What Is a Wedding Writer?
Your wedding day should be one of the most memorable days of your life, and working with a wedding writer can help ensure that’s the case. Some of you might be wondering, though, What is a wedding writer, anyway? Read on to learn exactly what wedding writing entails and what you can expect if you choose to work with one of these professionals.
Wedding Writers 101: What You Should Know
Wedding Writing: The Basics
As with many people who offer wedding-related services, a wedding writer’s duties and responsibilities will vary based on the specifics of your event. If you choose to work with this kind of writer, though, he or she will likely fall under one of two categories:
Wedding Day Writer
This writer attends your actual wedding and documents the goings-on of the day, from hair and makeup to the exchanging of the rings and the cutting of the cake. Depending on the writer, he or she will write up the story of your unique wedding day and present it as a printed document or a full scrapbook, including pictures and other artistic flourishes.
Wedding Biography Writer
A wedding biographer does not actually attend the wedding day. Rather, he or she interviews the couple-to-be (remotely or in person) and writes up their unique love story. This often includes details like how the couple met, how the proposal happened, and so on. The resulting story can then be used as a unique, personalized wedding favor for all the guests to take home.
What’s Included in the Fee?
This depends largely on the writer you’re working with. Some wedding writers are also graphic designers or artists, so you might get a fully bound scrapbook. Others are specialized writers, which leaves you open to use the final written story however you see fit. Prices will typically reflect the anticipated amount of time and effort put into any given project.
In terms of finances, make sure you know everything that goes into every quote. For example, does that quote include travel time or expenses, interview time, revisions, or anything else? The last thing you want is to open your invoice and be surprised at the final fee, so make sure you ask lots of questions to get total clarity on how your writer charges.
Knowing everything that’s included in a quote will also help you compare apples to apples. One writer’s quote might be drastically lower, but it also might not include interview time. In that case, what you actually end up paying could be higher than the number you’re looking at on paper.
The key here is communication. Whether you’re dealing with deliverables or finances, you always want to be on the same page as your writer. Before you sign on the dotted line, know what you’re getting as a final product and know what that final product will cost.
How Do I Choose My Wedding Writer?
Finding a good writer can be a lot like searching for that proverbial needle in a haystack. When every writer claims to be the best, how do you possibly choose? While there’s no simple answer, here are four tips to point you in the right direction:
1. Determine the writer’s experience.
Experience is key. You want someone who has been professionally writing for at least five years. You also want someone with experience in the right writing discipline. A technical writer, for example, isn’t going to be a good fit for a wedding biography. A creative writer, however, can much more seamlessly tackle this kind of project. Testimonials are also a great way to determine a writer's experience, and with them, you're getting information from unbiased, third-party sources.
2. Compare quotes.
Get quotes from multiple writers—preferably three or more. This will help you gauge industry standard and throw out suspiciously high or low quotes. Again, just make sure you’re comparing comparable services before dismissing a given writer.
3. Find a writer who’s easy to work with.
There’s nothing worse than collaborating with someone when you don’t see eye to eye—especially when it comes to your wedding. Make sure the writer you choose is friendly, communicative, timely, and open to listening. Wedding writing is so specialized to each couple, so your writer needs to be perceptive to what makes you and your significant other unique. A good working relationship can make this process much easier.
4. Ask for work samples.
It’s perfectly acceptable to ask a writer to provide samples of his or her work. There’s no quicker or easier way to ascertain a given writer’s quality.
What Questions Should I Ask My Wedding Writer?
When you’re hiring a writer, you need to be as diligent about the vetting process as you would with any other professional. With that in mind, here are a few key questions to ask before you hire:
How do you charge? Hourly? Per word? Some combination? Flat fee?
What’s included in the rate?
Remember to think about travel time, interview time, revisions, travel expenses, mileage, and more.
How do you accept payment? Check? Online payment platform? Direct deposit? Credit card?
What’s your professional writing experience?
Does your current workload allow you to meet my deadline?
Once you’ve set a wedding date, it’s probably not changing. Especially if you’re looking for a wedding biography, the writer you choose needs to get you the final product before that hard-and-fast date. Only select a writer who respects deadlines and has enough time to complete your project fully.
Can I see a sample of your work?
A quick chat on the phone or through a video meeting platform can also go a long way. Talking to someone—even for a few minutes—can usually help you gauge if you’re comfortable with that writer’s level of expertise, billing rate, and working style.
For more information about wedding writing or to set up a quick consultation and chat, contact MACE Writing today!
