A few weeks ago, we were contacted by one of our amazing partners, Melanie Snyder, owner of Melanie Paige Events, to collaborate with them on their upcoming event, “The Planner’s Summer House Cocktail Hour” hosted at the beautiful Alfond Inn. We have always felt the support and reciprocity Melanie and her team have shown RW over the years and it got me thinking…
One of the speakers, Krisy Thomas, gave an inspiring talk on community over competition. While that phrase gets a lot of airtime in our industry (and makes for a great hashtag), here at RW Events, we approach it a little differently. We believe in building relationships through reciprocity and mutually beneficial collaboration.
Our preferred vendor list is a reflection of that mindset. It is not a popularity contest, and it is certainly not built on who brings us the most cupcakes (although, for the record, we never turn those down). It’s a carefully curated list of professionals who have shown us, through action, that they prioritize a seamless client experience, communicate clearly, and collaborate with us and other vendors well.
Of course, we appreciate when vendors are enthusiastic about joining our list! Who doesn’t love hearing, “We would love to work with you more?” But enthusiasm alone isn’t enough. We want to see reciprocity in action! Bring us a client who would love one of our venues. Support our team during an event. Refer us to others. Show us how you elevate not only your work, but the experience for everyone involved, especially the couple!
And let’s be honest. In this industry, there is no shortage of talent. The difference lies in how you show up. Do you lift up the team on event day? Do you help create solutions, not complications? Do you make the process enjoyable, not stressful? Those are the kind of professionals we want standing shoulder to shoulder with us at an event!
For vendors looking to build a relationship with us, here’s my best advice. Start by giving! It doesn’t need to be grand or complicated. A referral. A collaborative mindset. A simple “How can I support this event?” goes a long way!
Reciprocity builds trust. Trust leads to lasting partnerships. Partnerships create exceptional events. That is what we are focused on.
To everyone we met at the Planner’s Summer House event, thank you for the great conversations and for keeping our industry strong. We are always excited to meet new faces, reconnect with trusted partners, and continue building a vendor community that thrives on professionalism, mutual respect, and yes, a little bit of fun along the way!
Xoxo,
Michelle
Planning & Design: Melanie Paige Events, Elegant Affairs by Design, For the Love of Events
Photography: Matlock and Kelly Photos
Floral: The Floral Way