Getting to Know Your Core Team Picking the Right Vendors

Your wedding vendors are like the people you work with. The caterer florist or photographer all have very important jobs. So where do you start? First know exactly what you want. Make a plan that is easy to follow. Which vendor is the most important to your goals? It could be the food for a food based event or the photographer to take pictures of the memories.

It's best to get your things from businesses in your area. They usually know more about the culture of the area and may even be able to help you save money on travel. Visit trustworthy sites like WeddingWire or The Knot for reviews and ideas. You can read real couples' reviews of vendors' professionalism and style on these kinds of sites which can help you choose.

Next conduct some interviews. You have to do this step. If a vendor has a five star rating but doesn't talk to you in a way that works for you it could cause problems later on. Write down the questions you want to ask. Learn about their previous jobs how they handle stress and what they do when things don't go as planned. This is when you need to listen. Watch how they respond to see how reliable and flexible they are.

Getting good at planning and logistics The Timeline Talk

Once you have your dream team of vendors it's time to take out your maestro baton and lead the timeline melody. First make a master schedule. This is your plan. It should include all the details from when to set up to when to take down. Give this to your vendors as soon as possible so they can tell you if there are any problems.

The best thing you can do when you have to work with different vendors is talk to them. To see the workflow with others use Google Sheets or Trello. These platforms help keep things straight. You should write down every point of contact. Checking in with vendors on a regular basis makes sure that everyone is on the same page.

Logistics are very important. For instance your florist should know when the tables will be set up so they can bring the centerpieces. The coordinators and the staff at the venue need to be on the same page for that to happen. If you're renting things like tents or dance floors make sure to find out when they will be delivered and picked up.

Making backup plans in case things don't go as planned

It's important to plan what you want to happen on your wedding day but it's also important to be ready for anything. All experienced event planners know how important it is to have backup plans.

Make plans for bad weather first. Outdoor weddings are lovely but rain can ruin everything in a flash. Having a tent or an indoor space to fall back on can save your life. Tell your vendors about this especially the ones who set things up and handle logistics.

Next make sure you have a backup plan in case the DJ's lights or sound system stop working. Ask each vendor what they do in case of an emergency. What will they do if their tools stop working? DJs and other vendors should have extra equipment on hand and photographers usually bring more than one camera.

Tips and Tricks for Working with Vendors Without a Hitch

Your goal is to make everything go smoothly on the big day. Make sure that everyone knows what their job is and when it needs to be done. Let your vendors know one last time what the plans are for the day.

Make sure that everyone can understand what the others are saying. Some people like to text each other right away in WhatsApp groups while others still like to call each other. Choose what works best for your group.

Assign roles for the setup execution and wrap up stages. This level of organization makes sure that tasks don't get mixed up. Each vendor should know what the others are doing so that things don't get out of hand.

After the wedding everything went well and there was no stress.

Even though the event is over post wedding coordination makes sure that everything goes well. First look after things you rent or borrow. Look over the pickup times and walk through the place to make sure you didn't leave anything behind.

Ask your suppliers for feedback. A short conversation or an email survey can give you useful information that can help you improve future events. To help other couples choose leave reviews on sites like Yelp or Wedding Wire.

Last but not least don't forget to say thank you. A short note of thanks can mean a lot. These things will not only help you get along with people but they will also help you make professional connections that last.

You're not just organizing vendors you're also making plans for a wedding day that will be fun and go off without a hitch. Now sit back and enjoy the symphony.