Podcast

Start friendly, use their first name. (Hi Lauryn,)

Congratulate them. (Congratulations on your engagement, this is so exciting!)

Thank them for reaching out to you. (Thank you for your

inquiry.)

Compliment them. (If they give you a little nugget of

something going on in their life or in their wedding planning.

Let’s say you’re a photographer, your potential client’s email

inquiry says “My friend, Lexi, got married last year. I was a

bridesmaid and you were her photographer. Are you

available for my wedding on October 1?”. You reply with

“Lexi’s wedding was one of my favorites, I absolutely loved

your dresses!”. Remember, anyone they’re referring back to

as the way they found you, is someone they love. Even if your

compliment was about someone else’s wedding, it is an

indirect compliment to your future couple. You can also use

this as a place to spotlight one of your services.)

Stay short and sweet. Studies show that emails 200 words

or less get the best response rates.

Use a new line for each sentence. They’re

probably reading it on their phone, keep it easy and

clean for them.

Connect. This is a great place to address a pain

point. (I know with the excitement of being engaged, you’re

also really busy, so I’ll make this super easy for you.)

Let this email be the conversation, and your website be

the information. If what they’re asking for requires details

that can be on your website, direct them there.

Assume the sale, humbly. Give them the info, then ask if you can check a date

for availability.

Add genuine scarcity. You’re awesome, help them make their

decision by showing them that you’re in demand. They say they’re

wanting to get married in September. Tell them you do have

a couple of dates left, then ask them what they’re looking for.

Make it clear what their next step is.

Leave it open ended to allow a conversation.

Add a P.S. It’s natural to skim, and the P.S. is the last part

they’ll see if they do.

Answer every email. What if their email to you asks if you’re

available for a specific date. You’re not. Do you let it go

because it’s not going to end in a booking and you’re busy, or

do you answer it and refer them to a fellow wedding vendor,

or ask if it’s flexible, or just simply make a connection with

them? You answer it. Every time. You might make a

connection that comes back around to you, or that they

might refer to a friend, or that you can help a vendor out with

and it strengthens your preferred vendor list relationship. If

you don’t, you’re leaving money on the table.

Follow up. Really. Do it. Even if you think they’ve moved on.

They’re busy. If you’re the one making it easy for them to

book, and your competitors aren’t, guess who gets the

booking? YOU! You’re the one with the unfair advantage of

knowing this information, you’re the one getting the

booking. Go you! When you really think about it, what do you

have to lose?

HOT TIP: Also apply these same rules when working with

other vendors to build those super important vendor

relationships that will grow your business exponentially.

Other important mentions: