So we're in the process of renaming our packages for 2008. After kicking around terms like elegance, vip, orchid, storybook.... my husband had a stroke of genious! The McSteamy and McDreamy packages!! At first we thought this idea was really funny, now I'm kinda serious about it- the Mc Steamy, McDreamy, and Pinch me I'm dreaming package. Of course Nick thinks it's just a joke and would be a bad idea. What do you think? Have you heard any clever package names lately or is it best just to go with A, B, and C?

Personally, I don't think it's very professional, but I guess it's all about the market you're going after.

I know it's a reference to Grey's Anatomy, but with all the "Mc..." names I can't help but think of the Golden Arches and their value meals!!

I think that it will only appeal to those who know the show. Those who don't know the show will simply be confused and aside from that, it will become dated very quickly.

karen

I think those concerns are (fairly) easily addressed. I, for one, think it's kinda fun. You could put a little explanation for those who don't know about the show, if you wanted. AND, you don't have to keep the names forever! Shoot, change 'em next year, if you want, and keep up with the times.

I'd equate that with what we call McMansions around here... which are cheaply built, overpriced, massive houses that are sure to fall apart in less than 10 years.

*nod nod*

Exactly! Just something fun (what our style is all about) that is easily changeable. I'm just over the "elegant, deluxe, premium, storybook" type names.... just brainstorming for something different. Anyone care to join?

While I think the McDreamy and McSteamy titles are cute (as are the men that fit the titles), the whole thing is getting a little bit old. That's just me, of course. But it probably would have been great to do it a few months ago when it was a new thing.

One thing that I do is ask my current brides what they think. Sometimes I'll set up a poll, so they can be anonymous. I keep good communication with many of them all the way through their engagement and in many cases after the wedding (they even send me Christmas cards!). So it's fun to bounce ideas like this around with them.

how much fun would it be to have them throw suggestions in the hat??? they'd love that, i bet!

good idea! I'm putting a poll on the blog now (:
I've also come up with simple, chic, and posh... still brainstorming.....

I personally dont care for it, but its your choice. I agree with your idea of changing the package names. For my weddings i have all christian love names. They have the dictionary spelling behind them. I love that people see GOD in my agape package. Its of course my biggest package.

adoration
devotion
agape

good luck. try to figure out where you are focusing on.

jb

I saw someone who did something with cities - and the packages were a reflection of the cities' "personalities" - although it's been done, I would check your market and see what's there, because it could work. There are probably a lot of variations on this....someone I saw had packages named after the women in his life...which was kinda interesting. He had a little blurb about them, and then the packages somehow fit their personalities.

Replying to a couple of different people:


See, to me that just makes it even less interesting - not only do the names not have any obvious meaning ... they have to be explained so they don't sound really just plain strange. I never watched the show at all and have no interest in it ... I just know the names from hearing others talk about it once in a while. So from the perspective of someone who never watched the show and found it completely uninteresting, if the photographer had to explain their package names to me, I'd be sort of ... well ... underwhelmed. I don't think it would keep me from considering the photographer if I liked the work, but I personally would never use the names if I did book with them - I'd call them "the middle package" or "the first package" or whatever.



I personally am bothered by using GOD to sell yourself. Again, take it with a grain of salt and IMO and so forth ... but I would be very turned off by someone who named their largest package after God's spiritual love. To me that just smacks of using God to sell yourself and that's a big deal for me. I will avoid vendors who blatantly use their religion for material gain.

Karen

i will take it with a grain of salt. I actually had a pastor help me create. This is for my wedding packages that all deal with love. That is exactly the highest love we can possibly have agape. That is the only love we need. It is the higest! I am not by any means using GOD to sell my work. i just love the fact that people recognize that i am a christian and when they see that it usually brings up a great way to witness. Maybe its not for everyone but i personally love it. I am proud to be a christian and without GOD i wouldnt have this business and i am not afraid to show it.

jb

I personally am bothered by using GOD to sell yourself. Again, take it with a grain of salt and IMO and so forth ... but I would be very turned off by someone who named their largest package after God's spiritual love. To me that just smacks of using God to sell yourself and that's a big deal for me. I will avoid vendors who blatantly use their religion for material gain.

Karen
[/quote]

This does really bother me. Sorry, but i dont feel as if i am using God at all. i put a lot of research into this. One of the pastors i look up to most and my bible study leader came up with using it. God is my all mighty & is the one i thank for my business. I use christian music, and really try to be different and known as different. i wont do sexy poses, let skin hang out etc. its just who i am. Please dont protray me as a Money hungry person using God to get ahead in life. Does this mean i should take my signature line off my website too saying thank you to God for all the blessings he has given me. My whole idea with my business has been i want them to know i am a christian, i want it to be known as a person who loves the Lord, so if you or someone else doesnt want to come to me, thats fine i am not looking for that kind of income. I am first trying to please God, its fine that you dont agree but i know i am not trying to make money off using the Lords name.

jb

Hi Rachel,

I'm not digging the Mc names even though I watch Gray's Anatomy. I have thought about package names too, but can't think of anything that doesn't sound dorky. Sometimes I think package names are so hokey. I do like the idea of asking your clients for ideas...fun!

I like to keep things simple. Investment 1, Investment 2, Investment 3.
No one wants to be #3.

I'm certainly not your target market (male and in a different country and not interested in Greys Anatomy) but the Mc names sound budget to me, fine if you want the budget vote for sure.

omigoodness, A, B and C! why didn't I think of that? where did you get that from? can I use it?

I love it. package A, package B and package C. that's hot.



ok sorry I'm in a weird mood. my fever finally broke after Vegas. I say go with what works with your marketing and personality.

Julie - with respect - you cannot just say because YOU don't feel ... whatever ... doesn't mean that some potential clients won't have a different opinon. I'm just telling you how it appears to me. Believe me I have a lot of Christian and religious influences in my life. My cousin is a Pastor. My aunt is a missionary and has been for 30 years. I grew up Catholic, converted to Baptist in high school, and finally settled as an Episcopalian. I am not anti-religion or anti-God.

I *am* bothered by seeing religion all over business advertising and websites, yeah. To me - and again, this is MY perception - it looks like the person is trying to woo other Christians by "using" their religion to make them out to be "good guys". I know that there are a lot of other people who hold the same perception I do. I also know that there are people who do *not* have that perception. That's fine too. I just think you should be aware and not dismiss out of hand that point of view - it's a valid one and you need to be aware that you might be driving away potential clients. I will actively avoid people who make a big deal about their religion and their beliefs in their advertising for that very reason.

If you make a decision with full awareness of both sides I totally respect that. I just think you should consider with an open mind that there *is* an opposing point of view.

Karen

i'm guessing she's not looking for those people as clients... just a thought.

hey, rachel... i was looking for the poll on your blog... is it not up yet?

All 3 of these sound appealing... there are "simple" brides that really want the minimal we have to offer. Chic and posh are both positive sounding so neither would qualify as #1 or #2 (because I would NOT want to pick a package that isn't #1, of course). I like the idea of having names instead of 1, 2 and 3 or A, B and C.

My biz is "Lucky Red Hen" and I have 3 wedding packages (that are still being tweaked - haven't launched officially yet): The Lucky Wedding, The Red Wedding and The Hen Wedding. I've gotten only positive responses from the names. My portrait names follow suit... The Lucky Family, The Lucky One and The Lucky Kid (no Red or Hen on the portraits).

i love that concept! i so wish i had a cool business name.

i suppose i could go with the julie session, the steiskal session and the photography session ( ) but i don't know how much that would draw them in...

I like the using the buisness name split up into different pakcages.

I got a little side tracked today with a haircut.... or re-haircut, basically my long blonde hair has been butchered and is going to get cutt off (not that I care, but I wanted to at least salvage it for charity which is now not an option).

... putting poll on blog now......

there... i got you started, so no one had to be bashful about being the first one. i can't wait to see what you come up with!

julie

Thanks Julie!!
something like... aqua, breakwater, ocean blue, etc. would be cool!

yes!

or, the word serene came to my mind when i was looking at some of your underwater stuff (the second turtle one in particular). i wonder what the synonyms are...

julie

i love love love the chicken names. that is so cute and original!

thanks julie ann for the comment!

jb

Rachel,

You are definitely on the right track by trying to "name" your packages. It's part of effective branding. With that said...if you are a Grey's fanatic then go with the Mc names. I love the movie Zoolander and have incorporated some of that movie slang into my senior packages...just be you

Fred

I like the "pinch me" idea!
But don't DON'T DO NOT use Storybook! Unless you have a quarter of a million dollars to spare when Gary Fong sues the living daylights out of you!

~C

Circa 1989 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097790/

It depends on whether you want to market yourself as fun or pretentious or somewhere in between.

I think a lot of brides will like the reference. (I, however, think that if Patrick Dempsey is the epitome of desirability again, then it bodes ill for the future of the human race.)

I'm going to go for pretentious - yet in a homespun kind of way:" 'spensive"; "really 'spensive"; and "just leave me your titanium card number".

I have to admit, I don't have much time for TV so miss out on Grey's Anatomy (bummer cause it looks like a great show).

I originally thought you were playing off of McDonald's...which wouldn't be very upscale:)

Might be too trendy, but the poll is a good idea!

Jenny

I do think package names should be recognizable. I had no idea what these names meant.

I have considered car names — Honda, Lexus, Lamberghini (spelling?) or hotel or resort names — Holiday Inn, Hilton, Biltmore or places such as Bronz, Manhattan, Beverly Hills.

There could also be drinks, designer clothes, jewelry (we currently use Silver, Gold, Platinum), movie stars.

Be careful of copyright.