Choosing the Right Wedding Vendors
Planning, Researching & Making Choices
Yes, there are a lot of stages of planning a wedding – not all of them will be the “highlight” of your wedding planning experience, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a chore. The thing to keep in mind is that you want the wedding you’re planning to be right for you. Regardless of whether you’re planning a traditional ceremony and reception, or are having a laid-back celebration-style party, with a little planning, you’ll be able to find the right vendors for your wedding.
One of the first things you’ll probably start researching is your ceremony and reception venues. Depending on what the locations you like offer, you may be even able to have the ceremony and reception in one spot! Take some time to visualize yourselves there on your wedding day, and take the weather into account if you’re hoping to have an outdoor wedding.
You’ll also need to be aware of the travel factor. On your wedding day, you and your guests will need parking space, clear directions from the ceremony to reception (if in different locations), and enough time allotted for travel. Chances are good that you’ll have out of town guests attending, so make sure to contact a local hotel to reserve a “block” of rooms for your guests. If you choose to hold your wedding on the same weekend as a big local event, be prepared for a scarcity of hotel rooms (e.g. plan ahead!) and put some extra thought into your travel routes.
As far as choosing the bakery and caterer you want to work with – you’ll need to visit them and talk with them directly – taste does count! Check with your venue or wedding planner to see if they recommend particular businesses – another good resource can be friends and family. Ask around – you never know who might have had a great experience with one of the businesses you’re considering!
If you’re deciding whether or not to have an official wedding planner, there are a few questions you can ask yourself. How will you benefit by hiring a wedding planner? When you rely on wedding planners, they will do everything, from suggesting locations and catering options to locating the perfect florist. Hiring a wedding planner isn’t for everyone, but it may be something for you to consider. Do you like to plan things? Will you have the time to do the planning needed for your wedding? Do you have a wedding coordinator at your reception location? While the first two questions are more obvious considerations, the last is important as well. If you are having your wedding at a venue where the coordinator will make sure things go as planned (and knows how to handle things if something unexpected occurs), then you may feel the need to hire a wedding planner. Go with what makes you the most comfortable – after all, you want to be relaxed and enjoying yourself on your wedding day!
Now, in case you got the idea that I’d be discussing every vendor and business you’ll be using – let me tell you – it’s not going to fit on this post. I can say, though, that I am always happy to help my brides (and grooms!) by giving referrals and suggestions. Whether it’s a vendor I relied on for my own wedding, or one that I’ve enjoyed working with in the past – I’m always happy to offer my help. After all, I’m here to do my part at making your wedding day be wonderful – and I won’t just doing this during your wedding. Throughout the planning process, I want you to know that I’ll be there for you – trust me, you’ll be glad that you choose Betsy’s Photography to photograph your wedding.
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