HOW TO VET AND HIRE THE BEST VENDORS FOR YOUR WEDDING
If you’re planning a wedding, you’ve definitely heard stories about a friend-of-a-friend who had a nightmare experience with one of their wedding vendors!
Don’t worry, this doesn’t have to be your experience! As a Niagara-based wedding planner, I’m an expert in helping couples pick a trusted and vetted team to pull off their big day flawlessly.
One of the biggest wedding decisions you’ll make is to hire a team to make your vision a reality. You might think who you work with isn’t important as long as they fit in your budget. But in reality, your vendors should work with you and together to be a true team for your big day!
During the planning process, I meet with each couple before I start sourcing vendors. Together, we’ll create an all-inclusive budget, decide on a venue or destination, and spend time with you and your spouse-to-be to learn your priorities, preferences, and personalities.
Here are Lindsay Plank Event’s best tips and tricks to vet and secure the best vendors for your wedding:
Pick Vendors with Personalities that Align:
Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you trust your vendors and feel your personalities match!
Planning your wedding from the start to day-of is a collaborative process. It’s so important that you click with your vendors, from your hair and makeup team to photographer to planner. You’ll spend the most time on your wedding day with your wedding planner and photographer (and/or videographer). Need help choosing a wedding photographer? Read my tips here!
Remember, you’ll be working with your wedding planner from the moment you say “yes” to your future spouse! It’s so important to make sure you and your partner both vibe with their personality.
I always recommend having a face-to-face or video consultation before you officially book one of your wedding vendors. Make sure to read reviews, too! Other couples will let you know if they didn’t deliver or how the vendor handled any unexpected situations.
Lastly, it feels easier to communicate honestly with vendors who understand you and your personality! There’s less likely to be miscommunication and misunderstanding from either side.
Respect Each Vendors’ Time and Pricing:
After you have a consultation with a vendor, it’s okay to realize you might not be a good fit. As professionals, their feelings won’t be hurt. However, please do not ghost your vendors. It can be upsetting to have a consultation with an amazing couple, only to never hear from them again!
Vendors appreciate hearing your feedback so they can continue to improve. Some want to hear what was lacking in their services so they can provide new packages in the future. Was it because of pricing or budget? Was it a lack of services? Were you looking for something specific? If you communicate this with the vendor, they might even be able to add in that missing offer to your proposal!
Most importantly, please do not ask your vendors to give you a discounted rate! Professional vendors have years of experience and carefully create their pricing or packages.
Determine your budget before you start inquiring with vendors to ensure they’re a good match for your budget. If a vendor you absolutely love isn’t in your budget, it may be time to consider raising your budget.
If there were no negotiable factors to your decision, communicate kindly and honestly with your vendors as to why you didn’t move forward. At minimum, explain that you won’t be moving forward with them. They’ve spent a lot of time, energy, and work meeting you and putting together a proposal for your dream day!
If you need help, use this easy script to tell your vendors you won’t be moving forward:
Dear [Name],
Thank you so much for meeting with us recently to discuss [service]. We appreciate the time and energy you put into creating a proposal for [service] for our upcoming wedding. At this time, we’ve decided to move forward with another vendor for [service] for [reason/exclude if no negotiable factors].
Again, thank you for your hard work. We wish you all the best!
Sincerely,
[You and your partner’s names]
Familiarity with the Venue Doesn’t Matter:
When you’re hiring a vendor, you’re choosing them for their skill, expertise, and ability to provide services that align with your vision.
Sometimes, couples don’t want to work with vendors if they haven’t worked at their venue before. Truthfully, this shouldn’t be a deciding factor! A true professional will be able to adapt to any situation and think on their feet.
If you’re working with a true professional, being new to the venue won’t be a problem at all. As you plan your big day, remember who you work with for your wedding is so important!
Need help vetting and securing your vendors? Learn more about why you need a wedding planner here!
Looking for a GTA and Niagara-based wedding planner to support you for your special day? Let’s chat!
And if you’re looking for guidance from a Niagara and Greater Toronto Area wedding planner for your big day, you’re in the perfect place!
