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If you’re in the process of planning a wedding, knowing how to find the right wedding vendors becomes extremely important. After all, your vendors are in charge of bringing your dream vision to life! However, they’re also there to ensure that the entire event is a seamless, stress-free experience from start to end.
But choosing your wedding vendors can be an overwhelming experience. Not only are there lots of people to hire, but there are countless options in terms of services, pricing, and packages. For this reason, it’s important to do your research when choosing your vendors. This is why we’ve put together this list of helpful tips for assembling your dream team!
How to Find the Right Wedding Vendors
Set Your Budget
Before you start looking at vendors, you’ll need to set a budget for your wedding. Start by determining how much money you want to spend in total. Then you can break this down into categories such as venue, catering, photography, etc. Keep in mind that many people tend to go over budget, so set aside an additional 5-10% for unexpected costs.
It’s a good idea to make a list of what is most important to you. Is it an incredible menu and open bar? Or do you want to spend on top-tier photography and stunning décor? To help, here’s a comprehensive list of vendors you may need to hire:
- Venue
- Caterer
- Photographer (and/or videographer)
- Florist
- Wedding planner/coordinator
- Officiant
- DJ or live musician
- Attire (a wedding dress for the bride and a tux for the groom)
Research and Compare
Now that you’ve set an overall budget, you can start researching vendors in your area. The Knot is an excellent resource for finding vendors for every budget, background, and style. You can search by city or look at the highest-rated vendors and award-winners across the board. When you find one that sparks your interest, you can message them directly through the site to learn more about pricing and availability.
You’ll find that you can choose between big vendors and small, local businesses. Big wedding vendors are generally more reliable and have access to lots of resources. Therefore, they’re better suited for your high-stakes purchases, like catering and music. But smaller businesses can add a personal or unique touch to your big day. So if you’re looking for unique décor or custom bouquets, these vendors may be the better option!
Meet with the Vendors
Once you find vendors you like, you’ll want to set up a meeting or consultation. This gives you the opportunity to learn more about their process and to ask important questions. For example, make sure to ask about backup plans, payment terms, and cancellation policies.
If everything looks good, then you’ll likely need to sign a contract and pay a deposit. Double-check what is written in the contract (including pricing and included services) to ensure everything you need is listed in detail!
Keep Vendors Organized
One of the hardest parts about planning a wedding is staying organized. That’s why we recommend creating a spreadsheet of all your vendors. Make note of things like contact information, schedules, and special requests. Since they will also have different payment terms, It’s also a good idea to add reminders so you don’t miss a deadline.
We also recommend creating a dedicated wedding email address. This way, nothing will get lost in your personal inbox while you’re in the middle of planning! And if you want to keep your partner in the loop, creating a shared folder can also streamline communication.
Consider a Wedding Planner
If the thought of planning your own wedding seems stressful, you can always hire a wedding planner. Instead of dealing with vendors yourself, planners will handle all the logistics and vendor coordination. They’ll assist with theme development and schedule things like meetings, tastings, and walkthroughs. Many of them have established relationships with vendors too, which can result in better service or potential discounts.
Wedding planners can also act as day-of coordinators (although you can also hire them only for day-of coordination). They’ll manage the vendors and oversee the set-up so you can concentrate on getting ready for your big day. And if something unexpected happens, they’ll be on deck to troubleshoot delays, weather problems, and or even wardrobe malfunctions!
Because wedding vendors do the heavy lifting, they will likely be one of your biggest expenses. But for many brides, they can save time and alleviate a lot of stress that comes with planning a wedding.
Don’t be Afraid to DIY
Vendors are notoriously expensive, which can make it difficult to plan a budget-friendly wedding. But with a little time and effort, you can bypass vendor costs and personalize your wedding with some creative flair. Here are a few wedding ideas to help save you money:
- Buy flowers online and arrange your own bouquet or centerpieces
- Rent a tuxedo instead of buying one
- Print your own wedding invite instead of using a stationary vendor
- Have a self-serve drink station
- Look for jewelry and accessories that aren’t labeled as bridal!
- Make your own easy DIY wedding decorations
- Create a wedding playlist instead of hiring a DJ or band
- Choose a non-traditional venue like a park, community center, or backyard
Have a Gorgeous Wedding Day!
By now, you should have a better idea of how to find the right wedding vendors for your big day. Whether you hire a planner or manage vendors yourself, staying organized and prioritizing what matters is key. And remember, you can always incorporate some DIY elements to help you save money on wedding essentials! With these tips, you can still have a cheap wedding without compromising on quality.
