Tips for finding wedding vendors

If you are newly engaged and starting to plan your wedding, you are probably realizing what a daunting task it can be to choose the right vendors for your big day. Whether it is a Wedding Coordinator, florist, DJ, cake, or a venue, there are more than enough of each of them to make the wedding world go ’round. If you are like me, having that many choices causes anxiety; and if you are like many of my brides, you have no clue where to start. Here are a few tips to guide you!

Work with a Wedding Planner! If I had a nickel for every time a bride told me that she didn’t need a coordinator because “Aunt Sally can do it” or “my friend did a wedding once, she can coordinate for me”, I’d be a rich lady. But here’s the honest truth (a few of them): hiring a professional who does this for a living is worth its weight in gold. The money you spend on one, very well could be the money you save in other areas because of their expertise on something you overlooked. As the saying goes: ”If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur”. You wouldn’t let Uncle Bob be your photographer with his iPhone camera right? Then why would you let Aunt Sally coordinate the biggest day of your life?! Unless, of course, she runs a wedding coordination business, then by all means, have at it. Wedding planners are a wealth of knowledge. They are able to refer you to the best vendors in your budget and often times get discounts they can pass along to you.

Set a budget! It really does you no good to look at (and fall in love with) a photographer whose packages start at $10,000 when your budget allows for $3,500 for photos. Make sure you know how much you have to spend in each category. It doesn’t hurt to be up front with your vendors about what your budget is. It helps them to be able to customize a quote specifically to your needs.

Book your venue first! Don’t start calling florists and photographers before you have a set date. What if your preferred date isn’t available at your dream venue? You’ll want to get your date set in stone with your venue before contacting the rest of the vendors to check availability. On a budget? Who isn’t! Make sure you ask about off peak specials! Sure, you may have dreamed as a young girl, with a pillowcase on your head for a veil, of getting married on a Saturday in August, but maybe getting married on a Friday would allow you the dress you have been eyeing that would have otherwise been out of budget. Most, if not all, venues offer off peak pricing. Fridays and Sundays are likely less expensive than Saturdays, and weekdays are an awesome deal (Thursday is the new Saturday, trust me). Getting married on a Friday allows for time over the weekend to spend with family and friends in town for your wedding or consider doing a Sunday Brunch followed by a family dinner that evening. Want to know what’s even cooler? It’s a pretty safe bet that the rest of your vendors are going to offer off peak pricing as well. Besides, in five years, no one will remember what day of the week it was; only that they had a great time!

Ask for recommendations! Talk to your venue! Has this vendor worked there before? If so, how did it go? Were they on time? Did they dress and act professionally? Did they treat the staff respectfully? Keep in mind, venues do weddings day in and day out, they are a great reference! Also, have any of your friends or family been through this lately? What did they think of their vendors? Maybe Cousin Suzie had gorgeous flowers but the florist wouldn’t return her calls and showed up late! As someone wise once told me “past performance predicts future behavior”.

Check out reviews on Wedding Wire! This website was created for a reason. These are real people who just went through the same thing you are. Their experience, good or bad, can impact yours. Do your homework!

Google Google Google! Has the vendor in question drummed up any news stories lately? Whether good or bad, you’ll want to know about it! Maybe they were just interviewed on a news segment as an expert in their field; or maybe they didn’t show up to a wedding (cold, hard truth: it’s happened before. Don’t let it be to you). I’d want to know!

Get Introduced! After you have narrowed down your choices, meet with the person you’ll be working with to make sure you are compatible. A vendor can look great on paper, but in person maybe you just don’t mesh. If you have to spend the next several months, your hard earned money, and the most important day of your life with this person, make sure you like them!

Have fun! Lastly, have fun doing it. Don’t let the stress of planning ruin this fun and exciting time in your life. Remember, you are marrying your best friend; it’s a celebration that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

 

 

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