Vendors to Book ASAP For Your Wedding Day
So, you’ve got a ring on *that* finger, and it’s time to start planning your wedding. But where to begin? You know there are tons of wedding professionals you’ve got to book, but which ones should you book first? Well, you’ll be glad to know that there’s a method to the madness! Snagging certain professionals right away should be at the top of your to-do list, while others can wait a little longer. Without further ado, here are the wedding professionals you should book ASAP for your wedding day.
Ceremony and Reception Venue
Your venue will determine your wedding date and location, so it’s important to start here! In addition, your budget is directly correlated to the venue you choose. Depending on how many people you plan to invite and a venue’s minimum and maximum capacities, one venue may fit snugly into your budget while another may exceed it.
Not to mention, your choice of venue will help you to determine the overall vibe of your wedding! Whether you want a rustic feel, modern minimalism, or an ornate Victorian interior, there is a perfect venue for you. Finally, your choice of venue will help you to figure out how much of your budget should go toward transportation. For example, if there is a getting ready suite onsite, then some of your transportation budget can be eliminated. Some venues even have overnight accommodations onsite, which can save you even more money!
Wedding Planner/Designer
If you don’t have the time to spend hours researching potential venues—or if you just don’t know where to begin—then you’ll want to start by hiring a wedding planner. They’ll get to know you and your taste and do the legwork for you! Wedding planners also have access to the very best professionals, and they’ll know who will best fit your budget and vibe.
With that being said, the best planners have limited availability since they can usually only handle one wedding per day. That’s why it’s so crucial to book yours quickly! Plus, your planner will coordinate all of the details of your day, so it’s ideal that you start working with yours ASAP.
Catering
If catering is provided by the venue you’ve chosen, then you can skip this step. If it’s not, however, then the next stage after booking your venue and planner is booking your caterer! Just like your venue, the caterer you choose will affect a large portion of your budget, so it’s important to choose carefully based on your estimated guest count.
Photographer and Videographer
These professionals are a priority because the good ones book up FAST. Keep in mind that you’ll be looking at your wedding photos and video over and over for the rest of your life, so it’s important that you love them! If there’s a photographer you’ve had your eye on for a while, reach out to them, get a quote, have a conversation with them to make sure you click and get. them. booked.
We also want to mention that we are HUGE supporters of video! We believe that every wedding should have a videographer to capture all of those little moments you’ll want to remember. Read more about why we think videographers are so essential!
Entertainment
The entertainment you choose will create the vibe for your day! Do you want a dinner party or a dance party? A live band or a DJ? No matter what, you should make sure you connect with your MC/DJ before you hire them. When you talk to them, let them know what level of involvement you want when guests are on the dance floor. Do you want someone who stays out of the way and keeps the party going or someone who is on the dance floor with a mic interacting with your guests?
Also, you definitely don’t have to make a hard choice between a band or a DJ—it’s completely possible to have a fusion of both. For example, if you know you want a DJ but love live music, then consider hiring a musician for a portion of the evening such as a violinist, saxophonist, or live singer. It’s your day, so enjoy the best of both worlds if you want to!
Florist
Florists can only take on a certain number of weddings per year due to the level of involvement that goes into creating installations and sourcing flowers. So, if there’s a florist whose style you love, book them now!
Before you talk to florists, make sure you have a good idea of what you will need for your day. You’ll need to know your wedding party count and your guest count so that you can provide an approximate number of wedding party accessories and reception centerpieces. In addition, you should consider which aspects of your day you want to be emphasized, such as your sweetheart table or ceremony arch. This way, you can quickly figure out if your vision and budget align with a particular florist’s minimums and capabilities.
Who to Book Next?
You should book your beauty team next since quality beauty teams book up fast (sometimes 1-2 years in advance!). Before signing a contract, always determine if there are any minimums or travel fees.
Next, book your ceremony/cocktail hour musicians. We are big fans of ceremony musicians! There’s nothing like a harpist or a string quartet serenading you down the aisle. Plus, it’s a great idea to have them stay and provide music for your cocktail hour!
At last, it’s time to book…everything else! This could include food trucks, a cigar roller, a live painter, a calligrapher/stationer, rentals, lighting, an officiant, transportation, and more depending on the vibe of your event and what you want! It may sound like a lot, but we promise that everything will begin to fall into place in no time.
Tips When Hiring Vendors
Before hiring anyone, you should have a good handle on your wedding budget. You should also know the minimums of any prospective vendors to make sure they’re affordable for you.
Be sure to ask all of the necessary questions before signing a contract and making a retainer payment. Also, find out what payment method(s) the vendor accepts. Are there fees for paying with a credit card? Is the vendor cash or check only? Are you required to make payments in person?
Finally, while this post will (hopefully!) prove a handy guide, you should book in the order of priority for *you*. And, before you book, determine how much of your budget will be allocated to each professional. That way, you won’t accidentally exceed it.
Now that you’ve got a good idea of which wedding professionals to book ASAP, it’s time to get on that venue/planner research! While you’re at it, drop us a line. We’d love to get to know you, and tell you all about what we do here at Verve NJ to make sure all the details fall into place for your big day!
