How to Find your Perfect Wedding Vendors
WEDDING PLANNING TIPS | WEDDING VENDORS | ONLINE WEDDING PLANNER
Planning a wedding can be a stressful experience. There are a lot of moving parts, and it can be hard to know you’re making the right decisions. It can be especially scary to choose your vendors - how do I trust this person that I don’t know with the biggest day of my life? How do I know that their service is really worth such a large amount of money? Thankfully, there are some phenomenal resources out there to help couples find the best vendors for their big day! We’ve wrapped up our five top recommendations for how to find your perfect wedding vendors.
Consult with a Local Wedding Planner
There is no one more in tune with the wedding industry in your city than a local wedding planner. An experienced planner has worked with dozens of each vendors and built relationships with the best ones. They know which vendors will be the best fit for your needs and budget, and even more importantly, they know specifically who NOT to hire. Planners are a great resource for insights into the local market and can help guide you through the vendor selection process.
2. Word of Mouth Referrals
Do you have any friends or family who have gotten married in your city in the past few years? Maybe even friends of friends or coworkers? One of the best resources when it comes to finding vendors is the people you know! Couples are usually happy to rave about vendors that they loved, and some vendors even have referral programs. And on the other hand, your friends and family won’t be hesitant to tell you which vendors to avoid. Although the experience at one wedding doesn’t necessarily reflect on the full career of a vendor, word of mouth is a great place to start your wedding vendor research.
3. Browse Local Wedding Publications
If you’re a visual learner, there’s no better spot to start your vendor research than local wedding publications. Most medium to large cities have a wedding magazine or blog where they post images of real weddings with credit to all of the vendors. These are not only a great place to pull visual inspiration, but also a place to see real examples of vendor work! If you spot a floral display that you absolutely love - reach out to that florist! The only downside of this method of vendor research is that most publications aren’t upfront about wedding budgets, and you can end up falling in love with a vendor that is out of your price range.
4. Use Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are a great way to connect with vendors in your area, as well as other engaged couples! Whether you post looking for recommendations, or even to buy secondhand decorations, these groups can be an amazing resource. Our main recommendation for these groups is to make sure you’re being specific when talking about your vendor search. Don’t post that you’re looking for a photographer “that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg” - post your budget, date, and location, and save yourself the time of sifting through 50 comments that won’t actually fit your needs.
5. WeddingWire, The Knot, and Other Paid Directories
You may wonder why these well-known resources are all the way at the bottom of our list. And honestly, it’s because they are pay-to-play. That means, that the more money you give to these directories, the higher up your listing will show. While some of these vendors are still absolutely wonderful, it does make it harder for small or newer businesses to be successful on these platforms. So, our recommendation? Sift through these directories with a keen eye. Make sure you are reading the reviews left by previous couples (filter to “newest” not “top reviews”) and don’t forget that if you don’t see a vendor on there, it doesn’t mean they’re not a legitimate business.
Finding your perfect wedding vendors takes time, effort, and research. But with the right tools and resources, you can find kind and reliable vendors who understand your vision and can help bring it to life on your big day.
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