Value of Service

Have you ever asked a friend to help you move?  More likely than not, you have.  Did you regret asking said friend at the end of it?  Were they the one that would only carry pillows and light items? Were they on their phone the entire time?  Asking a friend to help decorate your wedding or event is very similar to asking a friend to help you move.  Yes it was free help, but how helpful was it really?

That brings us to this week's topic: Value of Service and why we charge the prices we do.

As soon as  you approach a business requesting their services, it tells that business that you are either unable or unwilling to do a specific job yourself, and therefore want to pay a professional to do it for you. When you hire a business and pay them your hard earned money you expect a professional service with professional results.  When you get this it is considered good value for your money.  If you try to negotiate with a business into lowering the prices of their, you may be tampering with the professional service and results too. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!  We cannot stress this enough.

As soon as you contact us here at Expressive Events, your service begins.  After a brief conversation we have already begun to compile ideas of what to show you when you arrive for your COMPLIMENTARY consultation.  We will spend time with you exploring your design vision for your event and following your consultation we will preparing a custom quote for you to review.   All these tasks are performed free of charge before a client pays a deposit in hopes of earning their future business.

We do our best to stay competitive in the industry and understand that you have multiple options to choose from, however we will not compromise our service and professionalism to come in less expensive then our competitors.   All businesses have a bottom line, and when a client asks us to discount beyond it, it is like asking us to take a personal pay-cut in order to acquire a larger discount.  Not only is this insulting to our skills, abilities, and professionalism, but it is also bad practice for the industry as a whole.  If a company is willing to discount to the point of losing money on an event, it should concern you that they will do anything to get your business, including cutting corners to make up for lost profits.  This also causes a great deal of distrust in the close knit event industry.

We believe our prices are fair and that we offer excellent value for the price.  You can expect the same level of quality service regardless of your budget. We are perfectionists and that will be evident in your event!    All your linens and backdrop panels will be freshly laundered, ironed, and installed straight.  Your glassware will be set up with gloved hands to prevent unsightly fingerprints.  Your venue will be contacted and arrangements will be made on your behalf.  We will be on time and execute your event flawlessly.  You are equally important to us whether your budget is $2500 or $25,000!

Some clients don't understand the value of service they are getting for the price because they can't see it.   Maintaining our products so they look beautiful for your event day takes a great deal of work and integrity.  Clients need to know that the work for their event doesn't just start and stop on event day. There are countless hours of prep work that lead up to any event, regardless of size.  These tasks take place behind the scenes and we believe that they should be expected, but understand that some businesses don't have the same standards we do. Every stain on a chair cover or linen is pre-treated and scrubbed, and if it doesn't come out, the item goes in the GARBAGE.  We pre-treat, wash, dry, iron, hang up with protective plastic bags, count and load linens for each event... And that's just linens!  There is still the cleaning and packing of glassware, prepping and designing of flowers, building of custom props, contacting your vendors, etc., the list goes on.

In the end, understanding the value in service will give you the tools to ask the right questions and make the right decisions.  Cheaper is not always better and undervaluing your event is dangerous because you truly do get what you pay for.  When planning an event remember that there are no do overs, and what you see is what you get on the day of.  Partner with Expressive Events and Decor for your next event to experience outstanding value in service and a flawlessly executed events and then you can tell us if you think we were worth it.

Be sure to check out next week's blog topic all about lighting and how it can completely transform your next event!

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Alternative to Wedding Cakes

Wedding cakes are rapidly becoming a tradition of the past when it comes to wedding trends.  They are expensive, messy, and often go uneaten.  Many couples still opt for a ceremonial cutting cake which is a great way to reduce costs while still adhering to tradition, but if you're looking for something a bit different, look no further!  There are a couple new styles of dessert tables popping up that are just awesome.

Is there a specific type of dessert that always draws your eye when you go out?  Maybe you're a doughnut junkie, or a pie person; there's no reason these can't be what you use as a "cake".  After all, your wedding is supposed to represent YOU, so why shouldn't it reflect your tastes and preferences.  You can always combine multiple dessert items as well to create one big sweet table instead of only picking one favorite.  Be sure to add signage though so everyone knows what's what.  Just check out some of the delicious looking inspiration tables below, and if you need a recommendations for suppliers of any of these yummy options, let us know.

Be sure to check next week's blog about Value of Service!

Fun Facts

Do you ever wonder why a Bride carries a bouquet when she walks down the aisle?  This tradition began back in the 15th century when personal hygiene was not at the top of people's priority list.  Often people would go up to a year without bathing, resulting in what can only be imagined as the worst smell ever.  So, when someone was getting married, they would have their yearly bath in May, be married shortly there after and use the flowers to mask the odor.
  
Rumor has it that another reason the Bride carried a bouquet was to ward off evil spirits by incorporating pungent herbs and spices into the bouquet! Luckily, we don't live in the 15th century, and we now carry bouquets down the aisle just because they're pretty.  Of course, we could still incorporate some herbs and spices into the bouquet, just in case you need to appease that crazy superstitious relative! Contact us today to find out more.