7 Tips for Staying Safe While Planning Weddings

by Danielle Andrews Sunkel

As wedding professionals, we often work outside of normal business hours and are constantly meeting with new people.  We need to attend evening meetings, industry events, site visits in industrial areas and visit vendors in areas we aren’t familiar with, and unfortunately these situations pose some personal risk.

It’s important to stay safe while being extraordinary, so here are some tips:

1. Resist the urge to broadcast your whereabouts until after the event.  Of course you want your social media followers to know you are going to this great spot or event, but wait until you are in the safety of your home before you put it on Social Media.  You don’t need to let people know where to find you or when your home or office is going to be empty.
2. Do not go to new client or vendor’s homes or have them in to your home or office if you will be alone.  Meet in a public place, such as a coffee house, and make sure someone knows the address and time of where you are meeting.  You can always ask a new WPIC graduate to come as your assistant for an Initial Meeting, it is invaluable experience for them and they can help you by taking notes.
3. Don’t be lulled in to a false sense of security, just because they are from the same organization as you, or are a friend of so & so vendor. A stranger is a stranger, so exercise the same caution you normally would.
4. Keep your car maintained and your gas topped up.  Make prepping your car a part of your meeting preparations.
5. Always travel with your cell phone fully charged.  Don’t power down your phone for meetings, just put it on silent.
6. Buddy up for industry events.  Make an industry friend and attend events together, you’ll save money by carpooling, you won’t feel awkward arriving alone at an event, and no scary walks through lonely parking lots at the end of the night.
7. Take a self defense course.  You’ll feel more confident and have a heightened sense of your surroundings.

Most importantly, booking a client or making a sale is not more important than your safety so, Always trust your gut! If the client has raised any red flags for you or gives you a bad feeling, do not proceed with them.

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