Interviewing and hiring wedding vendors
is one of the more intimidating aspects of wedding planning, especially if you
have never had to conduct interviews.
Very often, couples will tell me that they are afraid of insulting a
vendor if they ask too many questions, or they are concerned about discussing
price. Every professional wedding vendor
expects to go through a rigorous interview process, so you have nothing to fear
about that. The following are my secrets
for selecting the best professionals for your wedding.
1. Know your budget for
each vendor: Knowing how much you
can afford to spend will allow you to narrow your vendor options even before
you start the interview process. While
you are interviewing, share your budget with the vendor so that he can give you
his best options for your price range.
2. Start your search by
looking at advertisements: You can
get some insight into a vendor’s style by look at the ads that he uses. Look for ads whose style and price matches
what you are looking for. See what
points he emphasizes for his business.
Is he projecting that he is exclusive and expensive, approachable and
moderately priced, or the best bargain in town?
3. Check out the vendors’
websites: This will give you even
more insight into the vendors’ styles and prices. Preliminary shopping on the Internet will
save you time and gas money!
4. Call and email for
more information: This will give you
an indication as to how interested the vendor is in your business. Was he available to speak with you right
away? Did he promptly return your call
or email? Was he genuinely interested in
what you want? Was the information that
was sent to you personalized?
5. Narrow your options to
three vendors per category: Once you
sort through the dozens of websites from vendors whose ads you liked, narrow
your options into three per category.
That’s the best way to start the interview process. Visiting more than three vendors per category
at a time can get confusing. Don’t worry
if you don’t choose one of the three the first time around…you can always go
back and expand your search.
6. View samples of past
work: Looking at photos is a great
way to decide whether or not a vendor’s style matches your own. Added bonus:
you might get some good ideas for your wedding from what other couples
have done.
7. Take note of the
vendors’ personalities: Choose a
vendor who makes you feel at ease. If
you are uncomfortable at any time during the interview, move on. There are plenty of high-quality vendors from
which to choose.
8. Compare features and
costs: Remember, the cheapest vendor
isn’t necessarily the best bargain. Make
sure that you know what you are getting for the price you will be paying.
9. Ask around: Check with other vendors to see what the
“buzz” is regarding a vendor that you like.
10. Trust your instincts: If something feels too good to be true or if
you feel uncomfortable for any reason, walk away.
Finding the perfect professional for your wedding doesn’t
have to be a scary task. Just stay
organized and feel confident in your ability to make decisions. If you need more guidance, you can find
specific questions to ask potential vendors and more insight in The Perfect
Wedding Guide Wedding Planning Workbook.
It makes a great companion throughout the wedding planning process!