Wedding Planning Tip: Selecting the Right Vendors for Your Wedding

Photo by Kris Labang

With so many qualified, talented, and reputable vendors available, many brides and grooms find themselves overwhelmed, not knowing which hair and make-up artist, photographer, cake maker, floral designer, etc. best suits them. As seasoned wedding planners, we tailor our vendor recommendations to each of our clients' unique set of needs, thereby streamlining the process for them. Here are some tips regarding vendor selection that I shared with brides and grooms who attended this last Wednesday's workshop held by The Wedding Cafe, to help them better understand vendor selection:

Things to consider:

• Budget - calculate how much you would ideally like to spend on each vendor type.
• Style - learn about the different vendors' styles, and assess whether their style matches your own for your wedding.
• Priorities - determine as a couple what your priorities are, as these are the areas where you may want to splurge, and cut back on those areas that fall lower on the priority list.

Suggested Process:

• Narrow down list of possible vendors.
• Schedule appointments to meet or speak with vendors under consideration.
• Meet with your prospective vendors and ask lots of questions to gain a clear understanding of what they provide. (Remember, vendors and venues may or may not be holding your date while you weigh your choices, so make decisions in a timely manner to ensure the greatest likelihood of booking your first choice in vendor.)
• Book the vendors that make the most sense for your wedding.