I’ve been a wedding planner for a long time. I’m the best in the game and I’m not about to let a young upstart challenge for my crown. There’s one person who I come up against more and more and it’s her. Viola. I’ve lost a lot of business to her. I’m still doing great numbers and growing but I could grow so much faster if she wasn’t fishing in my pond.
Who the hell does she think she is? I know this business inside out. There isn’t that much to it when you’re an expert. It’s easy to pinpoint the weak points in any wedding planner’s business. Hell, they’re the same weak spots as mine and that makes it even easier to take her down. Her assistant didn’t want to take my offer but that’s okay. It’s just one point of attack.
When I’m finished, they’ll both be crawling to me.
I look at the brochure I took from their booth and start to formulate my plan of attack. I boot up my laptop and am soon on Viola’s website looking for the information I need. I can’t find what I’m looking for so I try another angle. I go to the gallery and testimonials.
Bingo! I make notes of the information I am looking for and then close the site.
I pick up the phone and dial Viola’s office number.
The phone is answered promptly.
“Hi, this is Mrs. Anderson.”
“Yes, Mrs. Anderson. How can I help you? This is Jessica.”
The assistant. “We’re having a party soon for Mr. Anderson’s office and he asked me about the band that we had at the wedding. I thought I’d give you a call and find out if I could contact them to see if they’re available. Would it be possible to give me their number?”
“Sure, Mrs. Anderson. I’d be only too happy to. Hold on while I get the details.”
I wait a few moments and then Jessica comes on the line again. “Here you go, Mrs. Anderson.”
She gives me the contact name and number for Steve from the band called ‘Plastered’. I thank her and hang up.
I smile and mentally congratulate myself. It’s that easy.
When Steve answers the phone I arrange to meet him to discuss hiring the band for a party.
Steve is already waiting when I enter the coffee shop. He recognizes me from the clothes I told him I’d be wearing and waves to me. I cross to the booth and slide in opposite him. I feel his eyes appraise me as I sit down. I’ve worn a short skirt and a tight, white cotton blouse that accentuates my breasts. It’s unbuttoned just far enough to reveal a glimpse of my bra which is visible through the soft material of the blouse anyway. I shake Steve’s hand.
“How can I help you?” Steve asks.
“I have a confession, Steve,” I reply conspiratorially.
“What’s that?” Steve asks, intrigued.
“Well, when I said I need a band for a party, I wasn’t being totally honest. I’d like your band to play for all my parties unless my clients insist otherwise.”
“All your parties?” Steve frowns. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m a wedding planner, just like Viola who you work with regularly.”
Steve nods as the penny drops. “Well, you know we go back a long way. I mean I’d be happy to support you when you have a wedding if we don’t have a wedding booked with Viola.”
I smile and shake my head. “I thought you’d say that Steve but I have to say I’m looking for a reversal of that proposed arrangement. You play all my weddings and fit her in where you can. I’ll pay you one and a half times what she pays you per wedding.”
Steve looks at me and says nothing. I can tell his mind is working overtime and I can tell where it’s headed so I cut it off.
“This is a one-time deal. Right here, right now. There’s no going to Viola and bargaining with her. I’m not into horse-trading.”
“Well, what about if I call the band and discuss it with them?” Steve asks.
“Why would they care? A gig’s a gig. Doesn’t matter who you play for or where you play. Right?”
Steve sighs. He’s tempted but his loyalty is still to Viola. “When’s the first gig?”
‘Saturday.”
“Saturday? That’s two days away!”
“And?”
“We’re booked for a wedding with Viola. We can’t just drop her at such short notice. It’s not ethical.”
“Look,” I say hardening my tone. “You guys have a good name out there. It’s why I came to you first. But you’re not the only band. I’ll say this too, and I don’t mean to sound like I’m bragging but when it comes to wedding planners, I. Am. The. Best. So, you can decide if you’re going to be loyal to number two or three or whatever the hell Viola is, or you can come along with me. Success breeds success. You know that as well as I do.”
Steve ponders my words. I can tell he’s not happy. Then he shakes his head. “We can start next week. Not this weekend. I just can’t do that to Viola or her client.”
I look at Steve. He’s serious. “Well, I guess I’ll have to find another band then,” I say and begin to gather my things to leave.
“No deal?” Steve asks.
“I offered you a deal,” I say firmly.
“A deal’s only a deal where both parties are happy”
I pause. “And what wouldn’t make you happy about the deal? One weekend? One weekend when you could be earning one and a half times what you get now every weekend from now on?”
“You know, I think this isn’t so much as our band being paid more as it is a personal issue between you and Viola. Am I right? Because if that’s the case, the band isn’t going to make a difference. If you don’t have what she offers she’s always going to be one ahead of you…”
“…and pray tell me, Steve, what does she have that I don’t have?”
“Aside from the band, she’s got a great assistant…”
“…got one,” I say.
“…rapport with clients…”
“Got it,” I add.
“…Wedding Whisperer…”
“A what?” I ask frowning.
Steve smiles. “See. You’re not close to what she offers.”
I ignore his remark. “What is a Wedding Whisperer?”
“A person who encourages the bride or groom to work through their fear of getting married at the last minute. You know, ‘cold feet’?” He makes inverted commas in the air with his fingers.
I sit back. “Oh, that! Who doesn’t have that?” I lie. “I just don’t call it that.”
“Well, I have to be going. It’s been a pleasure to meet you but I guess we won’t be doing business,” Steve says.
“Well, remember I did try to help.”
“Thank you for that,” Steve says as I stand. He stands too and we shake hands. I leave the coffee shop and he sits down again and takes out his cellphone. I know he’s going to try to horse trade anyway. Maybe I’ll let him do it. I’ll see how I feel later. Right now, I’m more interested in the ‘wedding whisperer’ concept that he mentioned to me.
I think of the cancellations I’ve had when the wedding has been about to kick off in church. Not many but it happens. It’s ingenious and I’m even more adamant to shut Viola’s business down than before.
“Steve, this is really difficult. I can’t just increase the band’s fee. You know this wedding was booked months ago. I calculated the fee based on what I was paying you then. Whoever is offering you this, obviously has the budget to pay what they’re offering.”“I’ve spoken to the band,” Steve replies. “They want extra pay.”“Look, let’s talk about extra pay for the wedding after this one and all future weddings. Just not this one. I’ve cut my profit a lot already just to get this wedding. It’s important to me. Having this wedding is good for my resume.”“Well, it’s not good for our pockets,” Steve replies firmly.“Steve, c’mon. Where is this coming from? We’ve always been able to negotiate. Why the big push now?”“I only have a few hours and then the offer’s off the table.”“Well, can I a
I’m angry. I failed with Steve and his band.I take a few deep breaths and begin to relax. Getting a wedding planner’s band is just one part of their business. There are many other parts to go after. However, I push the thought of other parts of the business aside as I think about the concept of the ‘wedding whisperer’ that Steve let slip to me.I know there’s something important in it. It hovers just beyond my mental grasp like a carrot on a stick for the time being. I have to admit it’s a genius idea and I should be thinking of doing it myself. But there’s something else about it that I think is much more important than simply copying the idea.I grab the brochure that I took from Viola’s booth and study it. There’s not a word in the brochure about a wedding whisperer. Nothing that even alludes to it as a service.I check her website again. Nothing. Nowhere. The testimonials say nothing about it. How
Cold feet.No, I don’t mean cold feet as in the kind you get from being out in the cold or swimming in water that’s too cold or simply not dressing warm enough.I mean the other kind of cold feet.The worst kind.The kind that some women, and to a lesser extent, some men get just before their wedding. Yes, that kind.My biggest pet hate. Why? Because in my line of work, they can ruin everything.What is my line of work?I’m a wedding planner. Any wedding planner hates and fears cold feet. They can derail everything. The whole day. Ruin you financially and possibly your reputation too.I’ve been in this game a long time though and I’ve learned the hard way. When you’ve had enough cancellations because of cold feet you become hard. It becomes a matter of survival as well as doing what you love.I now insist on non-refundable deposits from clients. They sign a contract when they hire me a
I’ve never had this situation before. Ashley tells me that the bride has no proof. She’s not even sure who the groom might be cheating with if he is cheating.I calm Ashley enough that she stops crying and I try to make her feel better. I remind her of what a great job she has done for me every time I have needed her and that everything has been fine. I try to assure her that everything will be fine today too. I suggest that she rather goes home and does not attend the reception but she insists that she will.I am tempted to pull the groom to one side before the reception and tell him what I’ve been told and tell him to keep his dick in his pants at least for today figuratively speaking. But it’s no business of mine. If the bride is wrong and I bring this up, I could be sued, and so could Ashley. I would probably lose my whole reputation and my business, never mind the fact that I would have to refund the money I have been paid for this wedding.
He offers his arm and I link my arm through his. We wander away from the party into the gardens. There is still some time before the reception begins. I’m sure whatever he wishes to discuss will be over by then.“It’s a lovely evening,” he says sounding as if he is observing something working exactly the way it should.“I think it’s perfect,” I reply.“Nearly perfect.” His remark tells me that he thinks something is missing.“And what would make it perfect if I may ask?” I say looking up at him as we walk towards the beach.“Getting to know you better,” he replies confidently.I blush, thankful that it is night and there is little light for him to see how red my face is. My skin is a golden brown but despite its color, I’m sure he could see me blushing if there was enough light. Despite the cool breeze, I feel warmer than expected and I know it’s Rick&r
I get back to the table and sit down beside Ashley after the new bar limit has been confirmed. She looks at me and smiles.“You were gone a while,” she smiles knowingly waiting for me to spill the beans.“I had to sort out the bar limit,” I reply blushing. “I wasn’t with him all the time.”“Could have fooled me,” Ashley says. Bursting with curiosity, she asks, “What did he want?”“To get together after the wedding,” I smile.“Really?” Ashley asks surprised. “He doesn’t take it slow does he?”I blush again as I think of just how slow we didn’t take it. I shake my head not trusting my voice to answer as I avoid Ashley’s gaze.“You tart!” she whispers. “You didn’t!”“Didn’t what?” I ask feigning ignorance but still not looking at her.&ldquo
I sit down at my table again. My chat with Viola didn’t go the way I had hoped. I know I’ve blown what we started outside in the garden. I am disappointed. She has had an effect on me like no other woman and I still can’t stop looking at her.She’s one of the best at what she does. I’m one of the best at what I do too.I know if we collaborated it would be great. With her reputation in her industry, Viola attracts top-tier clients because of her reputation. My kind of clients. The wealthier they are, the bigger the divorce settlements are. Makes sense doesn’t it?That aside, they can also pay for the best legal advice before they get married if we collaborate. This is what Viola failed to recognize. My commissions are good and she stands to make good money simply from a referral. Why should she even care what happens later down the road? If anything, she’s likely to get at least one repeat client if the couple divorces a
I can’t believe him. He gave his business card to Trish’s mother? How insensitive can you be? I want to explode right there and then but I think there’s more than enough drama already and this is not about me and my opinion. I crush the urge to go after Rick and tell him just how cold-hearted, selfish, and opportunistic I think he is.I step up to Trish who is still being held by her father. I put my arm on her back.“I am so sorry, Trish,” I say.She nods but does not look at me. I can’t tell if she even knows who I am right then but it’s not important now.The bathroom door opens behind me and Eric and the bridesmaid, Cherise steps out. They blush immediately when they see the people that are still standing there and then they look at Trish and her parents.Trish’s father tenses and he tries to get Trish to release him but her mother steps in.“No George,” she sa