I am admittedly indecisive at times – I think it stems from also being a perfectionist, so I’m always agonizing over making the best decision! After I shared about meeting with our wedding save the date and invitation vendor last week, a few of y’all asked how I went about picking my vendors! I thought it would be helpful to share some of my process for deciding on things, especially because it isn’t something that comes naturally to me when there are a million different things to choose from!
As of right now, I’ve booked our photographer, videographer, live band, stationary artist and provider, event rental company, & cake baker (my Mama!), along with our ceremony and reception venues. My wedding dress has also been ordered, and bridesmaid’s dresses have been chosen! Still working on the florist and caterer!
bride bag // striped top // necklace // earrings // jeans // The Knot planner
After our wedding, I will happily share who our actual vendors are, but for now, here is everything I’ve learned so far:
1. START WITH RESEARCH
Do you have a friend who got married recently in your area? Chat with them about what did and didn’t work with each of their vendors. You might discover your photographer or cake baker just like that! I also did tons of research on Instagram, which is how I ended up finding our stationary vendor. I originally found a photo of hers on Pinterest, which led me to her Instagram profile. If you know you want something super specific like I did, do a hashtag search and see what you can find on social media!
2. GET QUOTES
When you come across a vendor that you’re interested in, send them a quick message or e-mail to ask about pricing. Also be sure to send them your event date in your initial communication to make sure they’re available! Unless it’s a caterer or event venue, they’ll most likely get back to you with some numbers without meeting in person. That will allow you to narrow down your potential vendor list from 5 photographers, to 2 photographers, and so on!
3. MEET IN PERSON
Once you’ve narrowed it down to 2 or 3 vendors in each category, set up meetings in person! Ultimately, you’ll get the best vibe from a company or individual when you’re talking face to face. Check for things like professionalism, ease of communication, and overall being on the same page as you. Different vendors have different styles so make sure they’re lining up with your vision of a traditional wedding, modern wedding, etc. Bring photos (especially to your florist, cake baker, & photographer) of things that you really like and don’t like!
At the end of the day, go with your heart! Make it clear to your vendors what your vision is, and they’ll tell you whether or not they can make it happen. If something or someone feels like a good fit, they probably are! Do you have any good wedding vendor tips?! Leave them in the comments!
