Real-Life Communication
"Communication skills are essential in this business," says wedding consultant Jennifer D'Oliveira. "Everything revolves around communication. You must be able to communicate the desires of the bride and groom to everyone involved -- you basically speak for them.
"You must also be able to speak to the bride and groom and their families in a way that lets them know you're in control of the situation at all times. You must also be very reassuring and able to calm jangled nerves."
"This job requires a whole lot of patience," says wedding consultant Leena Nasir.
"It is not easy to do by any means! Brides and family members are very stressed before the wedding, and tend to fuss about, constantly changing and re-changing decisions and plans. A good consultant will take it in stride and deal with it calmly and in a pleasant manner -- this is not always easy."
When brides and grooms choose their colors for a wedding, it affects many elements: clothing, cake icing, flowers, table favors and reception decorations.
You have clients who, after choosing purple and black and placing all their orders, have decided that black is too dreary and want fuchsia as the second color instead.
For some things, like the cake icing, it shouldn't be a big problem. But the dressmaker, who has already requisitioned the black trim, and the craftswoman, who has just wrapped 200 favors in black and purple ribbons and is ready to move on to her next order, may be a little upset.
You will have to be polite, perhaps resort to begging and pleading, apologize, and finally agree to an additional charge (with the clients' permission). Remember that you will probably have to work with these vendors again during your career.
Break the news to the craftswoman who made the favors. What would you say? The goal is to get results for your clients. Imagine the conversation and write a brief dialog.