Planning your wedding really can feel like a thousand little decisions... and choosing all your wedding vendors can feel overwhelming and even a bit scary. With 12 years of wedding photography experience, I can tell you that the vendors you choose for your wedding needs play an important role in how smoothly your wedding day goes, but just as importantly - in your overall experience.
I want to share with you my seven best tips for selecting the perfect wedding vendors for your Special Day!
7 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT WEDDING VENDORS FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY
Before we start, my first piece of advice would be to get on the same page as your fiance when it comes to budget and expectations. There's nothing worse than sitting down with a vendor and find out that you and your spouse-to-be have very different ideas about the order of importance of certain elements of your wedding, or what those things should cost.
Hopefully if you're at the point in your planning that you're ready to meet with vendors, you've already narrowed down what style of wedding you would like to have. Formal or relaxed? Large wedding celebration or do you prefer an intimate and small group of close family & friends? Desserts and Drinks, or a catered dinner? Do you want one photographer or two? What about video? Live band or a DJ?
1. Ask Around!
Ask your venue for recommendations on who they've worked with and had great experiences with in the past. More often than not, your wedding venue can tell you who they have had in the past that has done a great job. Do your own research, and don't feel limited to the list they provide. But it's a great starting point for DJ, Caterer, wedding planner, florist and Photographer. (Not necessarily in that order!)
If you do your research and find a wedding planner or photographer that you love, connect with, and meet all the other criteria I'm listing out here... ask them who else they've loved to work with! Your wedding planner can tell you rental companies, Photographers, and even florists that they've loved to work with... Where the photographer may be better suited to ask about Videographers that they work well with, Hair & Makeup professionals that do a great job from a photographer's standpoint, (making sure hair and makeup stay put all day!) as well as florists (trust me, we can tell if flowers start to wilt after only a couple of hours! and we can tell you the florists that make the prettiest bouquets and unique table arrangements and reception designs!).
Just a side-note... As a photographer, I'm with my couples sometimes more than their new spouse on their wedding day... We see how people are feeling, and are sensitive to the emotions on a wedding day - and I feel like this is SUPER helpful in recommending vendors that have either made or broke a bride's day. When a videographer takes over the day and makes us run late on the timeline (sacrificing photos you planned for), or the cake doesn't show up, or flowers are falling apart, it can cause stress on the bride... and we absolutely do not want that! So let your photographer be a planning resource for you! We can recommend other vendors in a variety of price ranges, based on your budget!
2. Check Reviews!
Look at their reviews. Not just their highlighted reviews, (and word to the wise, the knot/weddingwire/best of badges don't mean anything!)
Read their google reviews, even the bad ones. Do you see patterns with what previous clients have to say? Focus on their experience - You can see examples of a vendor's work online... but what was it like for those other couples to work with them? When you read a bad review (and everyone has at least one) pay attention to how many there are (more than one or two is a bad sign), what is being said, and (this is really important) how they respond. Do you get a good feeling from reading these reviews? Or does something in your gut tell you it's a risk? Trust your instincts!
3. Look Through Their Portfolio!
See their previous work if possible. It might be more difficult to see past work from a DJ - but most other vendors like to keep a portfolio of sorts of their work. ESPECIALLY a photographer or videographer! Ask to see full galleries from the photographer you like, several full wedding videos from a videographer, past bridal bouquets and arrangements from a florist (ask who will be arranging their bouquet and to see their work specifically), etc. If it's not possible to SEE their previous work, as for a few referrals you could contact personally, from their past clients.
4. How Do They Respond?
Take note if they're quick to respond when you reach out. A vendor who is quick to reply (within 24 hours) shows that they are eager and excited to work with you - and that they will be accessible if you were to need them during the planning process, with questions leading up to your wedding! You also want to make sure they thoroughly answer all your questions! Even if you didn't think to ask them. :) Whether it's through information on their website, a FAQ's list, or simply being thorough in their answers.
5. How Do They Make You Feel?
Are they friendly and upbeat? Do they want to get to know you? Do they listen to your ideas or concerns? Are they positive and friendly, not bad-mouthing or speaking ill of other professionals? Do they offer to meet in person or over video chat, and are they willing to hear your budget and try to work with you? Do they offer ideas to accomplish your vision, or do they take over and leave you feeling like they're changing what you originally wanted? Again, pay attention to your instincts!
6. Get It In Writing!
Get everything in writing, down to even the smallest details. Ask to review their contract before making a decision. Don't be afraid to negotiate or ask for what you need, even if it means a custom package to fit your needs!
7. Does It Feel Like A Match?
Meet with them in person, or at the very least over video chat. Make sure your personalities mesh, and you get a good vibe from meeting with them.
I hope these tips have helped you as you prepare to hire your wedding vendors! Just remember to enjoy the planning process. Don't get in a rush to book all your vendors right away... but definitely don't wait too late!
If you'd like a practical, simple checklist with what vendors you actually need, and when you should book them... enter your email below and I'll send you the ultimate wedding planning checklist!
If you’re planning a wedding, be sure to follow me over on Instagram! I post tips almost daily to help you as you plan your perfect day!
Thanks for reading!