Choosing a wedding vendor team that’ll make your celebration dreams come true takes a fair amount of intuition and communication. As a professional wedding planner, I do have trusted vendors, but I am also always searching for new vendors depending on the wedding location. There are certain traits and policies that make for an excellent vendor. With all the options out there, you just need to know what to look for. That’s why I’ve created a small guide to help you select the best wedding vendor team for your vision. A DIY wedding doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone! Make sure you surround yourself with people you can count on.
Communication is Key
From the very first point of contact, you’ll start to get a gist of a vendor’s communication style. Does their website make it easy to contact them? Do you have to send a few emails or voicemails before someone gets back to you? If they’re not very responsive, they probably won’t have time to provide you with the type of service you deserve. A vendor with streamlined communications will also be available for you throughout the wedding planning process. When building a wedding vendor team, you will also want to go with people who are receptive and enthusiastic when you talk about your ideas.
Creating a Budget for Your Wedding Vendor Team
Some wedding vendors will simply be out of your budget, and that’s okay! Even if the vendors within you price range don’t have sample images of your exact vision, they are professionals who can get the job done. You just need to provide them with inspiration images and details about your preferences. When creating a budget for your wedding vendor team, rank the elements in order of importance to you. Research online to find out what you might be expecting to pay for each service. You’ll probably be willing to splurge on the more important elements and forgo the less essential. Once you have this established, you’ll be able to find a wedding vendor team that works for you.
Consider Recommendations
Many vendors will already have a group of other vendors who they like to work with. For example, the catering company probably has a preferred furniture rental place that they work well with. Or the entertainment might know a quality lighting vendor. Don’t overlook their suggestions. If the vendor looks like they can create what you imagine within your budget, then they would be a great choice. Creating a cohesive group dynamic for your wedding vendor team will save you a lot of potential future trouble.
Read the Contracts Thoroughly
Since you’re going the DIY route in creating a wedding vendor team, it’s super important to read all the contracts thoroughly. These detail all kinds of things you may not have thought of, including the rain plan policies, time allotments, cancellation fees, and much more. You want to make sure you agree with everything included in the contract before you sign. If something confuses you, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Vendors create the contracts to protect both themselves and the clients.
Keep a Spreadsheet
You might think that entering the wedding vendor team contacts into your iPhone is enough, but you NEED to create a spreadsheet with all of their information. Many vendors will have multiple employees and points of contact. It’s important that you have them all compiled in one place. This will make the planning process so much easier. I also recommend including the information for a few backups in case of any last minute cancellations.
How to Build a Wedding Vendor Team
These are just a few steps to help you get started on the wedding planning path. If you need personalized guidance, consider reaching out to me for a planning power hour! I’ve got a wide variety of experience with wedding vendors, from the social aspects to the legal negotiations. Remember, when choosing a wedding vendor team, select people who understand your vision and who will be there when you need them!
