10 Heartwarming Ways to Surprise and Delight Your Wedding Couples Before the Wedding (Without Breaking the Bank!)
As a wedding planner with over 12 years of experience in this beautiful but sometimes chaotic industry, I’ve learned that it’s often the small, personal touches that make the biggest impact. Your couples are already excited about their big day, but how you make them feel throughout the planning process can set you apart from the rest. These moments of surprise and delight don’t just add joy to the journey—they create lifelong fans who will rave about you long after the wedding day is over.
The best part? Incorporating these simple ideas is not only a fantastic way to enhance your client experience, but it’s also a smart strategy for growing a wedding planning business through referrals and word-of-mouth marketing. By going above and beyond for your couples, you’ll naturally build a reputation that attracts future clients. And who doesn’t want more glowing reviews?
If you’re looking for wedding planner education on how to elevate your client experience and stand out from the competition, here are 10 simple, affordable ways to surprise and delight your couples.
1. The Welcome Surprise
First impressions are everything. Start the planning process off on the right foot by sending a thoughtful welcome package. Personalize it with a handwritten note, their favorite drink or treat, and a chic notebook for them to jot down wedding ideas. Using Honeybook (the CRM I‘ve used for almost 10 years!), you can easily gather details about their preferences and personalities with a solid onboarding client questionnaire.
Bonus points: automate an email that hints at a surprise coming their way. This builds excitement right from the start!
2. Milestone Celebration Emails
Keep the excitement going by celebrating their milestones with automated emails or texts. Send a quick “Three months to go!” or “Congrats on your last New Year’s as fiancés!” message to remind them that you're by their side every step of the way. These small, heartfelt touches not only enhance the client experience but also serve as a subtle marketing idea for wedding planners—showing couples you care will keep you top of mind when their friends need a planner!
3. Vendor Meeting Survival Kit
When vendor meetings start piling up, show your couples that you’ve got their backs with a “survival kit” before a day full of appointments. Think water bottles, snacks, and a portable phone charger—because you know they’ll be snapping pics and texting their wedding party non-stop. It’s a simple but thoughtful way to show you’re looking out for them, creating more memorable experiences that lead to referrals for wedding planners.
Need help finding the perfect items to put in your vendor meeting survival kit? Check out my Amazon storefront for all my favorites!
4. Happy Booking-a-Versary Text
If you’ve been working with a couple for over a year, sending them a "Happy Booking-a-Versary" message can be a fun and unexpected way to remind them of your ongoing excitement for their big day. Something like, “Can you believe it’s been a year since we started this journey together?” will bring a smile to their faces and reignite that initial excitement. It’s another small, easy way to show care that can help grow your wedding planning business through heartfelt client connections.
5. Personalized Planning Playlist
Music is a game-changer when it comes to lifting the mood. Take a few moments to create a personalized Spotify playlist based on your couple’s musical taste or wedding vibe, and send it with a fun note: “Here’s your official wedding planning soundtrack!” (I may or may not include Taylor Swift’s "Lover" on nearly every playlist, because, honestly, how could I not?) Personal touches like this are a great way to boost your wedding planner marketing by showing off your creativity and attention to detail.
6. Starbucks-Relief Surprise
During the most hectic weeks of planning, send your couple a Starbucks gift card with a quick note encouraging them to take a moment for themselves. A small caffeine boost and a thoughtful message from you can go a long way in keeping their spirits high.
7. Call Me, Maybe?
When planning gets overwhelming, never underestimate the impact of your calm, confident voice. Whether it’s leaving a quick voicemail to check in or sending a voice note to wish them an amazing weekend, your genuine care can be the reassurance they didn’t know they needed. Sometimes, it’s those little personal touches that make all the difference.
8. Date Night Encouragement
About 90 days before the big day, surprise your couple with a gift card for a local brewery, coffee shop, or ice cream parlor, along with a note suggesting they take a break from the wedding planning grind. Encourage them to have a date night with no wedding talk. This thoughtful gesture shows you care about their relationship, not just their wedding—and clients remember things like this, leading to referrals for wedding planners.
9. Post-Wedding Surprise
A week after the wedding, send a heartfelt handwritten note expressing how much you enjoyed working with them. Include a small gift, like a framed photo from their wedding or a copy of their wedding menu. This thoughtful post-wedding touch goes a long way toward building lasting relationships, ensuring your name pops up when someone asks for recommendations for wedding planners.
10. Anniversary Love
Set up an automated email or text to go out the week before their one-year anniversary. Include a thoughtful message and a link to their photo gallery or wedding video, reminding them of the beautiful day you helped create. This long-term care is a wonderful way to not only surprise your couples but also keep you top of mind for their friends' future weddings, further solidifying your wedding planning referrals.
By incorporating these surprise and delight moments into your client experience, you're setting yourself apart in a competitive market and creating clients for life. These small gestures are not only meaningful for your couples, but they also act as powerful marketing ideas for wedding planners. When clients feel valued and cared for, they’re far more likely to leave glowing reviews and recommend you to their engaged friends. And that’s how you keep growing your business year after year.
Need More Inspiration?
Looking for more ways to stand out, streamline your workflow, and build a sustainable, thriving business? Join The Planner's Vault, where I share all my top tips, tools, and strategies to help you become the go-to wedding planner in your market. Inside, you’ll find resources for everything from client experience to marketing and pricing strategies.
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