How to Choose the Right Wedding Vendors for You

The wedding industry is completely saturated with vendors but quantity does not equal quality.

Struggling with where to start with your wed vendors? I get it. It’s a minefield. It really is. Effort put into assembling the crew for the biggest day of your life is going to be well spent.

“But where do you even start? Read on for my top six tips.”

1. Find just one vendor you absolutely love and click with. Just one. Instagram is awesome for stalking vendors and getting a feel for not just their talent, but their vibe also- who they are as a person.

2. Ask them for their fave vendors. Birds of a feather flock together. I recommend ten photographers regularly. Sometimes I know Miranda Stokkel is the perfect fit, or perhaps Anna from Lulu and Lime. Edgy, arty, quirky creatives?- they’re totally Oli of Briars Atlas or Jackson Grant. There are many other very talented photographers but there’s about ten I personally love to work with.

Who are not only talented, calm and professional, but they also fit my client demographic. I could happily spend a day with them without wanting to yoke them also- and that’s something when you’re going to be with them for several hours.

You’ll find my absolute faves here.

(2.1. Venue Recommendations). I dunno. I’ve got mixed feelings on this one tbh. If it’s a genuine ‘we’ve seen them in action and we’ve worked with them a lot’, great but if it’s whoever’s kissed their arse the most of late kinda thing or worse still- they’re getting a 10% kickback from the referral- that’s a hard no from me. Yuck. Nope.

3. Don’t let price be your single leading focus. I’m astonished that people will baulk at paying $400 more for an absolutely cracking celebrant and would rather let them go and take a punt on a cheapie to stick to their budget. Prioritise things. If you totally gel with someone or love their work- make it happen. Regret is a bitter pill.

4. Talk to friends and colleagues. The majority of my work comes from word of mouth- someone saw me marry their friend/ colleague of a friend of a friend etc. If someone does a good job, people will remember that. And people just love to give advice and recommendations. Who knows? Look em up and see what you think.

5. Read reviews. These are a birds eye view into the experience of employing that person. Google is good. It’s pretty obvs if reviews are bogus or bullshit. If several couples have taken the time to right glowing paragraphs of goodness about your hot pick- you’re onto a winner.

6. MEET YOUR VENDORS. I cannot stress this enough. I really can’t. Particularly your celebrant, photographer and videographer. You spend a lot of time with them and it’s a close relationship. You have to like them. I have in the past worked with couples who have been colossal mismatches with a key vendor and it’s been er, awkward.

“Nothing beats having a killer team. Weddings are stressful. You can avoid a lot of that stress by choosing well. Experienced, talented vendors with clear, established processes who you click with. ”

Who click with each other and work seamlessly and joyfully together. The energy a team who love working together bring to your day is just an added bonus.

One of my recent brides said to me she was high fiving herself on the day because she had such a killer team and it meant she didn’t have to worry about anything.

Just turn up and have the best day ever. No regrets.

(you’re an actual genius).