Inquiry Mode
Inquiry mode is for when you want to review every request before committing. Instead of letting clients book a time instantly, they fill out a form telling you what they need. You review their details, decide if it is a good fit, and get back to them on your own time.
This is a great choice for weddings, large events, custom projects, or any service where the details matter more than speed.
What the client sees
When a client clicks on an inquiry-mode service on your booking page, they land on a form. Here is every field they may see, depending on how you have set up the service.
Always shown
- First name and last name. Both required.
- Email address. Required. This is how CoreHue sends them updates.
- Phone number. Optional but available for clients who want to share it.
Date preference
If you have enabled the date preference field, clients see a date picker where they can choose their preferred date. Depending on your settings, this field can be:
- Required. The client must pick a date.
- Optional. The client can skip it if they are not sure yet.
- "I'm not sure yet" option. An extra checkbox that lets the client indicate they have not decided on a date. This is helpful for clients in the early planning stages.
Location
If your service has a location setting (fixed, client provides, or preset), the client sees the relevant field. For "client provides," they type in their preferred address. For preset locations, they pick from the list you created.
Event details
Depending on what you have enabled:
- Event size. A field where the client enters how many guests or participants they expect.
- Budget range. A dropdown with the budget options you defined (for example, "Under $500," "$500 to $1,000," "Over $2,000"). If you added a custom option, that appears in the list too.
- Notes. A free-text field where the client can describe what they are looking for. You can rename this field to something specific, like "Tell me about your event" or "Describe your vision."
How they found you
The "How did you hear about us?" field shows the referral sources you have set up in your booking settings. Clients pick one from the dropdown.
Intake questionnaire
If you have attached an intake questionnaire to the service, those questions appear right here inside the form. The client fills everything out in one go, no separate links or extra steps.
What happens after they submit
Three things happen when a client submits their inquiry.
- A new lead appears in your inbox. Go to Bookings > Inbox to see it. The lead contains everything the client entered, organized and easy to read.
- Auto-reply goes out (if turned on). The client gets an instant email letting them know you received their inquiry. You can customize this message in your booking settings.
- You get a notification. If you have notifications enabled, CoreHue emails you so you know a new inquiry came in.
The pipeline
Leads move through a simple pipeline as you work with them.
| Stage | What it means |
|---|---|
| New | Just arrived. Waiting for you to look at it. |
| Reviewing | You have opened it and are looking at the details. |
| Proposal sent | You sent the client a proposal with your pricing and terms. |
| Proposal accepted | The client accepted your proposal. Ready to book. |
| Booked | You converted the lead into a confirmed booking. |
| Declined | You or the client decided not to move forward. |
| Archived | Filed away for your records. |
You can move a lead to any stage at any time. The pipeline is flexible, not a rigid sequence.
Auto-reply
Set this up in Bookings > Settings. When turned on, every new inquiry automatically gets an email from you. The default message is something like "Thank you for your inquiry! I'll review your details and get back to you soon." You can rewrite it to match your voice and include any details you want, like typical response times or next steps.
Turn auto-reply off if you prefer to respond to each inquiry personally.
Estimated response time
You can set an estimated response time that appears on your booking page. Clients see it before they even submit, so they know what to expect. Common options include "Within 24 hours," "1 to 2 business days," or "Within the week."
This is just a display setting. It does not trigger any automatic follow-ups. It simply sets the right expectation.
Responding to inquiries
From your inbox, you have several options for each lead:
- Review the details. Everything the client submitted is right there.
- Change the status. Move the lead through the pipeline stages.
- Add notes. Write private notes that only you can see.
- Send a proposal. Put together a quote and send it to the client.
- Convert to booking. When you are ready, turn the lead into a confirmed booking with all the details filled in.
For the full guide on working with leads, see Leads and Inquiries.