What Should a Wedding Planner Gift to Couples? 9 Ideas!
Whether you are just starting out in business or have been building your brand for years, if you haven't been gifting to clients, then you should rethink your gifting strategy! By thinking of gifting as a business builder, you can stay top of mind, gain referrals, and help build better relationships.
As a coach for hundreds of wedding professionals across the country and globe, I’m answering a question I hear time and time again: What should a wedding planner gift to couples? Keep reading for nine high-impact ideas to start implementing today!
When should wedding planners gift to their clients?
There are few options for timing when it comes to client gifting. There’s no right or wrong timing, but here are some things to consider as you decide on your own personal strategy.
Booking/welcome gift - Start the relationship off on the right foot with a gift at the beginning! When a client books your services, either mail a gift soon after or give a gift at your first meeting. You can have different price points for different packages. For example, an event management client may get one level of gift and a full service client may get something else.
One-month out gift - This is your “surprise and delight” gift to give to your couple at the one month mark to get them even more excited about their wedding weekend. A good time to give it to them is at your final walk-through. I always recommend something related to stress relief for this gift!
Review gift - This is a small thank you gift after a client has left you a review. A small gift card you can send electronically and quickly would be ideal!
First anniversary gift - First anniversary gifts are a nice way to stay top-of-mind with past clients who can refer you to their friends and family. These gifts are given on their first anniversary to help them celebrate and remember their perfect day. Just make sure your couple is still happily together before sending it!
First shared milestone - One last option is to gift your past clients something at a major milestone in their new life together. This can be for buying a house, having their first baby, or any other milestone they share as a couple. I would save this for your true VIP clients!
One final gifting tip for you? Don't give a gift on the wedding day. Your gift can get lost with all the other gifts your couple receives from friends and family and may not stand out. Your gift to them on the wedding day is executing a flawless day!
How do wedding planners determine the perfect client gift?
I recommend using a “Getting to Know You” questionnaire! You can ask things like their favorite date night activities, favorite foods, and favorite hobbies. This helps you learn more about your couple and their preferences so that you can tailor gifts to them.
Check out my Planner’s Client Experience Bundle, which includes a 13-page questionnaire template. It has all my favorites—”getting to know you,” preliminary budget, design, timeline details, ceremony details, and more!
So, what should a wedding planner gift to couples?
Once you’ve sent them the questionnaire, you can begin to choose gifts you know they’ll enjoy! Here are a few options for gifting at a few different price points:
Under $25 gifts for clients:
Gift card to their favorite restaurant
Amazon or Target gift card
Build a gift box with Greetabl
Under $50 gifts for clients:
Bottle of Champagne with glasses
Planning Starter Kit with notepad/vow books
Date Night in a Box complete with a movie, popcorn, and fun questions
Snack Kit with all their favorites
Remember, small gestures count too! Whenever you’re meeting up with clients in person, you can offer to pay for their coffee or drinks. Little things like that go a long way when it comes to building a positive client experience.
How should a wedding planner budget for client gifts?
For client budgeting purposes, a good rule of thumb is to plan for your gifting budget to be 2-4% of your total planning fee. So, if your planning fee is $5,000 and you choose a budget of 3%, then your gifting budget would be $150. This could be divided up into two or three gifts for your clients!
For all wedding planners, gifting is an important strategy for growing your business! It should be thought out, budgeted for, and implemented with care. Don’t miss this easy opportunity to build better relationships with your clients.
Looking to wow your clients in other ways, too? Check out our Planner’s Client Experience Bundle for my best checklists, spreadsheets, questionnaires, templates, and more! It will have your couples raving about you in no time!
