If there is one thing I learned working wedding receptions for all those years it is this- every DJ has a different needs.
I had one that without fail, always wanted two 6′ tables on risers with no chair. I had another who wanted just the one 6′ table- no elevation please. Some ate their vendor meal behind the table during the actual dinner while others preferred to retreat to a break room. In short, every wedding required a personal touch. One table or two. Bagged meal or vendor buffet.
Wedding PR is very much the same animal. This was only proven even further this week as I attended The Special Event in Phoenix Arizona this week. I was quick to circle any wedding pr and press related workshops that I could attend and was pleasantly surprised when several other seminars touched upon it as well.
Some of the standard principles were evident throughout- personalize your pitch, provide fresh content, be an expert. As for the actual logistics of pitching?
Well- how much time do you have?
No sooner did I take note “NO ATTACHMENTS” that I had an editor of a major national publication encourage us to send up to three attachments per email. Jpg file format please.
Some loved Two Bright Lights and preferred submissions through this handy tool while others had it, but didn’t have an opinion either way. One editor preferred things mailed to them while the others promised to give you the stink eye if you did anything but email. Some encourage you to publish your work on your own blog as they will still consider while for others, that’s a deal breaker.
Press releases are dead! No, wait- they aren’t. But don’t you dare attach it.
The fact is- people have preferences, whether you’re a blogger, editor or DJ. I prefer the Garamond font and refuse to read anything in Comic Sans. We, very simply, like what we like.
What does this mean for you? Customize your PR message beyond changing the name in the salutation. Keep track of what specific media channels prefer what. Be flexible, be courteous and be hyper vigilant about this.
What Wedding PR preferences have you run into as of late? Feel free to share in the comments.
Just don’t write it in Comic Sans. Or attach anything.
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.
