An Event To Remember's Blog

How To Choose A Bridal Consultant by Sheila Corbett

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2010

How To Choose a Bridal Consultant

He asked, you said yes, let the fun begin.

Preparing for the most important day of your life is exciting, time consuming, stressful and costly. It can be difficult to entrust the most important day of your life to someone you do not know. You will wonder if they are capable of ensuring all of your plans will be executed the way you envision. However securing professional help can be the wisest decision and the best investment you will make.Here are a few guidelines to follow when selecting your bridal consultant

1. Relationship - Look for someone more interested in building a relationship with you than making a sale. During the initial consultation, which should be free, a good consultant will take the time to learn a little about you, your fiancé and your family. The individual will listen to you and suggest ways to make your vision a reality.

2. Professional Organization Membership - The consultant should be a member of a professional organization that requires continuing education for the membership. Some consultants will classify themselves as “certified” because of an online or classroom course they have taken or an organization they may have joined. There is no governing body regulating any educational program and issuing certification. The Association of Bridal Consultantswww.bridalassn.com is the oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the education and management of bridal consultants internationally. This is the only organization that assesses the skill set of its membership annually and assigns designations ranging from Novice to Master Bridal Consultant based on experience, education and community service. These designations are registered trademarks of the association not certifications.

3. Related Experience - The consultant should have experience in a service related to the wedding industry in addition to bridal consulting such as food service, design and décor or attire. To be an advisor the consultant should have a cursory level of knowledge about every service associated with the wedding.

4. Unrelated Experience – No one graduated from college with a degree in bridal consulting. Look at what type of work experience the consultant had prior to going into this field. A good business background goes a long way in building organizational, analytical, decision making and problem solving skills. All of which are requirements for a bridal consultant.

5. Services - The consultant’s service offering should be flexible. There are no two brides who are alike. Any service offered should be customized to your specific needs and priced accordingly.

6. Referrals - The consultant should be able to introduce you to three providers for each wedding related service. These providers should not be paying the consultant for the referral.If the consultant has not worked with the service provider in the past they should assessed the work prior to introducing you to them.

7. Decision Making – “No” is a good word. This is yourwedding, not the consultant’s. All final decisions belong to you, your fiancé and your family. The consultant should never take over your wedding. Instead the consultant should be listening to you and suggesting ways to may your vision become reality.

8. Size of Team - No matter how small your bridal party or guest count, one person cannot do it all. The team on your wedding day should include one person for each location i.e. bride’s dressing site, church and reception. There should be a minimum of two people for the entire day.

This is the happiest time of your life. You, your fiancé, and you family should enjoy it. Invest the time in the beginning to hire the right bridal consultant. Let the consultant do all the work and you have all the fun.

Sheila Corbett
Accredited Bridal Consultant™

Co-director Philadelphia/South Jersey

Association of Bridal Consultants Local Networking Group

Don't Nag by the Hub

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Don't Nag

No matter how you feel the Lord prompting you to respond to a conflict, you should feel remorse that any type of conflict has occurred.  You are to lament the fact that the marriage relationship has suffered an injury, regardless of what happened or who was responsible for initiating the conflict.  The woman felt the full sting and pain of what she had done (see Song 5:6-8).
           
Solomon did not inflict the pain upon her; it was the “watchmen,” the faithful guardians of God’s people.  If your spouse wrongs you, give God some time to work in your mate’s heart.  Let God have an opportunity to deal with the conscience of your spouse.  Your role is not to have that of the Holy Spirit in your spouse’s life.  My role as a husband is to teach my wife what I know to be true, love her tenderly, care for her, and provide for her all that she needs, but I am not her Savior, her divine Spirit of truth, or her Comforter and Counselor.  Only the Lord can fill those roles.

I have counseled many couples in which either the husband or the wife continually nags the other about what the other does wrong before the Lord.  These beleaguered nagged spouses can’t hear the voice of the Lord because the spouse is talking so loudly!  They feel manipulated, put upon, and downtrodden.  My advice to the nagging spouse is to keep quiet and let God work.  It’s amazing how God moves into a person’s life.  Truly His ways are higher than man’s ways, and His methods are not only very creative but extremely effective!           

My Question For You: Has nagging broken in to your relationship?  Are you the nag or are you being nagged?  How do you feel about that?

My Challenge For You: Don’t nag.  It surely won’t help your relationship.  Let the Holy Spirit work.