As an engaged couple, you want everything about your wedding day to be flawless. Selecting the appropriate vendors is one of the critical components in achieving this goal. Here are five essential tips to assist you in choosing the best Atlanta wedding planner, photographer, videographer, florist, caterer, musician, or any other sort of vendor for your big day.

Start Early

Don’t postpone your vendor searching until the last minute. Give yourself plenty of time to research, compare offerings, ask questions, receive a quote, and book the vendors. In addition to helping you secure a better rate, starting early will also help you avoid missing out on a great vendor as they usually book up pretty fast!

Do Your Research

Search for vendors who specialize in wedding services specifically. Check out their social media to see if their work aligns well with your vision, but don’t stop there! Read reviews from previous clients. Try to attend bridal expos as well to meet many vendors in person and talk through any questions you may have. Websites, such as Zola, are also very effective at helping you find many vendors and read their offerings, FAQs, and reviews to begin communicating about quotes! Your wedding planner is also a great resource as they will likely have many vendors they can recommend know are reputable.

Think About Your Budget

As we discussed prior in our Getting Started With Wedding Planning post, your wedding budget should be set first and foremost! Set a budget for each vendor category and stick to it. When you know what you can afford, you can eliminate vendors who are out of your price range and focus on those who are. Of course, throughout the planning process, you may think of new things to add to your wedding day which can affect your budget! That is why we recommend starting your planning process with an ample amount of time so you can be more flexible.

Schedule Consultations

This will likely look different for each vendor but make sure you set aside the time to ask any questions you may have as well as equip your vendors with the information they need to be successful. For instance, it is important to coordinate with your DJ what type of music you want at your reception, specific songs for dances, speeches, and so much more! The more you plan and prepare alongside your vendors the more they will be able to work with you in accomplishing your vision. Vendor meetings are important as a lot may be discussed at once, make sure to always take notes of anything that you need to follow up on! Communication is key for both parties!

Where Do I Start?

The first vendor you want to source is your wedding planner. Full Wedding Planning can assist you with finding the right venue, booking vendors, and making sure the whole planning process is where it needs to be. Wedding planners are very familiar with local venues and vendors and have a lot of expertise in areas that may be new to you. If you already have most of your vendors and venue selected many wedding planners offer other services such as Day of Coordination and Partial Planning, to help lighten your load and allow you to enjoy the beauty of your wedding rather than logistics!

Not working with a full-service Wedding Planner we suggest you book your Vendors in the following order:

1. It is important to secure your venue! Venues book up fast and this is the canvas of your wedding day so it will help a lot in the planning process to have this decided. If you need help with this process, consult your wedding planner or check out our blog about finding the venue for you in Atlanta!
   
   
2. Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests if this is something your event will require! Hotels are typically great at working with couples to set aside room blocks if you are expecting many out-of-town guests make sure you compare hotels nearby to find the best rate as room blocks should save you time, stress, and money.
   
   
3. Decide on food and beverage for your wedding, many venues have preferred caterers, so make sure you are aware of your venue’s policies for caterers prior to booking. 
   
   
   Once these core vendors are booked it is important to find the right people to make the vision come alive and capture the spirit of your wedding day!
   
   
4. Book florals/design, as the design process can take a while to fully develop and it is always nice to have everything from your “save the dates” to your wedding day to be cohesive.
   
   
5. Photo and video vendors are the ones who will be memorializing your day forever. If there are any specific shots you would like to have, make sure this is discussed prior.
   
   
6. When looking for an officiant, do your research, read reviews, and make sure they are someone you as a couple are fond of and that you all are on the same page.
   
   
7. There are many forms of entertainment, from a DJ to a live singer to a band. You will be working closely with your entertainment as your wedding timeline is established. Make sure to communicate thoroughly and resolve any questions about the run of the show!
   
   
8. To keep you and your wedding party looking your best, Hair and Makeup will be an important part of getting the day started. Make sure all people being serviced by hair and makeup have communicated prior so they can be prepared and know what to expect!

Once all the main vendors of the wedding are established, you have time to look for those specialty services such as a photo booth, bridal stylist, transportation services, or maybe a food truck. Whatever it is make sure you remain focused on your budget and reassess it once all vendors are booked so you know where you stand!

This is a guide to help you while you are booking the perfect wedding vendors for your day. Remember to take your time, do your research, and communicate effectively, to make your day truly unforgettable!

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Are you ready to start planning your wedding? As a seasoned team of Atlanta wedding planners, we’re here to help you take away the stress of planning such a big day. Contact us for your complimentary consultation.

Photo Credit

Envisioning Freedom Photography