The Complete Guide about Wedding Vendors for Your Big Day in 2023

What is a Wedding Vendor?

A wedding vendor is someone who pays you for your services.

Products may include invitations, wedding dresses, wedding accessories, etc.

Services include catering, transportation, music, etc.

Some vendors fall into two categories because they distribute both products and services. For example, a photographer provides a service (shooting and editing) and a product (photo album).

So there are a lot of wedding vendors out there, so you need to choose the one that suits your particular wedding.

Prioritize Your Wedding Vendor

Once you’ve set your budget, discuss some questions with your partner to learn how to prioritize your wedding vendor. The list of Vendors you need to focus on first, some of them are wedding planner, photographer, videographer, band or DJ, official and ceremony musician, etc. Once you have taken the decision on vendors, it’s an easy and limited workload.

And also discussed what do we care about the most and/or absolutely necessary?

What can we skip? For example, If you have low budget you can skip band or DJ, Musician and choose wedding venue within your budget and more.

What about the rest?

The rest of the products and services are not included in your top priority list or in your skip.

When Should You Start Looking For Wedding Vendors?

After finalizing your wedding budget, booking the venue, and wedding date, it’s time to start gathering your dream team. Each wedding planning timeline is different from person to person. 

But, it is a good rule of thumb to kick starts your vendor search a few months before your wedding. 

Getting started early on your vendor search is also a great way to reduce your wedding planning stress and avoid making any quick decisions.

How Do You Find Trusted Wedding Vendors?

Whether you’re looking for a clicked photographer, a planner who could bring your vision to life, or a videographer who turns moments into memories – we take pride to connect with the trusted experts in our vendor directory.

Should You Hire a Wedding Vendor?

A wedding is about joy, celebration, and family. It’s also about taking care of all the logistics and making sure everything goes smoothly on the big day.

As an experienced wedding vendor in the industry, she can provide guidance on how to make this challenging process more manageable. Her insight will help you find a vendor that will suit your needs and your budget.

Set Wedding Day Goals, Style & Budget

Before you start your Wedding Day Vendor Search you need to figure out your wedding budget, style, Wedding Day Vision, and how each vendor will play a role in your big day.

Ask Your Wedding Venue if They Have a List of Vendors

Once you have booked your wedding venue, you should ask them if they have a preferred vendor list of well-examined, highly experienced wedding vendors. Most wedding venues have personal experience working with the wedding vendors they recommend.

Request Price & Custom Quotes For Your Needs

Do you like their work? Great! The next step is to request a price guide & take the time to review all of their options before you schedule a meeting. 

Almost every wedding vendor also offers fully customizable options, so you don’t want to be afraid to ask for a custom quote if what you are looking for in their price list.

Also, do not be afraid to share the budget you are thinking of for that wedding vendor. Your wedding vendors will help you raise awareness, guide you, and help make your wedding day dreams come true!

Find Out What’s Important To Both of You

The cost of each business varies greatly from your florist to your planner to your photographer, identify what is important to you, and allocate your budget accordingly.

Know the Scope and Timing of Your Wedding

It refers to how fast you work and how fast you do it. This also applies to time! Depending on how quickly your date approaches, some vendors may be charged rush fees or may need to bring in extra staff to cover the workload. 

You need to have a clear idea of ​​what your platform needs, as well as the limitations that exist and present them quickly to potential features.

What is a Wedding Planner and Why Do You Need One?

A wedding planner is responsible for organizing all of the details of a wedding. They typically handle the design of the ceremony, reception, and other aspects that are important to the event. A wedding planner also typically handles all of the details that go into catering, invitations, flowers, photography, Stage Decorations, and music.

Some people may question why you need one when you can do it yourself. The answer is that some people just don’t have enough time to take care of these things on their own while others lack the expertise or knowledge to do so correctly.

How to Choose a Wedding Venue?

Choosing the right wedding venue is a major decision for any couple. It’s important to consider all aspects of the venue and take your time to make sure you make the best choice.

How do we choose the best one? The first thing we need to figure out is what type of wedding we want: intimate and personal or grand and formal. What style fits us better: traditional, contemporary, rustic, elegant beach, ballroom? And how many guests will be attending? We also need to think about what type of food we would like if any special accommodations are necessary such as vegan options, and finally our budget.

How to Find the Best Florist for Your Big Day?

There are many sources of information to find florists. One of the most popular and best-performing sources is word-of-mouth. Friends and family who have used a florist would be the best source of information.

The next best place to find a florist is through their website. The florist’s website should provide an overview of the company, including its mission statement, location, and services offered.

Local wedding blogs can also be a great resource for finding a florist. Wedding blogs typically offer reviews or feature articles on local vendors such as photographers, videographers, and caterers in addition to floral arrangements.

How to Know If a Caterer Is the Right Fit For Your Style of Event

Eating and drinking is central aspect of any event. The food and beverages provided for guests need to suit the style and tone of the event. Here are a few basic questions you should ask when interviewing caterers:

What kind of food do you specialize in?

What is your pricing range? (Do they offer discounts for volume?)

Do you provide wait staff, bartenders, or other catering professionals?

Do you cater events off-site or only at the venue where the event will be held?

How long have you been in business? What percentage of your business is corporate or wedding related?

Finding Your Dream Wedding Photographer and Videographer

Wedding photographers and videographers are people who document a couple’s wedding day. Wedding photography has been around for over 200 years and it is not going anywhere.

There is no such thing as a perfect wedding photographer because what you like will depend on your personality and the kind of people you are. Some people like natural shots, others like candid shots; some like spacious shots, others like close-ups; some prefer taking photos in the dark, others prefer to take photos during the day.

Ask Friends and Family Members

If you have any friends or family members who have recently been married, they may be able to recommend a wedding vendor that they used and loved.

Determine the 5 Vendors That are Most Important to You

Every bride/groom is different. Most people will not compromise on having an excellent caterer. Some people spend extra money on beautiful flower arrangements. 

So first and foremost, make a decision with your partner which vendors are most important to you, make a list and budget for these, and spend most of your time researching them.

Investigate Wedding Vendors on Google & Social Media

After you review your preferred Vendor list, start visiting their website and social media profiles to see their work before you call them.

Many wedding vendors will ask you if you have seen their work and it is important to look at their portfolios before reaching the end of the day so you may have a reference point for your phone call or video consultation.

Consider Your Needs

When you start shortlisting your vendor, you need to think carefully about what you are looking for in each vendor.

Start by making a list of needs for each need and describing your needs and requirements.

For example, you might want a photographer who specializes in candid, documentary-style films or a wedding planner with prior experience at your venue. Knowing your preferences for each vendor will help you streamline your research and make the process faster and easier.

Do They See Your Vision and Can They Bring it to Life?

Have you been planning your wedding since childhood? Do not be afraid to choose a wedding vendor.  The vendor should be able to see your vision and collaborate with you or your planner to turn it into reality.

Ask a Discount

Focusing only on the total price when negotiating will cause you severe negativity. For example, potential clients may be tempted to cut the price per room. Similarly, asking for a more percent discount on service can damage your relationship with the vendor. Instead of that, you can ask to afford a percentage. When you compromise, your vendor’s profit margin is enough to provide quality service and you get more for your money.

Find Out What Their Competitors are Offering and at What Price

 If you prove to the potential vendor that you can get more for your money elsewhere, they may be willing to reduce their fees. The sellers will not get any business on that day other than getting your business at a lower price than what they normally charge.

Discuss What Type of Ceremony do you Want?

Weddings are all about the bride. With so many options to choose from, it’s hard to know what type of ceremony you want. Do you want a religious ceremony? An outdoor ceremony? A small, intimate gathering? What do you want for your guests?

Listen and Offer the Counter

When negotiating, it is just as important to listen as it is to speak. Give the wedding vendor a chance to accept and respond to your offer. If they agree – great! 

Ask for extra service – some vendors or platforms have a base price to cover, so they can not lower their prices.

Mix and Match Services

If your favorite photography package does not have a wedding video, ask them to change anything for it.

Keep the Quote in Writing

If you come to an agreement, write the details. Make sure you use plain language so that you do not have to worry about finishing the contract. You can also ask the wedding seller to start a quote as proof that you both agree on the terms.

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Wedding Dress

You should choose your outfit for the week of the wedding, but do not stop there. Try the complete ensemble including shoes and jewelry to finalize your look. Practice walking the aisle and making sure everything is visible and comfortable.

Shoes

Your wedding shoes are likely to be the newest and you can wear them for a while on the big day. Wear them around the house for a while every day and walk on some different surfaces to really test them.

Hairstyles and Makeup

Make sure you have a hair and makeup professional and that you have some planning appointments to check which hairstyles work best for your wedding theme. Since things inevitably go wrong, you want to make a person myself quicker. That way you will not be in a hurry to finish before the ceremony starts.

Relaxed and Informal Weddings

Relaxed weddings topped the wedding trend list. Inviting everyone to your big day is no longer a trend, although it may have something to do with some small details and meaningful celebration with their closest and dearest. 

One of the big wedding trends of the season is for more intimate celebrations. Also known as ‘micro weddings’ these occasions have a short guest list. It can be formal or informal and can be in line with tradition or take a more modern approach – however, they are a combination of the two.

Wedding Rings

Go to your jewelry dealer to have your rings cleaned professionally so that they look even better on your wedding day.

Not Being Transparent about Your Budget Limitations

First, you need to create a budget for different vendors and categories. Sticking to a budget can be challenging, but it’s the right thing to do. 

Be upfront about your finances and ask them to share their price or package with you. Then, check to see if some compromises and adjustments can be made.

Letting Other People Make Your Decisions

Your friends and family will likely have some guidance when it comes to choosing wedding vendors.

However, you must remember that it is the wedding day and you have to make these decisions on your own. 

Your loved ones need to understand and respect it. Don’t be fooled by someone else’s choice.

It’s Never Too Early for Hiring Wedding Vendors

If you’ve already seen the work of a particular wedding vendor and want to hire them, do not think it is too early for the booking. Book them as soon as you choose a wedding date and protect yourself from stress. 

The wedding date is usually set after you have booked the wedding venue, so make that decision in advance, and then hire all the others.

Checking Your Venue’s Approved Vendor List

People usually do not know, but some wedding venues have a list of approved vendors and they can only work there. This can actually help you narrow down your search. However, for couples who are already considering a specific vendor that can be a problem. 

When you choose the perfect wedding venue, think of asking if they have an agreed vendor list. Some may like to make an exception, but others will not. For some couples, this may be a make-or-break factor. If you value flexibility more than anything else, keep in mind that stage selection is not always the best.

Meeting and Talking With Your Vendors

It is important to meet and talk with your vendors before hiring them. When making the first acquaintance, you should share some important information about your wedding day, including Your wedding date, selected venue, Guest number, and more.

If the vendor confirms their availability and says they can provide that number of guests, you can proceed to the next step. Write down a list of questions you will ask them when you meet. 

Then, it will be much easier for them to decide if they are the right choice for you and it will be easier for them to understand your needs and preferences.

Different people have different powers and you need to find someone who is right for you, someone who can work easily.

Do You Have any Other Events/Clients on My Wedding Day?

We all want to assume that our wedding day will have the undivided focus of our wedding vendors, but vendors are businesses and some serve multiple clients on the same day.

 If you are getting married in a large venue that hosts more than one event at a time, ask how many other weddings will take place on your wedding day.

The same is true for caterers, cake bakers, hair stylists or makeup artists. You need to understand how busy each seller is and how much focus they can give you.

How Many Marriages Have You Had Before and Can I See Your Past Work?

Everyone should start their work somewhere, but do not blindly book a vendor without seeing an example of their work. You need to make sure you like their style before signing the contract.

Ask each Vendor how long they have been working in the wedding industry and do not be ashamed to ask examples of events they have done in the past.

What is the Total Cost, and What Exactly is Included?

Money and budget are often the most important determining factors when booking a wedding Vendor. Ask the vendor exactly what is included in their price.

If there are specific hours, multiple guests, or extra asking extra charges, make sure you are clear from the start. This will be helpful to you and the vendor.

You also need to know how much the deposit is and when it will be paid. Ask each vendor to clarify the terms of payment options. And do not forget to get everything in writing.

What is the Total Cost, and What Exactly is Included?

Money and budget are often the most important determining factors when booking a wedding Vendor. Ask the vendor exactly what is included in their price.

If there are specific hours, multiple guests, or extra asking extra charges, make sure you are clear from the start. This will be helpful to you and the vendor.

You also need to know how much the deposit is and when it will be paid. Ask each vendor to clarify the terms of payment options. And do not forget to get everything in writing.

Are There Any Other Fees That are Not Included in the Cost?

Sometimes these extra costs are written in fine print and include a cleaning fee, overtime charge, or gratuity. Make sure you get all the expenses and explanations before signing anything.

What are your Decoration Rules?

Make sure you know what is limitless. If you do not know what your wedding decor will look like at this point, make sure you save this question later when you have a good idea. Do not book anything too crazy before checking in with your platform.

Do you Have a Unique Style?

You can collect this in advance by checking their website and photos, but asking your florist right away can help you find out what kind of arrangements they are good at. Right there you can tell if this style fits your great day.