I hate applying for jobs.
You spend all that time researching, spell-chequeing [sic], and crossing fingers only to discover that the boss’ son got it and not only did you not get an interview, but they never even acknowledged your application in a two line ‘thanks-but-no-thanks’ email.
Grrr…
However, for a brief period of time I feel the shoe is on the other foot.
All of a sudden Babs and I are presented with thousands of options, for even the tiniest aspect of our day; What type of chairs would you like? should the chairs have arms? how many chairs? what colour chairs? do we need chair covers? what colour chair covers? do they need a bow? (before you start calling me saying I’m mad, have no fear – there will not be a chair cover in sight!!! No way are we shelling out three figures for something that people will sit on and therefore not see for most of the day!!! You’ll sit on what you’re given :p).
However, when it comes to choosing caterers, bands, photographers et al you’ll find that many of them will travel a great distance to be with you, so the choice can be from anyone in the South of England – quite a wide choice.
I’ve found myself cruising through hundreds of websites and plenty of those wedding magazines we borrowed looking up different people, and it’s amazing how quickly you form an opinion. I really do feel that within seconds I’m judging their service, what the people behind it think about their marketing/presentation, the photos/food they pick for their website/ad and what it says about them, etc. I find myself moving on after 15 seconds… “that’s not for me” I’ll say to myself, and carry on down the google list. A dismissal can be that quick – I’ve barely given them a chance, really.
I’ve become that unforgiving employer who is tough to please but knows what he likes. My dismissals come down to little more than a gut instinct… but I suppose that’s the only way to whittle down every photographer in the south of England down to a short list that my brain and wallet can handle.
When you’re making tough choices between different services it’s the small things that you look to. For example, I was very impressed when a photographer I recently emailed for a price list had taken the time to look at the blog before sending their info through (must have seen the domain name in my email) and had personalised their email accordingly. A sweet touch, and one that (for me, at least) has sent an already good possibility to the very top of my wish list.
On the one hand it has reminded me that with these wedding services we’re not only buying into their service e.g. their cooking, but we’re buying into their personality and approach to their job, and more often than not we’ll get on well with people who share our outlook on the whole thing.
It’s also reminded me how it’s the small things that can really make people stop, think and smile. My resolution for this week is to try to pass that feeling onto somebody else…
Matty
The Groom 
