A Few Words on Choosing Your Wedding Service Providers

When it comes to planning a successful wedding, much  depends on your chosen wedding service providers.

At any wedding, you will probably have around 9 service providers – a Minister, Wedding Planner, Decor and Flower Designer, DJ, Cake Specialist, Stationer,  Photographer, Videographer, Make-up Artist, Hair Stylist, etc.

Each service provider must match your personal style, able to share your vision and have similar work ethic and communication style.

There are a number of articles  recommending that the best way to screen your suppliers is by contracting previous clients. This recommendation is flawed in number of ways.

For one, not many newly married women appreciate being harassed by current brides for constant recommendations. They have a new life to think about, new responsibilities to adjust to; and perhaps they may be more than willing for the first few times, but as the time goes on this recommendation business becomes an irritation. After all, was a written Thank You note not enough to express their gratitude?

Moreover, how do you know that the contact number given to you by the supplier is not just a friend, or a family member, confirming what  a potential supplier wants you to hear?

And nothing is more upsetting to a supplier, when a prospective bride compiles a list of past clients (based on blog information of their names, wedding date and venues), and contacts past clients in private. This is an invasion of privacy to say the least, if not plain creepy. This will come out in one way or another, and most likely from the past client forwarding your email to the supplier in question. This kind of experience may cost you an opportunity of working with a service provider you had your heart set on.

In the last few months, venue preferred supplier lists came under criticism as brides started to question the validity of the suppliers – basically, is the preferred suppliers on the list in fact recommended based on their merit or for the fee which they are prepared to pay the venue. A lot of debate went into this issue, and it is still going on.

So where does it leave you, the bride who is trying to make an informed decision and unsure of how to make a choice, always fearing to make a costly mistake compromising the quality of the wedding?

The answer lies in successfully combining informed decision making process and God given intuition. You should start with doing thorough research – online presence, quality of the portfolio and most importantly peer recommendations. Service providers are far better source of recommendations than any previous bride, so feel free to ask them. Yet, most importantly, meet with your potential suppliers, ask questions and listen to your intuition. You will be able to sense who is serious about their business based on their creative flair, pride in their work, confidence in their talents and commitment levels (efficiency in response, quality of the response and general communication skills).

Let me know if you have any questions on the issue.

Good luck and happy planning!