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How to find the perfect vendors

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Time to start building your team! Once you are engaged and start the planning process, it may feel as if you are searching for a needle in a haystack with all the different types of vendors.

You want to make sure you get along with them, they are a master of their craft, their fees are within your budget and they are available for your wedding day!

There are numerous ways to find vendors, but here are a few tips we have used when finding and sourcing vendors around the world:

Instagram | Social Media

  • Searching hashtags is a great way to find wedding vendors AND if they have a presence on IG, then you are able to get a feel of who they are as a person and their work!
  • Most vendors will tag additional vendors who they have worked with, so be sure to look at the captions or tags to see other vendors. If you don’t, reach out and ask! “Oh I loved the flowers in this photo, who did them?”
  • Here are a handful of searchable hashtags:
    • Wedding vendor + city, type of location + vendor
    • #WeddingplannerCITY
    • #stringtrioCITY
    • #CITYorSTATEphotographer
    • #mountainweddingphotographer
    • #CITYorSTATEband
    • #OhioHMU
    • #travelingweddingplanner

Venue

  • If you secured your venue, most of the time, venues will have a list of “preferred vendors” they can provide for you!
  • Even if you are venue hunting, ask them about their preferred vendors or who they enjoy working with! They may not provide that information until you are booked, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
  • Venues are a GREAT resource as they work with ALL types of vendors regularly in varying budgets. Tell your venue contact what budget you are looking to stay in and they most likely can help!

 PRO TIP: If you have a room block, ask the hotel concierge if they have any transportation or other vendor recommendations!

Vendors

  • Similar to a venue, vendors will have a group of other vendors they like working with at varying price points.
  • If you have booked a florist and want a certain type of photographer/videographer (moody versus light and airy), ask them for recommendations!

 Google + Other search engines

  • We suggest looking at reviews on Google and various search engines that are submitted by past clients.

Past Clients

  • Whether you are able to find a past client or ask for past client’s information from the vendor directly, they will be able to share their personal experience and opinion on said vendor.

 PRO TIP: Create a separate email for all of the inquiries and communications to avoid cluttering up your personal email.

 

If you are looking for a vendor comparison template, you can find it HERE. It will help you keep your details in order!