Katy and her team work across construction, decoration and restoration but their commitment to delivering a unique home for their clients remains consistent.

No comparison

"A meeting in person will always outweigh an email or zoom call—having clients see fabrics in person, to feel the texture and see the true colour in person is extremely valuable. We want clients to examine the exact samples of finishes for their kitchen and bath hardware in advance, which means our meetings are critical to our success."

Every aspect of design needs scrutiny and a personal meeting solidifies our ability to provide our clients with everything they hoped for!

Never too much detail

"Getting an understanding of a client’s style is relatively simple but understanding their lifestyle, that’s the crux for us."

Spending quality time in an initial meeting to discover how a client uses their space is critical. We have an extensive Q&A process where we uncover how much time they spend in certain spaces, how important stain-resistant fabrics are to them, whether their dog sleeps on their bed at night, if they wear shoes in the house, whether they use the front door or the side entrance to their home—there are so many important factors that come into play."

Unpredictable inconveniences

"The most challenging part of the design process continues to be the current pipeline delay. We are still facing unprecedented lead times and it’s been very frustrating to give clients dates that can change—we care about setting expectations."

Client deep dive

Katy and her team conduct a thorough investigation into the tastes and requirements of their clients. But what happens when those requirements clash? We challenged Katy to find a happy medium for a couple with vastly contrasting design tastes—if she had just ~3 questions to work with...

1. Who will use the space the most?

For example, which of you will use the home office the most? We can find an equally appealing room for the other person to enjoy their own space.

2. What time of day do you find the most enjoyment out of your favourite rooms in the house?

We can design the room around how they use the space.

3. Which colour makes you both happy?

We can always find harmony in colours.

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Find out more about Katy's services on her website, or browse an archive of her work on Instagram.

Emma Miles is a celebrity and editorial makeup artist based in London, UK. Emma also acts as Beauty Director at Wonderland Magazine.

Meet Emma Miles

Dream client?

Rather than famous faces, I love working with articulate people. Those who are unique and interesting with great minds and great life stories—people that can hold their own in a conversation.

But ..wouldn’t it have been great to meet Elvis Presley!

What's an iconic look that you’d love to put your spin on?

My personal favourite iconic look is Hedi Slilmane's collection for Saint Laurent. Masculine suits on female figures—fully chic and super sexy without having to show any flesh. So inspirational!!

How do you want your work to be remembered?

I just want my talent to be appreciated.

We asked Emma to introduce us to the makeup story she hopes to one day bring to life...

From the Archives

I went to a Thierry Mugler exhibition recently and was totally inspired by his concepts and visions. Especially those influenced by Blade Runner and Metropolis. I would like to do a modern concept inspired by one of his collections, and in a dream world I'd shoot at the Hanging Gardens of Babylon—that place has always intrigued me.

I would take inspiration from Kim Basinger's makeup in 9 1/2 Weeks. I am particularly obsessed with the scene where she is in disguise as a man—she looks so cool and sexy.

This shoot would celebrate unconventional beauty. Think: unique, sassy, chic and confident.

Find an archive of Emma's work on her website or keep up to date on her Instagram.

Sommy Echezona is the founder and director of M.Fiore Events—a UK based wedding and events service designed for creative couples. Sommy prides herself on bringing movie-like moments to life for her clients.

Sommy shares the aspects of her job that always make her smile, predicts next season's trends and recites words of wisdom with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue...

Something old

After months of planning, the final call/meeting with your couple—going through the wedding day in detail and seeing how their story will unfold—is the best feeling. Everything has come together and your couple is truly put at ease so that they can simply enjoy getting married!

A recent favourite moment was my last couple's first dance. They were so worried but when it came to it, all that mattered was them and the love they shared—they went into the dance with ease. I loved being part of making their day come alive.

Something new

Everyone loves traditional floral displays but for the 2023 wedding season, I think there will be more creative backdrops for wedding ceremonies! Whether that is geometric shapes, marble walls, etc. Pearls are also becoming a big trend, pearl headbands, pearl veils, and pearl detailing on dresses—I can't wait to see a lot more of this.

Something borrowed

The best advice I've ever received: "Just do your best and let the planning plan itself on the day." Listen to your couples, give them advice and ideas, help with their vision and when it comes to the day, breathe and follow the great plan you all worked hard on.

Something blue

I find colour inspiration through the couple themselves, by finding out their passions, food loves, and hobbies

I also find inspiration in movies. So many movies have a relatable feel/moment to everyone's love story so these are the best ways to find creative inspiration.

For my last wedding, I created a colour theme that was vibrant, relaxed and romantic.

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Find out more about Sommy's services on her website, or browse an archive of her work on her Instagram.

Jess Sheldon is the founder of wedding design and coordination company, Copper & Bloom.

Jess talks finding inspiration, taking on new clients and creating authentic experiences with the help of an old wedding day tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue...

Something old

It's so easy for couples to get caught up in traditions and what others expect or think their wedding should look like. I am a firm believer in being authentic and creating an experience for your guests that they will remember because it oozed personality from beginning to end.

But one thing that never gets old is seeing the groom's reaction when their beautiful bride walks in. I’m a sucker for love so that always gets me!

Something new

When taking on a new client, the first thing I need to figure out is if we would have a good working relationship. Ultimately, I am being entrusted to plan one of the most important days of a couple's life, so ensuring that we can work well together is key.

When it comes to vendor collaborations, the talent that is out there is second to none. You have to be creative in this industry and anyone who is passionate about their business and creating beautiful weddings is a great ally to have!

Something borrowed

I describe my style as Bohemian Luxury, a mixture of the Boho free-spirited nature with a hint of modern luxury. A lot of my inspiration comes from the 70s, especially with the relaxed bohemian style. My style is always full of lots of textures and asymmetry, I like to call it perfectly imperfect!

Something blue

I take the majority of my colour inspiration from nature. I usually opt for fairly neutral and muted tones with hints of metallic features but I do love mixing these with more stand-out colours to create a modern concept.

My last clients requested a colour palette that was relaxed and whimsical, perfect for an Autumnal wedding.

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See more of Jess Sheldon's wedding designs on Instagram, or find out more about her services on the Copper & Bloom website.

Another summer of love draws to an end! Though winter wonderland weddings are growing in popularity, colder days and longer nights generally indicate the arrival of the "slow season" for wedding professionals. The off-season provides an opportunity for a well-deserved rest, but it can also be a super productive period of time for you and your wedding business. We've compiled a bank of ideas to help you grow your wedding business during the off-season, each equipped with a free downloadable resource created by an industry professional. Put these resources to good use and the next wedding season might just be your most successful yet!

Orangise styled shoots

When planning a wedding, most of the creative decisions (aesthetic, colours, flower arrangements, etc.) are ultimately dictated by the couple themselves. However, styled shoots are an opportunity to create the wedding of your own dreams—create without constraints and showcase what makes you and your brand unique. As a result, you'll receive high-quality images that reflect your personal taste and style—a great way to spruce up your Instagram feed and accurately showcase your brand to potential clients.

Styling your own wedding shoots is also a great way to build your professional network. You'll be collaborating with a range of wedding vendors and industry suppliers, take the opportunity to form strong working relationships and figure out who you'd like to work with in the future. And of course, there is always the allure of being published in high-profile industry magazines—an excellent form of exposure.

Resource bank

Candice Coppola has designed over 40 styled photoshoots and wrapped up all her learnings into a styled shoot starter pack. Get creating!

Update your website copy

All those articles you're churning out on your blog will ultimately direct readers to a central hub—your website. Once prospective clients reach your homepage, are they receiving the message you're hoping to communicate? Does your website showcase your personality, your brand aesthetic, and your unique selling point? Another thing to think about, is your website SEO-optimised? The wedding industry is highly competitive, strong SEO could be your ticket to showing up in Google search results and standing out from the crowd.

Resource bank

Website copywriter and brand messaging strategist Kathy Young has put together a copywriting guide, detailing tiny tweaks you can make to your website that make a big difference.

Start a blog

Social media is still a great way to connect with and grow your community, but wouldn't it be nice to take back control of your content from those pesky algorithms? A blog allows you to showcase your knowledge and expertise to prospective clients and fellow industry professionals. But the best part? You're in complete control of what content you produce and how you distribute it. Maybe you've spotted an upcoming wedding trend, have found the perfect cake supplier, or simply a place to document a day in the life of a wedding planner—put it all on the blog! The more articles you produce the better—a high volume of content will make you more discoverable to potential clients searching the web.

Resource bank

Award-winning event planner and wedding business coach Krista Olynk has created a downloadable guide to setting up a wedding blog. Krista provides blog topic ideas, a content schedule, and even a step-by-step writing guide. If you're more of a chatter than a writer, a podcast might be the right fit for you! Learn more about podcast marketing for wedding professionals.

Set your goals

The summer season is intense for wedding professionals! Now that you have a little more time on your hands, you should reflect on your achievements and congratulate yourself on your hard work. Once you've finished looking back, set your focus on the future. Downtime is the perfect opportunity to create a roadmap. What direction do you see your business taking? What do you hope to achieve? And why is that important to you? Clear goals keep you motivated, focused, and feeling accomplished. And when your schedule starts to fill up again, you'll feel totally focused and in control.

Resource bank

Sometimes, setting your goals is easier said than done. Lindsay J. Williams has shared the goal-setting formula she used to achieve her own success. Ready, set, goal!

Collect client feedback/reviews

Celebrate your own successes! Tell everyone how great your work is! And spotlight other people who can vouch for the same. Many people make decisions based on the embodied experience of others. That means that client testimonials are an important tool in getting prospective clients to say "I do." No doubt, your clients had a great experience working with you, but sometimes they need a little help in expressing it. Equipping your clients with the right language and asking them the right questions will make a huge difference in the quality and relevance of the feedback you receive.

Resource bank

Thankfully, the Wedding Pro Cast UK has out together an episode all about how to ask for and showcase client feedback, with a handy email template too. Go and find your praise!

Podcasts are a great way to find advice straight from the mouths of industry professionals, who better to offer wisdom than those who have been there, done that? Whether you're looking for social media makeover advice or the perfect response to a pesky client, these podcasts have it covered.  And the best part? They're accessible all the time, from everywhere—to suit even the busiest of lifestyles! Here's our pick of the best wedding industry podcasts on the market, sure to elicit a knowing nod, a few giggles and, most importantly, buckets of motivation to grow and improve your professional wedding business.

Must-listen podcasts for wedding planners

Weddings For Real

Best for: covering all bases

Host: Megan Gilkin

With a bank of episodes spanning 4 years, there's very little Megan Gilkin hasn't covered! Megan hosts interviews with leading industry professionals on topics spanning branding, common pitfalls, client experience, hiring and SEO—a treasure trove of tried and tested strategies to supercharge your wedding business.

Host's recommendation: 11 years of business advice in less than 20 minutes—acquire over a decade's worth of wisdom in less time than your daily commute. Then, if you're hungry for more, browse Megan Gilkin's recommended further listening.

Book More Brides

Best for: boosting bookings (and profits!)

Host: Kate Storey

Book More Brides is a training platform for wedding professionals established by Kate and Nick Storey. By blending Kate's speciality in marketing with Nick's background in sales and business strategy, the Book More Brides podcast is a one-stop-shop to help wedding professionals secure leads, close deals and boost profits.

Visualist recommends: Great at what you do, but not booking enough weddings? You know you're great at what you do, Kate Storey shows you how to make potential clients believe it too.

Evolve Your Wedding Business

Best for: shaking up your process

Host: Heidi Thompson

Heidi Thompson's podcast will expose you to an array of different perspectives, sure to open your eyes to new approaches and invigorate your creativity. All the tips, tricks, and secrets you've been looking for packaged in a playful, enjoyable manner.

Visualist recommend: How To Have A Successful Wedding Business In A Saturated Market—Heidi addresses an all too relatable problem for wedding industry professionals with humour and most importantly, actionable strategies.

Talk with Renee Dalo

Best for: lessons in entrepreneurship

Host: Renee Dalo

Wedding planning is about creativity, empathy, and organisation—but it is also about business! Marketed as "Biz Chat for Wedding Pros and Creative Business Owners", Renee Dalo guides her listeners through the pits and peaks of entrepreneurship.

Visualist recommends: Creative CEO-ship and Pricing for Your Creative Process—creativity comes naturally to wedding professionals, Renee explains how to combine that innate skill with a CEO mindset to become unstoppable!

Refine for Wedding Planners

Best for: handling client relationships

Host: Amber Anderson

The Refine for Wedding Planners podcast is a serving of radical honesty, thoughtful insights and lived experiences. Amber Anderson creates a space for wedding pros to be both encouraged and challenged. Many episodes focus on managing common client scenarios, improving communication and setting boundaries—an aspect of wedding planning not spoken about enough.

Visualist recommends: Handing naughty clients—We've all had them, some might even be springing to mind right now! Amber addresses this frustrating topic with a lighthearted and rational approach.

The job of an interior designer is to transform a house into a home. To achieve this, an interior designer must deeply understand their client. The best way to get to know your client? Ask unique, creative questions—and more importantly, listen to the answers. Though it may seem trivial, your client's favorite meal or dream holiday destination can speak volumes. To build a home that is beautiful, practical, and truly reflective of its residents, you first need to thoroughly understand your client's lifestyle and personality. Here are 10 unconventional questions you can ask to get to know your clients and reveal more than meets the eye...

This article will explore...

• Understanding clients' lifestyles and personalities by asking unconventional questions to create personalized designs.
• Questions to cover topics like travel preferences, favorite meals, hobbies, and historical eras to uncover unique client insights.
• Using client responses to incorporate specific elements like cultural touches, entertainment needs, or storage solutions into the design.
  

Interior design client questionnaire ideas

1. You get given a free ticket to anywhere in the world, where are you going? Why?

Can you incorporate a touch of that culture into their everyday home?

2. It's a Saturday night, what are you doing for dinner?

Are your clients heading out to a fancy restaurant, or do they need an area dedicated to hosting friends? Perhaps they need a big comfy sofa to snuggle down and order a pizza?

3. If you could live in any time period, when would you choose to live and why?

Are there elements of that era's aesthetic that you can incorporate into your design? Retro-futurism, Memphis Design, or Gothic Revival?

4. What festive holiday do you enjoy most and why?

A good indicator of how your client likes to entertain and how this new space will be used. Plus, you might find out where they envision their Christmas tree—think sockets!

5. What album do you play on repeat?

Music is often a good indicator of aesthetic. Additionally, if your client reveals music is important to them, you might want to account for a great sound system in your design.

6. If you were stranded on a deserted island alone, what six items would you need?

It is important to understand your client's fundamental priorities. Also, a good way to start a chat about necessities with a hoarding-inclined client.

7. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Think lighting! Would your client prefer a spot to catch early morning rays or the last of the evening sun?

8. Describe your perfect Sunday...

Put yourself in your client's Sunday shoes. Do they need big kitchen counters to prepare a Sunday roast? A space to wash off muddy football boots? A big screen for a family movie night?

9. What is your favourite hobby?

Is your client a keen rower, a talented artist, or an animal lover? Remember to take into account where the equipment for these hobbies will be stored!

10. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Flying, mind-reading, or the ability to tidy up at 2x speed—if the latter, innovative storage solutions are in order!