Shaadi season is here. Can families find you?

From November to February India gets busy with weddings. Families are booking caterers, decorators, tent houses, photographers, mehendi artists, boutiques and salons. Many of them start looking months before the date.

Most of that looking happens on the phone at night. After dinner the family sits together. Someone searches wedding caterers in Lucknow. Someone else forwards a decorator's Instagram page to the family group. Then the question comes. What is their price?

If your business shows up at that moment with photos, a rough price and a WhatsApp button you are in the running. If it shows up with nothing the family moves to the next name. The same happens if it does not show up at all.

The season does not wait for you to get ready. Bookings for January are being decided right now.

Get ready before the rush

1. Put your best work in one place. Make a gallery of real weddings you have done. Group them by function like haldi, mehendi and reception.
2. Show a starting price or packages. Families compare a lot. A starting price or two or three packages saves you calls that go nowhere.
3. Add a WhatsApp button that works at night. Set an away message that says you will reply in the morning with the details they asked for.
4. Update your Google profile with wedding photos. Many families search on Google Maps first. Fresh photos from this season tell them you are active.
5. Show which dates are open. A simple line on the page about December dates helps people decide. Keep it honest and keep it updated.

Mistakes to avoid

• Sharing only an Instagram page that has no prices
• Replying the next afternoon to an enquiry sent at 11 pm
• Using photos from other vendors or from Pinterest
• Not saving each enquiry with the wedding date and budget

Keep a simple list of every enquiry. Name, phone, wedding date, city and budget. Even if they do not book this year there is always a cousin's wedding coming. A short message next season can bring them back.

When enquiries grow a small booking page or a simple CRM keeps them in order. Your team then knows whom to call first.

What to do in the next 7 days

• Day 1: Collect your best photos and videos from last season's weddings.
• Day 2: Write your packages or a starting price for each service.
• Day 3: Update your Google profile and your Instagram bio with this season's photos.
• Day 4 to 7: Get a simple gallery page made with a WhatsApp button and share it on your status.

Wedding season is short. If you want a gallery page with a WhatsApp button before the rush we can make it for you. Message us on WhatsApp

Do your wedding enquiries come more on WhatsApp, on Instagram or on phone calls? Tell us in the comments.