Working With People You Like

Weddings are far too intimate and important for you to spend time with people who increase your anxiety. Work with people who calm your fears. When you begin interviewing people you may hire, keep these things in mind:

• Understand that although they want your business, wedding vendors can be surprisingly stubborn about how they work. Many of the most experienced band leaders, florists and caterers insist on doing things one way -- their way -- and almost seem to hate weddings.
  
• Because personality and personal styles count, be sure you're comfortable with wedding suppliers from the outset. Make sure their level of taste is compatible with your own. You don't want someone insisting that a prime rib dinner is mandatory if you have a more sophisticated menu in mind. Nor do you want a musician who hates the music you have always wanted for your processional.
  

Wedding vendors can be surprisingly
stubborn about how they work.
Make sure you are comfortable
with their taste and style.

If you lack confidence or are easily intimidated early in the hiring process, remember that you will learn more about the business with each meeting. The real challenge is getting wedding professionals do things the way you want.

Here are some tips in the art of persuasion:

• You'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar. In other words, be tactful and explain what you want, patiently and clearly.
  
• Know what you want. Take time to learn about areas in which you are a novice.
  
• Don't take no for an answer. Just because a professional hasn't seen or done it doesn't mean it can't be done.
  
• Forget perfection. Complaints about brides usually center around a penchant for perfection. Perfection doesn't exist off the stage.
  

You want these professionals to do their best work at your wedding, so it makes sense to hire individuals you're comfortable with -- be they friends, relatives or experienced pros -- then step back and let them do their jobs. After all, you're there to celebrate!