With the wedding conference season upon us, we are all excited to network collaborate and do business with our industry peers. Whether you’ve been building your wedding planning business for years or are new to the industry, networking with industry partners is an excellent way to help advance your company to the next level.
Love it or hate it, networking is becoming a regular fixation on many high-level executives and decision makers’ calendars. The old adage still holds true: people do business with people they like and trust.
With DWP Congress happening from 27-29 September in Bali, here are some Wedding networking etiquette that might come in handy during the Congress!
Research
Good research always wins. Before you attend the event, ensure that you know who the speakers are, what the agenda is about, and who the Sponsors are. This ensures that you know the overall structure of the event before you decide how to approach it. The wedding industry is a referral-based industry, and it’s important to establish good connections with people who matter to your business be it photographers, florists, caterers or the venue. Take note of those speaking on topics relative to your business and the goals you’re pursuing.
Get Your Business Cards
Often it’s the most forgettable etiquette! Exchanging business cards right away before the meeting starts is an excellent way to introduce yourself, your designation, and your company before you even begin your meeting. If you meet someone who could make a good work associate in the future, giving them a business card is a perfect way to stay in touch.
Show Up To Your Meetings On Time
Connecting with other colleagues in the industry will help you gain credibility. Everybody is there to learn and connect. Stick to your meeting schedule and be mindful of the meeting time. The ROI on the investment is equally important to them as it is to you. Hence, do not monopolize anyone’s time as it can be frustrating. It will make both of your schedule irregulars and can lead to missed meetings. If you feel there’s more to discuss, but the time is up, you can always take it later during informal connection sessions like after parties, lunch or dinner time.
Connect With Others Informally
Always be open to meeting new people and Don’t be afraid to take the lead. There are many times like- lunch, after-party, and gala sessions, where you can have a nice business conversation over a glass of wine. Conferences on a big scale happen usually once a year, so it’s up to you to make the most of that time. So meet as many people as you can. Get to know them not just professionally, but personally. It will help you establish some trustworthy connections for life.
Collaboration Over Competition
Weddings are a business that runs on trust. You need the right set of suppliers who will make sure everything is right from the quality to the timings, everything. Finding the right suppliers you can trust is very important. After the pandemic, we all must lead by example and it’s important we remember where we started and how far we have come and the journey. During the conference, reach out to people and help the, or collaborate with new vendors and support each other. You can leverage each other’s expertise to cross-promote and book!
Follow Up After The Event
Always close the loop. Networking is a two-way street, and circling back to those you’ve reached out to is polite and keeps the door open for further helping one another in the future. Everyone says that they’re going to follow up, but few do so in a timely manner. Have a system that works for you for collecting information on site – not just grabbing business cards.
Can’t wait to meet you all at the world’s biggest B2B destination wedding conference! Email us at info@dwpcongress.com to know more!
All Images Credit: @dwp_congress
