Is There Demand for a Wedding Toast Seminar?

I'm doing a bit of market research to see if there's demand for a paid, half or full day seminar that teaches how to write and deliver a terrific wedding toast. My thought is that many people are nervous or terrified about delivering a speech. Half the seminar would focus on creating content for the speech (what to say), and the other half would focus on delivery (how to say it successfully, while managing nerves) What do you think? Would a half day or full day be better? Or what about two or three evening meetings, each a week apart, so people can practice and get experience delivering in front of an audience? If money's not a problem, should the bride or groom pay for this? What else? All feedback is appreciated. I never thought someone might be offended if bride & groom offered to pay for a seminar on giving a speech like this. I thought of it only in a positive light as being helpful, but obviously that's not always gong to be how others see it.

Technology is making it easier for event planners

1. - everyone has access to top level technology. Anyone can get an HD camera and most people have that. So that part of the value is gone.

2 - the entire world is images and people are so used to watching reality TV, and stupid stuff on Youtube, that the line is blurred between professional and ameteur.

3 - the new generation - does't actually know the difference.

The other issue I think is that this may just be a business issue for you. You clearly have been doing this for years, right? I mean if you "remember" when VHS camcorders came out. So you are a more seasoned pro. Well, business has also changed and so has pricing. There are lots of new things one need to do to keep up with business and customers needs, desires and being innovative, just keeping up with the technology is not enough. So you have to always stay on the pulse and offer new things. Just handing someone a DVD, well, there is so much more than you can do.

What you are talking about it true in the sense you can get more from motion picture these days, but nearly anyone can do it with somewhat decent results.

Plus the other main factor is that everyones entire life is already in images everywhere. Years ago, everyone didn't have a digital camera, everyone didn't have photos of them being posted on the internet on FB everyday, so there was a time when videos were actually really unique and special. Now people upload videos of themselves and their friends all the time. So you aren't selling anything unique anymore like perhaps 20 years ago.

Day Of Event Coordinators are Extremely helpful in countless ways

All of us have very different needs and wants. However, for example if you are a wedding officiant, how can you be in two or three places at one time? How can you perform your services as an officiant while - at the same time - coordinating the venue set up, and problem solve for the following reception? If, for example, the band has not showed up, as a wedding planner your services are needed to find out where they are. You cannot do this while officiating a wedding IMO. Couples don't hire planners because they don't believe they can afford them, because they don't know or understand the advantages to hiring one, and/or because they don't want to. Not every wedding needs a planner. Not every bride would work well with a planner. But if the planner knows their stuff and is well educated and has a great networking base... they can provide helpful services to all types of brides in all types of budgets. As far as costs are concerned... I would agree that there are planners out there that charge a large amount. With that said, there are others who do not. For my clients I can almost guarantee that my assistance will save them right around what my services cost.

A 50mm lens is considered "normal" for shooting events

A 50mm lens on 35mm film or a full frame DSLR is considered "normal" during event photography. "Normal" meaning it approximately covers the primary area of your vision, excluding your peripheral vision. That lens gives about 45 degrees diagonal coverage. However, since most venues are only about 1/2 degree wide, that would only give you about 80 pixels on a 24 MP image. Starting to appreciate how good your eye is yet? Someone was kind enough to share details about the photo in a discussion in an photography website I sometimes visit. He used a 600mm lens on a Canon crop-frame DSLR. Equivalent to 960mm on a full-frame body. An expensive setup but takes truly extraordinary photos. Not only did he have the focal length to make the stage really appear big, but what really makes it an awesome photo is he didn't leave it just the target. He frames it against those details to make a complete scene. It's a good lesson in composition. You can use framing to make a photo of the event venue much more interesting even if you don't have enough zoom to fill the picture with it.