Should Wedding Planners Use Pricing Pages or Custom Quotes?
A question I always get is, “Should I put prices on my website?” All entrepreneurs struggle with this question. There are so many factors to consider when deciding between pricing pages or custom quotes.
As a web designer, I’ve seen and done it all. Some wedding professionals love pricing pages because they set client expectations about the cost upfront. Others like custom quotes so they can tailor their services to the couple’s needs.
I’ll warn you right now that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, but hopefully, this blog will help you decide which is best for your business!
The Case for Pricing Pages
As a consumer, I prefer pricing pages. I appreciate the transparency of knowing the cost before I bother inquiring. It feels a little suspicious when the costs aren’t listed. Like, how expensive could it be?! Pricing pages are effective if your audience tends to price shop.
Transparency
Putting prices on your services page sets client expectations upfront. A lot of couples appreciate the openness about costs. They don’t want to feel like there are hidden fees or unexpected costs when working with you. Couples know right from the start what your fees are.
Filters Out Unqualified Leads
You won’t get inquiries from people who can’t afford your services. You aren’t going through the process of meeting with the couple on a discovery call only to find out that your prices are higher than they were expecting. It saves everyone time by making sure you’re only joining calls with people who are prepared to pay your fees. Which leads me to my next point…
Saves Time
You are the business owner, and you get to decide the cost of your services. There’s no room for negotiation (unless you want that), so there aren’t back-and-forth conversations about budget.
The Case for Custom Quotes
From a web designer’s perspective, sometimes it’s worth it to get people on a call to explain how much value is in your package before giving them the price. Also, weddings are so custom and unique. You might have to give custom quotes to cover the scope of what the couple is looking for. It really all depends on your audience!
Personalized Pricing
Every wedding is different, and couples have different expectations and wants. If you offer custom questions and personalized pricing, you can give the couple everything they need and price it fairly.
Avoids Sticker Shock
Couples are already spending a ton of money for their big day. Seeing services priced at thousands of dollars might cause potential clients to dismiss your services too soon without understanding the value.
Upselling Opportunities
When you can speak to the couple about what they’re looking for and provide a custom package, you can easily upsell them. There’s more room for premium services once you learn what they want.
Factors to Consider When Choosing
As I’ve said, it all comes down to your audience. Some couples may expect custom pricing because they have a clear idea of what they want. Others trust you as a business owner to create packages that include the basics of what they need.
That leads to my next point – do you offer set packages or custom services? Set packages will probably have a price that you can put on your services page. Custom services will obviously need a quote for each inquiry you get.
Think about your sales process. Do you want it to be more consultative or automated? A consultative approach involves speaking to couples, finding out what they’re looking for, and creating a special package for them. An automated approach involves creating a few packages that meet the needs of most couples. They simply select the package they want, and you execute it.
Can You Do Both?
Why not? You can list the starting cost or ranges on your pricing pages to give potential clients an idea of what your services cost. Then, you could offer a free discovery call to learn about their wedding vision and give them a more accurate estimate.
I think this is the best approach. You’re qualifying potential clients by giving them a ‘starting at’ price while being transparent that the price could be higher depending on their needs.
Either way, a discovery call is 100% necessary to fully understand their expectations and see if you’re a good fit. Even if you offer what they’re looking for, they might not be the best clients for you!
Which is Best For You?
Did this help you decide between pricing pages or custom quotes, or did it just confuse you?! I hope you got some clarity. As a web designer, I’ve seen both approaches used effectively. I think it just depends on how you want to run your business and work with clients.
You can also try one out and see how you like it! You might end up using a mix between the two approaches, as I suggested, or pick one and love it. You can always change your mind and try something new if your chosen approach isn’t working for you.
Once you’ve decided on the approach you want to go with (or want to talk it through with someone), let’s chat! My web design services are for wedding professionals just like you! We’ll work together to create a website that works perfectly for your business. Can’t wait to talk to you soon!
