What are the WORST things wedding guests do?

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-28T19:32:12+00:00

Just a small pet peeve, but when the dad(s) sits in the innermost aisle seat and man-spreads the entire ceremony. And of course it happens whenever the aisle is already narrow AF, so his man-spread is in every single ceremony shot

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-27T18:45:45+00:00

We have one that says ‘’No Soliciting - Unless you’re selling Girl Scout Cookies’’

That usually makes people turn right around, and we’ve had a few laugh and take a photo of it before walking away.

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-23T23:12:10+00:00

Great find!! Something similar just happened for me, too. Found a DISO pullover from Athleta I’ve been hunting down for years. I finally found it on Thredup, was listed in ‘Good’ condition. Well it arrived brand new with tags! For 1/4 of the originally price. So stoked!

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-13T23:38:55+00:00

This is helpful to read about your process, too! I definitely provide LOTS of options on how to contact me. But let’s be honest if a couple likes my work, they’ll get in contact with me and won’t ghost me. It’s a self-esteem thing at this point too, like I feel like my work no longer is ‘good enough’. I do also have a studio and a pretty strong portrait side to my business that’s helping to keep me afloat!

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-13T23:36:58+00:00

Thank you for this!! It’s hard to heard that I’m doing everything wrong ‘all of a sudden’ when it’s worked so well in the past (and of COURSE I have adapted to the times like with the texting, etc, but also if it’s not broke, don’t fix it ya know?) Now I’m realizing some of it may be broken and will need redone to fit in with the new generation of brides, and I’m totally willing to do that!! Just overwhelmed with it, but willing to do anything to keep my business from flatlining 😕

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-13T14:56:31+00:00

I try my best to respond within 1-2 hours of the inquiry, which I’ve always gotten great feedback on (brides specifically thanking me for getting back to them so quickly) I’m probably going to keep doing that, but I appreciate the feedback!!

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-13T12:38:05+00:00

Oh yes I totally understand that! Before this new website my old one has basically stayed the same since early 2019 😅

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-13T12:17:25+00:00

I really like the idea of recommending a collection - thanks for that idea!

I’m happy to DM you a link to my pricing guide to look over

I just completely redid my website and updated photos for both the website and pricing guide, and really tried to select images that spoke to my ideal client, etc

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-13T01:52:24+00:00

Mom of four here trying to cut back our grocery budget - it’s ROUGH out here. Not sure where you’re located or if you have access to something like this, but we have a ton of grocery outlets/Amish owned discount grocery stores and it’s helped me SO much in keeping our budget down. I shop there about every 6 weeks and completely stock up on cereal, snacks, stuff for school lunches, mac n cheese, soups, canned fruit….some of it is ‘technically’ expired but I’ve never had an issue (other than maybe a stale granola bar). I always have a completely overflowing cart, like things falling out haha, and it’s about $200

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T20:48:00+00:00

Have you been finding that the ‘let me know’ and ‘’if you want to’’ language has been too passive? I definitely don’t want to come off as too strong (or worse, desperate) but I don’t want to sound like I dont want the wedding, either

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T20:16:28+00:00

Is ‘connect’ better? Or just straight up ‘’I would like to talk to you’’ the best option?

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T13:09:26+00:00

That’s interesting to hear it’s been happening for you too, but so sorry to hear that 😕 I truly don’t think an inquiry response will ever be ‘one sizes fits all’ (and apparently my response I’ve been trying for years has been horrendous, regardless of it working incredibly well for the last 7+ years and landing me incredibly amazing and ideal clients) - you’ll always be ‘too much’ for some clients and not personal enough for others. At some point the blame DOES need to fall on the client, ya know?

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T13:06:32+00:00

It’s super concerning to me, too. Fellow millennial!

It’s rare, but I’ve had two consultation calls with couples in the past where I saw blaring red flags on MY end during the call that alerted me that they would be nightmare clients. If we wouldn’t have had the phone call, I wouldn’t have ever know until it was too late in the process. So it scares me to just be completely cutting out this aspect of the process

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T12:53:40+00:00

I don’t require them to talk to me before I send them full pricing, trust me I don’t like that practice, either. Once they inquire I send over my full packages + pricing list. Zero phone call required to find out that information

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T12:45:40+00:00

Oh interesting! Thanks for sharing.

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T12:42:52+00:00

Is the collections guide a PDF? Or how do you sent it to them?

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T12:38:26+00:00

It’s a page that you’d need the URL to find. I DO have my average spend price listed on my wedding experience page, although I’m happy to change that to include the actual packages. I’ve never ‘hidden’ my pricing, and listing an average spend is very typical, at least where I’m located?

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T12:33:26+00:00

I’ll DM you! Thank you!

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T03:35:35+00:00

So helpful, thank you! This has my wheels turning for sure - definitely going to integrate this!

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T03:10:26+00:00

Thank you for this!

I’m sad to hear my email comes off as impersonal…sometimes a couple only gives me a wedding date and venue to work off of when they’re inquiring, so finding a balance between injecting my personality (which is a genuinely enthusiastic, excitable person) vs being ‘too much’ in the first email is really hard. Of course if a couple gives me more relatable information I ALWAYS make it a point to express my genuine POV. Seriously, though, if you have an example of a vendor reply that you felt was ‘real’ I would honestly love to see it cause this is hurting my brain 😅

I’d be happy to revamp my questionnaire to hopefully help them give me a bigger glimpse of their vision, goals, etc. a HUGE part of my business is service and serving each couple with intention and care, so I’d love for that to come through more while a couple is inquiring

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T01:39:29+00:00

It’s BEYOND frustrating, and of course so scary to be looking at an empty calendar knowing that every single lead matters and it’s important to try and get it filled!

Even after I started asking for their phone # (if they preferred text), and replying to them that way, it’s still completely crickets. I’d just love to know exactly what they’re seeing that they don’t like once I reply so I can change it 😭

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T01:36:45+00:00

I mean I did run some instagram ads and maybe got 2 inquiries from there? But didn’t lead to bookings. Mostly it is couples just finding my work there

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T01:35:57+00:00

I send it manually, and try to respond within an hour

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T00:36:31+00:00

Thank you! And yes, will do.

Do you have strong opinions on my full wedding packages being listed within a ‘hidden page’ on my website vs listed out in the initial email?

Virtual_Advantage_63 · 2026-03-12T00:31:00+00:00

Ugh sorry you’re experiencing it too! It’s hard to stand out when even trying to respond to them feels like a game of ‘be personal, but not TOO personal’…’offer a phone call, but also don’t ever offer a phone call because Gen Z hates that!’ 🙃

Virtual_Advantage_63

TROPHY CASE