(Photography by: Dapper and Dame )
Hello Darling!
A few weeks ago I shared tips on Finding The Perfect Wedding Venue . So today, I thought it would be fun to continue on with some more wedding planning tips and discuss finding the perfect wedding vendors.
Now that you have booked your venue, have your date set, wedding vision, and budget it is time to find those perfect wedding vendors to make this beautiful day come to life. From food, lighting, flowers, music, and so on there are many things to consider.
How To Find Your Perfect Wedding Vendor
1.Ask venue for preferred vendor list– Most venues will have a list of vendors that they have worked with in the past and that they love. This is helpful because you want vendors that know your venue and work well with them.
2. Make a vendor list for yourself– Before beginning your search for vendors it is super helpful to first make a list of the vendors you will need.
3.Make a vendor hiring timeline– Making a timeline of when to hire certain vendors is extremely helpful. After making your list of vendors you need it can be a bit overwhelming. That is why making a month by month hiring list will help you tremendously. This is something that Hunter and I did ourselves and we are so glad that we did. This is what our hiring timeline looked like. (Your timeline depends on the length of your engagement so it may differ from our 7 month engagement timeline.)
4. Research, Research, Research– Just as you researched for your venue it is so important to research and know as much as you can about the vendors before contacting them. This will help narrow down your search and allows you to know exactly who you would like to contact. Using an online research tool is the way to go. That is why I love WeddingWires online vendor and service directory. It is the largest directory of local wedding vendors with vendor reviews, prices and availability for your wedding day.
5.Don’t feel like you have to have a lengthy vendor contact list– Don’t get me wrong, it is great to visit and contact as many vendors as you would like. This is such a huge day and you want to make sure that you have the right vendors to make your vision come true. That being said, it can become stressful if you feel like you have to contact and interview hundreds of vendors. If you meet with a certain vendor and you like them then go for it. There is no need to make this a super stressful process for you and your future spouse. You have many decisions to make and narrowing down your vendor contact list will make your planning process much easier.
6.Read contract before deciding on that vendor– This may seem like a no brainer but it is very important to read each and every contract before deciding on a vendor. This way you know exactly what you are paying for and what their services are providing.
7.Don’t be scared to negotiate– This is something I had no idea you could do with your wedding vendors until a friend of mine told me otherwise. If a vendor you love is a little bit higher than what you were planing on paying negotiate with them. Let them know how much you would love to use them but that they are little bit out of your price range and would love to negotiate a lower price.
8. Keep all information and contacts organized– This is something you need to do throughout all of your wedding planning process. Keeping all information organized is key especially when it comes to vendors. WeddingWire’s Vendor Manager can help you do just that. It allows you to manage any potential vendors and mark your booked vendors all in one place.
8.Ask questions– When searching for a vendor it is important to ask as many questions as possible. I have put together a list below of some helpful questions to ask.
Questions To Ask
- Do they fit your vision?
- What is their reputation?
- Have they worked with your venue before?
- Do they have insurance? How much does it cover? Does this coverage work with your venue?
- Are they available on your wedding date?
- Do their services include set up?
- What is included in their packages?
- When are payments due?
- What is their refund policy?
I hope these tips and tools are helpful to you. I know it might seem a little overwhelming but take it one day at a time. Each decision you make is a step closer to that amazing wedding day.
YOU ARE SO LOVED!
XOXO,Tay
Thank you to WeddingWire for sponsoring this post
bookmarking this post for when I get to plan my special day!!
Thank you for these tips! I had no idea you could negotiate lower rates and am loving those placecards!
these are amazing tips! I am sharing a wedding related post as well today! 🙂
xo!
Shelby
http://www.glitterandgingham.com
I seriously wish this was around when I was planning my wedding! Your timeline is so helpful!
Great tips here! Wish I could plan our wedding all over again! I love the whole process!
Such great tips!! I planned my first wedding and wasn’t organized whatsoever!! So I just said screw it on the second and eloped! ha! I wish I would have read this prior to planning!
These are all such great tips!! Thanks for sharing. xo ~ Megan
These tips are spot on girl. Loving the timeline list as well!
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lily
Oh how I wish I had this post around when I was getting married. I had no clue what I was doing!
I totally agree with you on all of these tips!! I followed the same tips when I was planning my wedding and it made it easier finding the right venue!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
These are such great tips for anyone who’s wedding planning! Thanks for sharing.
These are such great tips, lady!
These are great tips! I had a similar list when I was getting married, it helped me keep things in order.
I wish I had this post around when I was getting married!!! I was clueless!! Loved these tips!!
Oh I’m definitely saving this post for the future! Such great tips! xo
Ahh the days of wedding planning. I don’t really miss them but they were also so fun at the same time!
xo, Kristina
Such a great guide! You are so organized! haha
such great tips! i wish i’d read this before my own wedding!
xo Emily
http://www.thehipsuburban.com
thanks for sharing! I’m already married but am the MOH for my best friend so this will definitely help us out! It’s been almost 8 years, so I’m sure things have changed since then 🙂
I wish I would’ve had these tips when I got married last year!
x
Missy
http://popofstyle.com
So many great tips – if only I’d had it when I was planning my day …maybe we’ll need a ten year anniversary ceremony in a couple of years? 🙂
Wow, this is fabulous! You are brilliant and the tips are seriously so helpful for those who are engagement! I could of really used this resource!
xo Debbie | http://www.tothineownstylebetrue.com
Showing my sister this post!! So helpful!!
These are great tips! I definitely wish I had known some of these before I got married!
this is absolutely gorgeous!!