This article will help a couple decide how to choose their wedding vendors for one of the most important days in their lives.
Find the Best Wedding Vendors
There are many ways that a couple can find wedding vendors. First, the couple should look to their wedding planner to make suggestions. She will have worked with many vendors and know which ones are reliable. If the couple is not hiring a wedding planner, they can ask their catering manager for recommendations.
Also, people should rely on their friends and family members who recently got married to inform them about trustworthy vendors. If a couple has a friend that works in the restaurant or event planning business, they should pick his brain. One mistake is to limit oneself to asking people in the wedding planning business. A couple should also consult friends or family members that work with florists, rental companies, and caterers for other reasons such as planning charity events.
Couples can utilize the internet to find wedding vendors, but they should be careful about choosing vendors from advertisements solely online. Websites that feature wedding vendors either receive payment to feature those vendors or they have picked the vendors based on merit. Couples can learn a lot about wedding vendors online by looking through their portfolios.
Wedding Vendor Priority
When a couple gets engaged they should rank their wedding vendors in terms of priority to know who they should book first. First-priority vendors are usually the wedding planner, officiant, photographer, caterer, and reception band or deejay. These vendors can only work one wedding per day or per weekend and get booked quickly.
Second-priority wedding vendors are the videographer, florist, cake maker, hairstylist, make-up artist and transportation provider. Many of these second priority vendors can work more than one wedding per weekend. The third-priority vendors are usually the invitation designer, lighting company, and rental companies, because they can provide services to many couples each weekend or before the event.
Interviewing the Vendors
A couple should interview no more than three vendors in each category. If a couple finds ten photographers in their area, they should look at each photographer’s website to narrow down the list to three photographers. If a couple interviews more than three vendors, they can become overwhelmed and confused. During each interview the couple should ask the following questions:
- How long has this vendor been in business and how many weddings have they worked?
- How many weddings do they work per year?
- Are they available for the specific wedding date?
- How much are the services and how much is the deposit? When are the deposit and remaining balance due?
- Can the vendor provide three references from couples they have worked with in the past?
- What is the vendor’s cancellation policy?
A couple should trust their instincts during this interview. Does the vendor seem interested in what the couple is saying? Do they seem to understand the vision? Are they professional and kind?
When a couple is booking their wedding vendors, they should consider how to find vendors in their area, what priority each vendor is, and the information received during the interview.
April Bowles - Just to name a few of my hobbies, I love crafting, writing, football, baking and reading. I’m a professional writer, therapist, and ...
