How To Choose The Right Wedding Vendors

Whether looking for wedding venues in New Orleans or the right photographer, you must do diligent research before choosing your wedding vendors. If you don’t know how to choose the right wedding vendors for your wedding then we got your back.

Get recommendations from loved ones who recently got married and visit those vendors’ websites. Meet with the vendors in person and inquire about their overall experience in the wedding field. 

Obtain referrals from their previous clients and look over their portfolios. Here are more ways to choose the right wedding vendors.

Stay tuned until the end of this article to learn all the essential information on choosing the right wedding vendors.

14 Tips on How To Choose The Right Wedding Vendors

Let’s look at the most crucial ways to help you choose the right wedding vendors.

1. Check Out The Vendors’ Websites

One of the first things you should do is visit the websites of vendors you’re interested in. Look at photos of their work and the site’s design overall. 

The website should have a “contact us” section where you can request a consultation about the vendor’s services. Read any testimonials and reviews from former clients on the website. 

2. Ask The Right Questions

Asking the right questions helps determine if certain vendors will be right for you. Some questions you should ask are:

• How long have you been in business?
• What is included in the charges, and how much is the deposit?
• What is the cancellation and refund policy?
• Do you have liability insurance?
• What specific services do you offer?
• May I see a portfolio of your work?
• Can your venue accommodate our guest list size?
• Can you discuss your alternate plan in the event of bad weather?

3. Don’t Choose The Cheapest Options

The cheapest options will cost you more if the services are not up to par. It is better to pay more for quality than to pay less for mediocre work. Don’t choose vendors based on price alone.

Most of the time, high-quality services are not the cheapest ones.

4. Look For Wedding Vendors You’ll Get Along With

Evaluate the vendors’ personalities and how they communicate with you. You want to choose vendors you’ll get along with since you trust them with your wedding planning. 

Only hire them if something seems right about their personality or how they talk with you.

5. Don’t Shy Away From Negotiations

You can negotiate services with your wedding vendors if you’re trying to save money on wedding expenses. The key to doing this is knowing your budget and which services are most important to you. 

Request an itemized quote of the services you’re being charged for, and after you look at it, ask the vendor if he can remove the services you won’t need for the wedding. 

You don’t always have to negotiate for a lower price. Some vendors are willing to add extra services if you need them for the wedding instead of reducing prices.

6. Book Your Most Important Vendors First

Some vendors are more important than others, so booking them first is a good idea. 

Start by researching and booking the wedding venue. After you do this, you can hire your wedding planner. From there, you’ll choose your caterer, and finally, you’ll choose your cake baker, florist, DJ, and photographer.

We suggest you go through a list of wedding vendors to find them out.

7. Ask The Venue Director About Recommended Vendors

Many New Orleans event venues have vendors they work with, and if you have already booked your venue, ask the director for recommended vendors you can hire for your wedding. 

If you need a good wedding catering company, inquire about any New Orleans caterers they believe are the best choices. Then, interview these vendors by writing their names, phone numbers, and website addresses. 

8. Discuss Your Vision For The Wedding

You should discuss your vision for your wedding with your vendors and see if their services can accommodate it. 

For example, if your wedding has a Mardi Gras theme, the New Orleans caterers will create a primarily classic Creole cuisine menu. Focus on the aspects of the wedding that matter the most to you. The decorations may be a low priority, but the music and wedding attire mean a lot to both of you.

9. Get All Of Your Contracts In Writing

You should review your contracts thoroughly and ask questions about the fees you’re charged. Get all your contracts in writing; this is handy if disputes arise about the services and their costs.

10. Take Notes During Every Meeting

During your meetings with vendors, take lots of notes that will help you structure your thoughts and help you make the final choice.

This will help you learn more about their services, and if you have any unanswered questions, you can use the notes you already have as a reference point when you meet with the vendors a few more times before your wedding day.

11. Speak With Vendors’ Former Clients

If you have contacts from the vendors’ former clients, call them and ask how satisfied they were with their services. 

Listen carefully to their positive and negative comments because it gives you balanced opinions about the vendors’ work. 

Ask for specific things they enjoyed about working with the vendors and what they wish they did differently.

12. Look At Vendors’ Social Media Pages

Most vendors have social media pages, so you should check them out to learn more about their expertise and services. 

You may find some YouTube videos from New Orleans caterers catering an event, or you might see online photography tutorials on a photographer’s Instagram page. 

Also, having social media proof and feedback from clients is a good sign to let you know whether the vendor is a good choice or not for your needs.

13. Choose Reliable and Accessible Vendors

You want to choose reliable and accessible vendors because it’s stressful when you can’t reach them when you need questions answered or if you want to change certain things during the planning process.

14. Don’t Choose Vendors Only Because Loved Ones Used Them

The last recommendation we have for you and probably the most important one.

It’s okay to get recommendations from loved ones, but their preferences and wedding themes may differ from yours. 

The vendors they chose may also offer different services than you want. It is best to choose your own vendors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many vendors are at a wedding?

Much of the work is done behind the scenes, but weddings would be less successful without these vendors. Vendors are responsible for many activities that we almost see in every wedding.

To answer your question, couples will hire an average of 15 providers for their wedding by providing music, catering services, decoration and other services.

How to compare wedding vendors?

As we mentioned above, pricing is not the main thing to examine when it comes to comparing wedding vendors. However, for many people, it counts.

When evaluating providers, you should examine their services, availability, years in business, style/quality, and reviews or feedback.

Don’t be hesitant to ask questions and request samples of their work to assist you make an informed decision.

Conclusion

In conclusion, with the tips provided above, we hope that you got a great value on how to choose your wedding vendors. Your wedding is one of the most memorable times of your life. You deserve to work with vendors who have your best interests in mind and who will execute your vision with enthusiasm and style. If you’re looking for the best venues in New Orleans for weddings, Four Columns is your place to be. We offer onsite and off-site wedding catering services and diverse menu selections that everyone will enjoy.