How to Find and Book the perfect Vendors
Tips for finding and booking your wedding vendor
With the overwhelming amount of vendors in the wedding industry, how to pick the right one is a question and even a worry that every couple has. You are going to spend a huge amount of money for your wedding. And even more importantly, you want the most beautiful and amazing experience for yourselves and your families and friends.
Decide what kind of wedding you want to have.
Will it be rustic and outdoors, or inside in an unusual space, or maybe you know you want something easy to do and you opt for a hotel or ballroom wedding. This will narrow down the vendors you want to look at from the many that are out there.
Where to find Vendors.
There are many ways to find wedding vendors – word of mouth, wedding vendors sites, magazines, Google … etc. Ask friends for recommendations or look for a wedding website such as www.hudsonvalleybarnweddings.com or a site that is specific to the type of wedding you are having.
If you find a website of vendors with a manageable or curated list, you can quickly click through 5 to 8 links (per category) and look at images, or read about a vendor, and maybe even click through to websites to see if you like what you see. Social media possibly good way to find wedding vendors, look at their work and find out more about them – but make sure that they are a full time florist or photographer etc. because there are a lot of weekend wedding vendors on Facebook and Instagram, and you will want someone who is working full time in their profession and is passionate about what they do.
Contacting a vendor you might be interested in.
If a vendor has images that relate to the kind of wedding you want to have – click through and research them further. If you like what you see – give them a call, or at least send them an email to inquire further about working with them. The first things you will want to ask are – If they are available on your date, if they work weddings of your size, what are their prices – to see if they are in your budget, and any other questions you have for them specific to your wedding. You will have questions for them, as they will have for you - start a dialogue with one and see if you click.
Booking a vendor for your wedding.
Once you decide to hire a vendor, discuss all of the services that will be provided in great detail and make sure you understand everything that's included, as well as what will cost you extra in case you decide to add it on at a later point in time. Always get a signed contract and put down a deposit. The deposit will secure your date with them, and that is very important to do. If you have found a vendor you love – do not wait a month to get back to them about booking them. If you like them, love their work and feel good about booking them for your wedding – do it. It is possible to do too much shopping around, as it will only confuse and overwhelm you and you might end up losing your perfect vendor.
Working with a vendor you book online.
I am a photographer, and these days I am hired by some couples whom I do not even meet before their wedding. Many are from out of state, and some are even in my state of NY. This never happened 8-9 or even 5 years ago. But everyone does so much on the web these days that people are comfortable hiring vendors also online. From my point of view, as a wedding vendor, I want to at least have a conversation with a couple on the phone, before they book me. After all we are as curious about what it will be like working with you – as you are curious about working with us!
So do not be shy about calling or meeting your vendors and asking questions that you have.
So I hope that I gave you a few tips that are useful to you – and I wish you a successful and fun time planning your wedding!!
Jean Kallina
photo top by Cappy Hotchkiss Photography
