Choosing the right wedding vendors is important because these are the people who are going to bring your vision to life. With so many options and opinions, it’s hard to know where to begin. Add in the idea of a destination wedding with vendors in a different city or country and your head starts to spin! But it doesn’t have to be such a daunting task with these helpful tips on picking the right vendors for your destination wedding.
Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Weddings
Hire a wedding planner.
There’s a certain appeal to hiring someone who planned the perfect wedding for one of your close friends in your hometown. You know what you’re getting and you feel confident about the referral but if that planner has never been to your wedding location, it might pose a few problems.
“Picking a planner who knows the location is important as they can guide couples on vendors in the area that will work well,” says Peggy Russell, Principal Designer and Owner of Destination Wedding Studio.
Do your research and set a budget in advance.
Talk with your fiancé and family to determine a budget you’re comfortable with. Your wedding planner can also help you set a realistic budget and will be able to give good advice based on the vendors they know in the area. Don’t schedule meetings with vendors who are well outside of your budget or already booked on your wedding date. You don’t want to fall in love with vendors that are out of your price range or can’t accommodate your wedding.
Have as many in-person meetings as possible. FaceTime and Skype are great options, too!
You may fall in love with the vendor’s style but you also need to make sure your personalities mesh well, especially with vendors like a photographer who will be with you most of the wedding day. Try to schedule a few trips to the location before the wedding date if possible so you aren’t booking anything sight-unseen. Ask for client referrals in the meantime. Most vendors will be happy to provide you with feedback from their past clients.
Get everything in writing and review all contracts.
If the vendor doesn’t provide it for you, ask them for an itemized list of everything that is included in the quoted price. At a destination wedding, it’s especially important to make sure things like pick up and drop off are being handled by the vendor. Ask for clarification if anything is unclear.
Once you feel confident with the team of vendors you’ve selected, be sure to give them clear instructions throughout the planning process so that you can relax on the wedding day. Allow them to do their jobs while you enjoy this special day with your family and friends.
Style Me Pretty Contributor – Kristen Lauck is the owner and lead planner at Marie Rose Events based in Oklahoma City. When she isn’t working, you’ll find her spending time outside or enjoying a glass of wine and cooking dinner at home with her husband.