There’s something about a wedding disaster where you can’t look away. As we read the most recent wedding catastrophe article, “Wedding pictures become nightmare for bride,” we couldn’t help but think about how many brides out there have a wedding vendor horror story.
Don’t worry, if you haven’t had a chance to read the article, we’ll sum it up (however, please do read). A bride books a wedding vendor (because it was cheap) that turns into a total nightmare. The message of this article was clear and simple-you get what you paid for and if you think it’s too good to be true…it probably is! While that all seems like a simple message and one that we’ve heard many times before, we tend to overlook the obvious when we’re excited or just not knowledgeable. And if you’ve never planned a wedding before, it’s easy to get confused or overwhelmed.
But how can these wedding vendor tragedies be avoided? After 17 years in the wedding industry, we’ve learned a thing or two here at CinemaCake, so here are some of our insider knowledge tips on 5 important things to know when booking your wedding vendors.
1. Look for Client Reviews
Client reviews are the easiest way to tell if a vendor is all they are cracked up to be. One thing we know, is that no bride is recommending a vendor that ended up disappointing her on her wedding day. In fact, she will go out of her way to make sure other brides don’t go through the same experience that they did. Log into Facebook and search their business page to check the reviews written by real clients or better yet, simply Google them. Type in the name of the vendor and put the word ‘review’ after it. You will find out all kinds of information, both good..and bad. We love to use WeddingWire as a way for clients to document their reviews. With WeddingWire, our brides and grooms can sing their praises and share their CinemaCake experience for all future couples to see, However, you have no control of what people write, so you can see the good, the bad and the downright ugly as these are written by the client, not the vendor. Try searching your vendor on WeddingWire to see what their reviews say.
2. Ask to See Their Previous Work
Bottom line, if a vendor is reputable, they will be happy to show you their work. It’s important to see their previous work, so you can get a sense of what you will receive on your wedding day. Some photographers/videographers may direct you to their image/video gallery, while wedding planners/designers may show you Recap films created just for them. At CinemaCake, we’re happy to send couples our previous works, like our Coming Soon Trailers as well as a fully completed film, that will relate best to their wedding day. Whether it’s films shot at a specific venue, or with a certain vendor, there’s a film we can show you that you can relate to. But be sure to ask for a complete production and work that is recent, not just what is posted on their website or Facebook Page.
3. Communicate With Your Vendors
We can’t stress enough the importance of being clear to your vendors as to what you are looking for in your final product. Whether it be your florist, your photographer, or your decorator, make sure there is always a clear line of communication. It’s important they understand your wedding day vision, and be able to meet your requirements. If your vendor is a reputable one, they will have no problem guiding you along, and will be prepared to answer all your questions and concerns. Here at CinemaCake, you can contact us through our Contact Page where we ask you a few starter questions. Then, we ask our couples to fill out a more detailed questionnaire in advance, so we can get to know you as a couple even more and to be sure we are the right fit. We also meet all of our clients in person, whenever possible, to build upon that relationship and further ensure that the wedding day will run smoothly. Having a wedding planner is a great way to keep in contact with all of your vendors, without the stress of doing it yourself. A wedding planner is there to protect you and guide you and ensure that the whole process goes smoothly from the planning process to the wedding day.
4. See Who Vendors Recommend
It’s a good sign when both a florist and a decorator refer you to the same vendor. Your wedding planner may suggest which vendors are right for you as well. Take the time to ask each vendor which companies they tend to work with and whom they trust.
5. Steer Clear of the Everything-in-one Vendors
If you’re being offered a venue, entertainment, photography, cinematography, decor, transportation, catering, and a wedding dress, all in one, in our humble opinion, is probably too good to be true. It’s best to hire a company that has a niche or only works within a couple select fields. You may feel like you’re saving yourself money or the hassle of booking multiple vendors this way, but in our experience, this is not the best approach. Work with vendors who are passionate in their field and who are masters at what they do. The extra work on your part will be worth it!
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