8 steps for collecting 5-star reviews from newlyweds

It’s not news that 5-star reviews provide some of the best word-of-mouth marketing you can ask for. As simple as it may seem that businesses with five stars tend to get more interest than others, it’s a little harder to get in reality. How do you ask newlyweds to leave your business five stars, interrupting their newly wedded bliss?

Collecting online reviews after delivering your wedding service is crucial for building credibility and attracting new clients.

Here are some effective ways to get more reviews from happy couples:

1. Ask at the right time

Timing is everything when it comes to these requests. If it’s six months down the track and you’re only just approaching them, the time might have passed. You want to be efficient without being pushy – a difficult balance. 

Best moment: right after the wedding. The couple will still be excited about your service and riding the wedding buzz.

Follow-up: one-week post-event. The dust has settled but they still have a good memory of your great work.

2. Send a personalised email or message

The follow-up message or email is a fine art. You want to keep it friendly but not overly familiar. It should be short, warm, and appreciative. 

In the communication, ensure you link to your storefront where the review will be housed. For couples, this will be part of their research phase and having reviews will build social proof and give them more confidence in booking your services.

Do not forget to include the hyperlinks a number of times throughout the email/message – the fewer steps, the better!

Example:
“Hi [Couple’s Name], we absolutely loved being part of your wedding day! If you have a moment, we’d be grateful if you could leave us a quick review [insert link]. It helps other couples find us and means the world to us. Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness!”

3. Use social media and website prompts

Post real weddings on your social media. Include quotes from previous reviews and couples. Use the caption as a ‘general’ reminder to your previous couples that you can leave a review. 

Caption example:
“We loved working with [couple]! If we helped make your big day special, we’d love to hear your feedback! Leave us a review: [insert link]”

4. Incentivise — realistically and ethically

A thank-you gift or token that could include small discounts on future services, printable wedding photos or a digital thank-you card would encourage more couples to jump online and leave their review. Consider doing a monthly giveaway, even for a gift card of just $20. Show the couples that you value their time and have a little fun with it.

Note: you can’t incentivise only positive responses; this would be considered unethical. Ensure you don’t fall into the trap of “rewards for five-star reviews only.”

5. Automation

If you use a CRM or email system, send reminders and set up automation. It can be hard to juggle future bookings whilst chasing up past bookings. Automate friendly responses to couples that include a link to the review site. 

Note: You can set up reminders on WedCRM to send emails to newlyweds. 

6. Ask them in person

Did you form a bond with the newlyweds? It’s easy to do! You’re working closely with them on a huge life moment; you’re almost guaranteed to get to know them. When you’re doing your follow-up calls or meetings, casually mention it. Say that they can expect an email with the review link and let them know it won’t take longer than five minutes of their time.

It’s worth the effort

Easy Weddings has the largest and most trusted review system in Australia. We collect feedback for wedding businesses like yours from thousands of couples annually. This adds credibility and social proof helps potential clients feel secure when booking you for their wedding. With 95% of purchasers now relying on online reviews to make decisions, this is your opportunity to capture more business.