You found someone that seems to offer the price that you want with the products and services that look amazing too.

One of the most important steps is seeking if the wedding vendor is a good fit, but what does that mean exactly?

Today, Carole and I will give you an explanation and give you some tips on what to look for in a vendor to be a great match too.

How to determine if the wedding vendor is a good fit for you and your wedding day?

We recommend that you look far beyond the website or social media and reach out to the wedding vendor.

In fact, it’s best to meet with them in one of the following methods:

• In-person

• Via video chat

• On the phone

The best is the first two methods because you can visually see how they act and their overall demeanor. I don’t recommend meeting just in email or over the phone to book and that’s because you don’t really know who’s behind the phone call or email and you wan to visually see the person that you’ll be dealing with.

We recommend only using the third if you can’t do the first two.

What you are looking for is how well you mesh with the person.

Now, you don’t need to be best friends here, after all, this is a business transaction, but you should be able to get along with the vendor.

What should we look for when meeting with a wedding vendor?

Roughly 37% of couples don’t really see if the vendor is a good fit when they met with them.

There are a few things you want to seek when meeting with one of us.

Those elements can include how they are dressed and appear, their personality if they are truly listening to what you have to say, and of course, if you get along.

Let’s dive into them a bit more.

How They are Dressed and How They Appear

You want to make sure the wedding vendor comes across in a personable way.

It’s one thing if they are in a pair of shorts and flip-flops and the other if they are rocking a golf-shirt and pants.

If you are meeting via video chat like Zoom for example, visually see if they are clean, dirty, or slobs. That may not matter to you, but what it will show is if they are organized.

Being organized means they are going to have their act together and in turn, they are going to treat your wedding much the same way.

Their Personality Speak Volumes

You want to make sure the wedding vendor has a good personality.

This doesn’t mean that they need to act like they just found their best-friend after decades of not meeting each other, but you want them to be cheerful, informative, and come across as pleasing to you.

If they treat you well, they are going to treat your guests and wedding party well too.

I remember working with a wedding photographer a couple of years ago at a wedding in Blacksburg, VA where she acted like she was more of a best friend to the bride than a vendor.

Dancing on the floor with guests, having her husband taking images while she was being all chit-chatty with the bride and guests, and putting on a front to the bride as if she [bride] was the only person at the wedding.

I remember some guests were even talking about how fake the photographer came across throughout the evening.

Trust me, you don’t want someone that will go to that extreme when working with you.

The best approach is to make sure as a wedding vendor, make sure you have a calming presence, make sure you know what you’re doing, do it well and be there should the couple need you.

Are They Truly Listening to You?

One key element of a great wedding vendor is if they are listening to you and what you have to say.

A couple of key things you can pick up on include:

• Asking personal questions about you

  • Example: “Tell us how you meet and fell in love?”

  • Example: “Who said I love you first?”

  • Example: “Tell us more about your wedding vision and its day?”

• Taking Notes as you speak

  • It’s okay for the vendor to take notes while you’re talking, in fact, if they are not, then that’s a sign they may not be a great fit

You want vendors that will listen and provide you answers that make sense.

Some people will be short and to the point, others will give you longer answers and that’s perfectly fine as well.

Ultimately, you’re looking to see if they are listening to you and your needs.

Do You Get Along with the Wedding Vendor?

You don’t need to share the same birthday, you don’t need to like the same types of movies or enjoy the same types of foods, BUT, you do need to get along.

Basically, what you are looking for is the following:

• Someone that’s knowledgable

  • Make sure they know what they are doing within their own niche of the wedding industry, but also with your wedding and its day. The more knowledgeable a vendor is, the better your wedding will be and if something happens that it shouldn’t, they’ll be able to correct it with ease.

• Someone that’s friendly

  • A smile on their face, being happy to be there, being nice to you and others, and just having a good overall persona is what you’re wanting. No one wants to work with a sourpuss, so make sure they come across being friendly and happy.

• A Vendor that is Trustworthy

  • Let’s face it, you’re spending a lot of money on people you really don’t know. Take the time to build a relationship with the vendor over time, even if it’s just to connect with them every once in and while.

• A Vendor that offers value to you

  • You want a vendor that offers value in what they do. For example, a wedding DJ can bring value by having lights, a fog machine, or a portable system for the ceremony. Value can also come in other forms, like being a good source to ask questions and get wedding advice too.

These are qualities that you want in people that will be covering your wedding day and it applies to all vendors in the wedding industry.

Research Them Before making a Decision

Finally, research the vendor. Go online and search for them on Google, see what they are about.

Ask other vendors about them and look for reviews on places like Wedding Wire and theKnot.

What you want to see are any red-flags before you book.

Most vendors are going to be good to various degrees or another, but there are some ‘bad eggs’ within the business that you hear about from time to time on the news or social media.

For example, one bad review among a sea of good ones doesn’t mean the vendor is bad, but, if you see a constant stream of bad reviews, then that could be a sign of things to come should you hire them.

I want you to leave the blog with this, wedding vendors are being interviews by you for a job.

It’s up to you to determine if they are worthy of being apart of your special day, so ask good questions, determine how they are and if they seem to mesh well with you when you meet.

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