March 15, 2022
Destination Wedding Planner
· Wedding Planner Frankfurt
· Wedding Planner Cincinnati
WHICH VENDORS DO YOU NEED?
You are at the beginning of the wedding planning process. You have booked the venue but now you are unsure which vendor you really need and which you can omit. Let me show you an overview of the most use vendors to help you out. If you want more detailed insight, I have written blog posts about the individual ones so go check those out! Which vendors you need of course comes down to what you want. A basic rule: the more vendors, the less work for you.
Do you need help creating a wedding concept or do you simply want to enjoy your engagement to the fullest? As wedding planners we take over the organisation of all of your vendors. We make sure that on your wedding day everyone is where they are supposed to be and everything runs smoothly. Please contact me here to have a chat and find out how I can help you!
THE 5 MOST POPULAR VENDORS
The vendors are the good spirits of a wedding. Ideally you do not see and hear from them but without them a wedding would definitely not be possible.
WESTEND WEDDINGS
The Venue
It doesn't really sound like a vendor at first but the venue does count as one. You can read more about how I approach location scouting and why it can make sense to ask a wedding planner for help in this blog entry. The venue is at the heart of each wedding. It should match the overall style of the wedding and is the first thing you search for when starting the planning process. You should enquire venues as early as possible because some are fully booked quickly.
The Photographer
Photographers are usually a couple's go-to vendor. They know that good photographers are sought after and they are sometimes booked one to two years in advance. A photographer captures the couple and the wedding party at the right moment and has an eye for the perfect moment. Look out for photographers that match the style of photos you like and have them show you examples of real weddings they have shot.
Diana Fischer tells you in this articlewhat matters most.
The Catering
An important question: what do we want to eat and in what way? Whether you opt for a buffet style, a sit-down dinner live cooking or a family style dinner - the sky is the limit when it comes to food. You definitely have to check with your location whether they work with a caterer or whether you are free to choose. Think about dietary needs and allergies of your guests when choosing a menu and arrange a tasting beforehand.
Talking Everything Sweet
Not part of the catering is the wedding cake. This is often done by a confectioner or patissier to fit your wedding. In the last couple of years couples have turned more towards non-traditional wedding cakes such as cupcakes, cakepops or a sweet table. This is a great alternative for couples who want something sweet but not necessarily a cake. You should ask for a tasting beforehand to select your different flavours. To get better insight read this article and find out what you can do.
The Music
Most couples focus on good food and a good party. A great DJ or band is therefore necessary to get the party started and to read the room to see what songs the wedding party celebrates to the most. Besides DJs and bands singers that perform during the ceremony have become more common recently. Live musicians such as jazz bands that play during the reception are also fun to entertain the guests.
OPTIONAL VENDORS
The Decoration
If you have a lot of time you can create you own design concept and DIY many things. There are many tutorials on YouTube or TikTok that show you how to do fantastic things. If you don't want to do that or don't have the time for it, a designer will take over. This not only saves time, experts also know how to work with little tricks and make the most out of your venue or table. Designers usually rent chairs, linens, special tableware, chandeliers or even flooring - always depending on what you want.
The Stationery
Save the Dates, invitations, menu cards, table nummers, welcome signs - the list is endless. A wedding does not have to have everything but you should think of a few aspects to make it easier for your guests. You can definitely do several things on your own but it often takes time to learn how to work with a design program or cut the name card perfectly. A professional vendor can help you out. this article you can learn more about the individual elements that matter.
The Officiant
Whether you choose a priest, pastor or a friend: the officiant is the heart and sould of your ceremony and ensures the emotions at the right place. Good officiants know how to write a speech and how to accentuate it in front of a large crowd. Friends might have more inside jokes with you but they could always include them in a speech after dinner when the party is about to start.
The Florist
Flowers are a popular decoration for weddings. Starting with the bridal bouquet your imagination knows no boundaries. You will usually find elements of the floral concept in the ceremony and the dinner. This could include small arrangements in church (flowers, bows, candles) or a big arch on a terrace overlooking a park. It is especially elegant to work with different levels so that the flowers don't look flat but there are hanging elements or unusual shapes as well. Keep in mind that flowers come in seasons and can be more or less expensive depending on when you get married.
MORE VENDORS
The Outfits
For most brides finding the dream wedding dress is easily one of the most exiciting parts of the wedding planning process. You can try on all of the different styles, designers and colours. If you want something more extravagant try to reach out to the designers directly to schedule a customised fitting. Brides often also choose a second dress for the party to make sure they can dance the night away.
The grooms often wear a tailor-made suit that could include nice details like your initials, an inside joke or the wedding date. My advice: get a second shirt - especially in the summer months you get hot easily and with the nerves you will be sweating quite a lot. You could change into that before or after dinner.
The Jewellery
They are often forgotten when it comes to wedding vendors but they have inarguably one of the most important tasks: the jeweller. Think about what type of rings you want before your visit to the jeweller and what is important to you. Sustainability and sourcing from local businesses is becoming more and more popular.
If you have had problems with rings in the past (the men might not be used to wearing rings) opt for something unusual: a square ring. This way the ring fits better and trust me when I say that it looks great and you can hardly see a difference.
Beautification
This vendor leaves nothing left to be desired: hair or make up artists, manis and pedis, fitness coaches, dietitians or getting a spray tan before the wedding. There is so much to choose from! My advice: Think about what you want as soon as possible to make the necessary changes. Do not try out a new beauty routine two weeks before the wedding as you might encounter problems you had never had before.
The Wedding Planner
Last but not least: me! If after reading this article you are completely overwhelmed by all the information and have so many new ideas that you would like to incorporate into your wedding but don't know how, I am there for you. I not only plan your wedding but coordinate all of the vendors, organise and design the wedding and am on-site the day of to make sure everything runs smoothly. You do not need to worry that you forget something or that there is no Plan B. Get in contact with me to schedule a first video call to take away the stress and put the joy into wedding planning.