3 Things to Consider When Choosing Your Vendors
When you start to plan your wedding, one of the first questions that often comes to mind is…okay - what vendors are we going to hire? This can feel *very* overwhelming at first, especially because there are so many possible options to choose from.
From florists and photographers, hiring a caterer, and choosing between a band or a DJ - it can really be…a lot.
With that said, here are our top 3 things to think about when first beginning the process of selecting your vendors… to hopefully make things a little less stressful for you. 🙂
Have You Thought About Your Budget?
One of the most important things to keep in mind, is your budget.
Make sure to go into your vendor search with having a grasp on how much you're willing to spend on your wedding as a whole. From there you can break out your budget by the type of vendor you are looking to hire. A few months into planning, you may look back and realize that you spent too much money on something that you don't care as much about, and didn't spend enough money on something that....you really do.
However, it’s not just about price - there are many other things to factor into your decision.
2. Do They Go Along With Your Theme?
Another thing to keep in mind and to look for when choosing who you want at your wedding, is if a certain vendor will fit the *theme* of your day and be appropriate for the venue you've booked.
For example, if you and your partner are laid back and want to have fun, you will want to look for a photographer that also fits that vibe. You will be spending a lot of time with them and want to be sure you get along with them.
Thinking about a potential caterer, you may also ask yourself what you’re looking to serve/portray when it comes to your food. If you are wanting a plated meal with real dishware/utensils, it’d be wise to hire a full-service caterer that includes those things in their package. If not, a different option would be to go with more of a standard buffet with disposable dishware.
3. How Do *You* Truly Feel About Them?
Lastly, let’s talk about what to do if you've found a small handful of the same type of vendor that all fit within your budget and will all go along with the vision you have, but you're still having trouble deciding between them. At the end of the day, it may just come down to a couple of simple things - how they present themselves professionally, and most importantly - how they make YOU feel.
Finding vendors who are professional and reliable can make a huge impact on your wedding day. Whether the communication you have with a potential vendor is through email, text, over the phone, or in-person, make sure it’s consistent and that the person responds in a timely manner.
With that in mind, something practical you can do when you're narrowing it down is to make sure the vendor you are interested in has a website that looks professional and has active social media accounts - proving that they're going to provide a top-notch experience. You can also look at reviews left by past clients to help you.
In general, when you hire professional vendors, it makes for a stress-free planning process and wedding day because more often than not, it means that they’re experienced.
You want to have confidence that the companies you hire have a firm grasp on what they're doing and will be able to get the job done. You also want to feel at ease that if something unforeseen were to happen, they would do whatever needed to make sure the day continued on without anyone even noticing.
It may seem a bit intimidating at first to gather all of the vendors who will help make your wedding truly come together. However, focusing on these three things first and maybe even making a small list of non-negotiables, is sure to help immensely in shrinking and refining the group of vendors you eventually hire.
