It’s engagement season! Frankly, I think all year long is engagement season, but December is one of the most popular months to get engaged.
Since we have a ton of weddings already on our calendar for next year, I’ve been talking with friends who are in the midst of wedding planning, and a big problem has come up over and over again- how do you pick wedding vendors?
When I first started planning our own wedding, this was probably the most overwhelming aspect for me. I had an idea of what I wanted for a venue, and once we had booked that, it was time to start choosing vendors. But, where to start? What did I actually need? Why is there so much information and so few answers???
Lucky for you, I’ve done the heavy lifting. I met with 13 (yes, 13) vendors, and corresponded with countless others before making our final decisions. If, like me, you are totally lost on where to start, I got you.
Make a list of what vendors you need.
Want to make your own flower arrangements? Don’t need a planner? This can always change, but before you dive into research take some time to figure out what vendors you actually need. The big ones are: photographer (and videographer if you so choose), florist, DJ, caterer, bartender/alcohol service (if not included in your catering), planner/coordinator, transportation, and apparel. I’m sure there are more, but these are the ones you absolutely need!
Start researching.
I spent a lot of time on Instagram, especially our venue’s page, to see which vendors had already worked there and knew the team/space. If you have a local bridal magazine (Brides of North Texas, for example), start there as they already have an incredible list of resources. Ask friends who have recently gotten married. If you still need more, I literally was searching ‘DFW florist’ and other relevant terms. I personally liked having a ton of info in front of me that I could edit down as I did my research.
Make a list.
Once you have done some research, start narrowing down your choices and decide who you will actually reach out to. Fill out contact forms, send emails, and follow all of your potential vendors on social media to see what kind of work they are showcasing.
Meet in person!
This is the biggest recommendation I can give! Once you have some responses, make sure to meet with each vendor in person. If that’s not possible for all of them, at the very least jump on the phone and get to know them. I met with all of our vendors (and more, obviously!) in person before making a decision. For vendors, especially ones you will be working with directly like a photographer, it is so important to make sure you ‘click.’
Make a budget.
There were some vendors who I loved, but just didn’t meet our budget. That’s ok! I went in having no idea how much the majority of wedding vendors and their services cost, and some were quite a shock!
Communicate.
If you are going to pass on a vendor, it is so important to let them know! They are running a small business, after all, and need to know if you are not going to be a client. They don’t expect you to book them as soon as you take a meeting, so don’t worry! And if a vendor turns around and ghosts you? Cross them off your list immediately.
Whether you are planning a wedding in two years or 6 months, having an incredible team of vendors is so important! It is their literal job to make your dream day happen, so once you sign the contract, let them take over and focus on enjoying your engagement!
Have questions about vendor selection? Let me know in the comments!
