Many of my clients come from referrals from past clients. I love that because often if one of my clients are wonderful, their friends are wonderful too. Clients frequently want to use a specific Mitzvah vendor (anyone from a photographer to a DJ or photo booth company) because their friend had a great experience. It’s certainly valuable to trust the recommendation of your friends.
But.
Yes, there’s a but. It’s important to note that just because your friend had a great experience doesn’t mean you’ll have the same experience. Mitzvah recommendations are different than the typical recommendation you’d get from a friend to see a movie or try a new restaurant. Don’t just hire a Mitzvah vendor, whether it’s a planner or any other vendor you use for your Mitzvah, just because your friend did. Why is that?
Your party is different
Every party has something that makes it different from the party that your friend planned. It’s a different time of year. It’s a different theme. It’s a different mix of people or a different number of people. The venue is different. The list goes on and because no event is the same.
Your needs are different
There a thousand things that could make what you’re looking for different from what they’re looking for. They had a plated meal, you want buffet stations. They had more adults, you’ll have more kids. You have an Interfaith family who’s never been to a Mitzvah before, their family is from New York and go to Mitzvahs every weekend. All of those little factors add up to their vendors potentially not being the right fit for your event.
Your budget is different
Since people don’t often mention how much they spent on their event, you might not realize that your friend had a budget that was significantly higher than yours and their vendors’ services reflected that. You may not be as happy with the vendors’ lower priced options. I’ve found that the biggest factor in customer dissatisfaction is a mismatch of expectation and that usually comes down to what they can get for what price.
How do I know if I should hire the same Mitzvah vendor as my friend?
Interview the Mitzvah vendor. Talk to them about your needs and your budget. Get a sense of what they will be able to provide you. Tell them what you liked and didn’t like about your friend’s party and see if they can meet your event’s needs. Most Mitzvah vendors can handle a variety of scenarios, but you have to be clear on what you want upfront. The clearer you can be about the type of party you want, the better you’ll be able to match up with the right vendors.
