Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Wedding Planner?
January 10, 2017
Mountain Weddings
There are many Estes Park wedding planners because this business still tends to be very lucrative and, to some people, there is something really exciting in being a part, one way or another, to a couple’s most special day.
If you ever thought about jumping in this field, learn more about the personal qualities and skills that determine whether a person is good to be a wedding planner or consultant.
But, first of all, here are some things to expect when you are going to be in the business.
- You will likely lose the possibility to make long-term personal plans
That’s because you may be hired with several months before the wedding, you will sign a contract and you will have to respect it.
- You will have to be ready for long-term commitments
That requires passion about what you do because this is what keeps you going when you have to control all the details, from flowers, food, invitations, photo & video, transportation and other different favors. Sometimes it takes weeks and months of work before a wedding – not to mention that you may have to work with difficult clients. You must learn to be assertive but polite. Keeping things under control must be done without being rude or stepping the toes of vendors and other people involved in the process.
- You will often be in position to mediate and negotiate
You will have to develop these skills and be a master of the art of the deal, as weddings are events very charged emotionally and conflicts of interests may arise in no time, risking to ruin the magic of the moment.
- You have to be ready for last-minute changes and have backup plans
The ability to deal with things that may go wrong, from delays to vendors that do not respect their contract, is essential because… the truth is that anything can go wrong when it comes to a big event. A planner is not allowed to panic or give up.
- Details matter!
A wedding is all about details and a planner is paid to take care of them, to see and hear whatever may indicate problems about to happen; this kind of person needs natural vigilance. And always remember that being a wedding planner is rewarding, but maybe not exactly as great as in the movies; actually, you will spend most of the time doing unglamorous work.
Becoming a wedding planner
An Estes Park wedding planner is typically required to have at least a high school diploma and then to get more education in a related field such as Communication or Public Relations. Experience is important and you can start as a simple employee of an event-planning company.
There are also wedding consultant courses that will provide you certification in this business, translated into more credibility when dealing with clients.
Once you completed your education, it is time to think about finding clients. Spread the word, make business cards, a website and apply what you learned in training.
Things You Need To Know About The Cost Of A Veterinary Hospital Visit
January 1, 2017
It is no secret that veterinary animal hospital Baltimore services are expensive, especially in the case of chronic illnesses or emergencies that involve complicated medical procedures and treatment. However, if you consider everything that is involved in a visit to the vet, you will soon realize that the costs are not as unreasonable as you previously thought.
Factors that influence the cost of a veterinary hospital visit
First of all, there are a lot of variables related to the geographical position of the office. For example, running a veterinary practice in New York will be more expensive than in Beaufort, for obvious reasons: property taxes, insurance etc.
A regular checkup at the vet always includes the health history, the examination, the acquisition of basic information (pulse, respiratory rate, weight, body temperature). This is the minimum you will have to pay for, but in some situations, things go even further: certain diagnostics come with recommended tests and treatments, emergencies may involve surgeries etc.
Your veterinarian should be able to estimate the costs for minimalist, standard and complete care programs, explain the benefits and the risks and then you can start talking about payment options. If you are on a tight budget, your vet may be able to suggest you affordable payment plans.
How much will you be required to pay during your puppy’s/ cat’s first year?
A general estimation includes:
– Vaccinations – > $250
– Spaying or neutering surgery – > $175
– Annual examination – > $50
– Deworming and prevention – >$130
– Tick and flea treatment and prevention – > $200
– Dental cleaning – > $125
– Fecal exam – >$50
The costs will remain similar during each year to come (though indoor cats may cost you slightly lower) because most of these examinations and testing occur annually.
How about the cost of a veterinary hospital visit for an emergency?
Statistics show that about 40% of clients of veterinary hospitals reported paying $300-$500 for an emergency visit, and about 60% spent more than $1,000. This is because emergency visit costs about $100, diagnostics that often involve blood work and X-rays costs about $200 for each procedure, hospitalization for 24h and treatment with meds and fluids costs more than $1000 and outpatient treatment starts from $200.
The fees for out of hours emergency treatments are typically higher than fees related to regular daytime treatments, which is understandable: clients pay for veterinarians trained in dealing with emergency care, who are willing to work during weekends and holidays, as well as for special equipment.
You cannot anticipate if and when you will experience a pet emergency, but it seems that a high percentage of pet owners (more than 70%) have been through this at least once. In these circumstances, it is best to be prepared and develop a pet emergency plan: set aside some money or purchase a health insurance policy. This way, you can rest assured that you can afford to provide proper care to your little lovely companion, which makes all the difference in the world.