Planning a wedding is an exciting and fulfilling experience, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. As you embark on this journey, one of the most crucial aspects of wedding planning is booking your wedding vendors. Against popular thought, I don’t believe in a set step by step guide in booking your vendors. It’s more about what’s most important to you (with one exception)! In this guide, we will explore the process of booking wedding vendors and provide you with some useful tips to help you make informed decisions.
Most Common Wedding Vendors
Booking wedding vendors involves selecting and securing the services of various professionals who specialize in different aspects of weddings. The most common wedding vendors include: venues, caterers, wedding content creator, wedding planners/coordinators, photographers, videographers, caterers, cake, florists, DJs or live bands, makeup artists, hairstylists, attire, event rentals, and more, depending on your specific needs and preferences.
Tip: make a list of wedding of these vendors and categories and then number them 1-10 by priority (1 being most important, 10 being least, etc). Even better, have both you and your s/o make a list of vendor priorities and then come together and share your thoughts with one another. That way you’ll both have an understanding of why vendors may rank higher than others and it’s a great planning launch point. I suggest you do this at the same time, but separately and set a timer for 5-10 minutes so you avoid overthinking 🙂
Establish Budget and Priorities
The process of booking wedding vendors can be divided into several key steps. Once you have your vendor priority list, it’s essential to determine your budget. Knowing how much you are able to spend and which elements of your wedding are most important to you will help you allocate your resources accordingly. This will also assist you in narrowing down your choices and selecting vendors who align with your vision and budget.
Do Your Research
Once you have a clear idea of your budget and priorities, start researching and gathering information about potential vendors and start reviewing their portfolios to see if their style aligns with yours. You may already follow several of your favorite vendors such as photographers or florists and can get a good idea of their portfolio from their social media platforms. You can also seek out recommendations from friends, family, or recently married couples. Online wedding directories, forums, and review platforms can also provide valuable insights. Wedding expos and bridal magazines are additional resources that can introduce you to a wide range of vendors.
Start Inquiring
After you and your S/o have agreed upon your list of potential vendors, it’s time to reach out! As a starting point, inquire in the order that you and your S/o established earlier. Filling out a vendors inquiry form gives them the opportunity to discuss their availability, your vision, pricing and packages, and any questions. If your desired vendor isn’t available on your date, kindly ask them for a few referrals!
Book Your Vendors
Once you have found the perfect vendors for your wedding, it’s time to secure their services. This involves signing contracts and making deposits or down payments to secure your wedding date. Read the contracts carefully, paying attention to details such as cancellation policies, payment schedules, and any additional fees or services that may not be explicitly stated.
TLDR;
I know this may all seem overwhelming at first, but remember that finding and booking vendors doesn’t have to be a stressful process. There isn’t a right or wrong way to go about booking them so don’t fall into that thought cycle. Your wedding is uniquely you and you should take the time to research and think about what you envision for your day. I think the most important vendor to nail first would be the venue because you’re basing all of your other vendors off of the availability of your venue. After that, it’s up to you and what you find to be most important!
For my wedding, based on budget and priority, my top three vendors were: Venue, Photographer, and DJ. Thankfully we found a venue in our budget that provided catering, dinnerware, tables, chairs, and all the linens, PLUS a wedding coordinator so all those were taken care of. Things we did/booked later were figure out attire and HMU artist. We ended up doing florals on our own and didn’t have a videographer both because of budget reasons.
I hope that you find this helpful to you and your wedding planning! Remember to take deep breaths and ask for help if you need it. Happy wedding planning ♡
