How To Select & Book Good Wedding Vendors

So you're planning your wedding and it's time to book some vendors. I have a few tips for you to make sure you're selecting the right one for you, avoiding scams, and creating your dream team of vendors!

1. Start Venue/Coordinator Searching

   The reason you want to nail the venue down first is because 1. This nails down your date and place. Which you will need before you book any of your other vendors. 2. They may include services such as coordinators, florist, catering, booz, etc. If you put a deposit down on your caterer then book your venue and find out they require you to do in house catering, you're out your deposit.
   

   Some people suggest having a coordinator first so they can help you in this process. Some say wait till you have a venue and date booked because you could have a date conflict. At this point in the game you should only be working on finding your coordinator and venue. Its going to take time as you will need to schedule venue tours and meetings before you can book them.

   
   

2. Focus on one vendor at a time

   Now that you have your venue, and your date selected (and hopefully your coordinator too) Its time to lock down your other vendors. Photographer, videographer, florist, HMUA, catering, bar tending, DJ, etc. If you wait too long to start vendor searching the good ones will get snagged up! I would pick one vendor, say Photographer, and start reaching out to only photographers for the next couple of weeks until you've booked your favorite. This in itself can be information overload and very overwhelming. DO NOT try and book multiple vendors at one time, you'll die! Once you've nailed down your photographer move on to the next vendor you need.
   

3. Have a meeting, or phone call with every vendor before booking

   Most likely the vendor will initiate this at some point in the booking process. If you really like a vendor and their services and prices, before you book them just ask if you can set up a phone call, zoom call, or in person meeting before you book. This is a great time to ask more questions and get to know each other and make sure you're a good match! Its possible you can have a call with a vendor you really liked online and find out that you really don't see eye to eye at al about your wedding vision, or maybe your personalities clash so much you know it will be problematic on your wedding day. You don't have to be instant best friends, but you should get along easily!
   

4. NEVER EVER book a vendor without a contract!

   This is maybe the most important piece of information I can give any couple who's planning a wedding. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams out there. Not just scams but crummy people. And they use the wedding industry to take advantage of people because most people planning their wedding are doing it for the first time and don't know what to look out for. As a vendor myself, I am part of a lot of Facebook wedding groups, and I see posts from brides on the regular (a few times a month) who are in a panic because they put a deposit down with a vendor who deleted their website and went AWOL. Or maybe the vendor had them pay in full and then didn't show up to the wedding. Or maybe the vendor showed up but didn't provide the service that they said they would. These poor brides are distressed and asking what they can do about it. With out the contract, they cant do anything! Any real vendor would want a contract to protect themselves. The contract should also be there to protect the couple and make sure they are getting everything they are expecting. It goes both ways. Never Ever EVER book a vendor without a contract. Read that contract and make sure you understand it.
   

5. Do not rush the process

   It's going to get you at one point. This feeling of wanting to get more done and check off more boxes. Resist the urge to quickly book vendors. I've seen this complaint a lot from couples who just booked a vendor quickly to get it done with and then regretted it for a multitude of reasons. Take your time. Expect this to be a long process. Explore all your options. Make a decision then wait 24 hour to act on that decision. Enjoy it! It should be a fun thing :)