Look, it is completely normal to feel overwhelmed during the initial stages of wedding planning. But trust me when I say if there is one thing that you could do to make the wedding planning process enjoyable AND to have a blast on the day of your wedding, it’s to book the right wedding suppliers. In fact, there are so many suppliers these days that there’s literally no reason to settle for anything less than someone who makes you really bloody excited. And as someone who plans weddings for a living, I can guarantee that whatever you are looking for, that exciting supplier does exist. It’s just a case of finding them. In this blog, I’m going to share some tips and tricks on how to find wedding suppliers I’ve learned myself over the years in the hopes to take some weight off your shoulders!

How to Find Wedding Suppliers That are Right for You

Now, I want to start this part off by sharing some of the common mistakes I’ve seen brides and grooms make when it comes to booking wedding suppliers.

Firstly, not listening to your gut feelings. If you feel really drawn to something/someone, it probably means it’s meant to be. Trust that feeling! Secondly, Going for the cheapest option. Well… cheap is cheap for a reason isn’t it. And last but not least, booking too quickly before you know what’s really available. As much as I understand that you just want to get everything booked and not have to worry about it again, I can’t stress how important it is that you see what’s out there. Try to get a couple of quotes for each supplier!

Tips and Tricks for Finding Different Wedding Suppliers

• Venue

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. I love Coco Wedding Venues when it comes to researching and booking wedding venues. It’s one of the most easy-to-use directories I’ve seen that also has a variety of stylish venues to fit all needs and budgets. However, look in more than one place as different companies spend their marketing budgets in different ways. It’s never a bad idea to give Instagram or Googlea go.

• Florist

There’s a bunch of different styles of florists, so don’t automate to the local one down the road. The flowers at your wedding will hugely contribute to the overall design, and can really create the vibe you want to go for. So, make sure that their style matches your vision.

• Band/Musician

People try to avoid agencies but it’s just not worth it. Alive Network is a great platform to enquire for any type of entertainment you want at your wedding.

• Caterer

Consider what you actually want and the style of food. If you want everyone to feel relaxed, sharing might be better. If you want luxury, fine dining might be better.

• Photographer/Videographer

Instagram is definitely one of the best places to look. However, it’s important to remember that social media is a highlight reel. A lot of them, naturally, tend to showcase the best shots, which are usually couple portraits in a scenic location, and what we want to see is a full album! Sometimes they would have it on their websites, but you can always ask for one directly if not.

• Stationer

Look at their style rather than trying to find a total replication of something they’ve done before. Some may specialise in modern, minimalistic designs, and others may be good with bold colours and exotic designs. Start looking at Papier, Etsy, or Instagram.

Green Flags to Look for in Wedding Suppliers

Here’s what I’ve noticed through working with hundreds of different suppliers over the years. It is always such a pleasure to work with those who can take your idea/vision and run with it. In other words, people need to let their suppliers do their jobs. For example, a good photographer doesn’t need to be told to get a picture of you and your mum, and florists should be trusted to go to the flower market and pick the right stuff rather than be told exactly which flowers to buy.

This is why being able to trust your supplier is so important. So, like I said earlier, listen to your gut feelings and try to avoid choosing a supplier just because they offered you the cheapest quote. And if you feel that they’re difficult before a sale, don’t book them. There are so many amazing suppliers around who would kill to do a good job for you.

This was quite a lot of information, but I hope you now have a clearer idea of how to find wedding suppliers. If you feel like you could use some help with sourcing the suppliers for your wedding, or if you have any future questions about how to find wedding suppliers, don’t hesitate to contact me!