As you may have read yesterday, it was great news to hear that Peter Merry and Liz Daley would be making a stop here in Richmond en route to their Make it Grand workshop in DC.
You’ll have the opportunity to join Peter and Liz on Monday July 9 at an open meeting of the Richmond ADJA. For more information, click here or contact ADJA Richmond president JB Bostic at jb@choiceentertainment.com. If you’re north of Richmond, they’ll also be making a stop Sunday night at the launch event for the new Prince William Wedding & Event Network.
Peter, who is also the author of Best Wedding Reception Ever, was kind enough to answer a few questions about wedding entertainment for us. Take it away Peter-
What are the key ingredients to a successful wedding reception?
That starts with each bride’s priorities. If amazing decor is priority one…finding a talented florist/decorator/designer will be key. If getting great photos is the highest priority…find a highly talented photographer whose style resonates with the bride’s tastes in images will be vital. If creating a fun and memorable celebration ranks in first place…finding an exceptional entertainment service with a skilled Master of Ceremonies will be a must.
What do you find to be the most frequently asked question from brides?
How much do you charge? They don’t know what they even truly need yet, nor do they really understand how to compare services…but they commonly start with that question anyway.
How about from wedding professionals?
How much do you charge? They ask for an entirely different reason. They often mistakenly believe that a client who hires me might no longer be able to afford them. What they should be looking at instead is the results I created that are also a benefit to them. The photographer and videographer will capture better photos and video of more memorable moments. The location will have a room filled with guests who had an amazing experience that will be forever tied to their venue. The coordinator will look brilliant for recommending entertainment that was exceptional and helped keep the guests involved and enjoying themselves instead of leaving early.
What wedding entertainment trends are catching your eye right now?
Fun Surprises! A surprise choreographed First Dance. A Wedding Party Dance that turns into a choreographed Flash Mob dance with random guests jumping in at unexpected moments. The bride surprising her father with a powerfully poignant pre-recorded message just as he’s about to walk her down the aisle.
With your upcoming talks here in Virginia, what kind of takeaways can attendees anticipate?
How to make our weddings more FUN for the benefit of our clients, but also for our mutual benefit as wedding professionals who utilized good teamwork to pull it all off.
Thanks Peter for stopping by! I hope wedding pros in the area will take advantage of these great events!
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding marketing and wedding pr firm OFD Consulting. She is the exclusive wedding pr columnist to wedding marketing journal WedLock magazine and is a highly sought after speaker in the wedding industry. She loves ruffle table runners and Royal Wedding Tchotchkes. To learn how OFD Consulting can assist you with your wedding marketing and wedding pr, please contact us today.
Photo credit: PW Photography
