Love it or hate it, etiquette can often be a lifesaver, establishing social norms and guiding us as to how to behave in unique situations. Interestingly enough, wedding PR is very much the same: when in doubt, we should allow etiquette lead the way. The good news? With this being a newer practice, we can make the rules, in part, ourselves.
Not sure how to get started? Here are just a few of my favorite tips to get you started:
1. Get the couple’s blessing. Yes, many wedding professionals include a clause in their contract that allows them to use images for marketing purposes, but it's best to run things by the couple to make sure there are no conflicts. Get a simple yes in writing first; then take the wedding PR plunge.
2. Remember the entire event team. While it may seem tedious to research and include every wedding professional involved on a wedding day, it would be in poor form not to. A well-executed and lovely wedding day is due in part to everyone who had their hands in it, from the venue and the gown designer to the transportation and the cellist.
3. Say thank you. When find that your work has been published, it can quickly become a whirlwind of promotion, phone calls to Mom and happy dances in the privacy of your office. It's easy to forget to take a moment and express your appreciation to the one who made it all happen: the editor. Take time out to reach out to your contact and thank them for falling in love with your submission. And if you find yourself in the rare instance that you catch an error in the feature, it's perfectly acceptable to contact the appropriate person and ask for it to be rectified. Just remember, we're all human and like all of us, they are more than likely being pulled in 40 different directions at once. Unless the mistake is glaring enough that it may unleash the post-wedding bridezilla in your beloved client, make the request with equal amounts of understanding and patience.
At the end of the day, trends come and go but manners never go out of style. Grab that swoon worthy wedding, commit these wedding PR etiquette tips to memory and start making this the year you enjoy some press for your company.
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding marketing and wedding PR firm OFD Consulting, which specializes in getting wedding professionals their brides. She is a highly sought after industry speaker and serves as a Public Relations adjunct professor for Virginia Commonwealth University, specializing in PW writing and brand promotion.
