photo by: Anna LIzana
Like so many around the world we, too, are faced with concern and uncertainty. The hospitality industry has been one of the most impacted amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. Event after event is being cancelled and travel postponed due to CDC and government recommendations to limit gatherings over 50 individuals.
But we have Hope!
Hope with caution, pragmatism, patience, and empathy. We WILL get through this in fine shape TOGETHER. A wise friend once said to me, “It’s not okay, but I’ll be okay,” and I firmly believe it.
Without work, the revenue comes to a halt. So how can we ease the blow?
I’ve been brainstorming and put together a list of ideas that wedding pros may do to continue bringing in income.
Photo by: Anna Lizana
Revenue Ideas for Wedding Pros
Florist:
Do you have product that came in for an event cancelled this week? Try making some hand tied bouquets to sell. “Weelllll, where can I sell them, if we are supposed to be quarantined?” Great question! Post on Facebook, Instagram or your nextdoor neighborhood app and offer a front porch delivery drop-off. Offer and online design planning session for couples for a fee. Perhaps even reach out to funeral home and ask if there are ways to partner with them during this time. (This is not meant to be a light-hearted comment, but rather a reality).
Cancelled events but still have flowers being shipped? Try teaming up with a local photographer and videographer to get that branding on point and get some photos of you designing and some amazing headshots! Then donate them to a non-profit, such as Cheers for Good, local nursing homes or hospitals.
DJ’s and Entertainers:
Put together a dinner playlist that your clients can purchase to play at their rehearsal dinner or welcome parties if hiring a DJ wasn’t in the budget. Sell the link for a minimal fee of $7-27 dollars.
How about a live show streamed on social media? I love a good watch party and live music, even if that was a dj streaming music and mixing.
Planners:
Create some guides that can be sold to engaged couples to make their lives easier. Think about things like: a guest list manager spreadsheet, a family or bridal party timeline template, etc. Offer online planning sessions for couples and sell them in 3-hour bundles at your hourly rate.
Officiants:
Offer online marriage counseling or vow writing services.
Stationery:
Create some pre-made stationery for bridal showers, engagement parties, and wedding suites that can be purchased online.
Caterers:
Create some meal-prep menus for people to use throughout the week. Break out the ingredients needed for an easy shopping experience. Or maybe you can video some cooking tutorials and share to go along with your menus? I know as a busy parent confined to my own how with 3 hungry kids to feed, anything to make my life easier gets my money!
Rental Companies:
Offer home staging services during the week if you have products that aren’t being used.
Photographers:
Sell prints online, create postcards with your prints or thank you cards for clients and vendors to purchase.
Videographers:
Offer live streaming services not just for clients weddings but maybe to businesses who still need to conduct some meetings but want a high-quality approach that other online meeting services don’t offer. Partner with some wedding businesses to film some videos for their branding… this can really bump up your business for the fall and on into the future when those wedding pros start really making some recommendations.
Hair and Makeup Artists:
Put together kits to sell to bridal parties with tips and products to prep their skin for the wedding day. Could also be presented as a subscription box.
Venues:
Continue booking via virtual tours. Become a virtual host of sorts by offering to host virtual meetings for companies and/or wedding vendors. Sign up for Zoom to host meetings! It’s a great tool that creates a video chat room and you can access it from your phone or computer.
Another idea is to offer onsite picnics. Team up with your onsite restaurant or local caterer to provide boxed meals that can easily be picked up at the venue location by a client and let them bring their own blanket for a picnic on your grounds. Point out a few locations that you recommend (maybe near a favorite tree, stone bridge or by a lake). This would be a great weekend treat and a package deal you could sell for $50-100 per couple. This would be a great opportunity for someone to propose and strike an interest in your venue.
Bakeries and other edibles:
Create a cookie or cake decorating kit with ingredients. Uline has some inexpensive corrugated boxes and you can most likely ship for about $5 per box via USPS. All these parents with children at home… they need all the help they can get without venturing out to stores. Then make some timelapse videos to go along with it as tutorials that a kid can quickly watch on IGTV and make their own creation! Team up with a caterer in your area to offer a dessert option with their drop and go meals.
If you’re a bartender, create some mixers to sell. I love a creative cocktail (especially if it’s pretty). You can try blending your own syrups and infusing herbs like lavender. Package it in mason jars and ship it out!
If you’re a barista, consider selling packages of coffee or mixes to go in coffee! Team up with a graphic designer (or wedding stationer) to make a custom coffee mug to sell. Create some tutorials on how to spice up a keurig cup of coffee with something fancy!
What am I missing? Shoot me an email (amberlyodomedu [at] gmail.com) with more things I can include for this list! We WILL get through this together!
