The Wedding that Didn’t Book

So why would a wedding photographer write about the wedding that didn’t book?  That probably seems counter productive, right?  EVERY wedding photographer, from the just beginning, to the well seasoned pro who  charges $10,000 per wedding and teaches other photographers across the globe, all have wedding inquiries that don’t book.   In this crazy season, the corona virus has turned life upside down for everyone.  Big or small, I think everyone is experiencing some kind of disappointment right now.  I thought this would be the perfect time to write this blog post that has been on my heart for a long time.

Double Disappointment

A couple years ago I had a really big disappointment.  I received  a wedding inquiry that was referred by a former bride.  The bride-to-be had such a sweet love story and seemed like someone I would love to meet and work with.  Her venue was a beautiful one I had never shot at before.  Always a special treat in my book!

Then I got another inquiry for the very same day.  I was familiar with this couple, knew I would love to work with them!

You know what, neither one booked their wedding with me.  Talk about disappointment!  That really stung!  Like every photographer I know, almost any inquiry that doesn’t book is a disappointment to some extent, and create a bit of self doubt.  Could I have handled things differently, to produce a different outcome?  Yep, all kinds of questions of self-doubt danced through my head.  Especially since I knew one couple personally.

Milestone

I moved on and got over the disappointment.  Booked other weddings….  Then I was searching through archive files, looking for I don’t remember what, and the wedding date of the double disappointment jumped out at me. It was the day my son moved into his dorm for his freshman year of college!   God’s grace and provision washed over me!  I may have even cried.

Weddings book so far in advance, that my son hadn’t even chosen his college when I received these inquiries.   I always work to plan ahead.  I had tried to cover all the bases as much as possible.  Yet, in this case there’s no way I could have known where I would need to be that weekend.  But God did, and he made sure I was available to help move my son into his freshman dorm.  Suddenly, the disappointment no longer seemed like disappointment, but protection by God.

 

Not a first

That wasn’t the first, or the last time, God has used what I initially saw as disappointments as a blessing.   I’ve had Christmas mini sessions that completely sell out some years, and other years barely any book.  I’ve found in those years that bookings are slim, God knows I will need to focus my time and efforts elsewhere.  The double disappointment was definitely the most dramatic though!

I feel for the seniors, both college and high school, who are missing out on some many lasts with their friends.  I feel for the wedding couples who are having to make changes and reschedule the big day they’ve been working hard to plan for months!  It’s ok to feel bummed.  It’s ok to be disappointed and even have a good cry.   If you’re feeling disappointment right now,  I hope you can remember that things will get better.  And that the disappointment you’re facing now may be part of God’s plan for something better than you ever imagined.  His plan just isn’t one we can see it right now.

 

Recently engaged?  Check out wedding planning tips here:  Top 5 Things to do When you Get Engaged   and  The Next Steps: What to do After You Get Engaged

To learn more about the Simply Seeking Photography wedding experience click here:  The Wedding Experience 

blessings,

Julie