Selecting the professionals who will help make your wedding a reality is no easy task, and it’s really easy to make some mistakes when hiring your wedding vendors. With so many options, it can be hard to narrow down exactly who to choose. Whether you’ve already started the process or are about to begin your search, you should definitely read this list of things NOT to do when hiring your wedding vendors. We hope that these pointers will help you feel confident as you pursue your dream vendor team and allow you to make the best choices for your big day.
Not Doing Your Research
Every vendor has their own style, timeline, fees, and approach when it comes to wedding planning. When beginning your search, be sure to check out their website, client reviews, and even their blogs and social media to get a feel for their style. This will give you a good impression if you’d like to move forward with meeting with them and, more importantly, working with them.
Forgetting About Costs
You may have your ideal vendor team in mind, but get a little sticker shock once you’re given a quote. If this happens, do not throw your budget out the window. Instead, pick a few key elements of the wedding that are must-haves. If having good photos, delicious food, and fun entertainment for your guests are the most important, prioritize your budget for those details over everything else. If a vendor is out of your budget, don’t just ghost them. Reply and be upfront with them.
Choosing the Cheapest Options
On the flip side, don’t just go with a vendor because they are the cheapest option. There are a lot of factors that go into a vendor’s cost including things like time, experience, and the level of service they promise to provide. While the dollar sign next to a name may be enticing, thoroughly vet through all other options before committing. It may seem like you’re getting more bang for your buck when in reality it’s the complete opposite.
Overlooking Your Contract’s Fine Print
This one is huge and happens way too often! It’s understandable that once you’ve decided on a vendor, you’re ready to get started planning the details. BUT before you sign on the dotted line to make it official, make sure you read everything it explains (especially any section dealing with money, deposits, refunds, and additional costs). Once you have a thorough read through, be sure to ask any questions and get clarification on elements you’re unsure about. Because once you sign, you’re locked in.
Having Buyer’s Remorse
With so many talented individuals out there, you may wonder if you’ve made the right decision, especially if you had to make it quickly because good wedding pros’ availability fills up quickly. Our advice? Go with your gut! Much like knowing when you’ve found the perfect wedding dress, trust what your heart is telling you about who to choose.
Letting Other People Influence You
Recommendations are always welcome, but block out any noises that are drowning out your own opinions. It’s your day after all and the last thing you want is someone else making these big decisions for your big day.
Not Checking an Approved Vendor List
Some vendors (venues in particular) will have a list of preferred vendors that can work with them. Before you commit to working with anyone, be sure to ask about this in case the vendors you wish to work with are not approved. On the flip side of things, having this list can help narrow down your search and actually make it easier!
Booking All Your Vendors at Once
The easiest way to overwhelm yourself is to try booking all your vendors at once and/or thinking that you get it all done in a single day. Prioritize which vendors you absolutely want and reach out earlier. For the others, be flexible and if someone you were hoping to work with isn’t available, always ask for recommendations as any good vendor is guaranteed to have some for you.
Not Hiring a Wedding Planner
If you want to take the confusion out of hiring your wedding vendors, hiring a wedding planner is a great solution! While they are an investment, they actually end up saving you so much time and unnecessary stress. A wedding planner will get to know you and match you with the best possible vendors who will help make your dream celebration come to life. Plus, in most cases and depending on your package, they’ll even handle the contracts, logistics, and communications between everyone – taking a huge load off of your plate.
Letting the Fun Slip Away
As stressful as the wedding planning process may seem, do not let anything damper the fun you and your partner should be having. Enjoy each and every step and know that as long as you have each other, your wedding will be a success!
