-
Watch out for tempting cash only deals…
Let’s be honest, a wedding can get expensive quickly. Some wedding vendors may offer you a “pay in cash” deal that seems like a great bargain at first. With no contract to guarantee their services, you are taking a big risk! This is the one day you will want etched in the fond memory bank of your being for the rest of your life so please protect yourself. “Fly by night” wedding vendors are a dangerous gamble and not worth the savings. A cheap discount with little integrity to back it up will never outweigh the accountability of contracted, experienced, respected professionals.
One of my bargain-hunting brides learned this difficult lesson. On her wedding day when the cheap florist whose “Rent-A-Wreck” van broke down on the highway on his way to deliver all the bridal flowers and decor. Surprised that they did not make it in time? The guests may have been touched when they saw my sweet bride crying what looked like “tears of joy” at the beginning of the ceremony. I however knew the truth, she was devastated that she had to walk down the aisle. She sadly did this without a beautiful bouquet, or flower arrangements at her elegant wedding. So very preventable.
-
Word of mouth still rules in the land of weddings
It’s important to check the reputation of every wedding vendor you are looking to hire for your big day. Rather than wasting time sifting through all the anonymous posts on a bridal discussion forum or chat room, ask around the old fashioned way! What girlfriend or family member just got married? Even smarter, ask other wedding vendors! They will know who is passionate about their work and who is just showing up for a pay cheque. It is in their best interest that everyone on your wedding team is a strong element. The end result is a smooth, happy wedding day – for everybody!
-
Don’t underestimate the value of a great wedding planner!
Hiring a pro to help you throughout the planning process of your wedding is always a great idea. Whether they are there to help you on the day-of, or from the day you announce your engagement until you walk down the aisle, a great wedding planner can be an excellent resource. They will already have a strong handpicked team of trusted, high quality wedding vendors. Planners have seen it all and have done your leg work for you. Many couples struggle trying to do it all themselves but if you hire a wedding planner, you can trust that you’ll get the winning combination of their focused leadership, nerves of steels and a caring team with years of experience and sincere commitment.
-
Use your venue’s preferred list of wedding vendors as a starting point
Most wedding venues will have a list of preferred wedding vendors they know and trust. It is like having an insurance policy for each element of your wedding day. The venue’s reputation is riding on the consistency of each and every wedding they host being perfect. They want you to rave with enthusiasm about your wedding experience as they need your word of mouth review to lead to a steady stream of other wedding referrals. The venue will only provide you with trusted and true vendors that have performed beautifully over many weddings. If your venue doesn’t have a list, then simply ask your venue contact person to kindly point you in the right direction by asking who they would hire for their own wedding.
-
Stay true to yourself!
Finally, ask yourself what you want from each of your wedding vendors. That will help you to find clarity about what they actually provide, and for you to learn what your own personal expectations for the day are – not necessarily what your cousin did for her wedding. You will also learn how to prioritize the most important elements of your wedding day. For some couples, the highest priority is the food, for others, it’s to create a fun wedding and have a live band to get everyone dancing. Through the process of getting to know great wedding vendors, you have the opportunity of creating a wedding day that is still based on your own distinct vision of what’s perfect for you both, but also has the solid foundation of their years of experience, skills and talents.