Wedding Planning Essentials - Choosing Wedding Vendors

By Lauren Ellis


No matter the type of wedding, large or small, intimate or raging, you will want to use the services of some wedding vendors in the planning and organizing of your wedding. From the initial invites to the reception, this article will help guide you through picking and choosing the right vendors to incorporate into your wedding helping you to stay organized so when the big day comes the focus is on you and not last minute vendor searching.

Before you even begin to pick any vendors, make sure that you have a clear idea of your budget and what's most important to you for your wedding. You may find that throughout the process, things may cost more than you originally were expecting, which is why it is important to prioritize what's most important to you. After you have a clear sense of what's important and your budget, a good place to start searching for wedding vendors is to get recommendations from friends who have recently gotten married within the past two years. Having gone through the whole process, they will have the inside knowledge on the level of satisfaction they had with their chosen vendors and also will be able to give you a clear idea of what things cost.

For the most part, unless you plan on eloping you will want to invite your friends and family to your wedding. We are including a stationer as one of the must have vendors for your wedding, no matter the size of your wedding you will need to invite people somehow. There may be many specialty stores in your area that offer this kind of service. Costco even offers invitation printing at a very reasonable costs, an excellent and convenient option for those on a budget.

Another must have for your wedding is an officiant to actually marry you in your ceremony. If you belong to a church, this may be easy for you to check off your list, however if you don't, this is a good time to lean on friends for advice on where to find a good officiant to help you tie the knot. If you do belong to a church, you can expect to make a $500 donation to your church, if you go with a non-denominational officiant, they will let you know their costs upfront, and you can also tip them anywhere from $50 - $100 depending on how you liked their services.

The rest of the vendors, you can pick and choose according to your budget, although not completely necessary, there are a few you will most likely not want to skip out on such as a photographer. A photographer is high on our list because you will want to keep a record of your most memorable day. Photographers are usually highly competitive, and so you can expect the pricing in your area to be about the same. Make sure you view the photographers sample work and pick the right photographer that captures the look and style of photography you want your wedding to be portrayed as.

There are many other vendors you might want to include in your wedding to make your wedding complete. One to include will be the location or venue you wish to wed in. Many hotels offer wedding packages which offer all inclusive options that may help you save. There are also other venues that you can choose to wed including local restaurants, clubhouses, public locations such as a beach or even a family home. Other vendors you may wish to look into include a florist, catering, hair and makeup, entertainment, dress maker, videographer, and finally a wedding planner to help you tie everything together.

Organizing a wedding from start to finish can be a huge task, but if you do your research ahead of time you can pick and choose the vendors you will need for the specific needs of your wedding. There are many vendors you can choose from, several are necessary, and others you can pick at your leisure depending on your budget. In the end if you still need help with your wedding planning, you can always hire a consultant who will make sure every last detail is taken care of. This article should serve as a guide to help you pick the right vendors for your wedding to ensure your wedding is a dream come true.




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